Van Johnson Overview:

Legendary actor, Van Johnson, was born Charles Van Dell Johnson on Aug 25, 1916 in Newport, RI. Johnson died at the age of 92 on Dec 12, 2008 in Nyack, NY and was cremated and his location unknown.

MINI BIO:

American leading actor whose Swedish ancestry showed in his blue eyes, red-gold hair, and boyish, rather hurt-looking expression. He took advantage of the absence of top talent away in wartime (he was himself unfit for service following a car smash which left him with a metal plate in his head) to storm to stardom at MGM, where he stayed for 15 years. His boyish charm wore thin in the fifties and he was seen less after 1960.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Van Johnson's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #82 on Mar 25, 1948. Johnson was never nominated for an Academy Award.

BlogHub Articles:

and Vera Miles know there are only “23 Paces to Baker Street”

By Stephen Reginald on Jan 4, 2023 From Classic Movie Man

and Vera Miles know there are only “23 Paces to Baker Street” 23 Paces to Baker Street (1956) is an American mystery directed by Henry Hathaway and starring and Vera Miles. The supporting cast features Cecil Parker, Isobel Elsom, and Estelle Winwood. Philip ... Read full article


THE FIFTH ANNUAL BLOGATHON: Brigadoon, 1954

on Aug 25, 2021 From Caftan Woman

Michaela at Love Letters to Old Hollywood is hosting The Fifth Annual Blogathon. Click HERE to access the tributes to the popular actor. The contribution from this corner of the internet is a look at Van in the 1954 film version of Brigadoon.Once a song and dance man, always a song and d... Read full article


THE FOURTH BLOGATHON: 23 Paces to Baker Street, 1956

on Aug 23, 2020 From Caftan Woman

Michaela at Love Letters to Old Hollywood is hosting The Fourth Blogathon. The fun begins on August 23 through to 25. Click HERE to enjoy the contributions looking at the career of fan favourite . Director Henry Hathaway (The Dark Corner) and actor (Battlegro... Read full article


THE SECOND BLOGATHON: Zane Grey Theatre, Deadfall (1959)

on Aug 24, 2018 From Caftan Woman

Michaela of Love Letters to Old Hollywood is hosting a Blogathon, her second in as many years. Click HERE to read what all the fans have to say. A busy musical performer on Broadway, became box office gold for MGM in the 1940s. Popular with young fans, as he matured so did h... Read full article


THE SECOND BLOGATHON: Zane Grey Theatre, Deadfall (1959)

on Aug 24, 2018 From Caftan Woman

Michaela of Love Letters to Old Hollywood is hosting a Blogathon, her second in as many years. Click HERE to read what all the fans have to say. A busy musical performer on Broadway, became box office gold for MGM in the 1940s. Popular with young fans, as he matured so did h... Read full article


See all articles

Van Johnson Quotes:

Mayor of Hamelin: What would you do with such a sum?
Pied Piper: Have fun!


[as Bettis is digging a foxhole]
Holley: Let's not try to reach China this time, hey Bettis?
Bettis: Well there's no sense digging if you don't go deep.
Holley: The last one we dug one together, you went so deep that when I climbed out in the morning I got the bends.


Meg Brockie: I'm highly attracted to you. Why, when I look at you I feel wee tadpoles jumping in my spine.
Jeff Douglas: That's about as repulsive an idea as I've heard in years!


read more quotes from Van Johnson...



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Van Johnson on the
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Van Johnson Facts
Van is referenced in the song "Prehistoric Man" from the musical On the Town (1949).

He made his Broadway debut in 1936 in "New Faces of 1936," (an annual revue that had also introduced Imogene Coca and Henry Fonda in 1934). Van would appear in a total of 7 Broadway shows to date, including the original cast production of "Pal Joey" in 1940-41 and last appearing in "La Cage aux Folles" in 1987.

His wife, Eve, was first married to Keenan Wynn. She married Johnson on the very day of her divorce from Wynn, only four hours after that divorce was finalized. Johnson had spent more a month recuperating from his near-fatal car accident at the Wynn's home (Keenan was his best friend) during his recovery and word got back to Louis B. Mayer that sparks had flown. The film mogul saw this relationship as a way to dispel rumors circulating about Johnson's sexuality. Despite Mayer's earlier attempts at matchmaking (he'd arranged dates with Gloria DeHaven, June Allyson and even Sonja Henie without making a love connection) only Evie Wynn appealed to him. Although they were genuinely in love, Mayer cemented the deal by providing unusual career concessions for Keenan: a better contract, no standard 12-week layoffs, and better roles... all areas that would benefit her and her children. He later left her for her male tennis instructor according to her son, Ned Wynn.

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