How to get a Hive Account
Born: January 1, 1909 – Died: December 17, 1992
Dana Andrews, a celebrated American actor of the 1940s and 1950s, was born Carver Dana Andrews in Covington County, Mississippi. Raised on a farmstead outside Collins, he was one of thirteen children, including his brother Steve Forrest, who also pursued acting. Andrews was the son of Annis (Speed) and Charles Forrest Andrews, a Baptist minister, who fostered a humble and hardworking environment for their family.
Early Life and Career
Andrews initially studied business administration at Sam Houston State Teachers College in Texas. However, he veered from this path, taking a bookkeeping job with Gulf Oil. This detour was not to last, as, in 1931, Andrews hitchhiked to California, aiming to break into the acting world. His journey was filled with various odd jobs, from driving a school bus to picking oranges and working at a gas station, all while struggling to land an acting gig.
His first professional role came after a significant period of perseverance and dedication. Andrews joined the Pasadena Community Playhouse, a renowned theatre company and drama school, where he honed his craft in the 1930s. His performances caught the attention of Samuel Goldwyn, leading to a contract and eventually his film debut, though initially in secondary roles.
Andrews' first major successful role was in the film "Laura" (1944) as detective Lieutenant Mark McPherson. This role, along with subsequent performances in "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "Fallen Angel" (1945), solidified his status as a leading man in Hollywood. His commanding screen presence and depth of character in these films earned him critical acclaim and a lasting legacy in the industry.
Beyond his on-screen work, Andrews faced personal challenges, notably his battle with alcoholism. He later became an advocate for alcoholism awareness and recovery, speaking publicly about the issue. Andrews also served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1963 to 1965, highlighting his leadership and commitment to the acting community.
In his personal life, Andrews was married to Mary Todd from 1939 until his death in 1992, and they had three children together. Despite the fame, he and his wife lived modestly in Studio City, California. Andrews' later years were marked by his struggle with Alzheimer's disease, leading to his death in 1992 due to pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
Dana Andrews' impact on Hollywood is significant. He is remembered as an icon of the golden age of cinema, not only for his memorable roles but also for his resilience and contributions to the acting profession. His journey from a Mississippi farm to becoming a revered actor in Hollywood is a testament to his talent, determination, and the indelible mark he left on the film industry.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Prince Jack | The Cardinal |
| 1982–1983 | Falcon Crest (TV Series) | Elliot McKay |
| 1982 | The Love Boat (TV Series) | Mr. Paul Gerber |
| 1980 | The Pilot | Randolph Evers |
| 1980 | Ike: The War Years (TV Movie) | General George C. Marshall |
| 1979 | Ike: The War Years (TV Mini Series) | Gen. George C. Marshall |
| 1978 | A Tree, a Rock, a Cloud (Short) | The Man |
| 1978 | Born Again | Tom Phillips |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) | Townley |
| 1978 | The American Girls (TV Series) | Phillips |
| 1978 | Good Guys Wear Black | Edgar Harolds |
| 1977 | The Last Hurrah (TV Movie) | Roger Shanley |
| 1976 | The Last Tycoon | Red Ridingwood |
| 1976 | Ellery Queen (TV Series) | Lewis Marshall |
| 1975 | Take a Hard Ride | Morgan |
| 1975 | The First 36 Hours of Dr. Durant (TV Movie) | Dr. Hutchins |
| 1975 | A Shadow in the Streets (TV Movie) | Len Raeburn |
| 1974 | Get Christie Love! (TV Series) | Sarge |
| 1974 | Ironside (TV Series) | Courtenay Eliot |
| 1974 | Airport 1975 | Scott Freeman |
| 1969–1972 | Bright Promise (TV Series) | Thomas Boswell |
| 1972 | Innocent Bystanders | Blake |
| 1971 | Night Gallery (TV Series) | Paul Koch (segment "The Different Ones") |
| 1971 | The Failing of Raymond (TV Movie) | Allan McDonald |
| 1970 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) | Marvin Taylor |
| 1969 | Family Affair (TV Series) | Harv Mullen |
| 1968 | The Devil's Brigade | Brig. Gen. Walter Naylor |
| 1967 | No Diamonds for Ursula | Il gioielliere |
| 1967 | The Cobra | Capt. Kelly |
| 1967 | The Ten Million Dollar Grab | George Kimmins |
| 1966 | Hot Rods to Hell | Tom Phillips |
| 1966 | The Frozen Dead | Dr. Norberg |
| 1966 | Johnny Reno | Marshal Johnny Reno |
| 1965 | Battle of the Bulge | Col. Pritchard |
| 1965 | The Loved One | Gen. Brinkman |
| 1965 | Spy in Your Eye | Col. Lancaster |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Tom Rosser |
| 1965 | Brainstorm | Cort Benson |
| 1965 | In Harm's Way | Admiral Broderick |
| 1965 | The Satan Bug | Gen. Williams |
| 1965 | Crack in the World | Dr. Stephen Sorenson |
| 1964 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) | Douglas Vinson |
| 1964 | Ben Casey (TV Series) | Dr. Ernest Farrow |
| 1962–1963 | Alcoa Premiere (TV Series) | Adam Stark | Pat Barrat |
| 1962–1963 | The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) | Paul Oakland | Nat Keough |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) | Paul Driscoll |
| 1962 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) | Cdr. Jason Vanning | Narrator |
| 1962 | Checkmate (TV Series) | Judge Leland McIntyre |
| 1961 | The Barbara Stanwyck Show (TV Series) | Clint Evans |
| 1961 | Madison Avenue | Clint Lorimer |
| 1960 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Carl Anderson |
| 1960 | The Crowded Sky | Dick Barnett |
| 1958–1960 | Playhouse 90 (TV Series) | Mark Bragg | Leo Bass |
| 1958 | Enchanted Island | Abner 'Ab' Bedford |
| 1958 | The Fearmakers | Alan Eaton |
| 1957 | Zero Hour! | Lt. Ted Stryker |
| 1957 | Curse of the Demon | John Holden |
| 1956 | Spring Reunion | Fred Davis |
| 1956 | Beyond a Reasonable Doubt | Tom Garrett |
| 1956 | While the City Sleeps | Edward Mobley |
| 1956 | Comanche | Jim Read |
| 1955 | Strange Lady in Town | Dr. Rourke O'Brien |
| 1955 | Smoke Signal | Brett Halliday |
| 1954 | Three Hours to Kill | Jim Guthrie |
| 1954 | Duel in the Jungle | Scott Walters |
| 1954 | Elephant Walk | Dick Carver |
| 1952 | Assignment: Paris | Jimmy Race |
| 1951 | I Want You | Martin Greer |
| 1951 | The Frogmen | Jake Flannigan |
| 1951 | Sealed Cargo | Capt. Pat Banyon |
| 1950 | Edge of Doom | Father Thomas Roth |
| 1950 | Where the Sidewalk Ends | Det. Mark Dixon |
| 1949 | My Foolish Heart | Walt Dreiser |
| 1949 | Sword in the Desert | Mike Dillon |
| 1949 | The Forbidden Street | Henry Lambert | Gilbert Lauderdale |
| 1948 | No Minor Vices | Perry Aswell |
| 1948 | Deep Waters | Hod Stillwell |
| 1948 | The Iron Curtain | Igor Gouzenko |
| 1947 | Daisy Kenyon | Dan O'Mara |
| 1947 | Night Song | Dan |
| 1947 | Boomerang! | Henry L. Harvey |
| 1946 | *The Best Years of Our Lives* | Fred Derry |
| 1946 | Canyon Passage | Logan Stuart |
| 1945 | A Walk in the Sun | Sgt. Bill Tyne |
| 1945 | Fallen Angel | Eric Stanton |
| 1945 | State Fair | Pat Gilbert |
| 1944 | Laura | Det. Lt. Mark McPherson |
| 1944 | Wing and a Prayer | Lt. Cmdr. Edward Moulton |
| 1944 | The Purple Heart | Capt. Harvey Ross |
| 1944 | Up in Arms | Joe Nelson |
| 1943 | December 7th | Ghost of US Sailor Killed at Pearl Harbor |
| 1943 | The North Star | Kolya Simonov |
| 1943 | The Ox-Bow Incident | Donald Martin |
| 1943 | Crash Dive | Lt. Cmdr. Dewey Connors |
| 1942 | Berlin Correspondent | Bill Roberts |
| 1941 | Ball of Fire | Joe Lilac |
| 1941 | Swamp Water | Ben |
| 1941 | Belle Starr | Maj. Thomas Crail |
| 1941 | Tobacco Road | Captain Tim |
| 1940 | The Westerner | Hod Johnson |
| 1940 | Kit Carson | Capt. John C. Fremont |
| 1940 | Sailor's Lady | Scrappy Wilson |
| 1940 | Lucky Cisco Kid | Sgt. Dunn |