JEFFREY HUNTER

The most beautiful of the cowboys on the screen: JEFFREY HUNTER, whom John Ford directed in "The Searchers" and "Sergeant Rutledge," and who was also in "The Proud Ones" and played the hero of "Murieta" Westerns All Over the World

lthough his gaze, so blue and A so beautiful, earned him the honor of incarnating, in the spotlight, CHRIST in "KING OF KINGS", Jeffrey HUNTER is again just a man like the others and, as an ordinary mortal and a great actor, he has returned to the . If we had to choose one of the most beautiful cowboys on the screen, it is to him that we would award the title. Because his clear face gives him an eternal youth, and at 40 he seems to be just thirty. Even younger. Forty years, however, is the most beautiful age for a man. Jeffrey 60 From the start of his career, he played in westerns all the time, although from time to time he lent his talent to a detective film or a war movie. And now at forty, he still looks like a young man, and the western emphasizes all his charm knows it and benefits, at the Robert Ryan and Ty Hardin star professional heir, and that's true. moment, from this "coronation" as opposite Jeffrey. Also like him, in his early days much in his private life as in his Jeffrey belongs in the western Jeffrey both enjoyed many female career. He is a happy man and a pantheon. Like , whose conquests and made an unhappy very busy actor. footsteps he follows, like Henry marriage. He has often made war films and Fonda, whom he is very much like, Most especially like Tyrone, police films. But it is, like many, in he is one of the actors most sought Jeffrey inherited the role of Jesse the western that he excels. He after by Western filmmakers. James, or rather his brother. In the succeeded at it as a young actor, and he still succeeds at it today, * * * first version, and more than ever, and all over the Born Henry H. McKinnies, in New Tyrone Power were the two world. Orleans, November 25, 1927, with brothers; in the second, Robert This is true because it is in blue eyes and brown hair, this Wagner and Jeffrey HUNTER, SPAIN that the most recent one was charming athlete measures 1 m their worthy heirs, assumed the made: CUSTER OF THE WEST, of 85 cm in height (translator’s note: same roles of the beloved brigands. which Robert SIODMAK is the almost 6' 1"). Jeffrey Hunter was the husband director — a Super Technirama film His love life was rough. It was said of Barbara Rush, a redheadi and a in which , Mary Ure, of him that he was Tyrone Power's fine actress, whom he met while 61 He is an actor with a serious, clear-eyed look, reminiscent of Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda, who have, on the screen, played the greatest roles. After portraying Christ in "King of Kings," he has emerged from this exceptional character to return, even more intently, to the western

In war films as in westerns, the hero is usually valorous, with a pure heart. However, in "MURIETA" he played a hero who loved vengeance

marriage: Henry HERMAN (born adolescence he became involved in JEFFREY HUNTER April 24, 1959), and SCOTT theatrical performances at his HAMILTON (two years later). schools and colleges, looking for In spite of this, the incorrigible character roles that were fun to play making a screen test for Paramount, Jeffrey divorced a second time, and, at the age of twelve, playing a even before his debut on the screen. because he had made a career in sexagenarian. He married her just as he was starting Europe; and, like his friend Stuart At the age of eighteen, he joined his career, soon after being discovered Whitman, who divorced at the same the Navy, but not to work as an and signing a contract... at 20TH time as he, Jeffrey found, under other actor. Century Fox, to become the young skies, another love. Reports came of Discharged two years later, he leading man that all the filmmakers an idyll with Mylène Demongeot, "enlisted" in radio and theater and sought. when he worked with her in Italy on began a career quickly crowned But after acting together in "No "Gold for the Caesars." Still, let us with success. Down Payment," they divorced,ii return to Caesar what belongs to him This is where two talent scouts, despite the birth of their son — this publicized romance did not from Paramount and 20TH CHRISTOPHER. They were married continue after filming ended.v CENTURY FOX, found him. in 1951,iii and they divorced in 1955. Nevertheless, Jeffrey remains a Paramount made him do a screen Their son was born on August 29, good father to his threevi sons, and it test. 20TH CENTURY FOX, 1952. It was Jeffrey Hunter who kept is on "their advice" that he gives without a screen test, signed Jeff to custody of this child.iv himself more and more to the a long-term contract, to keep him at He then remarried, to DUSTY western. the studio. BARTLETT, on July 7, 1957, ten * * * There was no doubt about years ago. He adopted the son she had It was Darryl ZANUCK who Jeffrey's photogenicity: he was so had from a previous marriage, even as discovered Jeffrey and renamed him handsome at twenty, as he still is at she helped raise the son he had had HUNTER. Jeff was only four when forty, that all the girls would turn from his union with Barbara. his parents moved to MILWAUKEE. as he passed by, even before he Two more sons were born of their He studied, but starting in his became famous. 62

With Virginia Mayo in "The Proud Ones" — one of his best western performances

Alfred Hitchcock made him one of his television heroes. Several crime films including "Key Witness" and “Brainstorm" are also in the career of this actor who has never quit

THE WESTERNS — Lure of the Wilderness (with Mary Ure) — Man-trap (with Stella Stevens) Jean Peters) Besides these westerns, past and — Brainstorm (with Anne Francis) — Three Young Texans (with Mitzi present, he shot a number of other But of course, the most Gaynor) interesting films, including war important role in his career — Princess of the Nile (with Debra movies such as: remains that of CHRIST in "KING Paget) — The Frogmen (with Dana OF KINGS," in which his eyes — White Feather (with Debra Andrews) appeared so wonderful that it was, Paget) — Call Me Mister (with Betty for all, a film from the time of — THE SEARCHERS (with Natalie Grable) Jesus. It is moreover for his eyes, Wood) — Sailor of the King (with Wendy as well as for his calm, restrained, — The Great Locomotive Chase Hiller) and pleasant screen presence, that (with Fess Parker) — Count Five and Die (with A. M. Jeffrey was chosen for the role. — THE PROUD ONES (with Duringer) He could not stay defined by — In Love and War (with Hope Virginia Mayo) this character, and it is through the — Gun for a Coward (with Janice Lange) Rule) — HELL TO ETERNITY (with western — another way to con- — The True Story of Jesse James Patricia Owens) tinue to play great heroes — that (with Hope Lange) — The Longest Day (with John he returned. — The Way to the Gold (with Wayne) John Ford, who directed him in Sheree North) and also a lot of police suspense "The Searchers" and in "Sergeant — The Last Hurrah (with Spencer films, an episode of an Alfred Rutledge," said of him, "He is a Tracy) Hitchcock series for television and righteous man with a pure heart." — SERGEANT RUTLEDGE (with other quality films, including: Indeed, Jeffrey has a smile so Constance Towers) — A Kiss Before Dying (with brilliant and so pleasing that it is — No Man is an Island (with Virginia Leith) incompatible with "bad" character Barbara Pérez)vii — No Down Payment (with Patricia roles. There is a good reason why — MURIETA (with Diana Lorys) Owens) his smile always comes from the — CUSTER OF THE WEST (with — Key Witness (with Pat Crowley) heart. C.Antony 63 Translator’s notes and comments i Actually, Barbara was a brunette. Jeff vi Actually, Jeff had four sons, including was quoted as saying, “I’ve always gone Dusty’s son, whom he adopted. for brunettes.” vii “Lure of the Wilderness” takes place in ii Jeff and Barbara divorced before they the US South; “Princess of the Nile” is set filmed “No Down Payment” together, not in ancient Egypt; “The Great Locomotive after. Chase” also unfolds in the US South; “The iii Jeff and Barbara married in December, Last Hurrah” is set in New England; and 1950. “No Man is an Island” is a war film set on the island of Guam. None of these films iv Jeff did not have custody of his son, are westerns! Christopher; Barbara had primary custody. v This article is the only source that jeffreyhunter.net has encountered that attributes Jeff and Dusty’s divorce to his affair with Miss Demongeot. (Dusty filed for divorce several years later.)

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