John Garfield 03.04.1913 - 05.21.1952 (39 years old)

John Garfield (1913-1952) was an American actor who starred in several notable films during the 1930s and 1940s. He was known for his intense, naturalistic acting style, and he became a leading man in Hollywood despite his working-class background and Jewish heritage, which were considered disadvantages at the time.

Garfield was born Jacob Julius Garfinkle on March 4, 1913, in New York City. He grew up in poverty in Brooklyn and dropped out of school at age 16 to work in a series of odd jobs. He became interested in acting through his involvement in a local theater group and eventually made his way to Hollywood in the early 1930s.

Garfield's breakthrough role came in the 1938 film "Four Daughters," in which he played a sensitive musician named Mickey Borden. The film was a critical and commercial success, and Garfield received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to star in several other films, including "They Made Me a Criminal" (1939), "The Sea Wolf" (1941), and "Body and Soul" (1947).

Despite his success, Garfield was known for his outspoken political views and his support for left-wing causes. He was a member of the Communist Party in the 1930s and 1940s, and he testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1951. He denied being a Communist, but his career was effectively destroyed as a result of the hearings, and he was blacklisted from Hollywood.

Garfield died of a heart attack on May 21, 1952, at the age of 39. He remains a respected and influential figure in American cinema, and his naturalistic acting style helped pave the way for other actors who followed in his footsteps. Click here to read more about John Garfield