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IMDbPro

John Garfield(1913-1952)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
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John Garfield
Trailer for this love story
Play trailer2:06
Under My Skin (1950)
15 Videos
99+ Photos
John Garfield was born Jacob Julius Garfinkle on the Lower East Side of New York City, to Hannah Basia (Margolis) and David Garfinkle, who were Jewish immigrants from Zhytomyr (now in Ukraine). Jules was raised by his father, a clothes presser and part-time cantor, after his mother's death in 1920, when he was 7. He was sent to a special school for problem children, where he was introduced to boxing and drama. He won a scholarship to Maria Ouspenskaya's drama school. He joined the Civic Repertory Theatre in 1932, changing his name to Jules Garfield and making his Broadway debut in that company's Counsellor-at-Law. Joined the Group Theatre company, winning acclaim for his role in Awake and Sing. Embittered over being passed over for the lead in Golden Boy, which was written for him, he signed a contract with Warner Brothers, who changed his name to John Garfield. Won enormous praise for his role of the cynical Mickey Borden in Four Daughters (1938). Appeared in similar roles throughout his career despite his efforts to play varied parts. Children Katherine (1938-1945), David Garfield (1942-1995) and Julie Garfield (1946-). Active in liberal political and social causes, he found himself embroiled in Communist scare of the late 1940s. Though he testified before Congress that he was never a Communist, his ability to get work declined. While separated from his wife, he succumbed to long-term heart problems, dying suddenly in the home of a woman friend at 39. His funeral was mobbed by thousands of fans, in the largest funeral attendance for an actor since Rudolph Valentino.
BornMarch 4, 1913
DiedMay 21, 1952(39)
BornMarch 4, 1913
DiedMay 21, 1952(39)
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • Nominated for 2 Oscars

Photos440

Shelley Winters, John Garfield, and Wallace Ford in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
Shelley Winters, John Garfield, and Wallace Ford in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield and Wallace Ford in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield and Wallace Ford in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield and Wallace Ford in He Ran All the Way (1951)
Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
John Garfield and Robert Hyatt in He Ran All the Way (1951)

Known for

John Garfield, Lola Lane, Priscilla Lane, Rosemary Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, and Gale Page in Four Daughters (1938)
Four Daughters
6.9
  • Mickey Borden
  • 1938
Humoresque (1946)
Humoresque
7.3
  • Paul Boray
  • 1946
John Garfield, Hazel Brooks, and Lilli Palmer in Body and Soul (1947)
Body and Soul
7.6
  • Charley Davis
  • 1947
Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
The Postman Always Rings Twice
7.4
  • Frank Chambers
  • 1946

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
    He Ran All the Way
  • The Breaking Point (1950)
    The Breaking Point
  • Under My Skin (1950)
    Under My Skin
  • Pedro Armendáriz, John Garfield, and Jennifer Jones in We Were Strangers (1949)
    We Were Strangers
  • Franchot Tone and Jean Wallace in Jigsaw (1949)
    Jigsaw
    • (uncredited)
  • John Garfield, Beatrice Pearson, and Marie Windsor in Force of Evil (1948)
    Force of Evil
  • Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews, and Joan Crawford in Daisy Kenyon (1947)
    Daisy Kenyon
    • (uncredited)
  • Gregory Peck, John Garfield, and Dorothy McGuire in Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
    Gentleman's Agreement
  • John Garfield, Hazel Brooks, and Lilli Palmer in Body and Soul (1947)
    Body and Soul
  • The Postman Always Rings Twice: The Radio Play (1947)
    The Postman Always Rings Twice: The Radio Play
    • (voice)
  • Humoresque (1946)
    Humoresque
  • John Garfield and Geraldine Fitzgerald in Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
    Nobody Lives Forever
  • Lana Turner and John Garfield in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
    The Postman Always Rings Twice
  • Pride of the Marines (1945)
    Pride of the Marines
  • Hollywood Canteen (1944)
    Hollywood Canteen

Producer

  • Shelley Winters and John Garfield in He Ran All the Way (1951)
    He Ran All the Way
    • (uncredited)

Additional Crew

  • Anni difficili (1948)
    Anni difficili

Videos15

Trailer
Trailer 2:43
Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:44
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:10
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:14
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 3:19
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 4:03
Official Trailer
Original Theatrical Trailer
Trailer 2:55
Original Theatrical Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:17
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:09
Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:12
Trailer
Nobody Lives Forever
Trailer 2:10
Nobody Lives Forever
Air Force
Trailer 2:15
Air Force

Personal details

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    • March 4, 1913
    • New York City, New York, USA
    • May 21, 1952
    • New York City, New York, USA(coronary thrombosis)
    • January 27, 1935 - May 21, 1952 (his death, 3 children)
    • David Garfield
  • Other works
    Stage: Appeared (as "Bill"; credited as Jules Garfield; Broadway debut) in "Lost Boy" on Broadway. Drama. Written by T.C. Upham. Directed by James Light. Mansfield Theatre: 5 Jan 1932-Jan 1932 (closing date unknown/15 performances). Cast: William Balfour (as "Mr. Gilkey"), Edgar Barrier (as "Joe Hebert"), Charles Berre (as "Dick"), Ralph W. Chambers (as "Gould"; Broadway debut), Ruth Chorpenning (as "Mrs. Demarco"), George Colan (as "Mr. Demarco"), Elisha Cook Jr. (as "Francis Demarco"), Mooney Diamond (as "Toivo"), Joseph Eggenton (as "Mr. Bullock"), Clyde Franklin (as "Dr. Stewart"), George Price (as "Judge Donnelly"), George Rogers (as "Mr. Felch"), Richard Ross (as "Albert"), Alexander Smith (as "Policeman"), Gilbert Squarey (as "Jimmy"), Ann Thomas (as "Aggie Demarco"), Carrie Weller (as "Mrs. Hazelton"), Peter Xantho (as "Court Stenographer"). Produced by Burton Harfod.
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Biographical Movies
    • 8 Print Biographies
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 6 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    His six-year-old daughter Katharine died of an allergic reaction in 1945. He never got over the loss.
  • Quotes
    Screen acting is my business but I get my kicks from Broadway.

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