Actors who fought in ww2, Discuss actors who fought in ww2 combat Options

[appell8]

Robert Montgomery, PT boats, Atlantic.

David Niven, former British Army Officer returned to Britain and re-upped, but didn't see action.

Leslie Howard, returned to Britain, lost in aircraft crash on official business.

[Pte John Towle]

I can think of three at present

Clark Gable --US Army Airforce

Lee Marvin Marine on Saipan -Wounded  Later had a guest appearance on Combat! and also starred in the WW2 Flick Big Red One and The Dirty Dozen

Jimmy Stewart also in the Air Force flying Bombers

[mjap]

Doug,

Jimmy Stewart is my all time favorite actor.  I remember seeing a bio on him once...He wanted desperately to do his part in WWII...The military gave him a hard time of it, however, because they felt he was just too thin.  (No such problem with many of today's recruits, I think).  Anyhow, I can see Damian Lewis being cast in the lead in The Jimmy Stewart Story, can't you?  (Might have to tone down the `ginger' a little, though..lol)

Maggie

[mjap]

To Pte John Towle,

Sorry, I did not mean to slight you... I read down so quickly that I neglected to realize you had mentioned Jimmy Stewart.
Maggie

[ladymadonna]

I feel a bit of a cheat mentioning this one because I hadn't heard of him until I read D-Day by Stephen Ambrose, but Lt Richard Todd parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the 5th Parachute Brigade and joined up with the Ox and Bucks (who were holding Pegasus Bridge) just before dawn.  Todd became a famous British actor (but like I said I hadn't heard of him) and he actually played Major John Howard of D Company Ox and Bucks in The Longest Day.

Bit of a strange fact as well!

Donna (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[appell8]

Maggie, I'm a major Jimmy Stewart fan as well.  He had been a member of the club I was in in college (Class of '32), and there was a photo on the wall of Jimmy Stewart wearing Shakesperean costume in an undergrad production.  I LOVED that photo and the connection, however distant.

Here's a trivia question I don't have all the answers for.  In how many movies did Jimmy Stewart, B-24 pilot, play a pilot? I'll kick it off with:  "Spirit of St. Louis" (Charles Lindbergh); "Strategic Air Command" (B-47's); and "Flight of the Phoenix."  Others?

Then, playing against type: "Vertigo."

[mjap]

Gosh, Doug, you got me there (I went in for the romantic, light-hearted comedies Stewart did)...But I have seen the movies you listed with him ("Flight of the Phoenix" is a great Sunday afternoon on the couch movie), and recall one about Test Pilots?  
Mags    ???

[appell8]

Just remembered:  Charles Durning, Battle of the Bulge

[hooper117]

LOVE Jimmy Stewart! I'm like mjap I love his light hearted romantic movies also.Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation was my favorite.And Harvey!!   (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Sue

[Norseman]

Hey guys, here a few for you,  I may be mistaken but how about

Eddie Albert, Marine, in the tv series Green Acres
or
I don't know if he served but the singer Kris Kristofferson went to West Point,  

or,  Ronald Reagan in the entertainment corp, USO?  Hmm..I will have to see who else I can think of..  Norse...

[appell8]

I may be wrong, but I thought that Kristofferson didn't go to West Point, but taught English there.  I think he was a Rhodes Scholar.

[homefront41]

Re: Kris Kristofferson -- I knew he was a Rhodes Scolar, and his dad was a USAF Major General.  But according to an unofficial bio:  "Kristofferson graduated from Pomona College in California where he majored in Creative Literature and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University. After a stint as an Army pilot, he declined a teaching post at West Point and moved to Nashville to pursue a writing career and a foothold in the country music scene."  Who knew about that teaching post offer?  What about that pilot thing?  BK

[ladymadonna]

Audie Murphy story on Biography Channel in Bonnie Scotland tonight.  I'm getting reading to 'watch and learn'!

Donna (IMG:http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[STRIKEHOLD]

Donna,

I hope you enjoyed the Audi Murphy special.  I think at the end of his life he had some problems with prescription drugs.

[STRIKEHOLD]

Tony Curtis born Bernard Schwarts dropped out of High School and joined the Navy Submarine force after watching Tyrone Powers in the 43 movie Crash Dive.  He was on the U.S.S. Dragonette which ran aground on a uncharted reef the entire forward torpedo room was flooded.  It was the only sub to survive such an action.  He was later hurt when a chain broke and struck him across the back.  He was paralyzed for a time.