Van Johnson
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Charles Van Dell "Van" Johnson (25 Aug 1916 - 12 Dec 2008), U.S. actor most well known for his roles as a boy-next-door type in movies from the '40s and '50s for MGM and Columbia Pictures.<br> | Charles Van Dell "Van" Johnson (25 Aug 1916 - 12 Dec 2008), U.S. actor most well known for his roles as a boy-next-door type in movies from the '40s and '50s for MGM and Columbia Pictures.<br> | ||
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Van went to New York City where he appeared in Leonard Sillman's annual revue "New Faces of 1936". In 1939 he had a part in the Broadway show "Too Many Girls" starring Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. And repeated his role in the 1940 film version. Warner Brothers first put Van on contract but dropped him after several months. At this time, he former co-star Lucille Ball introduced him to an MGM casting director and he was signed there. While there he made several films including at least one in which he was the principal star. He was built-up as the all-American boy-next-door in several pictures, and at one time was a major draw for movie patrons. Among others, he played opposite June Allyson, <a href="http://www.countyhistorian.com/cecilweb/index.php/Elizabeth_Taylor">Elizabeth Taylor</a> and Esther Williams. He also appeared with <a href="http://www.countyhistorian.com/cecilweb/index.php/Roddy_McDowall">Roddy McDowell</a> in "The White Cliffs of Dover".<br> | Van went to New York City where he appeared in Leonard Sillman's annual revue "New Faces of 1936". In 1939 he had a part in the Broadway show "Too Many Girls" starring Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. And repeated his role in the 1940 film version. Warner Brothers first put Van on contract but dropped him after several months. At this time, he former co-star Lucille Ball introduced him to an MGM casting director and he was signed there. While there he made several films including at least one in which he was the principal star. He was built-up as the all-American boy-next-door in several pictures, and at one time was a major draw for movie patrons. Among others, he played opposite June Allyson, <a href="http://www.countyhistorian.com/cecilweb/index.php/Elizabeth_Taylor">Elizabeth Taylor</a> and Esther Williams. He also appeared with <a href="http://www.countyhistorian.com/cecilweb/index.php/Roddy_McDowall">Roddy McDowell</a> in "The White Cliffs of Dover".<br> | ||
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Van had just signed a seven-year deal with MGM, when in 1943 he was involved in an auto accident which almost killed him. With him at that time were his closest friends Keenan Wynn (1916-1986) and Keenan's wife Eve Abbott (1914-2004). Eve was a former stage actress, and Keenan was a television and film actor at the time. (Keenan Wynn was also the son of Ed Wynn (1886-1966), the actor most famous perhaps today, as "Uncle Albert" in the film "Mary Poppins" with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.) Four years later, Eve and Keenan divorced and on the same day she married Van. Eve and Van had one child, a girl Schuyler. Van Johnson was however fundamentally gay, the marriage, according to Eve had been engineered by Louis B Meyer who refused to renew Keenan's contract unless Eve married Van Johnson. By this marriage, Van also became the stepfather to Edmund "Ned" Wynn and Tracy Keenan Wynn.<br> | Van had just signed a seven-year deal with MGM, when in 1943 he was involved in an auto accident which almost killed him. With him at that time were his closest friends Keenan Wynn (1916-1986) and Keenan's wife Eve Abbott (1914-2004). Eve was a former stage actress, and Keenan was a television and film actor at the time. (Keenan Wynn was also the son of Ed Wynn (1886-1966), the actor most famous perhaps today, as "Uncle Albert" in the film "Mary Poppins" with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke.) Four years later, Eve and Keenan divorced and on the same day she married Van. Eve and Van had one child, a girl Schuyler. Van Johnson was however fundamentally gay, the marriage, according to Eve had been engineered by Louis B Meyer who refused to renew Keenan's contract unless Eve married Van Johnson. By this marriage, Van also became the stepfather to Edmund "Ned" Wynn and Tracy Keenan Wynn.<br> | ||
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