Wendell Corey

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,^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[2][3] Corey was also employed by the Federal Theatre Project.^[4]

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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

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.^[11] A Republican campaigner in national politics since 1956, Corey was elected to the Santa Monica City Council in April 1965.^[12] Corey supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election.^[13]

Death

Corey died on November 8, 1968, at the age of 54, at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.^[14] 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.^[2][15] Funeral services were held at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica, California.^[16]

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.^[17]

Filmography

^[18]

Radio appearances

References

1. ^ Corby, Jane (January 22, 1950). "Screenings". Brooklyn Eagle. p. 27. Retrieved June 18, 2015. – via Newspapers.com
2. ^ "Veteran Stage, TV, Film Actor Wendell Corey Dead at Age 54". The Boston Globe. United Press International. p. 22. Retrieved April 15, 2023. – via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Short Illness Claims Life Of Film Actor". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. November 9, 1968. p. 8A. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
4. ^ "Wendell Corey Dies Friday; Liver Ailment". Lawrence Journal-World. November 9, 1968. p. 7. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
5. ^ "Film Scout Found Wendell Corey". Times Pictorial. November 11, 1950. p. 5.
6. ^ Schallert, Edwin (May 5, 1948). "Astaire Will Prepare New Dance Routines". Los Angeles Times. p. 22.
7. ^ Schallert, Edwin (October 7, 1949). "Wendell Corey Male Star in 'No Sad Songs'; Erickson Gets Ace Role". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
8. ^ Brady, Thomas F. (February 18, 1950). "Ray Milland Gets Metro Movit Lead: Replaces Wendell Corey, Who Withdraws From 'Life of Her Own' During Filming Columbia Releases Ireland Of Local Origin". The New York Times. p. 9.
9. ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (July 18, 1954). "Corey Hits Road With 'Mutiny'". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.
10. ^ Terrace, Vincent (November 7, 2013). Television Introductions: Narrated TV Program Openings since 1949. Scarecrow Press. p. 84. ISBN 978-0-8108-9250-7. – via Google Books
11. ^ Television Quarterly 1962-08: Vol 1 Iss 3. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. August 1962.
12. ^ "Wendell Corey Wins City Council Seat". Park City Daily News. Associated Press. April 12, 1965. p. 9. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
13. ^ Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-1076-5028-2.
14. ^ "Wendell Corey Dies; Veteran Movie Actor". The Morning Record. November 9, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
15. ^ Duda, Rebecca A. (April 13, 2019). "From Dracut to Hollywood–Wendell Corey". Discovering the Historic Merrimack Valley
16. ^ "Wendell Corey Services Held". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. November 12, 1968. p. 2. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
17. ^ "Wendell Corey". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
18. ^ "Wayback Machine". repositories.lib.utexas.edu. Archived 2022-08-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
19. ^ Kirby, Walter (November 16, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 18, 2015. – via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ Kirby, Walter (May 24, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 28, 2015. – via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ Kirby, Walter (October 11, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". Decatur Daily Review. p. 50. Retrieved July 6, 2015. – via Newspapers.com.