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{{short description|American actor (1897-1982)}}
{{Short description|American actor (1897–1982)}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2015}}
{{refimprove|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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| birth_place = [[Newport, Kentucky]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Newport, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|7|13|1897|11|29}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1982|7|13|1897|11|29}}
| death_place = [[New York City]], U.S.
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1908–1965
| years_active = 1908–1965
| spouse = [[Genevieve Hamper]] (1928-1971) (her death)<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/20/archives/genevieve-hamper-stage-actress-82.html| title=Genevieve Hamper, Stage Actress, 82|date=February 20, 1971| newspaper=The New York Times| url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| spouse =
}}
}}


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==Early life==
==Early life==
He was born on November 29, 1897, in [[Newport, Kentucky]]. His father owned steamboats and his mother was a [[telegraph operator]].
He was born on November 29, 1897, in [[Newport, Kentucky]]. His father owned steamboats and his mother was a [[telegraph operator]].{{cn|date=August 2022}}


==Career==
==Career==
He had career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in ''Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town'' in 1908/1909.<ref name=NewYorkT>{{cite web|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/15/obituaries/john-alexander-85-film-and-stage-actor.html|title=John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor|date=July 15, 1982}}</ref>
He had a career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in ''Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town'' in 1908/1909.<ref name=NewYorkT>{{cite news| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/15/obituaries/john-alexander-85-film-and-stage-actor.html| title=John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor| date=July 15, 1982| url-access=subscription}}</ref>


Perhaps his most memorable performance was as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is [[Theodore Roosevelt]], in the 1944 classic film ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' opposite [[Cary Grant]]. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] [[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|play of the same name]] on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 [[Bob Hope]] comedy ''[[Fancy Pants (film)|Fancy Pants]]'' and reprised his role as Teddy "Roosevelt" Brewster in the 1955 TV adaptation of ''Arsenic and Old Lace'' in the anthology series ''[[The Best of Broadway]]''.
He is best remembered for his performance as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is [[Theodore Roosevelt]], in the 1944 classic film ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (film)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' opposite [[Cary Grant]]. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 [[Broadway theater|Broadway]] [[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|play of the same name]] on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 [[Bob Hope]] comedy ''[[Fancy Pants (film)|Fancy Pants]]'' and reprised his role as Teddy "Roosevelt" Brewster in the 1955 TV adaptation of ''Arsenic and Old Lace'' in the anthology series ''[[The Best of Broadway]]''.


Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945 film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' in 1945, Mr. McComber in ''[[Summer Holiday (1948 film)|Summer Holiday]]'' in 1948, Jack Riker in ''[[Winchester '73]]'' in 1950 and Howard Shipley in ''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' in 1952.
Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in ''[[A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1945 film)|A Tree Grows in Brooklyn]]'' in 1945, Mr. McComber in ''[[Summer Holiday (1948 film)|Summer Holiday]]'' in 1948, Jack Riker in ''[[Winchester '73]]'' in 1950 and Howard Shipley in ''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' in 1952.


During the 1950s and early 1960, he guest starred on television series, such as ''[[The Phil Silvers Show]]'', ''[[Adventures of the Sea Hawk]]'' and ''[[Car 54, Where Are You?]]''.
During the 1950s and early 1960, he guest starred on television series, such as ''[[The Phil Silvers Show]]'', ''[[Adventures of the Sea Hawk]]'' and ''[[Car 54, Where Are You?]]'' Alexander's last performance was as Mayor Crane in the Broadway comedy ''[[Never Too Late (play)|Never Too Late]]'', a role he had played since 1962.


Alexander died on July 13, 1982, in New York City.<ref name="NewYorkT"/> He is buried in the Actors Fund of America plot in [[Kensico Cemetery]] in [[Valhalla, New York]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. |date=19 August 2016 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-2599-7 |page=14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOHgDAAAQBAJ&q=Mary+Alden |access-date=January 22, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
Alexander's last performance was as Mayor Crane in the Broadway comedy ''[[Never Too Late (play)|Never Too Late]]'', a role he had played since 1962.

John Alexander died on July 13, 1982 in New York City.<ref name="NewYorkT"/>


==Partial filmography==
==Partial filmography==
{{div col}}
{{div col}}
*''[[Baby Take a Bow]]'' (1934) - Ragpicker (uncredited)
*''[[Baby Take a Bow]]'' (1934) - Ragpicker (uncredited)
*''[[The Ghost Rider]]'' (1935) - Sheriff
* ''[[The Ghost Rider (1935 film)|The Ghost Rider]]'' (1935) - Sheriff
*''[[The Arizonian]]'' (1935) - Billy (uncredited)
*''[[The Arizonian]]'' (1935) - Billy (uncredited)
*''[[Special Agent (1935 film)|Special Agent]]'' (1935) - Arcade Manager (uncredited)
*''[[Special Agent (1935 film)|Special Agent]]'' (1935) - Arcade Manager (uncredited)
*''[[Polo Joe]]'' (1936) - William the Waiter (uncredited)
*''[[Polo Joe]]'' (1936) - William the Waiter (uncredited)
*''[[On Such a Night (1937 film)|On Such a Night]]'' (1937) - District Attorney
*''[[On Such a Night (1937 film)|On Such a Night]]'' (1937) - District Attorney
*''[[Flowing Gold]]'' (1940) - Sheriff
*''[[Flowing Gold (1940 film)|Flowing Gold]]'' (1940) - Sheriff
*''[[Calling All Husbands]]'' (1940) - Sheriff Ben Barnes
*''[[Calling All Husbands]]'' (1940) - Sheriff Ben Barnes
*''[[Mr. Skeffington]]'' (1944) - Jim Conderley
*''[[Mr. Skeffington]]'' (1944) - Jim Conderley
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*''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' (1952) - Howard Shipley
*''[[The Marrying Kind]]'' (1952) - Howard Shipley
*''[[Untamed Frontier]]'' (1952) - Max Wickersham
*''[[Untamed Frontier]]'' (1952) - Max Wickersham
*''[[The Mugger]]'' (1958) - Chief of Police
*''[[The Mugger (film)|The Mugger]]'' (1958) - Chief of Police
*''[[The Man in the Net]]'' (1959) - Mr. Carey
*''[[The Man in the Net]]'' (1959) - Mr. Carey
*''[[One Foot in Hell (film)|One Foot in Hell]]'' (1960) - Sam Giller - Storekeeper
*''[[One Foot in Hell (film)|One Foot in Hell]]'' (1960) - Sam Giller - Storekeeper
*''The Right Man'' (1960, TV Movie) - Wendell Mike
*''The Right Man'' (1960 TV movie) - Wendell Mike
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0018514}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0018514}}
*{{Amg name|836}}
* {{Amg name|836}}
*{{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
*{{Find a Grave|11225794}}
* {{Find a Grave|11225794}}
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/18822 John Alexander ephemera, 1916-1982], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]
* [http://archives.nypl.org/the/18822 John Alexander ephemera, 1916-1982], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, [[New York Public Library for the Performing Arts]]


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[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Burials at Kensico Cemetery]]
⚫
[[Category:Male actors from Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Newport, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Newport, Kentucky]]
⚫
[[Category:Male actors from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Disease-related deaths in New York (state)]]
⚫
[[Category:Burials at Kensico Cemetery]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 22:06, 23 June 2024

John Alexander
Alexander in New Orleans (1947)
Born(1897-11-29)November 29, 1897
Newport, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 1982(1982-07-13) (aged 84)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1908–1965
SpouseGenevieve Hamper (1928-1971) (her death)[1]

John Alexander (November 29, 1897 – July 13, 1982) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Early life

[edit]

He was born on November 29, 1897, in Newport, Kentucky. His father owned steamboats and his mother was a telegraph operator.[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

He had a career spanning more than 55 years on Broadway with his first role as the title character in Elmer Brown, the Only Boy in Town in 1908/1909.[2]

He is best remembered for his performance as Teddy Brewster, a lunatic who thinks he is Theodore Roosevelt, in the 1944 classic film Arsenic and Old Lace opposite Cary Grant. He had previously portrayed that role in the 1941 Broadway play of the same name on which the film was based. He went on to play the "real" Roosevelt in the 1950 Bob Hope comedy Fancy Pants and reprised his role as Teddy "Roosevelt" Brewster in the 1955 TV adaptation of Arsenic and Old Lace in the anthology series The Best of Broadway.

Among his other notable film roles, Alexander played Steve Edwards in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in 1945, Mr. McComber in Summer Holiday in 1948, Jack Riker in Winchester '73 in 1950 and Howard Shipley in The Marrying Kind in 1952.

During the 1950s and early 1960, he guest starred on television series, such as The Phil Silvers Show, Adventures of the Sea Hawk and Car 54, Where Are You? Alexander's last performance was as Mayor Crane in the Broadway comedy Never Too Late, a role he had played since 1962.

Alexander died on July 13, 1982, in New York City.[2] He is buried in the Actors Fund of America plot in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.[3]

Partial filmography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Genevieve Hamper, Stage Actress, 82". The New York Times. February 20, 1971.
  2. ^ a b "John Alexander, 85; Film and Stage Actor". The New York Times. July 15, 1982.
  3. ^ Wilson, Scott (19 August 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
[edit]
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