Brad Dexter(bornBoris Michel Soso;[1]April 9, 1917 – December 12, 2002) was an American actor and film producer. He is known for tough-guy and western roles, including the 1960 filmThe Magnificent Seven(1960), and producing several films forSidney J. Furiesuch asLady Sings the Blues.He is also known for a short marriage toPeggy Lee,a friendship withMarilyn Monroe[2]and for savingFrank Sinatrafrom drowning. Dexter's tough-guy roles contrasted with his easygoing and friendly real-life personality.[3]
Brad Dexter | |
|---|---|
 Dexter inHeldorado(1946) | |
| Born | Boris Michel Soso April 9, 1917 Goldfield, Nevada,U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 2002(aged 85) |
| Resting place | Desert Memorial Park,Cathedral City, California,U.S. |
| Other names | Boris Milanovich Boris Mitchell Soso Barry Mitchell |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1944–1988 |
| Spouses | |
Early life
editDexter was born inGoldfield, Nevada,the second of three sons born to Marko and Ljubica Šošo (later known as Marko and Violet Soso),ethnic Serbimmigrants fromBosnia-Herzegovina.Serbianwas Dexter's first language.[4][5]
The family soon relocated toLos Angeles,where he attendedBelmont High School.Tall, burly and handsome with bright blue eyes, Dexter was usually given supporting roles as a rugged character.[6][7]After a stint as an amateur boxer, Dexter attended thePasadena Playhouse,where he studied acting. He had a small role inThe Mortal Storm(1940). DuringWorld War II,he enlisted in theU.S. Army Air Corps,where he met and befriendedKarl Malden,a fellow Serbian-American, and appeared uncredited in the Corps play andfilmWinged Victory(1944).
Acting career
editAfter the war, Dexter had a role inHeldorado(1946), aRoy Rogerswestern, as "Barry Mitchell". He was also credited under this name inSinbad the Sailor(1947). He appeared on Broadway inMagnolia Alley(1949).[8]
He changed his name to Brad Dexter, playing a villainous detective inThe Asphalt Jungle(1950) and landing a role inFourteen Hours(1951). Dexter's breakthrough role was as a villain in RKO'sThe Las Vegas Story(1951), starringVictor MatureandJane Russell.RKO cast him in a similar part inMacao(1952), also with Russell. RKO signed him to a contract.
Dexter played a villain in99 River Street(1953). He then signed a contract with20th Century Fox,appearing inUntamed(1955),Violent Saturday(1955) for directorRichard Fleischer,House of Bamboo(1955) for directorSamuel Fuller,The Bottom of the Bottle(1956), andBetween Heaven and Hell(1956) again with Fleischer.
Dexter played a villain inThe Oklahoman(1957), produced byWalter Mirisch,and also appeared inRun Silent Run Deep(1958), again as a villain.
First TV work
editDexter then shifted largely into television, appearing in episodes ofClimax!,The Gale Storm Show,How to Marry a Millionaire,Pursuit,Studio One in Hollywood,Wagon Train,Bat Masterson,Have Gun – Will Travel,Zane Grey Theatre,Behind Closed Doors,Cimarron City,Yancy Derringer,This Man Dawson,77 Sunset Strip,Colt 45,The Man from Blackhawk,Tightrope,Mr. Lucky,Bat Masterton,andWanted: Dead or Alive,starringSteve McQueen.
Further film work
editEven after embarking into television, Dexter still made the occasional feature film, such asLast Train from Gun Hill(1959), directed byJohn Sturges,andVice Raid(1959), and was second billed in13 Fighting Men(1960).
He was then cast as a gunslinger inThe Magnificent Seven(1960), directed byJohn SturgesforWalter Mirisch's production firm The Mirisch Company. Both Sturges and Mirisch had worked with Dexter before. He was praised for his work, and it became his best-known role and most famous film.[9]
Return to television
editThe success ofThe Magnificent Sevendid not immediately benefit Dexter's career: he returned to television, guest starring inThe Aquanauts,Hawaiian Eye,General Electric Theatre,Tales of Wells Fargo,Surfside 6,The Investigators,andAlcoa Premiere.He could be seen inIt Started in Tokyo(1961),The George Raft Story(1961) (playingBugsy Siegel),X-15(1962) withCharles BronsonandJohnny Cool(1963). Dexter supportedYul Brynneragain inTaras Bulba(1962),Kings of the Sun(1963) (from the producers ofMagnificent Seven), andInvitation to a Gunfighter(1964).
In 1963, Dexter was cast asCalifornia Supreme CourtJusticeDavid S. Terryin "A Gun Is Not a Gentleman" on thesyndicatedanthology series,Death Valley Days,hosted byStanley Andrews.Carroll O'ConnorportrayedU.S. SenatorDavid C. Broderickof California, who was mortally wounded by Justice Terry in an 1859 duel. Though past allies in theDemocratic Party,Terry, aslaveryadvocate, challenged the anti-slavery Broderick.
Work with Frank Sinatra
editDexter's friendship withFrank Sinatrabegan when Dexter helped save Sinatra from drowning on May 10, 1964, during production of the World War II filmNone but the Brave(1965) on the island ofKauai, Hawaii.Sinatra and Ruth Koch, the wife of producerHoward Koch,were swimming when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned. Sinatra's co-star Dexter and two surfers swam out and rescued them. Dexter was later awarded aRed Crossmedal for his bravery. Grateful, Sinatra made him vice president of Sinatra Enterprises.[10]
After Dexter appeared inBus Riley's Back in Town(1965), he made another film with Sinatra,Von Ryan's Express(1965). That year, Dexter complained that acting made him "frustrated as hell. As an actor you don't have control over the medium you're in... you have no control over your destiny."
Dexter producedThe Naked Runner(1967), which starred Sinatra and was filmed in London. Dexter and directorSidney J. Furieclashed with Sinatra over the latter's unwillingness to finish the film, and, after it was completed, Dexter resigned. "I was the only guy who dropped Sinatra... I couldn't put up with his nonsense", Dexter said at the time.[citation needed]Publicly, Dexter denied any falling out with Sinatra. He claimed to have left Sinatra's company to make a film with Furie based on theSam Sheppardcase.
The project eventually becameThe Lawyer(1970) starringBarry NewmanasPetrocelli.He produced two more films for Furie:Little Fauss and Big Halsy(1970) starringRobert Redford,andLady Sings the Blues(1972) starringDiana RossasBillie Holiday.
Later work
editDexter returned to acting with roles inJory(1973),Shampoo(1975),Vigilante Force(1976),The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover(1977),House Calls(1978) andWinter Kills(1979), and guest parts onMcCloud,Kojak,S.W.A.T.,Project U.F.O.,andThe Incredible Hulk.Dexter produced the TV seriesSkag(1980) starringKarl Malden.His last role was inCognac(1988).
Personal life
editDexter married singerPeggy LeeJanuary 1953; the couple divorced that November.[11]
He was married toStarKisttuna heiress Mary Bogdanovich from January 27, 1971, until her death on June 12, 1994. Later in 1994, he married June Deyer and remained with her until his death.[3]
Death
editDexter died inRancho Mirage, California,fromemphysema,on December 11, 2002, at age 85, and is interred atDesert Memorial Park.[12]
Filmography
edit- Winged Victory(1944) as Jack Browning (uncredited)
- Heldorado(1946) as Alec Baxter
- Sinbad the Sailor(1947) as Muallin
- The Asphalt Jungle(1950) as Bob Brannom
- Fourteen Hours(1951) as Reporter (uncredited)
- The Las Vegas Story(1952) as Tom Hubler
- Macao(1952) as Vincent Halloran
- 99 River Street(1953) as Victor Rawlins
- Untamed(1955) as Lt. Christian
- Violent Saturday(1955) as Gil Clayton
- House of Bamboo(1955) as Captain Hanson
- The Bottom of the Bottle(1956) as Stanley Miller
- Between Heaven and Hell(1956) as Lt. Joe 'Little Joe' Johnson
- The Oklahoman(1957) as Cass Dobie
- Run Silent, Run Deep(1958) as Ens. Gerald Cartwright
- Last Train from Gun Hill(1959) as Beero
- Vice Raid(1960) as Vince Malone
- 13 Fighting Men(1960) as Maj. Simon Boyd
- The Magnificent Seven(1960) as Harry Luck
- Twenty Plus Two(1961) as Leroy Dane
- The George Raft Story(1961) as Benny 'Bugsy' Siegal
- X-15(1961) as Maj. Anthony Rinaldi
- Taras Bulba(1962) as Shilo
- Johnny Cool(1963) as Lennart Crandall
- Kings of the Sun(1963) as Ah Haleb
- Invitation to a Gunfighter(1964) as Kenarsie
- None but the Brave(1965) as Sgt. Bleeker
- Bus Riley's Back in Town(1965) as Slocum
- Von Ryan's Express(1965) as Sgt. Bostick
- Blindfold(1966) as Detective Harrigan
- Jory(1973) as Jack
- Shampoo(1975) as Senator East
- Vigilante Force(1976) as Mayor Bradford
- The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover(1977) as Alvin Karpis
- House Calls(1978) as Quinn
- Winter Kills(1979) as Captain Heller One
- Tajna manastirske rakije(1988) as Veljko Pantovich (final role)
References
edit- ^"Ancestry Library Edition".www.ancestrylibrary.com.RetrievedOctober 5,2018.
- ^Bergan, Ronald (December 23, 2002)."Obituary: Brad Dexter".the Guardian.
- ^abRourke, Mary (December 14, 2002)."Brad Dexter, 85; Sinatra Pal Often Played Villains".LA Times.
- ^"Brad Dexter, 85; Sinatra Pal Often Played Villains".LA Times.December 14, 2002.
- ^"Myth #93: So Who Was Actor Brad Dexter Anyway? by Guy Rocha, Former Nevada State Archivist"Archived2016-12-16 at theWayback Machine,nsla.nv.gov (PDF); accessed October 9, 2016.
- ^"Kauboj Đorđe - heroj filma pre 100 godina".novosti.rs. November 11, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 21,2017.
- ^"Kako je Veljko Šošo postao holivudska zvezda Brad Dexter".yugopapir.com.RetrievedJanuary 21,2017.
- ^League, The Broadway."Brad Dexter – Broadway Cast & Staff".IBDb.com.
- ^,Obituary,The Guardian,Ronald Bergan,December 23, 2002; accessed May 1, 2012.
- ^"Brad Dexter: Thesp and confidant of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra".Variety.December 16, 2002.
- ^Vallance, Tom (December 16, 2002)."Brad Dexter obituary".The Independent.London, UK. Archived fromthe originalon January 4, 2010.RetrievedApril 4,2010.
- ^Wilson, Scott.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons,3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
External links
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