Dean Jagger
(1903 - 1991)When one thinks of Dean Jagger, the word gentleman comes to mind...with emphasis on the word "gentle." Born November 7, 1903 in Lima, Ohio and educated at Wabash College in Indiana, he began his acting career in vaudeville and in theatre. He made his film debut in 1929 and began a career of fine supporting roles and often played the lead role. Most of the characters he played were kind, amiable types. He had a personable look about him and his trademarks were his gentle, soft voice and bald head. My favorite role of his was as the beloved General Waverly in "White Christmas" (1954). Among his other roles were: "The Woman from Hell" (1929) his film debut; "People Will Talk" (1935) as Bill Trask; "Exiled to Shanghai" (1937); "Brigham Young, Frontiersman" (1940) in the title role; "Western Union" (1941); "Sister Kenny" (1946); as Kevin Connors; "12 O'Clock High" (1949) as Maj. Harvey Stovall, for which he won the Oscar; "Bad Day at Black Rock" (1955) with Spencer Tracy, as Tim Horn; "Elmer Gantry"(1960); "The Kremlin Letter" (1970) and "Evil Town" (1987) his last film. He was also a regular on the "Mr. Novak" (1963-65) TV series as the Principal, Albert Vance. He also starred in made for TV movies including: "The Glass House" (1972) with Vic Morrow; "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case" (1976) with Anthony Hopkins and "Gideon's Trumpet" (1980) with Henry Fonda. He guest starred on such TV series as: "Zane Grey Theatre"; "Twilight Zone"; "The Fugitive"; "The Partridge Family"; "Kung Fu" and "St. Elsewhere." He died on February 5, 1991 of heart failure in Santa Monica, California.
From Great Character Actors, Page 1.
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