I was a cowboy from the time I hit the ground. He gained recognition for his authentic portrayal of many Western roles with his skills as a rancher and rodeo performer. He was drafted into the 40th Infantry Division in 1917 and served in World War I. Kline was struck by lightning while serving in Vietnam. During World War II, he experienced combat as a radioman in the Navy. He was medically discharged after being injured in an unrelated accident. Ben Johnson Wins Supporting Actor: 1972 Oscars - YouTube A cowboy in real life and on movie screens, Ben "Son" Johnson Jr. earned a best supporting actor Academy Award in 1972 for his work in "The Last Picture Show." He was born in nearby Foraker. [12], Ollie died on October 16, 2000, aged 101. While in school he became interested in acting and Born Charles Callias in Brooklyn, NY on December 20, 1927, he served in the US Army in Germany during World War 2.Originally a drummer, he played with Tommy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill and Buddy Rich. He joined the Air Force in 1955 with dreams of being a pilot, but when he got a taste of it in training, he realized he didn't have the stomach for combat flight and pursued less dangerous work in film. "Colors," "The Godfather," "The Natural," and "Falling Down" are just a few of the classics on Robert Duvall's resume. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. Awarded a Bronze Star for valor. As a young man, Franz enlisted in the Army after college and experienced intense combat in Vietnam, where he served with the 82nd Airborne. Johnson thought the incident had been forgotten, but Ford did not use him in a film for over a decade. During World War II he served as a radio operator before studying to serve as a French translator. Academy Award-winner and longtime leading man Ernest Borgnine made his Broadway debut in 1949 before heading to Hollywood. Flew at least one mission over North Vietnam in a B-52 bomber. Customer service: (509) 747-4422 He served in the Connecticut National Guard starting in 1948 and was discharged in 1950. Mesa, Arizona, USA (heart attack) Birth name Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. distribution partner, email us at For the last 20 or so years, Clark has been doing stand-up comedy on the club circuit, on "The Tonight Show", on HBO comedy specials, on [error] and Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993). All branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, are represented on the list, along with some actors from foreign countries. A decorated Army - Served as a Platoon Leader in Vietnam with the 5th Infantry division. Jun 12, 2018. Johnson was also a stuntman but wasn't credited for it. His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, left when Laurence was 5, and his mother raised the Army - Joined in '75. Brooks grew up poor in New York City's Brooklyn borough and enlisted in the Army right out of high school. He played Sam Bellows in the 1980 film Ruckus and Jack Mason in the 1984 action adventure Red Dawn. He did stunt-double work for several years before breaking into acting with the help of John Ford. 0. Though very poor, attended prep school at Marines - Worked with O.S.S. His favorites were jazz and big band. Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, CT, the youngest of two sons. Although he was best known as the crotchety father in "Everybody Loves Raymond," Peter Boyle amassed nearly 100 acting credits dating back to the mid-1960s. He entered the Marines in the 1950s for two years. He played Cap Roundtree in the 1979 miniseries The Sacketts. Although the Army - WWII. Ben Johnson (1918-1996) - Find a Grave Memorial You may also like: Most Emmy wins of all time. Ben Johnson Net Worth Stacker believes in making the worlds data more accessible through Ben Johnson Movies: Remembering the Academy Award-Winning Actor Two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine starred in the "Batman" franchise, as well as comedies like "Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels" and dramas like "The Cider House Rules" and "Hannah and her Sisters." From "Star Wars" to "Field of Dreams," James Earl Jones is among the most recognizable actors in the world. The museum showcases the life and career of Ben Johnson, as well as his father, Ben Johnson Sr., who was also a world-champion cowboy. In 1996, Tom Thurman made a documentary film about Johnson's life, titled Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right, written by Thurman and Tom Marksbury. Vietnam. During World War II, he left college to serve in the Navy. Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity : . That career was interrupted, however, in 1943 when he was drafted into the Army during World War II. He was born in San Francisco, California, the elder of two sons of Cecilia (Gold) and Joseph Whitman, a realtor. Francis Benjamin Johnson Jr. (June 13, 1918 April 8, 1996) was an American film and television actor, stuntman, and world-champion rodeo cowboy. Amiable and handsome James Garner had obtained success in both films and television, often playing variations of the charming anti-hero/con-man persona he first developed in Maverick, the offbeat western TV series that shot him to stardom in the late 1950s.James Garner was born James Scott Moses Gunn was born on October 2, 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was previously married to Gwendolyn Mumma Landes. 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. Although he died in 2015, Oscar nominee Robert Loggia earned 235 acting credits dating from 19512019, including memorable roles in big-screen blockbusters like "Big" and "Scarface," as well as in acclaimed TV series like "The Sopranos." Although he was drafted at the age of 18 in 1945 to serve in Italy during World War II, Daniels landed a pretty cushy gig. [3] In addition, he sponsored the Ben Johnson Pro Celebrity Team Roping and Penning competition, held in Oklahoma City and in Katy, Texas, the proceeds of which are donated to both the Children's Medical Research Inc. and the Children's Hospital of Oklahoma. He got off to a rocky start in the Corps, making trouble and spending time in the brig, where he was punished with rations of bread and water. He teamed up with John Wayne again, and director Andrew V. McLaglen, in two films, appearing with Rock Hudson in The Undefeated (1969) and in a fairly prominent role in Chisum (1970). When World War II broke out, he joined the Coast Guard but was stationed at home in Brooklyn, New York, to perform at military shows. 100 Actors Who Served in the Military | Stacker Rather than shining a light on the hundreds of films depicting the military or war, today we're recognizing movie stars who served their country in real life. 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. Although, despite his lack of service, he does quite a lot to support the troops. He was of German and Austrian ancestry. Since then has appeared in iconic shows as the Twilight Zone, the Red Skelton Hour, the Dick Van Dyke Show, the Danny Kaye Show, Hazel, My Three Sons, Ben Casey, The Lucy Show, I Army - Only cast member of M*A*S*H* to serve during the Korean War. Chuck Norris is familiar to fans worldwide as the star of action films such as The Hitman (1991), The Delta Force (1986) and Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection (1990). His parents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. The actor died of a heart attack. Participated on board ship in the mission that launched the Doolittle Raid. Before injuries forced him to retire, Ermey served for 11 years as a Marine, earning the rank of staff sergeant and the honorary title of gunnery sergeant after spending 14 months in Vietnam and completing two tours in Okinawa, Japan. As an only child, Ernest enjoyed most sports, especially boxing, Mike is one of four children. He was also a Navy veteran who served during World War II shortly after graduating from high school. Actor. Young served in the Marines from 1957 to 1959. He's also a veteran of the military. Raised in Louisville, Kentucky, at the age of seventeen, young Jack Navy - '38-'42 and Army '42-'45. 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. He was drafted during World War II and served for about six months. Western Actors - Hall of Fame - IMDb The phrase "Good morning, Vietnam!" He served in the Navy during World War II, working as a cook on a ship during the Battle of Okinawa. Grew up in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Maine. Tall and laconic, Johnson brought authenticity to many roles in Westerns with his droll manner and expert horsemanship. The winner of the 1971 Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show, BEN JOHNSON (1918-1996) was a former ranch hand and rodeo performer before starting in films as a wrangler, stuntman and double .