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William Lundigan

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William Lundigan
Lundigan in 1957
Born
William Paul Lundigan

(1914-06-12)June 12, 1914
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 1975(1975-12-20) (aged 61)
Duarte, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1937–1971
Spouse
Rena Morgan
​
​
(m. 1945)​
Children1

William Paul Lundigan (June 12, 1914 – December 20, 1975) was an American film actor. His more than 125 films[1] include Dodge City (1939), The Fighting 69th (1940), The Sea Hawk (1940), Santa Fe Trail (1940), Dishonored Lady (1947), Pinky (1949), Love Nest (1951) with Marilyn Monroe, The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951) and Inferno (1953).

Biography

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Growing up in Syracuse, New York,[2] Lundigan was the oldest of four sons. His father, Michael F. Lundigan,[3] owned a shoe store (at which Lundigan worked)[4] in the same building as a local radio station, WFBL.[2] Becoming fascinated by radio, he was playing child roles on radio and producing radio plays at 16.[5]

A graduate of Nottingham High School, Lundigan studied law at Syracuse University, earning money as a radio announcer at WFBL. He graduated and passed the bar examination before events changed his career path.[6] Charles Rogers, a Universal Pictures production chief, heard Lundigan's voice, met him, arranged a screen test and signed him to a motion picture contract in 1937.[1][7]

Universal

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He was in Armored Car (1937) billed as "Larry Parker". Then his name was changed to "William Lundigan" for West Bound Limited (1937).

Lundigan was billed third in The Lady Fights Back (1937) and then promoted to male lead for That's My Story! (1937). He was back down the cast list for The Black Doll (1938) and Reckless Living (1938) but was the male lead for State Police (1938). He had support parts in Wives Under Suspicion (1938) directed by James Whale, Danger on the Air (1938), The Missing Guest (1938), and Freshman Year (1938).

Lundigan was one of the romantic leads in Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939). Warners borrowed him for a support part in Dodge City (1939).

Lundigan was top billed in They Asked for It (1939) then was Sigrid Gurie's leading man in The Forgotten Woman (1939). He supported in Legion of Lost Flyers (1939). He said "nothing much happened" of his time at Universal and left the studio.[8]

Warner Bros

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Lundigan signed with Warner Bros, where he had support roles in The Old Maid (1939), The Fighting 69th (1940), 3 Cheers for the Irish (1940), The Man Who Talked Too Much (1940), Young America Flies (1940, a short), The Sea Hawk (1940), Service with the Colors (1940, a short), East of the River (1940), and Santa Fe Trail (1940).

Lundigan later described this period as "I was always turning up as Olivia de Havilland's weak brother. Well, I got in a rut - that old bugaboo, type casting - and made one quickie after another."[9]

Warners promoted him to the lead of some "B"s, The Case of the Black Parrot (1941) and A Shot in the Dark (1941); he was support in The Great Mr. Nobody (1941), Highway West (1941) and International Squadron (1941).[7]

Lundigan then had a lead in Sailors on Leave (1941) for Republic Pictures.

MGM

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Lundigan went to MGM where he had support roles in The Bugle Sounds (1942) and The Courtship of Andy Hardy (1942). He was promoted to the lead of a "B", Sunday Punch (1942) and had the second lead in Apache Trail (1942) and Northwest Rangers (1942).[10]

He reprised his role from the Andy Hardy series in Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942) and supported in Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943) and Salute to the Marines (1943). Republic asked him back to play the lead in Headin' for God's Country (1943).

World War II

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He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and served as a combat cameraman in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa, returning at war's end as a corporal.[11] He was wounded on Okinawa.[7]

Post War

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Lundigan in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)

Lundigan returned to Hollywood and tried freelancing. He had support roles in some independent movies, The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) and Dishonored Lady (1947). He was the leading man in Republic's The Inside Story (1948) and was top billed in Mystery in Mexico (1948), State Department: File 649 (1949) and Follow Me Quietly (1949).[9] He decided to try acting on stage and was cast by John Ford in a revival of What Price Glory?.[8][12]

20th Century Fox

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Lundigan's career revived when he successfully auditioned for the role of Jeanne Crain's romantic interest in Pinky (1949) at 20th Century Fox, initially directed by Ford (Elia Kazan took over). The movie was a huge hit and the studio signed him to a long-term contract.[13] He went on to be leading man to Dorothy McGuire in Mother Didn't Tell Me (1950), June Haver in I'll Get By (1950) and Love Nest (1951), Susan Hayward in I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951).

He was also in The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and Elopement (1951), and was the male lead in Down Among the Sheltering Palms (1952) and Serpent of the Nile (1953). The New York Times called him "the male counterpart to the girl next door".[9]

He had a good part in Inferno (1953).

Television

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In an episode of Desilu Playhouse, "K.O. Kitty", L-R: William Lundigan, Aldo Ray, and Lucille Ball (1958).

Lundigan began appearing on TV shows like Lux Video Theatre, Schlitz Playhouse, General Electric Theater, The Ford Television Theatre, and The Star and the Story and was host for Climax! and Shower of Stars.[1]

He had the lead in some low budget films like Riders to the Stars (1954), Dangerous Voyage (1954) and The White Orchid (1954), the latter for Reginald Le Borg.[14] He mostly worked on television now, such as episodes of Science Fiction Theatre, Playhouse 90 and Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, and travelled the country extensively selling automobiles, including, in 1955, making a commercial for the Chrysler turbine engine.[15]

From September 30, 1959, to September 7, 1960, Lundigan portrayed Col. Edward McCauley in the CBS television series, Men into Space.[7]

In 1961, Lundigan was cast as Nathaniel Norgate in the episode, "Dangerous Crossing", on the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. The story focuses on religious settlers who encounter outlaws operating an illegal tollgate.[16]

He had the lead in The Underwater City (1962) and guest starred on The Dick Powell Theatre , Run for Your Life, Medical Center and Marcus Welby, M.D.. His last film was The Way West (1967).

Politics

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In 1963 and 1964, Lundigan joined fellow actors Walter Brennan, Chill Wills, and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., in making appearances on behalf of U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the Republican nominee in the campaign against U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.[17]

Lundigan himself waged an unsuccessful campaign for a nominally non-partisan seat on the Los Angeles City Council.[4]

Family

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Lundigan married Rena Morgan, and they had a daughter, Anastasia.[2]

Death

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Lundigan died at the age of 61 of apparent heart failure at City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California.[1][18]

Radio appearances

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Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bill Lundigan, TV, Film Star, Dies at 61". The Kansas City Times. The Kansas City Times. December 22, 1975. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c "Home Town Gives Bill Hollywood Welcome". The Post-Standard. The Post-Standard. June 1, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Bill Lundigan's Success Recipe". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 29, 1942. p. 38. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ a b "Actor Bill Lundigan dies at 61". The Times Standard. The Times Standard. December 22, 1975. p. 3. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ William Lundigan, vet of 125 movies, dies at 61 Chicago Tribune 22 Dec 1975: c11.
  6. ^ "In Hollywood". The Courier-Gazette. The Courier-Gazette. June 14, 1951. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ a b c d Actor William Lundigan Dies; Began Career in 1937: LUNDIGAN Thackrey, Ted, Jr. Los Angeles Times 22 Dec 1975: b3
  8. ^ a b CLIMBING TO THE HEIGHTS: William Lundigan Steps Out After Years Of Being Shackled by Type-Casting Origin HEROINE By HOWARD THOMPSON. New York Times 24 Dec 1950: 43.
  9. ^ a b c William Lundigan, Actor, Dead; Made 125 Films Over 38 Years New York Times 22 Dec 1975: 31
  10. ^ SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD New York Times 1 June 1942:
  11. ^ pp. 117-119 Wise, James E. & Rehill, Anne Collier Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines Naval Institute Press, 1999
  12. ^ RKO Launching Picture With Lundigan Starred; Webb to Portray Shade Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 13 Aug 1948: 15.
  13. ^ The Life Story of WILLIAM LUNDIGAN Picture Show; London Vol. 56, Iss. 1460, (Mar 24, 1951): 12.
  14. ^ Drama: William Lundigan Star in 'White Orchid:' Gary Cooper Top Moneymaker Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 31 Dec 1953: 11.
  15. ^ Lundigan Has Got That Forward Look, All Right By Lawrence Laurent. The Washington Post and Times-Herald 19 Jan 1957: C11.
  16. ^ "Dangerous Crossing on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  17. ^ "The Impact of the Draft Goldwater Committee on the Republican Party". Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  18. ^ "Veteran Actor Lundigan Dies". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz Sentinel. December 22, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. ^ "Your Radio Today". Tucson Daily Citizen. Tucson Daily Citizen. May 31, 1951. p. 24. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. ^ Kirby, Walter (April 20, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 46. Retrieved May 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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