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John Hodiak | |
|---|---|
 Hodiak inA Lady Without Passport (1950) | |
| Born | (1914-04-16)April 16, 1914 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 19, 1955(1955-10-19) (aged 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1939–1955 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
John Hodiak (/ˈhoʊ.diː.æk/HOH-dee-ak; April 16, 1914 – October 19, 1955) was an American actor who worked in radio, stage and film.
Hodiak was born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Anna (Pogorzelec) and Walter Hodiak. He was of Ukrainian and Polish descent.[1] Hodiak spent eight years in Pittsburgh before moving toHamtramck, Michigan.[2]
When Hodiak first tried out for a radio acting job, he was turned down because of his accent. He became acaddie at a Detroit golf course, then worked at a Chevrolet automobile factory – and practised his diction. When he conquered the diction hurdle, he became a radio actor and moved to Chicago. There Hodiak created the role of the comic strip characterLi'l Abner on radio.[3][4]
Hodiak also had the role of McCullough in the radio soap operaGirl Alone.[5][6]
Hodiak was cast in a few small parts at MGM, includingA Stranger in Town (1943),I Dood It (1943) andMaisie Goes to Reno (1944).[7]
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Hodiak then caught the eye ofdirectorAlfred Hitchcock, and on loan to20th Century Fox, he was featured inLifeboat (1944) oppositeTallulah Bankhead.[8]
MGM cast him in the third lead inSong of Russia (1944), supportingRobert Taylor andSusan Peters.[9] He wasAnn Sothern's love interest inMaisie Goes to Reno (1944) and had a role inMarriage Is a Private Affair (1944).[10][11]
20th Century Fox borrowed Hodiak again to play the title role inSunday Dinner for a Soldier (1944), withAnne Baxter, whom he married in real life.[12] Fox kept him on to play Maj. Joppolo inA Bell for Adano (1945) withGene Tierney.[3]
At MGM, Hodiak had a role asJudy Garland's love interest inThe Harvey Girls (1946).[13]
Fox gave him a starring role inSomewhere in the Night (1946), directed byJoseph L. Mankiewicz.[14] Hodiak acted withLucille Ball in MGM'sTwo Smart People (1946), which lost money,[15] as did the film noirThe Arnelo Affair (1947).[16]
Hodiak went to Paramount forDesert Fury (1947), playing the lead withLizabeth Scott andBurt Lancaster. He starred inLove from a Stranger (1947) forEagle Lion, then supported Lana Turner andClark Gable inHomecoming (1948). He supported Gable again inCommand Decision (1948). The two Gable films were hits but Hodiak was voted "box office poison" by exhibitors at the end of 1948.[17]
Hodiak was down the cast list forThe Bribe (1949). He was second billed in MGM's war filmBattleground (1949), a huge success. Also popular wasMalaya (1949) where Hodiak supported James Stewart andSpencer Tracy.
Hodiak was a love rival for Robert Taylor inAmbush (1950), a popular Western. MGM gave him another lead role, co-starring withHedy Lamarr inA Lady Without Passport (1950), but it lost money. He was third billed inThe Miniver Story (1950), the flop sequel toMrs. Miniver, and fourth lead inNight into Morning (1951), an unsuccessful drama.
Hodiak supportedSpencer Tracy inThe People Against O'Hara (1951) and Clark Gable inAcross the Wide Missouri (1952). He was second billed toWalter Pidgeon inThe Sellout (1953).
In 1952, Hodiak went to New York City and made his Broadway debut inThe Chase byHorton Foote and directed byJosé Ferrer.[18] The play was a failure, but its star received positive notices.[19]
Hodiak went to Allied Artists to star in the movieBattle Zone (1952).[20] He starred in two Westerns,Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) andConquest of Cochise (1953), and then the war moviesMission Over Korea (1953) andDragonfly Squadron (1954).[21]
He originated the role of Lieutenant Maryk in Paul Gregory's production of the playThe Caine Mutiny Court Martial (1954–1955) byHerman Wouk adapted from his novelThe Caine Mutiny.[22] The play, starringHenry Fonda andLloyd Nolan, ran for two years, and Hodiak's portrayal brought him acclaim.
When the show closed after its U.S. tour, Hodiak began work onTrial (1955) at MGM, billed fourth as the prosecuting attorney.[23] When it wrapped, he played Major Ward Thomas inOn the Threshold of Space (1956) at 20th Century Fox.[24]
Hodiak and actressAnne Baxter (whom he met while they were starring inSunday Dinner for a Soldier) married on July 7, 1946, and divorced on January 27, 1953. They had one daughter, Katrina Hodiak, who became an actress.[3]
Hodiak had a fatal heart attack at his parents' home in theTarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles.[25] He was acting inOn the Threshold of Space; it was decided that his performance was sufficient to release the movie.[26] He is interred in Block 303, Crypt D-1 of the main mausoleum atCalvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles.He left an estate of $25,000.[27]
Hodiak has a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame at 6101 Hollywood Boulevard, for his work in radio.[28]
A few of Hodiak's many radio appearances:
| Year | Program | Episode/source |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Hallmark Playhouse | "The Desert Shall Rejoice"[29][30] |
| 1952 | Suspense | "The Big Heist"[31] |
| 1953 | Suspense | "Gold of the Adomar"[32] |
| 1953 | Suspense | "The Mountain"[33] |
