John Megna
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John Anthony Megna (November 9, 1952 – September 5, 1995) was an American actor, director and teacher. His best-known role is that of Dill in the film ''
To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1960 Southern Gothic novel by American author Harper Lee. It became instantly successful after its release; in the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ...
'' (1962).


Early life

John Anthony Megna was born in
Ozone Park, Queens Ozone Park is a neighborhood in the southwestern section of the New York City boroughs of New York City, borough of Queens, New York (state), New York, United States. It is next to the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone ...
, New York, to Ralph W. Megna, a pharmacist, and Eleanor McGinley, a one-time nightclub singer. He was a half-brother of
Connie Stevens Connie Stevens (born Concetta Rosalie Ann Ingoglia; August 8, 1938) is an American actress and singer. Born in Brooklyn to musician parents, Stevens was raised there until the age of 12, when she was sent to live with family friends in rural Mi ...
through their mother, and an ex-brother-in-law of
Eddie Fisher Edwin Jack Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show, '' The Eddie Fisher Show''. Actress E ...
, both famous singers. He attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing, New York.


Career

At age 6, Megna made his acting debut in
Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser ( "lesser"; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls (musical), Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business ...
's Broadway musical '' Greenwillow''.John Megna
at IBDB
At 7, he starred in ''All the Way Home'', an adaptation of
James Agee James Rufus Agee ( ; November 27, 1909 – May 16, 1955) was an American novelist, journalist, poet, screenwriter and film critic. In the 1940s, writing for ''Time'', he was one of the most influential film critics in the United States. His autob ...
's novel about the effect of a father's death on his family. This led to his being cast as Charles Baker "Dill" Harris in the 1962 film ''
To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1960 Southern Gothic novel by American author Harper Lee. It became instantly successful after its release; in the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ...
''. The character was based on writer
Truman Capote Truman Garcia Capote ( ; born Truman Streckfus Persons; September 30, 1924 – August 25, 1984) was an American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor. Several of his short stories, novels, and plays have been praised as literary classics ...
, a childhood friend and later associate of
Harper Lee Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) was an American novelist whose 1960 novel ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and became a classic of modern American literature. She assisted her close friend Truman ...
, the author of the original novel. Megna appeared in many television programs throughout the 1960s and 1970s; he portrayed a near-blind child in the '' Naked City'' episode "A Horse Has a Big Head - Let Him Worry!", one of the "Onlies" in the '' Star Trek: The Original Series'' episode "
Miri Miri () is a coastal city in north-eastern Sarawak, Malaysia, located near the border of Brunei, on the island of Borneo. The city covers an area of , located northeast of Kuching and southwest of Kota Kinabalu. Miri is the second largest ...
", Stephan in '' I Spy'' (1967), and Little Adam in the
NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
-produced animated shorts '' The Big World of Little Adam''. His other film appearances include '' Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964), '' The Godfather: Part II'' (1974), ''
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble ''The Boy in the Plastic Bubble'' is a 1976 American made for television drama film inspired by the lives of David Vetter and Ted DeVita, who lacked effective immune systems. It stars John Travolta, Glynnis O'Connor, Diana Hyland, Robert ...
'' (1976) with
John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He began acting in television before transitioning into a leading man in films. List of awards and nominations received by John Travolta, His accolades include a Primetime Em ...
, and '' Go Tell the Spartans'' (1978) with
Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor. Initially known for playing tough characters with tender hearts, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year caree ...
. He also acted in two films starring
Burt Reynolds Burton Leon Reynolds Jr. (February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018) was an American actor most famous during the 1970s and 1980s. He became well known in television series such as ''Gunsmoke'' (1962–1965), '' Hawk'' (1966) and '' Dan Augus ...
and directed by
Hal Needham Hal Brett Needham (March 6, 1931 – October 25, 2013) was an American Stunt performer, stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in film ...
: ''
Smokey and the Bandit II ''Smokey and the Bandit II'' is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Hal Needham, and starring Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field, Mike Henry (football), Mike Henry, Paul Williams (songwriter), Paul Wi ...
'' (1980) and ''
The Cannonball Run ''The Cannonball Run'' is a 1981 action-comedy film directed by Hal Needham, produced by Hong Kong firm Golden Harvest, and distributed by 20th Century-Fox. Filmed in Panavision, it features an all-star ensemble cast, including Burt Reynolds ...
'' (1981).


Later career

Megna graduated from
Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...
as a performing arts major. As an adult, he turned to directing plays. He was the founding director of L.A. Arts, a nonprofit theater group in Los Angeles. He later became a high school English, Spanish, and history teacher, and he last taught at James Monroe High School in North Hills, California. He also taught Honors English at Hollenbeck Junior High in Boyle Heights.


Personal life and death

Megna was openly
gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
. He died from
AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
-related complications on September 5, 1995, at Midway Hospital in Los Angeles, at the age of 42.


Television

* '' Naked City'' (1962) (Season 4 Episode 10: "A Horse Has a Big Head - Let Him Worry!") - Harold Denton * ''
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 a ...
'' (1964) (Season 2 Episode 13: "The Magic Shop") - Richard Anthony 'Tony' Grainger * '' Star Trek: The Original Series'' (1966) (Season 1 Episode 8: "
Miri Miri () is a coastal city in north-eastern Sarawak, Malaysia, located near the border of Brunei, on the island of Borneo. The city covers an area of , located northeast of Kuching and southwest of Kota Kinabalu. Miri is the second largest ...
") - Little Boy * '' Police Woman'' (1975) (Season 2 Episode 2: "The Score") - Hooper * '' Police Woman'' (1977) (Season 3 Episode 13: "Night of the Full Moon") - Stan * '' Police Woman'' (1977) (Season 4 Episode 5: "Screams") - Jackson * '' Police Woman'' (1977) (Season 4 Episode 8: "Death Game") - Punk Leader * '' Skag'' (1980) (Pilot Episode) * ''The Mogul'' (1984)


Filmography

* ''
To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a 1960 Southern Gothic novel by American author Harper Lee. It became instantly successful after its release; in the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' ...
'' (1962) - Dill Harris * '' Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte'' (1964) - New Boy * ''
Blindfold A blindfold (from Middle English ') is a garment, usually of cloth, tied to one's head to cover the eyes to disable the wearer's sight. While a properly fitted blindfold prevents sight even if the eyes are open, a poorly tied or trick blindfo ...
'' (1966) - Mario Vincenti * ''
The Godfather Part II ''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic film, epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, loosely based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather (novel), The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cop ...
'' (1974) - Young
Hyman Roth Hyman Roth (born Hyman Suchowsky) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1974 film ''The Godfather Part II''. He is also a minor character in the 2004 novel '' The Godfather Returns''. Roth is a Jewish mobster and investor, and a ...
(uncredited) * ''
The Boy in the Plastic Bubble ''The Boy in the Plastic Bubble'' is a 1976 American made for television drama film inspired by the lives of David Vetter and Ted DeVita, who lacked effective immune systems. It stars John Travolta, Glynnis O'Connor, Diana Hyland, Robert ...
'' (1976) (TV Movie) - Smith * ''I Want to Keep My Baby'' (1976) (TV Movie) - Andy * '' Another Man, Another Chance'' (1977) - Loser in Saloon (uncredited) * '' Go Tell the Spartans'' (1978) - Corporal Ackley * ''Sunnyside'' (1979) - B.B. * '' Butch and Sundance: The Early Days'' (1979) - Outlaw * ''
Smokey and the Bandit II ''Smokey and the Bandit II'' is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Hal Needham, and starring Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Dom DeLuise, Sally Field, Mike Henry (football), Mike Henry, Paul Williams (songwriter), Paul Wi ...
'' (1980) - P.T. * ''
The Cannonball Run ''The Cannonball Run'' is a 1981 action-comedy film directed by Hal Needham, produced by Hong Kong firm Golden Harvest, and distributed by 20th Century-Fox. Filmed in Panavision, it features an all-star ensemble cast, including Burt Reynolds ...
'' (1981) - Arthur Rose * '' The Ratings Game'' (1984) - Al


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Megna, John 1952 births 1995 deaths Cornell University alumni American male child actors American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors American theatre directors American LGBTQ male actors LGBTQ people from New York (state) Educators from California Male actors from Queens, New York AIDS-related deaths in California 20th-century American male actors American people of Italian descent Educators from New York City Holy Cross High School (Flushing) alumni