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Jack HaleyAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 10.08.1898
Country:  USA |
Content:
Jack Haley: A Biography
John Joseph 'Jack' Haley was born in 1898 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. His acting career began in vaudeville, and by the 1920s, Haley was already performing on Broadway. Some of his early works included musicals like 'Round the Town', 'Gay Paree', and 'Follow Thru'.
In the 1930s, Haley transitioned to film and appeared in various short comedy films such as 'Then Came the Yawn', 'Wrongorilla', and 'Salt Water Daffy'. Interestingly, in all these short and humorous films, Haley consistently played the lead characters. He also had a notable role in the film adaptation of the play 'Follow Thru'.
During the 1930s, Haley starred in significant films of the decade, including the musical drama 'Poor Little Rich Girl' in 1936, the sports (football) musical 'Pigskin Parade' in the same year, the melodrama 'Danger-Love at Work' directed by Otto Preminger in 1937, and the musical 'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm'.
In 1939, Haley celebrated receiving an Oscar with the entire cast and crew of the musical drama 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' directed by Henry King. The same year, Haley landed a role in the fantasy musical 'The Wizard of Oz'. Despite being ranked first among 'The Independent's' 'Top 10 Cursed Hollywood Films', the movie went on to win an Oscar and the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. It became a classic of American cinema, and Haley recorded one of his greatest roles as the Tin Man. Interestingly, Buddy Ebsen, who was initially cast as the Tin Man, had to be replaced due to a severe allergy to aluminum dust used in the makeup. Haley, who was unaware of the reason for the replacement, sincerely believed that his predecessor simply did not perform well in the role.
Aside from acting, Haley also wrote the screenplay for 'The Wizard of Oz', adding to the significance of the film for him. Another interesting fact related to the movie is that the children of actors Judy Garland and Jack Haley, Liza Minnelli and Jack Haley Jr., who portrayed Dorothy and the Tin Man, respectively, got married in 1970.
Personal Life and Legacy
Haley married Florence McFadden in 1921, and their marriage lasted until his death in 1979. They had a son and a daughter. His son, Jack Haley Jr., went on to become a successful film producer and director. Haley's daughter, Gloria, published the book 'Heart of the Tin Man' in 1978.
Haley's last film appearance was in the 1970 comedy 'Norwood', directed by his son Jack Haley Jr. After that, he made a few television appearances before retiring from acting. In total, Haley's filmography includes over 40 films, including several TV series such as 'Theatre 90', 'Justice Burke', and 'Dr. Marcus Welby'. He also had numerous theatrical works throughout his career.
Jack Haley passed away from a heart attack on June 6, 1979, in Los Angeles at the age of 80. His loved ones remembered that just a week before his death, Haley was cheerful and active, with no signs of his impending passing. He was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
