John Lund (actor)

John Lund
Lund in 1948
Born (1911-02-06)February 6, 1911
Rochester, New York, USA
Died May 10, 1992(1992-05-10) (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Years active 1938–1962
Spouse(s) Marie Lund
(1942–1982; her death)

John Lund (February 6, 1911 – May 10, 1992) was an American film actor who is probably best remembered for his role in the film A Foreign Affair (1948), directed by Billy Wilder, and a dual role in Mitchell Leisen's To Each His Own (1946). [1]

Background

John Lund's father was a Norwegian immigrant and glassblower in Rochester, New York. Lund did not finish high school,[2] and he tried several businesses before settling on advertising in the 1930s. His jobs included being "a soda-jerk, carpenter and timekeeper."[3]

Stage career

While working for an advertising agency, he was asked by a friend to appear in an industrial show for the 1939 World's Fair. As a result, he served as stage manager of Railroad on Parade at the fair and played several roles in the production.[4] Before moving to New York City he had appeared in several amateur productions in Rochester.[5] He began acting professionally by appearing on Broadway in William Shakespeare's As You Like It. He wrote the book and lyrics for Broadway's New Faces of 1943. It was his appearance in the play The Hasty Heart (1945) that got him recognized by Hollywood[3] and led to a long-term film contract with Paramount Pictures.

Radio career

Lund had the title role in the serial Chaplain Jim on the Blue Network in the early 1940s.[6] Lund also played Johnny Dollar in the radio show Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, taking over from 1952 until 1954.

Film career

His first film was To Each His Own (1946) with Olivia de Havilland for Paramount, in which he played dual roles. A Foreign Affair (1948), in which Lund played romantic lead to both Marlene Dietrich and Jean Arthur, was highly acclaimed but failed to make him a major star. In 1949, in My Friend Irma, Lund is Al, boyfriend of Irma (Marie Wilson).

In 1951 he co-starred with Gene Tierney, Miriam Hopkins, and Thelma Ritter in Mitchell Leisen's comedy The Mating Season. The same year he appeared with Joan Fontaine in the comedy Darling, How Could You!.

In 1956 he co-starred with Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in MGM's High Society, the musical remake of MGM's 1940 greatly successful The Philadelphia Story.

Later years

By the early 1960s, he appeared in minor films and secondary roles and then retired from the screen in 1963, becoming a successful Hollywood businessman. Lund retired to his home in Coldwater Canyon in the Hollywood Hills in 1963 and died of heart problems in 1992.

Family

Lund was married to Marie Charton, who was an actress and a model.[7]

Partial filmography

Radio appearances

YearProgramEpisode/source
1946Hollywood Star TimeThe Lady Eve[8]
1946Suspense"A Plane Case of Murder"[9]
1952Screen Guild TheatreThe Mating of Millie[10]
1952Hollywood Star PlayhouseThe Word[11]
1953Lux Radio TheatreLady in the Dark[12]
1953Theatre Guild on the AirO'Halloran's Luck''[13]
1953Broadway PlayhouseSalty O'Rourke[14]
1958SuspenseOld Time's Sake[15]

References

  1. ↑ John Lund, 81; Radio, Stage and Film Actor (Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1992)
  2. ↑ New York Times May 13, 1992
  3. 1 2 "Jobs upon a Time". The Kane Republican. September 20, 1948. p. 4. Retrieved June 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (September 26, 1948). "John Lund – He's 'New Look'". The Salt Lake Tribune. p. 95. Retrieved June 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper, March 6, 1946, also Rochester Times Union newspaper, March 8, 1946; both articles are archived in the 1944–1946 Scrapbook of the Rochester Community Players collection, Local History Department, Rochester Public Library
  6. ↑ Dunning, John. (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-507678-3. P. 149.
  7. ↑ "In Hollywood". The Courier Gazette. April 4, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved June 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Joan Blondell In 'Lady Eve' On WHP 'Star Time'". Harrisburg Telegraph. September 21, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved October 7, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ http://www.escape-suspense.com/2009/08/suspense-a-plane-case-of-murder.html
  10. ↑ Kirby, Walter (April 13, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved May 11, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Kirby, Walter (December 28, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 36. Retrieved June 5, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Kirby, Walter (February 15, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 42. Retrieved June 21, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Kirby, Walter (March 1, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 46. Retrieved June 23, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Kirby, Walter (May 17, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "John Lund Stars". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. November 30, 1958. p. 70. Retrieved June 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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