Matinee Classics - John Forsythe Biography & Filmography

John Forsythe ACTOR

PHOTOS

JOHN FORSYTHE BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

John Forsythe was born on January 29th, 1918 in Penn's Grove, New Jersey with the birth name John Lincoln Freund. His father was a Wall Street businessman and he wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, however, John chose to embark on a career in acting. After graduating from Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, New York in 1934 he attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on a partial scholarship and studied English literature.

He dropped out of high school his junior year and began looking for work. He first found work as a drama teacher and baseball announcer, before getting his real break into the industry. He began with working on a number of New Jersey radio soaps and also gained some years as a stage actor appearing on Broadway, before he was given the chance to sign a film contract with Warner Brothers Studios.

As he began to work in the film industry, he was forced to take a brief break during World War II and joined the United States Army Air Corps. Upon completing his military service, John returned to pursuing acting as a career and also became responsible for founding the Actors Studio.

Some of his early film roles included, "Northern Pursuit" (1943) starring Errol Flynn, "Destination Tokyo" (1943) starring Cary Grant, John Garfield, Alan Hale and Dane Clark, "The Captive City" (1952), "The Glass Web" (1953), "The Trouble With Harry" (1955) starring Edmund Gwenn and Shirley MacLaine, "Topaz" (1969), "In Cold Blood" (1967) and "The Happy Ending" (1969).

In addition to film he became more well known for his work as a television actor. Some of his more popular show appearances include, "Bachelor Father" (1957), "Dynasty" (1981-1989) co-starring Joan Collins, Linda Evans, Diahann Carroll, Heather Locklear and Emma Sands among many other great stars and of course only the voice of Charlie in "Charlie's Angels" (1976).

Forsythe appeared on many other television series as well throughout his career in the industry such as, "Kraft Theatre", "The Elgin Hour", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Run for Your Life", "Medical Story", "To Rome, With Love" and "Police Story".

In addition to his acting he was also involved with the American Cancer Society and the United Nations Association.

John Forsythe married three times throughout his lifetime. His first wife was Parker McCormick in 1939 and they had one child together before the marriage came to an end in 1943. He then married, Julie Warren in 1943 and they had two children together before she passed away in 1994. His third wife was Nicole carter whom he wed in 2002 and they stayed married until John passed away from pneumonia complications on April 1st, 2010 in Santa Ynez, California. His remains are interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Santa Barbara, California.

Filmography

2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle

2000 Charlie's Angels

1999 We Wish You a Merry Christmas

1997 Kings of the Court

1996 Adventures from the Book of Virtues

1996 Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles

1994 Gargoyles

1992 I Witness Video

1992-1993 The Powers That Be

1992 Stan and George's New Life

1991 Dynasty: The Reunion

1991 Spirit of a Champion: The Story of the 1990 Breeders' Cup

1990 Opposites Attract

1989 Champions in Kentucky: The Story of the 1988 Breeders' Cup

1981-1989 Dynasty

1988 Scrooged

1987 On Fire