Guy Madison
Encyclopedia
Guy Madison was an American film and television actor.
, a junior college
, for two years and then worked briefly as a telephone lineman before joining the United States Coast Guard
in 1942.
, the head of talent at David O. Selznick
's newly formed Vanguard Pictures. Willson was widely known for his stable of good-looking, marginally talented actors with unusual names he bestowed upon them, and he immediately cast the rechristened Madison in a bit part in Selznick's Since You Went Away
. Following the film's release in 1944, the studio received thousands of letters from fans wanting to know more about him.
Madison was signed by RKO Pictures
in 1946 and began appearing in romantic comedies and dramas, but his wooden acting style hurt his chances of advancing in films. In 1951, television came to the rescue of his faltering career when he was cast in The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
, which ran for seven years. Following his television series, he appeared in several more films before leaving for Europe
, where he found greater success in spaghetti western
s.
(1949–1954) and Sheila Connolly (1954–1964). Both marriages ended in divorce. He had three daughters, Bridget Catherine (born April 26, 1955), Erin Patricia (born July 21, 1956), and Dolly Ann (born September 10, 1957).
Madison died from emphysema
at the age of 74 and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery
in Cathedral City, California
. For his contribution to the television industry, Guy Madison has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard
.
Early life
Born Robert Ozell Moseley in Pumpkin Center, California, Madison attended Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield College
Bakersfield College is a public community college located in Bakersfield, California, USA. Bakersfield College has an official Twitter account at @bcrenegades and an official...
, a junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
, for two years and then worked briefly as a telephone lineman before joining the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
in 1942.
Career
In 1944, while visiting Hollywood on leave from the U.S. Coast Guard, Madison's boyish good looks and physique caught the eye of Henry WillsonHenry Willson
Henry Willson was an American Hollywood talent agent who played a large role in popularizing the beefcake craze of the 1950s. He was known for his stable of young, attractive clients, including Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, Robert Wagner, Nick Adams, Guy Madison, Troy Donahue, Rory Calhoun, Clint...
, the head of talent at David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick was an American film producer. He is best known for having produced Gone with the Wind and Rebecca , both of which earned him an Oscar for Best Picture.-Early years:...
's newly formed Vanguard Pictures. Willson was widely known for his stable of good-looking, marginally talented actors with unusual names he bestowed upon them, and he immediately cast the rechristened Madison in a bit part in Selznick's Since You Went Away
Since You Went Away
Since You Went Away is a 1944 film distributed by United Artists, a big-budget epic about the American home front during World War II. It was directed by John Cromwell and adapted and produced by David O. Selznick from the novel Since You Went Away: Letters to a Soldier from His Wife by Margaret...
. Following the film's release in 1944, the studio received thousands of letters from fans wanting to know more about him.
Madison was signed by RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
in 1946 and began appearing in romantic comedies and dramas, but his wooden acting style hurt his chances of advancing in films. In 1951, television came to the rescue of his faltering career when he was cast in The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok is an American Western television series which ran for eight seasons from 1951 through 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from 1955 through 1958, and, at the same time, on ABC from 1957 through 1958.-Synopsis:The Adventures of Wild...
, which ran for seven years. Following his television series, he appeared in several more films before leaving for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where he found greater success in spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
s.
Personal life and death
Madison was married to actresses Gail RussellGail Russell
Gail Russell was an American film and television actress.-Career:She was born Elizabeth L. Russell to George and Gladys Russell in Chicago, Illinois, and then moved to the Los Angeles, California, area when she was a teenager. Russell's extraordinary beauty brought her to the attention of...
(1949–1954) and Sheila Connolly (1954–1964). Both marriages ended in divorce. He had three daughters, Bridget Catherine (born April 26, 1955), Erin Patricia (born July 21, 1956), and Dolly Ann (born September 10, 1957).
Madison died from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
at the age of 74 and was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City)
Forest Lawn Cemetery , renamed from Palm Springs Mortuary & Mausoleum in 2005, is a cemetery in Cathedral City, California near Palm Springs...
in Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
. For his contribution to the television industry, Guy Madison has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
.
Selected filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away Since You Went Away Since You Went Away is a 1944 film distributed by United Artists, a big-budget epic about the American home front during World War II. It was directed by John Cromwell and adapted and produced by David O. Selznick from the novel Since You Went Away: Letters to a Soldier from His Wife by Margaret... |
Sailor Harold E. Smith | |
| 1946 | Till the End of Time Till the End of Time (film) Till the End of Time is a 1946 drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk and starring Dorothy McGuire, Guy Madison, Robert Mitchum, and Bill Williams. Released the same year as the better known The Best Years of Our Lives, it covers much the same topic: the adjustment of World War II veterans to... |
Cliff W. Harper | |
| 1947 | Honeymoon | Corporal Phil Vaughn | Alternative title: Two Men and a Girl |
| 1948 | Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven | Eddie Tayloe | Alternative title: The Girl from Texas |
| 1949 | Massacre River | Lieutenant Larry Knight | |
| 1951 | Drums in the Deep South | Major Will Denning | |
| 1952 | Red Snow | Lieutenant Phil Johnson | |
| 1953 | The Charge at Feather River The Charge at Feather River The Charge at Feather River is a 1953 Western film directed by Gordon Douglas, was originally released in 3D with lots of arrows, lances, and other weapons flying directly at the audience in several scenes.... |
Miles Archer | |
| 1954 | The Command | Captain Robert MacClaw | |
| 1955 | 5 Against the House 5 Against the House 5 Against the House is a 1955 American heist film starring Kim Novak, Guy Madison and Brian Keith, directed by Phil Karlson and based on a story by Jack Finney... |
Al Mercer | |
| 1955 | The Last Frontier | Capt. Glenn Riordan | |
| 1956 | The Beast of Hollow Mountain The Beast of Hollow Mountain The Beast of Hollow Mountain is a 1956 scifi/horror western about an American cowboy living in Mexico who discovers his missing cattle are being preyed upon by an Allosaurus... |
Jimmy Ryan | |
| 1956 | On the Threshold of Space On the Threshold of Space On the Threshold of Space is a 1956 Drama directed by Robert D. Webb, starring Guy Madison, Virginia Leith and John Hodiak. Historical depiction on tests done to prepare US for space travel.-Plot:... |
Captain Jim Hollenbeck | |
| 1957 | The Hard Man | Steve Burden | |
| 1958 | Bullwhip | Steve Daley | |
| 1959 | Jet Over the Atlantic | Brett Murphy | |
| 1960 | La Schiava di Roma | Marco Valerio | Alternative title: Slave of Rome |
| 1962 | Rosmunda e Alboino | Amalchi | Alternative title: Sword of the Conqueror |
| 1963 | Il Boia di Venezia | Rodrigo Zeno | Alternative titles: The Executioner of Venice Blood of the Executioner |
| 1964 | Old Shatterhand Old Shatterhand (film) The film Old Shatterhand is a very successful Eurowestern based on the character Old Shatterhand invented by German novelist Karl May. It is a French, Italian, Yugoslavian, West German co-production filmed in 70mm. With about 5,000,000 DM in production the film was the most expensive Karl May... |
Capt. Bradley | Alt. titles: Shatterhand (US 1968) Apaches' Last Battle |
| 1964 | Il Vendicatore mascherato | Massimo | Alternative title: Gentlemen of the Night |
| 1965 | Das Vermächtnis des Inka | Jaguar/Karl Hansen | Alternative titles: Legacy of the Incas Viva Gringo |
| 1967 | Bang Bang Kid Bang Bang Kid Bang Bang Kid is a 1967 western film produced by Sidney W. Pink and starring Tom Bosley. The plot revolves around a madcap inventor who constructs a mechanical gunfighter to fight against a tyrannical crime lord.... |
Bear Bullock | Alternative titles: The Bang-Bang Kid Bang, Bang |
| 1971 | Reverendo Colt | Reverend Miller | Alternative title: Reverend's Colt |
| 1975 | The Pacific Connection | The Old Man | Alternative titles: South Pacific Connection South Pacific Connection |
| 1976 | Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood is a 1976 film directed by Michael Winner and starring Madeline Kahn, Bruce Dern, Teri Garr, and Art Carney... |
Star at screening | Alternative title: Won Ton Ton |
| 1978 | Where's Willie? | Tony Flore | Alternative titles: Computer Kid Computer Wizard |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951–1958 | The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok is an American Western television series which ran for eight seasons from 1951 through 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from 1955 through 1958, and, at the same time, on ABC from 1957 through 1958.-Synopsis:The Adventures of Wild... |
U.S. Marshal James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok | 112 episodes |
| 1955–1956 | The Ford Television Theatre | John Phil Quade |
2 episodes |
| 1955–1957 | Climax! | 2 episodes | |
| 1957 | Wagon Train Wagon Train Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65... |
Riley Gratton | 1 episode |
| 1958 | General Electric Theater General Electric Theater General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald W. Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations.-Radio:... |
Adam Tenney | 1 episode |
| 1959 | The Red Skelton Show The Red Skelton Show The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as... |
Prospector | 1 episode |
| 1960 | Death Valley Days Death Valley Days Death Valley Days is an American radio and television anthology series featuring true stories of the old American West, particularly the Death Valley area. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was broadcast on radio until 1945. It continued from 1952 to 1975 as a syndicated television series... |
Luke Short | 1 episode |
| 1961 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American Western anthology series which ran on CBS from 1956 to 1961.-Overview:Zane Grey Theatre was created by Luke Short and Charles A. Wallace... |
Jericho | 1 episode |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Brick Howard | 1 episode |
| 1987–1988 | Crossbow Crossbow (TV series) Crossbow is a 1987 action/adventure television series that aired on The Family Channel. The series was produced by Steven North and Richard Schlesinger for Robert Halmi Inc., in co-production with French television network FR3, and filmed entirely on location in France.-Synopsis:Crossbow follows... |
Gerrish | 2 episodes |
Awards
| Year | Award | Result | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Golden Globe Award Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign... |
Won | Special Award (Best Western star) |
| 1986 | Golden Boot Awards Golden Boot Awards The Golden Boot Awards honor actors, actresses, and crew members who have made significant contributions to the genre of Western television and movies. The award is sponsored and presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund... |
Golden Boot |