Born on Lower East Side of New York City to David and Hannah Garfinkle, Jacob Julius Garfinkle was sent to a special school for problem children after his mother's death in 1920, when he was 7, where he was introduced to boxing and drama. He won a scholarship to Maria Ouspenskaya's drama school and, in 1932, joined the Civic Repertory Theatre, changing his name to Jules Garfield and making his Broadway debut in that company's Counsellor-at-Law.
Later, he became a member of the Group Theater. The Group's play Golden Boy (1937) was written for him by Clifford Odets, but ultimately he was cast in a supporting role rather than the lead. Miffed at this rejection, Garfield decided to leave Broadway and try his luck in Hollywood. In 1938, he received wide critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Four Daughters (1938).
Later, he became a member of the Group Theater. The Group's play Golden Boy (1937) was written for him by Clifford Odets, but ultimately he was cast in a supporting role rather than the lead. Miffed at this rejection, Garfield decided to leave Broadway and try his luck in Hollywood. In 1938, he received wide critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Four Daughters (1938).
Castle on the Hudson (1940)
Castle on the Hudson (1940)
Castle on the Hudson (1940) with Ann Sheridan
Castle on the Hudson (1940) with Burgess Meredith and Pat O'brien
Flowing Gold (1940)
Flowing Gold (1940) with Pat O'brien and Frances Farmer
East of the River (1940)
East of the River (1940) with Brenda Marshall
Flowing Gold (1940)
Flowing Gold (1940) with Pat O'brien and Frances Farmer
East of the River (1940)
East of the River (1940) with Brenda Marshall
Out of the Fog (1941)
Out of the Fog (1941)
Tortilla Flat (1942)
with Hedy Lamarr in Tortilla Flat (1942)
Air Force (1943)
Air Force (1943)
The Fallen Sparrow (1943)
with Eleanor Parker in Pride of the Marines (1945)
with Eleanor Parker in Pride of the Marines (1945)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Lana Turner watches as John Garfield murders Cecil Kellaway in
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
with Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
with Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Humoresque (1946)
Humoresque (1946)
Humoresque (1946) with Joan Crawford
Body and Soul (1947)
in Body and Soul (1947) with Anne Revere
Body and Soul (1947)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
with Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Celeste Holm in
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
with Gregory Peck, Celeste Holm and Robert Karnes in
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
At the onset of World War II, Garfield immediately attempted to enlist in the armed forces, but was turned down because of a heart condition. Frustrated, he turned his energies to supporting the war effort. He and actress Bette Davis were the driving forces behind the opening of the Hollywood Canteen, a club offering food and entertainment for American servicemen. He later traveled to Yugoslavia to help entertain for the war effort.
Tortilla Flat (1942)
with Hedy Lamarr in Tortilla Flat (1942)
Air Force (1943)
Air Force (1943)
The Fallen Sparrow (1943)
with Eleanor Parker in Pride of the Marines (1945)
with Eleanor Parker in Pride of the Marines (1945)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Lana Turner watches as John Garfield murders Cecil Kellaway in
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
with Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
with Lana Turner in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Humoresque (1946)
Humoresque (1946)
Humoresque (1946) with Joan Crawford
Garfield graduated to leading roles in films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)Lana Turner, Humoresque (1946) with Joan Crawford, and the Oscar-winning Best Picture Gentleman's Agreement (1947). In 1948 he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his starring role in Body and Soul (1947).
Body and Soul (1947)
in Body and Soul (1947) with Anne Revere
Body and Soul (1947)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
with Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Celeste Holm in
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
with Gregory Peck, Celeste Holm and Robert Karnes in
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
Force of Evil (1948)
Force of Evil (1948) with Marie Windsor
Force of Evil (1948) with Beatrice Pearson
Force of Evil (1948)
Under My Skin (1950)
The Breaking Point (1950)
He Ran All the Way (1951)
Long involved in liberal politics, Garfield was caught up in the Communist scare of the late 1940s and early 1950s, and supported the Committee for the First Amendment, which opposed governmental investigation of political beliefs. When called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, Garfield refused to name communist party members or followers, testifying that, indeed, he knew none in the film industry. However, his forced testimony before the committee had severely damaged his reputation. He was blacklisted and barred from future employment as an actor by Hollywood movie studio bosses for the remainder of his career. Long-term heart problems, allegedly aggravated by the stress of his blacklisting, led to his early death at the age of 39 on May 21, 1952.
His funeral was mobbed by thousands of fans. It was the largest funeral attendance for an actor since Rudolph Valentino.
Great collection of Garfield pictures! It seems that in the age of the Internet, he is finally getting his proper, wider due again as an important figure, which never seemed to happen earlier despite some writers' and fans' best efforts in print. At least that's my impression. Before the Internet, I would invariably buy any biography or magazine article about him, but he never seemed to be on the more general radar like someone such as Bogart or Cagney.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the thoughts. I agree there is a heightened appreciation these days for Garfield and many other film stars of old. The internet undoubtedly plays a part, but I believe I would credit TCM, FMC and other exhibitors even more. I'm sure I would have never had an opportunity to see many of these great old movies without them.
ReplyDeleteAll the best!