Jeff Chandler (actor)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; yi, יראַ גראָססעל; December 15, 1918 – June 17, 1961) was an American actor, film producer, and singer, best remembered for playing
Cochise Cochise (; Apache: ''Shi-ka-She'' or ''A-da-tli-chi'', lit.: ''having the quality or strength of an oak''; later ''K'uu-ch'ish'' or ''Cheis'', lit. ''oak''; June 8, 1874) was leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen and principa ...
in '' Broken Arrow'' (1950), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was one of
Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
' more popular male stars of the 1950s. His other credits include ''
Sword in the Desert ''Sword in the Desert'' is a 1949 American war film directed by George Sherman. It was the first American film to deal with the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and marked the first significant feature film role for Jeff Chandler. Plo ...
'' (1948), ''
Deported Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. The term ''expulsion'' is often used as a synonym for deportation, though expulsion is more often used in the context of international law, while deportation ...
'' (1950), ''
Female on the Beach ''Female on the Beach'' is a 1955 American crime-drama film directed by Joseph Pevney starring Joan Crawford and Jeff Chandler in a story about a widow and her beach bum lover. The screenplay by Robert Hill and Richard Alan Simmons was based o ...
'' (1955), and ''
Away All Boats ''Away All Boats'' is a 1956 American war film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Jeff Chandler, George Nader, Lex Barker, and Julie Adams. It was produced by Howard Christie from a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman based on the 1953 novel by Kenn ...
'' (1956). In addition to his acting in film, he was known for his role in the radio program ''
Our Miss Brooks ''Our Miss Brooks'' is an American sitcom starring Eve Arden as a sardonic high-school English teacher. It began as a radio show broadcast on CBS from 1948 to 1957. When the show was adapted to television (1952–56), it became one of the medi ...
'', as her fellow teacher and clueless object of affection, and for his musical recordings.


Early life

Chandler was born Ira Grossel to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, the only child of Anna (née Herman) and Phillip Grossel. He was raised by his mother after his parents separated when he was a child. He attended
Erasmus Hall High School Erasmus Hall High School was a four-year public high school located at 899–925 Flatbush Avenue between Church and Snyder Avenues in the Flatbush neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It was founded in 1786 as Erasmus Hall Ac ...
, the alma mater of many stage and film personalities, where he acted in school plays; his schoolmates included
Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model A ...
. Chandler's father was connected with the restaurant business and got his son a job as a restaurant cashier. Chandler said he always wanted to act, but courses for commercial art were cheaper, so he studied art for a year and worked as a layout artist for a mail-order catalogue at $18 a week."Fame Has Its Fee For Jeff Chandler" by Richard L. Coe. ''
The Washington Post and Times-Herald ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'', March 31, 1954: 22.
"Jeff Chandler Is Dead; Blame Blood Poison: JEFF CHANDLER" ''Los Angeles Times'' June 18, 1961: f1. Eventually, he saved up enough money to take a drama course at the Feagin School of Dramatic Art in New York. He worked briefly in radio, then got a job in a stock company on Long Island as an actor and stage manager. He worked for two years in stock companies, including a performance of ''The Trojan Horse'' opposite famous singers and actors
Gordon MacRae Albert Gordon MacRae (March 12, 1921 – January 24, 1986) was an American actor, singer and radio/television host who appeared in the film versions of two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals ''Oklahoma!'' (1955) and '' Carousel'' (1956) and who p ...
and his wife
Sheila MacRae Sheila Margaret MacRae (née Stephens; 24 September 1921 – 6 March 2014) was an English-born American actress, singer, and dancer. Career MacRae appeared in such films as '' Caged'' (1950), '' Backfire'' (1950), and ''Sex and the Single Gir ...
, who became his good friends."Big Chief!: As an Indian, Jeff Chandler caused countless feminine hearts to flutter; now, in straight dramatic roles, he's a box office smash". Hopper, Hedda. ''Chicago Daily Tribune'' November 9, 1952: i9. Chandler formed his own company, the Shady Lane Playhouse, in Illinois in the summer of 1941. The company toured the Midwest with some success, presenting such plays as '' The Bad Man'', '' Seventh Heaven'', ''The New Minister'', and ''Pigs''. When America entered World War II, Chandler enlisted in the army. He served for four years, mostly in the
Aleutians The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a chain of 14 large vo ...
, finishing with the rank of lieutenant.


Radio

After being discharged from the army, Chandler moved to Los Angeles in December 1945 with $3,000 he had saved. Shortly after his arrival, he was involved in a serious car accident on the way to a screen test, which resulted in a large scar on his forehead. Chandler initially struggled to find work in Hollywood, and had spent all his savings when he got his first job as a radio actor in May 1946."Jeff Chandler Man of Many Faces: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and Is a Glamor Guy, Too Hedda Hopper Writes of Jeff Chandler", Hopper, Hedda, ''Chicago Daily Tribune'', May 6, 1951: c8. He went on to appear in episodes of anthology drama series such as ''
Escape Escape or Escaping may refer to: Computing * Escape character, in computing and telecommunication, a character which signifies that what follows takes an alternative interpretation ** Escape sequence, a series of characters used to trigger some so ...
'' and '' Academy Award Theater'', and became well known for playing the lead in ''
Michael Shayne Michael "Mike" Shayne is a fictional private detective character created during the late 1930s by writer Brett Halliday, a pseudonym of Davis Dresser. The character appeared in a series of seven films starring Lloyd Nolan for Twentieth Century Fo ...
''. Chandler was the first actor to portray Chad Remington in '' Frontier Town''.


Early film roles

Chandler had appeared on air in ''
Rogue's Gallery A rogues' gallery (or rogues gallery) is a police collection of mug shots or other images of criminal suspects kept for identification purposes. History In 1855, Allan Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, established a ...
'' with
Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...
, who was impressed by the actor, and put pressure on Columbia to give Chandler his first film role, a small part as a gangster in '' Johnny O'Clock'' (1947).Jeff Wells. ''Jeff Chandler: Film, Record, Radio, Television and Theater Performances''. McFarland, 2005. He tested for Columbia's '' The Loves of Carmen'' but did not get the part. He went on to play small roles as gangsters in '' Roses are Red'' and '' The Invisible Wall'', and a policeman in '' Mr Belvedere Goes to College''. Chandler received more attention playing
Eve Arden Eve Arden (born Eunice Mary Quedens, April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) was an American film, radio, stage and television actress. She performed in leading and supporting roles for nearly six decades. Beginning her film career in 1929 ...
's love interest on radio in ''Our Miss Brooks'', which debuted in July 1948 and became a massive hit.


''Sword in the Desert''

Chandler's performance in ''Our Miss Brooks'' brought him to the attention of executives at Universal, who were looking for someone to play an Israeli leader in ''
Sword in the Desert ''Sword in the Desert'' is a 1949 American war film directed by George Sherman. It was the first American film to deal with the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine and marked the first significant feature film role for Jeff Chandler. Plo ...
'' (1949). He was cast in February 1949. Chandler impressed studio executives so much with his work that shortly into filming, Universal signed him to a seven-year contract. His first film under the arrangement was a supporting role in ''
Abandoned Abandon, abandoned, or abandonment may refer to: Common uses * Abandonment (emotional), a subjective emotional state in which people feel undesired, left behind, insecure, or discarded * Abandonment (legal), a legal term regarding property ** Chi ...
'' (1949).


''Broken Arrow'' and stardom

Writer-director
Delmer Daves Delmer Lawrence Daves (July 24, 1904 – August 17, 1977) was an American screenwriter, film director and film producer. He worked in many genres, including film noir and warfare, but he is best known for his Western movies, especially '' Br ...
was looking for an actor to play Cochise in '' Broken Arrow'' (1950) at
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
. The part was proving tricky to cast; in Chandler's words, "Fox was looking for a guy big enough physically to play the role and unfamiliar enough to moviegoers to lend authenticity." Chandler's performance as a similar resistance leader-type in ''Sword of the Desert'' brought him to the studio's attention, and he was borrowed from Universal for the role in May 1949. As part of the arrangement, Chandler signed a deal with Fox to make a film a year with them for six years. He also had to be written out of his radio shows ''Michael Shayne'' and ''Our Miss Brooks'' for several weeks."Jeff Chandler Finally Gets to 'Act His Age': Rising Young (31) Screens Player Considers Himself 'a Lucky Kid'" SCHEUER, PHILIP K. ''Los Angeles Times'' October 29, 1950: D3. ''Broken Arrow'' turned out to be a considerable hit, earning Chandler an Oscar nomination and establishing him as a star. He was the first actor nominated for an Academy Award for portraying an American Indian. Even before ''Broken Arrow'' was released, Chandler was upped to leading-man status back at Universal. He was meant to make ''Death on a Sidestreet''"BETTE DAVIS SEEKS TO LEAVE WARNERS: Negotiations Are Under Way to Cancel Contract, Making Actress a Free Agent" by THOMAS F. BRADY ''New York Times'' July 26, 1949: 31. and ''The Lady Count'' but neither ended up being made. Instead, he took over a role originally meant for
Dana Andrews Carver Dana Andrews (January 1, 1909 – December 17, 1992) was an American film actor who became a major star in what is now known as film noir. A leading man during the 1940s, he continued acting in less prestigious roles and character parts ...
, a
Lucky Luciano Charles "Lucky" Luciano (, ; born Salvatore Lucania ; November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was an Italian-born gangster who operated mainly in the United States. Luciano started his criminal career in the Five Points gang and was instrumenta ...
-style gangster in ''
Deported Deportation is the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. The term ''expulsion'' is often used as a synonym for deportation, though expulsion is more often used in the context of international law, while deportation ...
'', for producer Robert Buckner, who cast him in ''Sword in the Desert''. "I don't know why I got it," Chandler joked at the time, "maybe it's because I'm saving them money.""BY WAY OF REPORT" by A. H. WEILER. ''New York Times'' August 21, 1949: X3. The movie was shot on location in Italy, although Chandler's radio commitments meant some of it had to be filmed in Hollywood. He went back to Fox for his second film for them, as an embittered Union cavalryman in ''
Two Flags West ''Two Flags West'' is a 1950 Western drama set during the American Civil War, directed by Robert Wise and starring Joseph Cotten, Jeff Chandler, Linda Darnell, and Cornel Wilde. The opening credits contain the following statement: On December ...
'' for director
Robert Wise Robert Earl Wise (September 10, 1914 – September 14, 2005) was an American film director, producer, and editor. He won the Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Picture for his musical films ''West Side Story'' (1961) and ''The Sound of ...
. Chandler replaced
Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage. He often played arrogant, intimidating and abrasive characters, but he also acted as respectabl ...
, and it was one of his least-typical roles, a character part rather than a leading man. Once again, location work required him to regularly commute back and forth to Hollywood throughout the shoot. Returning to Universal, Chandler played an adventurer in ''
Smuggler's Island ''Smuggler's Island'' is a 1951 American Technicolor film noir adventure film directed by Edward Ludwig starring Jeff Chandler and Evelyn Keyes Chandler called the film one of his favourites because "I played myself". Around this time Chandler t ...
'', a role he liked because he said it was close to his real personality. Hollywood tended to cast him, though, in different nationalities. According to one profile, "he has unusual face, with taut, bony features, which seem to fit neatly into any sort of role". He was reunited with Fox and Delmer Daves to play a Polynesian chief in '' Bird of Paradise'' (1951), which Chandler admitted was a variation of his performance as Cochise. It was the last film he made outside Universal for a number of years. Back at Universal, he played a boxer in ''
Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...
'' (1951), a remake of an old
Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...
movie. He was announced for another film with Buckner, ''The Wild Bunch'', which was not made; instead, he played an Arab chief in ''
Flame of Araby ''Flame of Araby'' (a.k.a. ''Flame of the Desert'') is a 1951 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Charles Lamont starring Maureen O'Hara and Jeff Chandler. British film star Maxwell Reed made his American film debut in the picture. Lo ...
'' (1951), opposite
Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...
. Around this time, Chandler expressed his dissatisfaction with acting in film as opposed to radio:
adio actorshave to make their roles come alive, and they only have their voices with which to do it, but in pictures, the technique is quite different. The actor is only a small part of the performance. He lends his intelligence and personality to the role, but the greatest part of the performance belongs to the producer, who puts him in a certain type of part; the director, who tells him how to play it; and the cutter, who edits what's done. That's why I find being a movie actor not particularly gratifying. I want to eventually branch off into writing and directing.
Chandler reprised his role as Cochise in another Western, ''
The Battle at Apache Pass ''The Battle at Apache Pass'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by George Sherman. The stars are John Lund as United States Army Maj. Colton and Jeff Chandler (in brownface) repeating the role of Apache chief Cochise, whom he had playe ...
'', for Universal. He then went on to make a war film, ''
Red Ball Express The Red Ball Express was a famed truck convoy system that supplied Allied forces moving quickly through Europe after breaking out from the D-Day beaches in Normandy in 1944. To expedite cargo shipment to the front, trucks emblazoned with red ...
'', and a swashbuckler, ''
Yankee Buccaneer ''Yankee Buccaneer'' is a 1952 American adventure film directed by Frederick de Cordova and starring Jeff Chandler as a US Navy officer fighting pirates, and Scott Brady and Suzan Ball. Distributed by Universal-International and produced by Howard ...
''. He made a cameo in ''
Meet Danny Wilson ''Meet Danny Wilson'' is the debut album by Scottish pop group Danny Wilson. It became a significant hit in America on the strength of the summer of 1987 hit single "Mary's Prayer". Track listing All tracks composed by Gary Clark. # "Davy ...
'' and had a change of pace when he supported
Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the fil ...
in '' Because of You'' – which a few years later he called his favorite role. Young later said Chandler "was more of a personality than an actor... a charming man." In 1952, exhibitors voted Chandler the 22nd-most popular star in the US.
20th Century-Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...
was keen to use Chandler again and offered him roles in ''
The Day the Earth Stood Still ''The Day the Earth Stood Still'' (a.k.a. ''Farewell to the Master'' and ''Journey to the World'') is a 1951 American science fiction film from 20th Century Fox, produced by Julian Blaustein and directed by Robert Wise. It stars Michael Renn ...
'', ''
Lydia Bailey ''Lydia Bailey'' is a 1952 American historical film directed by Jean Negulesco, based on the novel of the same name by Kenneth Roberts. It stars Dale Robertson and Anne Francis. Plot In 1802, lawyer Albion Hamlin travels from Baltimore to Ca ...
'', ''Les Misérables'', and ''
The Secret of Convict Lake ''The Secret of Convict Lake'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Michael Gordon and starring Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore and Zachary Scott. The film was a critical and commercial success. The story is fiction, based on ...
''. Universal refused to lend him, though, as he was now one of their biggest stars. ''Our Miss Brooks'' transferred to television, but Chandler was not permitted to do TV under his contract; his part was taken by
Robert Rockwell Robert Rockwell (October 15, 1920 – January 25, 2003) was an American stage, film, radio and television actor. He is best known for playing the handsome, but awkward biology teacher Philip Boynton in the radio and television sitcom ''Our Miss ...
. On
Peggy Lee Norma Deloris Egstrom (May 26, 1920 – January 21, 2002), known professionally as Peggy Lee, was an American jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalis ...
's radio show, he had demonstrated a talent for singing, and he pursued this through the decade.


New contract

In July 1952, Chandler signed a fresh contract with Universal that doubled his salary. His first movie under this was a Western, ''
The Great Sioux Uprising ''The Great Sioux Uprising'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Jeff Chandler, Faith Domergue and Lyle Bettger. Plot During the Civil War, in Wyoming, horse dealers Joan Britton (Faith Domergue) and Stephen Cook ...
''. It was followed by more adventure fare: ''
East of Sumatra ''East of Sumatra'' is a 1953 American south seas adventure film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Jeff Chandler, Marilyn Maxwell, Anthony Quinn and Suzan Ball. Plot Duke Mullane (Jeff Chandler), manager of a Malayan tin mine, goes to a ...
'' and ''
War Arrow ''War Arrow'' is a 1954 American Technicolor Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Maureen O'Hara, Jeff Chandler and John McIntire. Filmed by Universal Pictures and based on the Seminole Scouts, the film was shot in Agoura, Calif ...
'' with Maureen O'Hara. This meant Chandler missed the part of Demetrius in ''
The Robe ''The Robe'' is a 1942 historical novel about the Crucifixion of Jesus, written by Lloyd C. Douglas. The book was one of the best-selling titles of the 1940s. It entered the ''New York Times'' Best Seller list in October 1942, four weeks later ...
'' (1953) at Fox, for which he had been considered and which eventually went to
Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...
. He also missed out on the lead in the remake of ''
Magnificent Obsession ''Magnificent Obsession'' is a 1929 novel by American author Lloyd C. Douglas. It was one of four of his books that were eventually made into blockbuster motion pictures, the other three being '' The Robe'', '' White Banners'' and ''The Big Fisher ...
'', for which he had been mooted; the part was taken by
Rock Hudson Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. A prominent heartthrob in the Golde ...
, who had supported Chandler in ''Iron Man''. Both ''The Robe'' and ''Magnificent Obsession'' became big hits. Chandler played Cochise for the third time, a cameo in ''
Taza, Son of Cochise ''Taza, Son of Cochise'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush. The film was shot in 3D, and is one of just two films confirmed to have been released in the Pola-Lite 3D System using ...
'', starring Hudson, who soon overtook Chandler as Universal's biggest male star. Universal announced him for ''
Chief Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( lkt, Tȟašúŋke Witkó, italic=no, , ; 1840 – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota war leader of the Oglala band in the 19th century. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by w ...
'', but the role ended up being played by Victor Mature. Instead, he appeared in '' Yankee Pasha'', and started singing in nightclubs. He left the radio show ''Our Miss Brooks'' after five years "to get a rest," he said, "Although it didn't take long to do the show, it tied up all my Sundays." Chandler appeared in an expensive (for Universal) epic, playing the Emperor
Marcian Marcian (; la, Marcianus, link=no; grc-gre, Μαρκιανός, link=no ; 392 – 27 January 457) was Roman emperor of the East from 450 to 457. Very little of his life before becoming emperor is known, other than that he was a (personal as ...
in ''
Sign of the Pagan ''Sign of the Pagan'' is a 1954 American historical drama film directed by Douglas Sirk, shot in CinemaScope (color by Technicolor), and released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Jeff Chandler, Jack Palance, Ludmilla Tchérina, and Rita Gam ...
'' and co-starred with
Jane Russell Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011) was an American actress, singer, and model. She was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in more than 20 films. Russell moved from th ...
in ''
Foxfire Foxfire, also called fairy fire and chimpanzee fire, is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. The bluish-green glow is attributed to a luciferase, an oxidative enzyme, which emits light as it reacts with ...
'' (1955), which he enjoyed because, "I don't have to be so darned monosyllabic in this one." He then made ''
Female on the Beach ''Female on the Beach'' is a 1955 American crime-drama film directed by Joseph Pevney starring Joan Crawford and Jeff Chandler in a story about a widow and her beach bum lover. The screenplay by Robert Hill and Richard Alan Simmons was based o ...
'' with
Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pict ...
and began releasing records.


Conflicts with Universal

In 1954, Chandler was starting to recognize how heavy his workload was:
You just can't call your time your own. When you're trekking the country – as I am now for my Decca records "I Should Care" and "More Than Anyone" and for Universal International, my home studio – every hour of the day, from the morning disc jockeys to the midnight program is filled. And in Hollywood, if you're not working on a picture or getting ready for one, you have to keep studying. I make a point of answering all my mail, and when anyone asks me for an autograph, I'm not just flattered. I see that as the least I can do for the people who have given me the fruits of this world.
In May, Chandler refused to play the lead in ''
Six Bridges to Cross ''Six Bridges to Cross'' or ''6 Bridges to Cross'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Tony Curtis, George Nader and Julie Adams. ''Six Bridges to Cross'' is based upon the famous 1950 Great Brink's ...
'' and Universal put him on suspension. He was replaced in the role by
George Nader George Garfield Nader, Jr. (October 19, 1921 – February 4, 2002) was an American actor and writer. He appeared in a variety of films from 1950 to 1974, including ''Sins of Jezebel'' (1953), ''Congo Crossing'' (1956), and ''The Female Animal'' ...
. Chandler spoke of making ''Young Moses'' and a Western with friends
Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor whose career spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s (Kansas Raiders, 1950) and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 f ...
and
Janet Leigh Jeanette Helen Morrison (July 6, 1927 – October 3, 2004), known professionally as Janet Leigh, was an American actress, singer, dancer, and author. Her career spanned over five decades. Raised in Stockton, California, by working-class parents, ...
, but neither film was made. He said that "being a movie star isn't worth it":
I can't go anywhere as an ordinary individual. There was a time I could walk around Times Square in New York (my home town) and look into shop windows or go into a cafe and eat in peace. But no more. I can't go anywhere unnoticed. Movie fans seem to think that actors belong to them, but we like to feel we belong to ourselves. Don't get me wrong – I wanted fame and money when I decided to take up acting. I like being recognized – it's flattering. But there's always one character who spoils anything... I walk into a restaurant and get a ringside table- but you remember I also have to leave the biggest tip. If I don't, I'm labeled the tightest guy in town. And let's face it, acting is the easiest way I know to make a buck. But I think I'm a fairly bright boy – I figure I could have made as much in some other business... Anyone in the world with imagination and initiative can become a success. Me? I like to push buttons. I was born to be an executive – an idea man. An executive is a guy who thinks things up and has other people execute them. I'd quit work immediately if I had the money, and travel for a while. I'd like to do some writing. I marked two radio scripts and have finished synopses and five movie stories.
Chandler made up with Universal, which cast him in ''
Lady Godiva of Coventry ''Lady Godiva of Coventry'' is a 1955 American Technicolor historical drama film, directed by Arthur Lubin. It starred Maureen O'Hara in the title role. Alec Harford, the English actor who portrayed Tom the Tailor, died eight months before the f ...
''. Chandler refused the role and was replaced again by George Nader, but this time, the dispute was not over money, but due to Chandler's overwork. Universal cast Chandler in an expensive remake of '' The Spoilers'', then was given the lead in one of the studio's most prestigious films of the year, ''
Away All Boats ''Away All Boats'' is a 1956 American war film directed by Joseph Pevney and starring Jeff Chandler, George Nader, Lex Barker, and Julie Adams. It was produced by Howard Christie from a screenplay by Ted Sherdeman based on the 1953 novel by Kenn ...
''. In May, Chandler performed at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. The ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that Chandler "is proving remarkable in performing singing duty, even though he is not exactly a singing type". He made a Western, ''
Pillars of the Sky ''Pillars of the Sky'' is a 1956 American CinemaScope Western film directed by George Marshall and starring Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone. Plot Oregon Country 1868: Indians of many tribes trust Sgt. Emmett Bell, who rides into Dr. Joseph Ho ...
'', then had a change of pace with the comedy ''
The Toy Tiger ''The Toy Tiger'' is a 1956 American comedy film directed by Jerry Hopper and starring Laraine Day and Jeff Chandler. It is a remake of ''Mad About Music'' (1938). Plot New York City advertising executive Gwen Harkinson is a widow with a son, Ti ...
'', the fourth movie he made that year.
Louella Parsons Louella Parsons (born Louella Rose Oettinger; August 6, 1881 – December 9, 1972) was an American movie columnist and a screenwriter. She was retained by William Randolph Hearst because she had championed Hearst's mistress Marion Davies and su ...
called Chandler "the busiest actor in town... Jeff is so happy in his private life these days that he's doing everything the studio wants." Towards the end of the year, Chandler formed his own production company, Earlmar, with his agent
Meyer Mishkin Meyer Mishkin (February 18, 1912 – October 9, 1999) was a Hollywood agent. His clients included Jeff Chandler, Richard Dreyfuss, Tom Skerritt, Lee Marvin, Jim Davis, Marvin Kaplan, and Gary Busey. He was credited with helping discover Tyron ...
. This was to take effect from August 1956 onwards, when Chandler's exclusive contract with Universal expired. However, Chandler intended to continue to make films for Universal under a multipicture contract. He was voted the seventh-most popular star with British cinema goers.


Producer and new contract with Universal

In 1956, Universal gave Chandler a leave of absence from his contract with them "for a period of several months" to enable him to make his own movie for Earlmar. In exchange for this, Chandler was to make two more films for Universal under his original contract with them, then enter into a new arrangement under which he would appear in two films a year over three years."NEW MOVIE DEAL FOR BILLY WILDER: Signed to Direct 'Witness for the Prosecution' After Completing 2 Other Films R.K.O. Buys Rose TV Play" by THOMAS M. PRYOR ''New York Times'' April 27, 1956: 22. Earlmar signed a six-picture deal with
United Artists United Artists Corporation (UA), currently doing business as United Artists Digital Studios, is an American digital production company. Founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, the studi ...
, under which Chandler was to appear in at least three of the films. He acted in and produced the first Earlmar production, a Western, ''
Drango ''Drango'' is a 1957 American Western film produced by Jeff Chandler's production company Earlmar Productions, written and directed by Hall Bartlett, and released by United Artists. Starring Chandler in the title role, the film also features ...
''. "It's no Indian story," said Chandler, "let Cochise rest in peace." Chandler bought the rights to a novel, ''Lincoln McEever'', but it was never made; ''Drango'' turned out to be Earlmar's sole production. After ''Drango'', Chandler made the final two films owed under his original contract with Universal: ''
The Tattered Dress ''The Tattered Dress'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope film noir crime film released by Universal Pictures and directed by Jack Arnold. It stars Jeff Chandler, Jeanne Crain, Jack Carson, Gail Russell and Elaine Stewart. Plot In a California r ...
'', playing a lawyer in a melodrama, and '' Man in the Shadow'', co-starring opposite
Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...
. He had commitments to make two films per year at Universal until 1959.


Freelance star

Chandler moved to Columbia and acted with
Kim Novak Marilyn Pauline "Kim" Novak (born February 13, 1933) is an American retired film and television actress and painter. Novak began her career in 1954 after signing with Columbia Pictures and quickly became one of Hollywood's top box office stars, ...
in ''
Jeanne Eagels Jeanne Eagels (born Eugenia Eagles; June 26, 1890 – October 3, 1929) was an American stage and film actress. A former Ziegfeld Girl, Eagels went on to greater fame on Broadway and in the emerging medium of sound films. She was posthumously no ...
''. He followed this with two films for Universal, '' The Lady Takes a Flyer'' with
Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized per ...
, and '' Raw Wind in Eden'' with
Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...
. A Motion Picture Exhibitor Poll listed him as the tenth-most popular male star in the US in 1957. Chandler made another for Universal, ''
A Stranger in My Arms ''A Stranger in My Arms'' (also known as ''And Ride a Tiger'') is a 1959 CinemaScope drama film directed by Helmut Käutner and starring June Allyson, Jeff Chandler, Sandra Dee, Charles Coburn, Mary Astor and Peter Graves. Plot A Korean War t ...
'' with
June Allyson June Allyson (born Eleanor Geisman; October 7, 1917 – July 8, 2006) was an American stage, film, and television actress, dancer, and singer. Allyson began her career in 1937 as a dancer in short subject films and on Broadway in 1938. She sign ...
. He was to star opposite Tony Curtis in ''
Operation Petticoat ''Operation Petticoat'' is a 1959 American World War II submarine comedy film in Eastmancolor from Universal-International, produced by Robert Arthur, directed by Blake Edwards, that stars Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. The film tells in flashback ...
'' (1959), but fell ill and had to withdraw. Chandler's next two movies were made for a brand new company, Seven Arts: ''
Ten Seconds to Hell ''Ten Seconds To Hell'' (released in the UK as ''The Phoenix'') is a 1959 British and West German film directed by Robert Aldrich, based on Lawrence P. Bachmann's novel ''The Phoenix''. The Hammer Films/UFA joint production stars Jack Palance, ...
'', a drama with
Jack Palance Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk ( uk, Володимир Палагню́к); February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor known for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all fo ...
for director
Robert Aldrich Robert Burgess Aldrich (August 9, 1918 – December 5, 1983) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. His notable credits include '' Vera Cruz'' (1954), ''Kiss Me Deadly'' (1955), ''The Big Knife'' (1955), '' Autumn L ...
, and ''
Thunder in the Sun ''Thunder in the Sun'' is a 1959 American Western film directed by Russell Rouse and starring Susan Hayward and Jeff Chandler. Plot The film shows a family of French Basque immigrants pioneering into the Wild West while carrying their ancestr ...
'', a Western with
Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model A ...
. The last of those was distributed by Paramount, which released Chandler's next film, another Western, ''
The Jayhawkers! ''The Jayhawkers!'' is a 1959 American Technicolor VistaVision film directed by Melvin Frank, starring Jeff Chandler as Luke Darcy and Fess Parker as Cam Bleeker. The film is set in pre-Civil War Kansas. Darcy leads a gang which seeks to take ad ...
'' In ''Ten Seconds to Hell'' and ''The Jayhawkers!'' Chandler played villains. He later reflected "I've tried heavies – but audiences didn't seem to take to that." Chandler formed another production company, August, for which he made '' The Plunderers'', a Western, distributed by Allied Artists. Allied was so pleased with the film, they requested three more movies from August, but Chandler never got to make them."Renewal at Allied for Jeff Chandler: 'Plunderers' Pleases Studio; Star Urges Subsidy for Films" Scheuer, Philip K. ''Los Angeles Times'' October 4, 1960: A9. His next film, ''
The Story of David ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
'', was filmed for American TV, his first work in that medium, but was shown theatrically in other countries. It was shot in London and Israel. Chandler stated:
I don't want to make pictures in other countries; I want to stay home. But suddenly there are not enough pictures being made here. All other countries are giving inducements to companies and to players; even a little country like Israel is trying to formulate a plan for subsidies. Our government still taxes the hell out of people; somebody ought to wake 'em up.
Chandler appeared in ''
Return to Peyton Place ''Return to Peyton Place'' is a 1959 novel by Grace Metalious, a sequel to her best-selling 1956 novel '' Peyton Place''. Plot summary After the phenomenal success of her first novel, Metalious hastily penned a sequel centering on the life and ...
'' for Fox. He then went over to Warner Bros. to make ''
Merrill's Marauders Merrill’s Marauders (named after Frank Merrill) or Unit ''Galahad'', officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), was a United States Army long range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit, which fought in the Southe ...
'', which was his last film.


Personal life

Chandler married actress
Marjorie Hoshelle Marjorie Leah Hoshell (January 7, 1918 – April 5, 1989) was an American actress. Born in Chicago, Hoshelle was the daughter of Norman and Leah Hoshell. She graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago and UCLA. Portraying Juliet in a stage p ...
in 1946. The couple had two daughters, Jamie Tucker (born 1947) and Dana Grossel (born 1949). They separated in 1951, again in 1954, and filed for divorce in 1954. His wife complained that Chandler was "chronically fatigued so that he would fall asleep wherever we were." They reconciled in March 1955. In 1957, he had an affair with
Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...
while they made a movie together, and his wife filed for divorce at the end of the year. In his 1958 divorce proceedings, Chandler was revealed to be paying his wife an allowance of $1,500 per month. He said he was under contract to Universal to make two films a year at $60,000 per film for 1957 and $75,000 per film for 1958. He said he earned $250,000 in 1957 from his acting and singing, but had a lot of expenses, with his personal manager, business manager, and agent taking 25% of his income. The court ordered Chandler to continue paying $1,500 per month. Their divorce was granted in June 1959, with Chandler giving his wife $100,000 and over $2,166 per month in alimony plus $500 per month in child support. "He became so absorbed by his career that he spent all time when not actually working on a picture in his business office", said his wife. "I developed an ulcer." Chandler was involved in a will dispute concerning his stepfather in 1960. Chandler was a cousin of actor David Roya, who played the young villain Bernard Posner in ''
Billy Jack ''Billy Jack'' is a 1971 American action drama independent film, the second of four films centering on a character of the same name which began with the movie ''The Born Losers'' (1967), played by Tom Laughlin, who directed and co-wrote the scr ...
''. When his friend
Sammy Davis Jr. Samuel George Davis Jr. (December 8, 1925 – May 16, 1990) was an American singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director. At age three, Davis began his career in vaudeville with his father Sammy Davis Sr. and the ...
lost an eye in an accident and was in danger of losing the other, Chandler offered to give Davis one of his own eyes. Chandler had nearly lost an eye and had been visibly scarred in an auto accident years earlier. Chandler had a relationship with
Gloria DeHaven Gloria Mildred DeHaven (July 23, 1925 – July 30, 2016) was an American actress and singer who was a contract star for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Early life DeHaven was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor-director Carter De ...
that was exposed in ''Confidential'' magazine. At a trial, Fred Otash said the detectives had followed them to get the story. Esther Williams wrote in her 1999 autobiography that she broke off their relationship and that Chandler was a
cross dresser Cross-dressing is the act of wearing clothes usually worn by a different gender. From as early as pre-modern history, cross-dressing has been practiced in order to disguise, comfort, entertain, and self-express oneself. Cross-dressing has play ...
. According to the ''Los Angeles Times'', many friends and colleagues of Chandler rejected her claims.
Jane Russell Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011) was an American actress, singer, and model. She was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s. She starred in more than 20 films. Russell moved from th ...
commented, "I've never heard of such a thing. Cross-dressing is the last thing I would expect of Jeff. He was a sweet guy, definitely all man." He was also linked with
Ann Sheridan Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan (February 21, 1915 – January 21, 1967) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''San Quentin'' (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) with James Cagne ...
."Ann Sheridan, Jeff Chandler to Co-Star in 'Steel Town': Looking at Hollywood", Hopper, Hedda, ''Chicago Daily Tribune'', July 26, 1951: a2. Chandler's public support for Israel's 1956 attack on Egypt during the
Suez Crisis The Suez Crisis, or the Second Arab–Israeli war, also called the Tripartite Aggression ( ar, العدوان الثلاثي, Al-ʿUdwān aṯ-Ṯulāṯiyy) in the Arab world and the Sinai War in Israel,Also known as the Suez War or 1956 Wa ...
prompted the
United Arab Republic The United Arab Republic (UAR; ar, الجمهورية العربية المتحدة, al-Jumhūrīyah al-'Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah) was a sovereign state in the Middle East from 1958 until 1971. It was initially a political union between Eg ...
to campaign for his films to be banned in Arab countries in 1960. Chandler was an active
Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...
. He represented the
Screen Actors Guild The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...
during talks throughout the 1960 actors' strike.


Death

While working on ''Merrill's Marauders'' in the Philippines, on April 15, 1961, Chandler injured his back playing baseball with U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers who served as extras in the film. He had injections to deaden the pain and enable him to finish the production. On May 13, 1961, he entered a hospital in
Culver City, California Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most d ...
, and had surgery for a
spinal disc herniation Spinal disc herniation is an injury to the cushioning and connective tissue between vertebrae, usually caused by excessive strain or trauma to the spine. It may result in back pain, pain or sensation in different parts of the body, and physical ...
. Severe complications arose; an artery was damaged, and Chandler hemorrhaged. On May 17, in a seven-and-a-half-hour emergency operation following the original surgery, he was given 55 pints of blood. A third operation followed on May 27, in which he received an additional 20 pints of blood. He died on June 17, 1961. The cause was a blood infection complicated by pneumonia. At the time of his death, Chandler was involved with British actress
Barbara Shelley Barbara Shelley (born Barbara Teresa Kowin; 13 February 1932 – 3 January 2021) was an English film and television actress. She appeared in more than a hundred films and television series. She was particularly known for her work in horror film ...
.
Tony Curtis Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz; June 3, 1925September 29, 2010) was an American actor whose career spanned six decades, achieving the height of his popularity in the 1950s (Kansas Raiders, 1950) and early 1960s. He acted in more than 100 f ...
and
Gerald Mohr Gerald Mohr (June 11, 1914 – November 9, 1968) was an American radio, film, and television character actor and frequent leading man, who appeared in more than 500 radio plays, 73 films, and over 100 television shows. Early years Mohr wa ...
were among the pallbearers at Chandler's funeral, attended by more than 1,500 people. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in
Culver City Culver City is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 40,779. Founded in 1917 as a "whites only" sundown town, it is now an ethnically diverse city with what was called the "third-most ...
. An investigation ensued into Chandler's death."State Will Investigate Jeff Chandler's Death: Bureau to Look Into Hospital Procedure in Actor's Case Due to Public Interest", ''Los Angeles Times'', June 29, 1961: B1. It was deemed malpractice, and resulted in his children suing the hospital for $1.5 million. Chandler's own estate was worth $600,000, which he left to his daughters. His ex-wife sued his estate for $80,000 for money owed under their divorce settlement. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Chandler has a star on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...
, at 1770 Vine Street.


Critical appraisal

Film historian David Shipman wrote this analysis of Chandler's image: An obituary of Chandler said: In a 1960 interview Chandler said his favorite films were ''Broken Arrow'', ''Battle of Apache Pass'', ''Two Flags West'', ''Because of You'' ("my first real love story"), ''Sign of the Pagan'', ''The Toy Tiger'' ("a change for me"), ''Drango'', ''Raw Wind in Eden'' ("beautiful locale"), and ''The Lady Takes a Flyer'' ("I had Lana Turner with me").


Influence

The famed animated action-adventure series ''
Jonny Quest ''Jonny Quest'' is a science fiction-adventure media franchise that revolves around the titular boy named Jonny Quest, who accompanies his scientist father on extraordinary adventures. The franchise started with a 1964–1965 television serie ...
s handsome, white-haired, veteran special agent bodyguard Race Bannon's design was modeled after Jeff Chandler by show creator
Doug Wildey Douglas S. Wildey He recalled his professional start as freelancing for the magazine and comic book company Street & Smith in 1947. Because comic-book writer and artist credits were not routinely given during this era, the earliest confirmed Wilde ...
.


Filmography


Unmade films

*''
One Way Street ''One Way Street'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Hugo Fregonese and starring James Mason, Märta Torén and Dan Duryea. The crime film takes place mainly in Mexico. Plot Dr. Frank Matson, a physician, steals $200,000 from t ...
'' (1950) – originally announced for the lead *'' Steel Town'' with
Ann Sheridan Clara Lou "Ann" Sheridan (February 21, 1915 – January 21, 1967) was an American actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in the films ''San Quentin'' (1937) with Humphrey Bogart, ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938) with James Cagne ...
(1951) *''The Angry River'' (1952) – story of the
Powell Geographic Expedition of 1869 The Powell Geographic Expedition of 1869, led by American naturalist John Wesley Powell, was the first thorough cartographic and scientific investigation of long segments of the Green and Colorado rivers in the southwestern United States, includi ...
*''Vermillion O'Toole'' with Ann Sheridan (1952) *''The Holy Grail'' (1953) – religious epic set in 6 AD for Universal *''Huk'' (1954) – World War Two film written by
Stirling Silliphant Stirling Dale Silliphant (January 16, 1918 – April 26, 1996) was an American screenwriter and Film producer, producer. He is best remembered for his screenplay for ''In the Heat of the Night (film), In the Heat of the Night'', for which he w ...
*''Young Moses'' (1954)Hopper, Hedda, "Jeff Chandler Aims to Do 'Young Moses'", ''Los Angeles Times'', July 13, 1954: B6. *''Chief Crazy Horse'' (1955) – mentioned for the role played by
Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...
*''Lincoln McKeever'' (1956) – based on a novel by Eliezar Lipsky about a frontiersman appointed to the Supreme Court; meant to be the second film Chandler made for his own company and United Artists, after ''
Drango ''Drango'' is a 1957 American Western film produced by Jeff Chandler's production company Earlmar Productions, written and directed by Hall Bartlett, and released by United Artists. Starring Chandler in the title role, the film also features ...
'' *''The Gallileans'' (1956) for producer
Aaron Rosenberg Aaron "Rosy" Rosenberg (August 26, 1912 – September 1, 1979) was a two-time " All-American" college football player, and a film and television producer with more than 60 credits.Robert Slater (2000)''Great Jews in Sports''/ref> He received a ...


Select radio credits


Regular role

* ''
Michael Shayne Michael "Mike" Shayne is a fictional private detective character created during the late 1930s by writer Brett Halliday, a pseudonym of Davis Dresser. The character appeared in a series of seven films starring Lloyd Nolan for Twentieth Century Fo ...
'' (1948–49) *''The New Adventures of Michael Shayne'' (1949) * ''
Our Miss Brooks ''Our Miss Brooks'' is an American sitcom starring Eve Arden as a sardonic high-school English teacher. It began as a radio show broadcast on CBS from 1948 to 1957. When the show was adapted to television (1952–56), it became one of the medi ...
'' 1948–1953 * ''Frontier Town'' 1952–1953 (billed as "Tex Chandler")


Guest appearances

* "
Young Mr. Lincoln ''Young Mr. Lincoln'' is a 1939 American biographical drama western film about the early life of President Abraham Lincoln, directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda. Ford and producer Darryl F. Zanuck fought for control of the film, to ...
" – ''Academy Award Theatre'' (July 10, 1946) * "Photo Finish" – ''Suspense'' (July 1946) * "With Cradle and Clock" – ''
Cavalcade of America ''Cavalcade of America'' is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of ''Show Boat'', and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially ...
'' (February 2, 1946) * "Gregory Hood, Suspect" – ''
The Casebook of Gregory Hood ''The Casebook of Gregory Hood'' was a radio detective program in the United States. It existed in several versions - with different stars on different networks in different years. Hood was an importer in San Francisco who dealt in rare items. Jo ...
'' (September 30, 1946) * "Blood On Sun" – ''Academy Award Theatre'' (October 16, 1946) * "The Black Curtain" – ''Suspense'' (January 3, 1948) * "Snake Doctor" – ''Escape'' (February 8, 1948) * "Blond Mink", "Leopard's Spots", "Social Error", "Palm Beach Santa Claus" – '' Damon Runyon Theatre'' (1949) *" All My Sons" – ''Screen Directors Playhouse'' (Dec 1949) – with Edward G. Robinson *"Lifeboat" – ''
Screen Directors Playhouse ''Screen Directors Playhouse'' (sometimes written as ''Screen Directors' Playhouse'') is an American radio and television anthology series which brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949. The radio program broadcas ...
'' (November 16, 1950) – with
Tallulah Bankhead Tallulah Brockman Bankhead (January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1968) was an American actress. Primarily an actress of the stage, Bankhead also appeared in several prominent films including an award-winning performance in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Lif ...
*"
Hired Wife ''Hired Wife'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne and Virginia Bruce. Plot When Stephen Dexter (Brian Aherne), boss of Dexter Cement, competes with the giants in his ...
" – ''
Screen Directors Playhouse ''Screen Directors Playhouse'' (sometimes written as ''Screen Directors' Playhouse'') is an American radio and television anthology series which brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949. The radio program broadcas ...
'' (1951) – with
Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, comedienne, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary ''Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in the H ...
*"Only Yesterday" – ''
Screen Directors Playhouse ''Screen Directors Playhouse'' (sometimes written as ''Screen Directors' Playhouse'') is an American radio and television anthology series which brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949. The radio program broadcas ...
'' (July 1951) – with
Mercedes McCambridge Carlotta Mercedes Agnes McCambridge (March 16, 1916 – March 2, 2004) was an American actress of radio, stage, film, and television. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress." She won an Academy Award for Best Support ...
* "Steel River Prison Break" – ''Suspense'' (September 3, 1951) *"The Joyful Hour" (December 1951) * "Ben Hur" – ''
Hallmark Playhouse ''Hallmark Playhouse'' is an American old-time radio dramatic anthology series. It was broadcast on CBS from June 10, 1948 until February 1, 1953, and was described by one author as "a program that consistently produced the highest levels of prod ...
'' (April 10, 1952) * "The Woodsman" – ''The Woodsman'' (July 20, 1952) * "The Web" – ''Broadway Playhouse'' (July 1, 1953) * "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" – ''Suspense'' (October 19, 1953) *"The Thief" – ''Suspense'' (1957) * "A Good Neighbor" – ''Suspense'' (March 31, 1957)


Singing

Chandler had a concurrent career as a singer and recording artist, releasing several albums and playing nightclubs. In 1955 he became only the second star to play at the
Riviera ''Riviera'' () is an Italian word which means "coastline", ultimately derived from Latin , through Ligurian . It came to be applied as a proper name to the coast of Liguria, in the form ''Riviera ligure'', then shortened in English. The two areas ...
, after
Liberace Władziu Valentino Liberace (May 16, 1919 – February 4, 1987) was an American pianist, singer, and actor. A child prodigy born in Wisconsin to parents of Italian and Polish origin, he enjoyed a career spanning four decades of concerts, recordi ...
was the featured headliner. In her autobiography ''Hold the Roses'' (2002),
Rose Marie Rose Marie (born Rose Marie Mazzetta; August 15, 1923 – December 28, 2017) was an American actress, singer, comedian, and vaudeville performer with a career ultimately spanning nine decades, which included film, radio, records, theater, night ...
wrote that "Jeff Chandler was a great guy, but he was no singer. He put together an act and we opened at the Riviera. He came with a conductor, piano player, light man, press agent, and manager. None of it helped, and everybody raved about Jeff's singing, but let's face it: He really didn't sing very well. He definitely had guts to open in Vegas". He left to work on a movie after three and a half weeks. A May 1955 review of a Chandler live performance in ''Variety'' said "it is in the realm of pure song" that Chandler "falters and shows weakness."


Album discography


Singles discography


Award nominations


Theatre

*''The Trojan Horse'' – Oct 1940 – Long Island *''Meet the World'' by Peg Fenwick – March 30, 1950 – a UNESCO-sponsored play about the United Nations at UCLA *''Newsbeat 1950'' by Joseph Roos – March 1950 – one-off performance for Federation of Jewish Welfare Organisations *''Pageant of Stars'' – October 11, 1950


Box office rankings

For a number of years, film exhibitors voted Chandler among the top stars at the box office. * 1952 – 22nd (US) * 1953 – 18th (US) * 1954 – 16th (US) * 1955 – 20th (US), 7th (UK)'Dirk Bogarde's favourite film actor', ''The Irish Times'' December 29, 1955: 9. * 1956 – 18th (US), 5th (UK) * 1957 – 22nd (US), 6th (UK)


Further reading

* Hoffmann, Henryk. ''"A" Western Filmmakers''. McFarland & Co., 2000. * Kirk, Marilyn. ''Jeff Chandler''. 1st Books Library/AuthorHouse, 2003. * Marie, Rose. ''Hold the Roses''. University Press of Kentucky, 2002. * Wells, Jeff. ''Jeff Chandler: Film, Record, Radio, Television and Theater Performances''. McFarland & Co., 2005. * Williams, Esther. ''The Million Dollar Mermaid''. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000.


References


External links

* * *
Jeff Chandler as Cochise in Broken Arrow (1951 radio version)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Jeff 1918 births 1961 deaths 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers American male film actors American male radio actors Burials at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery California Democrats Deaths from bleeding Erasmus Hall High School alumni Jewish American male actors Liberty Records artists Male Western (genre) film actors Male actors from New York City Medical malpractice New York (state) Democrats Universal Pictures contract players 20th-century American Jews