Wendell Reid Corey (March 20, 1914 – November 8, 1968) was an American actor and politician. He was President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a board member of the Screen Actors Guild, and also served on the Santa Monica City Council.

Biography

Early years Wendell Reid Corey was born on March 20, 1914, in Dracut, Massachusetts, the son of Milton Rothwell Corey and Julia Etta McKenney. His father was a Congregationalist clergyman and an actor who appeared in Rawhide as Dr Tucker. Wendell was educated in Springfield, Massachusetts. His ancestors included U.S. Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

Stage After graduating from high school in Springfield, Corey sold washing machines and refrigerators at a Springfield department store, when he stopped by to see a friend who was acting at the Springfield Repertory Theater.

The group needed an actor to play the role of a Swedish janitor in Street Scene. Corey took the role and stayed with the theater group for a year, working in the department store during the day and acting at night. Following that, he went into acting full-time with a theater group in Holyoke. He went on to serve a long apprenticeship in the theater, producing, directing and acting in hundreds of plays in summer stock. Corey was also employed by the Federal Theatre Project.

Film While appearing as the cynical newspaperman in Elmer Rice's comedy Dream Girl (1945), he was seen by producer Hal Wallis, who persuaded him to sign a contract with Paramount and pursue a motion picture career in Hollywood. Corey's feature film debut came as a gangster in Wallis's Desert Fury (1947) starring Burt Lancaster, John Hodiak, Lizabeth Scott, and Mary Astor. In 1947 he appeared in The Voice of the Turtle on stage with Margaret Sullavan in England.

Wallis promoted him to co-star status in The File on Thelma Jordon (1950) in which he appeared opposite Barbara Stanwyck. Corey had a good part in Columbia's No Sad Songs for Me (1950) playing Margaret Sullavan's husband. He co-starred with Lana Turner in A Life of Her Own but pulled out after only a few days, claiming he was miscast. He was replaced by Ray Milland. Corey had one of his most memorable roles when he played Lt. Thomas Doyle in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954) starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly. He toured the US on stage in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial in 1954.

Television

Corey portrayed Lou Gehrig in "The Lou Gehrig Story" for the television series Climax! (1955). He was a series lead in Harbor Command (1957–1958), starring alongside Casey Walters.

Other activities Corey was President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1961 to 1963, was a member of the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild, and a trustee on the board of trustees of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. A Republican campaigner in national politics since 1956, Corey was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in April 1965. Corey supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.

Death Corey died on November 8, 1968, at the age of 54, at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Initial reports stated the cause of death was liver disease; however, the likely cause was cirrhosis of the liver as Corey's alcoholism was well-known. Funeral services were held at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, California.

Walk of Fame Wendell Corey has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, awarded for his work in TV, at 6328 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1947 Desert Fury Johnny Ryan I Walk Alone Dave 1948 The Search Jerry Fisher Man-Eater of Kumaon Dr. John Collins Sorry, Wrong Number Doctor Alexander 1949 The Accused Lieutenant Ted Dorgan Any Number Can Play Robbin Elcott Holiday Affair Carl Davis 1950 The File on Thelma Jordon Cleve Marshall No Sad Songs for Me Brad Scott The Furies Rip Darrow Harriet Craig Walter Craig 1951 The Great Missouri Raid Frank James Rich, Young and Pretty Jim Stauton Rogers The Wild Blue Yonder Captain Harold Calvert 1952 The Wild North Constable Pedley Carbine Williams Captain H.T. Peoples My Man and I Ansel Ames 1953 Jamaica Run Todd Dacey Laughing Anne Captain Davidson 1954 Hell's Half Acre Chet Chester Rear Window Detective Lieutenant Thomas J. "Tom" Doyle 1955 The Big Knife Smiley Coy 1956 The Killer Is Loose Leon Poole The Bold and the Brave Dave Fairchild The Rack Major Sam Moulton The Rainmaker Deputy Sheriff J.S. File 1957 Loving You Walter "Tex" Warner 1958 The Light in the Forest Wilse Owens Alfred Hitchcock Presents Timber Woods Season 4 Episode 1: "Poison" 1959 Alias Jesse James T.J. "Jesse" James 1964 Blood on the Arrow Clint Mailer 1966 Agent for H.A.R.M. Jim Graff Broken Sabre Major Whitcomb (episodes of Branded edited for a feature film) Women of the Prehistoric Planet Admiral David King Waco Preacher Sam Stone Cyborg 2087 Sheriff Picture Mommy Dead Lawyer Clayborn 1967 Red Tomahawk Sy Elkins 1968 Buckskin Rep Marlowe The Star Maker Paul Lemont 1968 The Astro-Zombies Holman (final film role)

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source1952 Cavalcade of America Away Boarders Broadway Playhouse The Big Clock1953 Theatre Guild on the Air Kate Fennigate Stars over Hollywood Bus Driver's Holiday

References

External links