William Lundigan

William Lundigan

Lundigan in The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)
Born (1914-06-12)June 12, 1914
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Died December 20, 1975(1975-12-20) (aged 61)
Duarte, California, U.S.
Cause of death heart congestion
Resting place Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
Occupation Actor
Years active 1937–1971
Spouse(s) Rena Morgan (1945-1975; his death) 1 child

William Lundigan (June 12, 1914 – December 20, 1975) was an American film actor. His more than 125 films[1] include Dodge City (1939), The Fighting 69th (1940), The Sea Hawk (1940), Santa Fe Trail (1940), Dishonored Lady (1947), Pinky (1949), Love Nest (1951) with Marilyn Monroe, The House on Telegraph Hill (1951), I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (1951) and Inferno (1953).

Biography

Growing up in Syracuse, New York,[2] Lundigan was the oldest of four sons. His father, Michael F. Lundigan,[3] owned a shoe store (at which Lundigan worked)[4] in the same building as a local radio station, WFBL.[2] Becoming fascinated by radio, he was playing child roles on radio and producing radio plays at 16.

A graduate of Nottingham High School, Lundigan studied law at Syracuse University, earning money as a radio announcer at WFBL. He graduated and passed the bar examination before events changed his career path.[5] A Universal Pictures production chief heard Lundigan's voice, met him, arranged a screen test and signed him to a motion picture contract in 1937.[1]

Moving over to MGM, Lundigan's last film before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in World War II was Salute to the Marines. He served as a combat cameraman in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa returning at war's end as a Corporal.[6]

Television

Lundigan was host for Climax! and Shower of Stars.[1] From September 30, 1959, to September 7, 1960, Lundigan portrayed Col. Edward McCauley in the CBS television series, Men into Space.

Politics

In 1963 and 1964, Lundigan joined fellow actors Walter Brennan, Chill Wills, and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., in making appearances on behalf of U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater, the Republican nominee in the campaign against U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson.[7]

He once had an unsuccessful campaign for a seat on the City Council of Los Angeles, California.[4]

Family

Lundigan married Rena Morgan. They had a daughter, Anastasia.[2]

Death

Lundigan died of apparent heart failure on December 20, 1975, at Hope Medical Center in Duarte, California.[1] He was survived by his wife and daughter.[8]

Radio appearances

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bill Lundigan, TV, Film Star, Dies at 61". The Kansas City Times,. December 22, 1975. p. 27. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 3 "Home Town Gives Bill Hollywood Welcome". The Post-Standard. June 1, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Bill Lundigan's Success Recipe". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. March 29, 1942. p. 38. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Actor Bill Lundigan dies at 61". The Times Standard. December 22, 1975. p. 3. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "In Hollywood". The Courier-Gazette. June 14, 1951. p. 4. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ pp.117-119 Wise, James E. & Rehill, Anne Collier Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines Naval Institute Press, 1999
  7. ↑ "The Impact of the Draft Goldwater Committee on the Republican Party". ashbrook.org(archive.org). Archived from the original on March 3, 2001. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  8. ↑ "Veteran Actor Lundigan Dies". Santa Cruz Sentinel. December 22, 1975. p. 14. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Your Radio Today". Tucson Daily Citizen. May 31, 1951. p. 24. Retrieved May 10, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Kirby, Walter (April 20, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 46. Retrieved May 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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