1922-09-15 ( 102 years old ) in Los Angeles, California, USA
Served with the Navy in the South Pacific toward the end of World War II. Then, quietly and without publicity or fanfare, compiled one of the most distinguished peacetime military careers of anyone in his profession. In 1961, as his weekly TV series Hennesey (1959) was enhancing naval recruiting efforts, accepted a commission as a line officer in the Naval Reserve with duties in recruitment, training films, and public relations. Holder of a multi-engine pilot license, he later co-piloted jet planes for the Navy, which made him an Honorary Aviator authorized to wear wings of gold-at the time only the third so honored in naval aviation history. By 1976 he had attained the rank of captain, and was in uniform aboard the carrier USS Constellation for the Bicentennial celebration on July 4. In 1980, the Navy proposed a period of active duty at the Pentagon that would have resulted in a promotion to rear admiral, bringing him even with Air Force Reserve Brigadier General James Stewart. Fresh on the heels of a second directing Emmy, he felt his absence would impact achieving a long-held goal of directing motion pictures, and reluctantly declined. (The opportunity in films never materialized.) Holds Letters of Commendation from six secretaries of the Navy. Was honorary chairman of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation and a charter member of VIVA, the effort to return POW-MIAs from Vietnam. Upon retirement in 1982, he was decorated with the Legion of Merit by Navy Secretary John F. Lehman Jr.. Other than Stewart, no performer in his industry has achieved a higher uniformed rank in the U.S. military. (Glenn Ford was also a Naval Reserve captain, and director and Captain John Ford was awarded honorary flag rank upon his 1951 retirement from the Naval Reserve).
Movies
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006-11-02
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004-02-25
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
2001-10-01
Sports on the Silver Screen
1997-03-16
Inside the Dream Factory
1995-11-01
The Our Gang Story
1994-01-01
Surrender
1987-10-09
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
1987-07-24
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985-08-26
Ticket to Hollywood
1984-05-01
No Earthly Reason
1984-04-03
Superman III
1983-06-17
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983-02-25
Hollywood’s Children
1982-02-24
The Making of 'Superman II'
1982-01-01
Rascal Dazzle
1981-01-01
Superman II
1980-12-12
The Making of 'Superman: The Movie'
1980-01-01
Superman
1978-12-14
Hooray for Hollywood
1976-01-01
Mobile Two
1975-09-02
Journey into Fear
1975-08-08
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975-08-06
The Invisible Man
1975-05-06
The Day the Earth Moved
1974-09-18
Chosen Survivors
1974-05-24
Big John Morrison
1973-10-23
Stand Up and Be Counted
1972-05-01
The Astronaut
1972-01-08
The Love Machine
1971-08-14
Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring
1971-02-16
Shadow on the Land
1968-12-04
Calhoun
1964-07-08
Everything's Ducky
1961-12-20
French Leave
1948-04-10
Kilroy Was Here
1947-07-19
Stork Bites Man
1947-06-21
Where Are Your Children?
1943-11-26
The Navy Comes Through
1942-10-30
Men of Texas
1942-07-03
Syncopation
1942-05-22
Soaring Stars
1942-04-25
Glamour Boy
1941-12-05
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941-08-15
Her First Beau
1941-05-08
Ziegfeld Girl
1941-04-25
Life with Henry
1941-01-23
Gallant Sons
1940-11-15
Rodeo Dough
1940-11-09
The Return of Frank James
1940-08-10
Seventeen
1940-03-01
The Big Guy
1939-12-22
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939-10-13
What a Life
1939-10-05
Two Bright Boys
1939-09-21
Streets of New York
1939-04-12
The Spirit of Culver
1939-03-10
Scouts to the Rescue
1939-01-17
Newsboys' Home
1938-12-24
Gangster's Boy
1938-11-16
That Certain Age
1938-10-06
White Banners
1938-06-23
Bear Facts
1938-03-05
Boy of the Streets
1938-01-08
The Devil Is a Sissy
1936-09-18
Tough Guy
1936-01-24
O'Shaughnessy's Boy
1935-09-27
Dinky
1935-05-11
Peck's Bad Boy
1934-10-18
Treasure Island
1934-08-17
Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934-03-02
Lone Cowboy
1933-12-02
The Bowery
1933-10-07
Broadway to Hollywood
1933-09-15
Hollywood on Parade No. A-3
1932-10-20
Divorce In The Family
1932-08-27
When a Feller Needs a Friend
1932-04-30
Sooky
1931-12-26
The Christmas Party
1931-12-17
The Champ
1931-11-21
Young Donovan's Kid
1931-06-06
Bargain Day
1931-05-01
Skippy
1931-04-25
Little Daddy
1931-03-28
Love Business
1931-02-14
Helping Grandma
1931-01-03
School's Out
1930-11-21
Teacher's Pet
1930-10-11
Pups Is Pups
1930-08-30
A Tough Winter
1930-06-21
Bear Shooters
1930-05-16
The Ghosts
1930-04-05
When the Wind Blows
1930-04-05
The First Seven Years
1930-03-01
Shivering Shakespeare
1930-01-25
Sunny Side Up
1929-12-25
Moan & Groan, Inc.
1929-12-07
Bouncing Babies
1929-10-11
Boxing Gloves
1929-09-09
Fox Movietone Follies of 1929
1929-05-25
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