served forty-two months in the South Pacific, from January 1942 until August 1945. As a young man, the future A-Lister was a laborer, vagrant, and professional boxer. He kind of shuns any recognition for it. Mighty Joe Young, a 1949 special-effects film in which he appeared, still remains popular. 26, 1887 ( Pisces ) born in Depoy ben johnson actor military service a very small Kentucky town, the. Ben Johnson (actor), better known by her family name Benjamin, was a popular American film actor (1918-1996). When wandering middle-aged rodeo rider Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen) returns to his Arizona hometown, he reunites with his family, which includes his charming, troublemaking father, Ace (Robert .more 6 Will Penny Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett, Donald Pleasence 18 votes Released: 1968 Directed by: Tom Gries Army - enlisted in 1954, serving with the 11th Airborne Division and rising to the rank of sergeant. Fighter ace who downed seven Japanese aircraft while flying from the U.S.S. You may also like: Famous authors who only wrote one novel. Johnson, a retired Midland draftsman first for Shell Oil Company and then for Superior Oil Company and Mobil Oil Company, settled in Midland with his wife, Suzanna, in 1951 after his college graduation. Afterward, he suffered from severe headaches, had to do exercises to strengthen his right arm, and wore heavy makeup to hide the scars on his face. He took his experiences back to civilian life, starring in many films about war and the military throughout his career. He later became the face of recruiting posters for the Guard. He fought for Great Britain, his native country. Clark Gable of "Gone With the Wind" fame was arguably the most celebrated leading man to dominate the screen during Hollywood's golden age. Ben "Son" Johnson, Jr. (June 13, 1918 - April 8, 1996) was an American stuntman, world champion rodeo cowboy and actor. The first-generation American enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1943 and served as an aircraft gunner and Superfortress crewman. Johnson was born on June 13, 1918 in Foraker, Oklahoma. You may also like: Movie trivia for the top 100 films of all time. Quote. He was also awarded the Air Medal before being discharged in 1945 and going on to use his GI Bill money to finance his way through acting school (which is where it is assumed he first learned how to make a radio out of a coconut. Ben Johnson (actor) : biography June 13, 1918 - April 8, 1996 He portrayed the character Cap Roundtree in the 1979 miniseries The Sacketts. "That's according to Alan Leeper," a geologist, who told his wife, "You run the oil company, and I will do the geology. Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, He entered the marines in the 1950's for two years, Marines - served two and a half years in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Farrell, who played Capt. joined in 1947, honorably discharged in 1950. mikhail fridman wife ben johnson actor military service. Awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart. Mr. D Griffin-My 1944 US Navy Bluejackets Manual, an official Navy publication given to all new recruits, has a photo of what it calls the Congressional Medal of Honor. Born in Foraker, Oklahoma, his father, Ben Johnson, Sr., was a cattleman and rancher in Osage County, Oklahoma, as well as a champion rodeo steer roper. Johnson was raised in South Bend, Indiana, where he graduated from high school. In 1957, history's most famous veteran joined the Army. Hi Dwight sure is wonderful! Known for playing no-nonsense, stone-faced, tough-guy characters in movies like "The Dirty Dozen," Lee Marvin portrayed cowboys, vigilantes, and military men on the screen. share our stories with your audience. His true career, however, would be on television. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE CMOH!!!!!! Gruff and authoritative, R. Lee Ermey is the human embodiment of Marine Corps machismo, which he put on full display as a hard-nosed drill instructor in "Full Metal Jacket." Johnson, 77, died Monday of an apparent heart attack while at his mother's home in Leisure World, a retirement community in Mesa, Ariz. Johnson's funeral will be Thursday in Mesa. Not only did he make propaganda films for the Army, but he saw action as a tail gunner during five missions over Germany. Born 13 Jun 1918 in Foraker, Osage, Oklahoma, United States. He was mostly known for being in Western movies such as Hang 'Em High. But that wasn't the only horror he survived. What about Marlene Dietrich? Adagio Overview; Examples (videos) Van Johnson had a opportunity to join and didnt, mainly after Pearl happen in 1941. such severe injuries that he had to have a metal plate put in his head. ), It pained Johnson that he wasn't able to serve. ); Clark Gable (flew on some combat missions over Germany in order to get some realistic training video. Brother of Mary Ann (Johnson) Miller. Hollywood icon Jack Lemmon has Hollywood credits dating from the 1940s to 2000. Few entertainers achieved greater success across more types of entertainment media than Bob Hope, the man NPR called "the most popular entertainer of the 20th century." The 1946 Christmas classic was Stewart's first film after leaving the U.S. Army Air Corp. Stewart halted his career to join the service in 1941, eventually reaching the rank of colonel by the end of the conflict. ", The squadron, which "got to be really tight like a family," was a mix of young men who "were all tied together in trying to survive the war," Johnson said. IT IS NOT THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR NOR HAS IT EVER OFFICIALLY BEEN NAMED THAT!! Its obviously a very special place for a Texas kid who did far more than his duty! You may also like: Most Emmy wins of all time. I'm a regular infantry vet and I have nothing but the highest respect for you guys that flew the hueys (and especially the dustoffs), but don't you think you might be being a little hard on the guy. The paper backed up that bold claim with the fact that Hill's shows were broadcast into 100 countries, a feat even Charlie Chaplin never matched. He was also a rodeo cowboy, stuntman, and rancher. Born in Oklahoma, Ben Johnson was a ranch hand and rodeo performer when, in 1940, Howard Hughes hired him to take a load of horses to California. After undergoing surgery several times, Arness was honorably discharged in 1945, having received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart medals. James Avery's acting career spanned nearly 40 years and includes nearly 180 credits, but he was best known as stern-but-lovable patriarch Uncle Philip Banks on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." I like doing it. Now thats one tough hombre. Ford called Johnson the "world's . Photograph inscribed and signed: "To my good/friend Mary/Always your/friend.Ben Johnson". Charles Durning was a multi-genre talent who scored multiple Academy Award nominations for movies like "The Best Little Wh**house in Texas" and "To Be or Not to Be," as well as a Tony win for his role in the play "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Ben Johnson. Martial arts legend and star of the big and small screens Chuck Norris is known for TV series like "Walker, Texas Ranger" and movies like the "Missing in Action" franchise. Asner served in the Army Signal Corps in the early 1950s. All branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, are represented on the list, along with some actors from foreign countries. After graduating from high school, Avery joined the Navy and served in Vietnam during the height of the war from 1968 to 1969. Born in 1908, Jimmy Stewart appeared in more than 80 movies over his long and storied career, but none more famous or beloved than "It's a Wonderful Life." Rod Steiger is also missing from this list. Im pretty sure Neville was the second most decorated soldier in WWII, although in interviews I saw he kind of dismissed and played down his bravery, just as all great heroes do. During World War II, Gwynn enlisted in the Navy and served on a sub chaser. In one mission, his B-25 was shot down over enemy held territory in the Philippines, forcing him to crash land, which resulted in two broken ankles. Richard Pryor is regarded as one of the most important and controversial stand-up comedians in history, and his talents translated to a career in Hollywood that included films like "Superman III" and "Brewster's Millions." Army - Served as an infantryman during World War II. The TV series "M*A*S*H" revolved around an Army hospital surgical unit whose members dealt with tragedy through laughter during the Korean War. propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('toptenz_sticky_1'); }); Top 10 Celebrity Ladies That Men Should Avoid, Top 10 Clever Jokes And Observations (That Everybody Makes), 10 Unexpectedly Weird Ancestors of Animals Living Today, 10 Things You Thought Were Silent (But Actually Make Strange and Terrifying Noises), 10 Terrifyingly High Mortality Rate Statistics. ", On reflection, "In war, if you make one mistake, and if you live through that, it is very fortunate," he said. ". Good thing he made so many ww2 movies cause he was not actually up for it, How would ANYBODY living in 1943 know the war was 'half over'? Tall and laconic, Johnson brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship. He later went on to appear in 44 filmsmostly westerns and a few army filmsbefore he died in a plane crash near Roanoke, Virginia three weeks shy of his 46th birthday. He served in the Navy during World War II, working as a cook on a ship during the Battle of Okinawa. Of course, most of those on this list became actors long after the war, but there are a few who left promising acting careers to serve their country and need to be recognized for their bravery and sacrifice. I DO APPLAUD YOU FOR SHOWING TODAYS GROUP OF LIBERTINE QUISLINGS IN HOLLYWOOD WHAT REAL MEN WHO WERE ACTORS DID WHEN HISTORY CALLED!! Upon his death in 1992, the Telegraph referred to Benny Hill as "the world's most popular comedian." Intuitive Healing Therapy to hold events during Feb. 27-March 5 -- Eating Disorder Awareness Week. 4, I cant remember. But the Academy Award-winning actor also comes from a long military family lineage that can be traced to Robert E. Lee. It is a win-win situation" by making houses into homes and into stable neighborhoods and offering children encouragement, promise, hope, success and stability. Wikipdia (41 entres) modifier. Johnson tried to stay out of nightclubs, feeling that the guys overseas would resent his having fun while they were fighting and facing death in far off war zones. Before he played Hannah's boyfriend in "Girls," Kylo Ren in "Star Wars,"and a host of other interesting roles, series Adam Driverwas a Marine. He was married to Carol Elaine Jones, until her death. The terrific actor Neville Brand played Texas Ranger Reese Bennett on the TV western Laredo(1965-67)was also a highly decorated U.S.Army soldier who fought in Europe in WW II & who was wounded. Known for his roles in "Dr. Strangelove" and as a crooked police captain in "The Godfather," Sterling Hayden's acting credits date back to 1941. He served in the Connecticut National Guard starting in 1948 and was discharged in 1950. The late Charlton Heston was an Oscar winner and the star of epic films like "Ben-Hur." Taking that knowledge back to America, he was made part of a unit called the Beach Jumpers whose job it was to make bogus beach landings designed to confuse the enemy as to the location of the real landings. The tough old Marine died of a heart attack in 1987 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery where his headstone reads Lee Marvin, PFC US Marine Corps, World War II. "You don't have much to say about when you were born. I saw a bio on TCM and he too shouldve been mentioned. Eastwood lucked out and was assigned to a job as a swimming instructor at a base in California during the deadly conflict. Season. What is known is that the "Star Trek" actor enlisted in the Army Reserves in the early 1950s, was in charge of a platoon, and was discharged in 1955 with the rank of sergeant. Murphy was a true American hero and the only actor to have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Upon his death in 2010, "Some Like it Hot" actor Tony Curtis was buried with full military honors. Commissioned an officer at the outbreak of World War Two, the actor served on Lord Louis Mountbatten's staff in England where he observed the British make cross-channel raids on German positions designed to confuse and deceive the enemy. A corporal in the combat engineers, his job was to destroy enemy obstacles and included occasionally defusing minesa job that required a steady nerve, a calm demeanor, and no doubt a good sense of humor. And so he did. A year after he enlisted, the Navy discovered his real age and discharged him. Ive read stories about things Audie Murphy did during the war and I believe he is a great American hero but finding that he appeared in those movies adds a new perspective. Did his 4F status have to do with his sexual orientation? Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity : . He even stayed active in the U.S. Air Force reserve after the war, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in 1968. The wiki article on Van Johnson indicates he was very conscious and respectful of those that did serve, in fact, it says that it "pained" him to not be able to serve with his colleagues. His grave stone is normally covered with pennies as a token of esteem. Ben Johnson is the cousin of Paul Parker (Retired). Johnson won an Academy Award for his role on The Last Picture Show . The Cleveland native served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 19801986. The phrase "Good morning, Vietnam!" Born on Christmas Day in 1899, Humphrey Bogart grew up to be one of the most revered actors in history. Army Air Corps - WWII. It was pretty moving! But did you know actor and director extraordinaire Clint Eastwood was drafted into the Army during the Korean War? He was an actor, known for Shaft (1971), Rollerball (1975) and Heartbreak Ridge (1986). He held several medals, but he wasnt No. He also saw action at the Battle of the Bulge, was captured, and managed to escape a massacre of American soldiers in Belgium. Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. While behind the camera during the filming of those war classics, he drew on his real-life experiences. Cast: Lex Barker, Joan Taylor, Ben Johnson. B/w, 8x10. He played the role of the iconic sitcom character George Jefferson, who appeared not just on "The Jeffersons," but also on "ER," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "House of Payne," and "All in the Family.". Talk show host Jack Paar once called the portly and groundbreaking comedian Jonathan Winters "pound for pound, the funniest man alive." served in the 101st airborne division. He was also a World War II veteran who served from 1942 to 1945 in the vaunted Submarine Chasers unit, leaving the service with a rank of lieutenant junior grade. PS. He was a genuine badass nonetheless though. But before he was a famous and groundbreaking showman, Pryor spent two years in the Army from 1958 to 1960. After he left the farm and signed up for six years in Navy aviation in mid-1941 before America got catapulted into World War II, Johnson served in combat in the Pacific Theater as a radioman-gunner on patrol-bombing-rescue missions in the twin-engine PBY Catalina flying boat during the June 1942 Battle of Midway and at Guadalcanal in late 1942 to early 1943 and later on served on patrol-bombing-strafing missions for the war's duration in the four-engine, low-level PB4Y-1 Liberator (B-24) based in the Philippines. Ben had English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish . Anniversary in 61 days . 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