Portrait of American actor Joel McCrea and an unidentified child actor on the set of unspecified movie, Hollywood, California, 1945. . The minute I got a horse and a hat and a pair of boots on, I felt easier. Joel McCrea. He was a favorite of director. [5]) There he had acted on stage and took courses in drama and public speaking, while also appearing regularly at the Pasadena Playhouse. In the early 1960s, he sold 1,200 acres (490ha) of land to an oil company on the condition that they would not drill within sight of his home. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Actor Joel McCrea (R) w. his wife, actress Frances Dee, son Peter and daughter-in-law Carol at party honoring Roddy McDowall's book of photographs. McCrea also starred in two William A. Wellman Westerns, The Great Man's Lady (1942), again with Stanwyck, and Buffalo Bill (1944), with character actor Edgar Buchanan and a young Maureen O'Hara. Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 574-575. He was best known for being a Movie Actor. [8] While shooting Sullivan's Travels, it was an on-set joke that tall McCrea's leading lady, Veronica Lake, had to stand on a box for some shots, as she was reportedly 16 inches shorter than McCrea, and it was otherwise impossible to get both of their heads in the same shot. Another tour and movie is planned for Saturday, with a showing of If I Were King, starring Dee and Ronald Colman. She was 94. Father of Jody McCrea. He hoped to concentrate on Westerns, but several years passed before he could convince the studio heads to cast him in one. Among other movies he declined were Spitfire (1934), The Impatient Years (1944), Intruder in the Dust (1949), and The Story of Will Rogers (1952). Joel and Frances remained married until his death spending 57 years together. While there is much being done to preserve the history of the ranch and its famous owners, there remains a great number of items that need to be done in order to keep a series of 80 to 100+ year old buildings and their surroundings maintained. They were married until McCrea's death 57 years later.[15]. Among movies that he turned down: Spitfire (1934) with Katharine Hepburn, The Impatient Years (1944), The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), Intruder in the Dust (1949), The Story of Will Rogers (1952). After Joels passing in 1990 and wishing to preserve what was left, in 1995 the McCrea family put together an agreement with the Conejo Recreation and Park District enabling the District to acquire the property. They had three sons, Jody, Peter and David. Showing Editorial results for joel mccrea. He died on his 57th wedding anniversary. Pomona College Alumni Directory, 2000, p. 294. People were always dumbfounded as to why he wasnt knocking on doors to further his career. (Photo by Robin Platzer/Getty Images) PURCHASE A LICENSE Get personalized pricing by telling us when, where, and how you want to use this asset. The property at the base of the Norwegian Grade in Thousand Oaks is now a popular site for showings of old McCrea and Dee movies, such as the Jan. 20 screening of McCreas 1934 The Richest Girl in the World. WyattMcCrea spent much of his childhood on the property and lights up when he talks about his grandparents. [citation needed], In 1934 he made his first appearances with two leading ladies he would be paired with often, Miriam Hopkins in The Richest Girl in the World, the first of their five films together,[6] and Barbara Stanwyck in Gambling Lady, the first of their six pairings.[7]. Just as strapping (6' 3") and amiably handsome as his actor/father, Joel McCrea, Jody was born Joel Dee McCrea on September 6, 1934 in Los Angeles, California, and bore a strong resemblance to his famous namesake. McCrea who was an outdoorsman who had once listed his occupation as "rancher" and his hobby as "acting" had begun buying property as early as 1933, when he purchased his first 1,000 acres (400ha) in a then unincorporated area of eastern Ventura County, California, which later became Thousand Oaks, California. Joel McCrea was born in Pasadena. He moved up to co-star status in the short-lived TV western series Wichita Town (1959), which again starred his dad.From there, he found employment in other western and action films including Lafayette Escadrille (1958), All Hands on Deck (1961), The Broken Land (1962) and Young Guns of Texas (1962). He was born and raised in the surroundings of Hollywood and as a boy became interested in the movies that were being made all around. Joel Albert McCrea (November 5, 1905 - October 20, 1990) was an American actor. Joel McCreas income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. McCrea credited God's sovereignty for his long and successful career on screen. For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Joel McCrea has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Blvd. Dee died Saturday in Norwalk. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. The best way I can equate it was it was kinda like going to Disneyland because it was so much fun to be here, he said. His mother, Lou Whipple McCrea, was a professional Christian Science practitioner. In the early 1950s, McCrea starred as Jayce Pearson on the radio series Western procedural police drama, Tales of the Texas Rangers. is 6'2"(1.89m) . His wholesome good looks and quiet manner were soon in demand, primarily in romantic dramas and comedies, and he became an increasingly popular leading man. If you went to a movie, she would spill her popcorn or something. McCrea turned down playing in a number of films; he was offered the lead role in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) but he refused, saying "This character is too much of a gigolo. The McCreas had three sons -- Joel Dee, known as Jody, an actor and a rancher in Roswell, N.M.; David, also a rancher near Roswell, N.M.; and Peter, a real estate consultant and writer in Westport, Conn. Dee had been living near her sons in New Mexico in recent years. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Although he secured a footing in the business, McCrea found it difficult to escape the shadow of his father, especially in western drama, but comedy served as a welcome individualistic approach. American actor Joel McCrea came from a California family with roots reaching back to the pioneer days. Joel McCreas birth sign is Scorpio and he had a ruling planet of Pluto. All the buildings on the ranch have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and arebeing preserved for eventual sharing with the public. His wife of 20 years, Dusty McCrea (aka Dusty Iron Wing), who appeared as the Indian "Dancing Moon" in the film Windwalker (1980), died of complications from diabetes in 1996. The initials "G.I." This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial . The Joel and Frances McCrea Ranch Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization - Tax ID# 27-2628820. Joel McCrea worked with almost every great leading lady, including Barbara Stanwyck, Ginger Rogers, Veronica Lake, Jean Arthur and a 7-year-old Shirley Temple. Whittled over the years to 300 acres, the ranch was donated by Dee in 1995 to the Conejo Recreation and Park District as a public park. He worked as an extra after graduation from the University of Southern California in 1928 and did some stunt work. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. McCrea also starred in two William A. Wellman Westerns, The Great Man's Lady (1942), again with Stanwyck, and Buffalo Bill (1944), with character actor Edgar Buchanan and a young Maureen O'Hara. Joel McCrea (Joel Albert McCrea) was born on 5 November, 1905 in South Pasadena, California, USA, is an Actor, Soundtrack, Stunts. And while Wyatt McCrea himself was growing up, he got to meet Jimmy Stewart, Ronald Reagan, Lloyd Bridges, Anthony Hopkins, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Kevin Costner at various events and out at the ranch. In 1920, he lived with his parents at 7755 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles. McCrea graduated from Hollywood High School and then Pomona College (class of 1928), where he had acted on stage and took courses in drama and public speaking, and appeared regularly at the Pasadena Playhouse, Even as a high school student, he was working as a stunt double and held horses for cowboy stars William S. Hart and Tom Mix. Discover Joel McCrea's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Information: 805-495-2163 or www.crpd.org. The reason I did the movie was that they offered me a sum that could buy my mother a new car. This was the beginning of what evolved into a 3,000-acre (1,200ha) spread where McCrea and his wife lived, raised their sons, and rode their horses. for his contribution to radio. He was immensely popular in them, and most of them still hold up well today. This relationship is not possible based on . He had a starring role in the Western movie Wells Fargo (1937) and Union Pacific (1939). As a boy, he had a paper route, and delivered the Los Angeles Times to Cecil B. DeMille and other people in the film industry. Home. By that time the multi-millionaire McCrea had long been working his own ranch in Ventura County outside of L.A.. Oct. 21, 1990 12 AM PT. But he continued to make a mark in other kinds of pictures, and proved himself particularly adept at the light comedy of Preston Sturges, for whom he made several films. Today there are approximately 280 acres left of the original ranch. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. By the end of the 1940s, McCrea was a multi-millionaire, as much from his real-estate dealings as from his movie stardom. The oldest of three children, his mother was actress Frances Dee and his two younger brothers are David McCrea and Peter McCrea. Son of Thomas Pleasants McCrea and Louise Dexter "Lou" Whipple Photos. The strengths of this sign are being resourceful, brave, passionate, a true friend, while weaknesses can be distrusting, jealous, secretive and violent. McCrea married actress Frances Dee in 1933, after they met while filming The Silver Cord. Portrait of American actor Joel McCrea and an unidentified child actor on the set of unspecified movie, Hollywood, California, 1945. . In a rare case of an extra being chosen from the crowd to play a major role, McCrea was given a part in The Jazz Age. Scott stayed retired thereafter; McCrea made a couple of appearances in small films afterwards, but was primarily content to maintain his life as a gentleman rancher. Early life McCrea was born in South Pasadena, California, the son of Thomas McCrea, who was an executive with the L.A. Gas & Electric Company. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. As a trivia note, Jody was the only cast member other than Robert Cummings who could really surf.Jody appeared on TV over the years as well and kept his genial personality an attractive trademark. Generation. Its a lot of fun for me, too, to talk about my grandparents, especially with people who appreciate it..