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Fred Gwynne

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Fred Gwynne
Gwynne in Car 54, Where Are You?, 1961
Born
Frederick Hubbard Gwynne

(1926-07-10)July 10, 1926
DiedJuly 2, 1993(1993-07-02) (aged 66)
Resting placeSandy Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery, Finksburg, Maryland
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Actor
  • artist
  • author
Years active1951–1993
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Spouses
Jean Reynard
(m. 1952; div. 1980)
Deborah Flater
(m. 1988)
Children5

Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, artist and author, who is widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? (as Francis Muldoon) and The Munsters (as Herman Munster), as well as his later film roles in The Cotton Club (1984), Pet Sematary (1989), and My Cousin Vinny (1992).

Early life

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Dorothy Ficken, Gwynne's mother, in 1917

Gwynne was born on July 10, 1926, in New York City, the son of Frederick Walker Gwynne, a partner in the securities firm Gwynne Brothers, and his wife Dorothy Ficken Gwynne, who, before her marriage, was a successful artist known for her "Sunny Jim" comic character. He had at least two siblings, Dorothy Gwynne and Bowers Gwynne, both of whom died young. His paternal grandfather, Walker Gwynne, was an Anglican priest, born c. 1846 in Camus, County Tyrone, Ireland, who married American Helen Lea Bowers. His maternal grandfather, H. Edwards Ficken, was a British immigrant who married the American Josephine (or Josephina) Preston Hubbard.[1][2] Although Gwynne partially grew up in Tuxedo Park, New York,[3] he spent most of his childhood in South Carolina, Florida, and Colorado because his father traveled extensively.[4]

Following his father's death, his mother sent him to boarding school at Groton School, where he graduated in 1944 and may have set the school record for disciplinary black marks.[5][6] He was president of the drama club and made his first stage appearance in a school production of Henry V.[6][7] Forty years later, he used his drawing skills to pen the school's official campus map.[5]

Having attended high school during World War II, Gwynne joined the United States Navy after graduation, serving as a radioman on submarine chaser USS Manville (PC-581).[8][9]

After the war, Gwynne attended art school at the Phoenix School of Design (now affiliated with the Pratt Institute) in New York,[10] with "the dream of doing Saturday Evening Post covers."[6] He found that the work was not right for him, and transferred to Harvard College in 1948, graduating in 1951. He was a member of the Fly Club, served as president of the Harvard Lampoon (and as an in-house cartoonist), sang with the Harvard Krokodiloes a cappella group,[11] and acted for the Hasty Pudding Theatricals.[3][12] He was affiliated with Adams House.[10] During his tenure as Lampoon president, the Middlesex County District Attorney once attempted to ban the publication of the Lampoon's parody magazine for obscenity. In response, Gwynne joked that "This just proves what we already knew – moral standards in New England are higher than elsewhere in the country."[13]

In the 1940s, Gwynne was a summertime swimming instructor at the Duxbury Yacht Club pool in Duxbury, Massachusetts.[14]

Career

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Gwynne joined the Brattle Theatre Repertory Company after his 1951 graduation,[15] then moved to New York City. To support himself, Gwynne worked as a copywriter for the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, resigning in 1952 upon being cast in his first Broadway role, a gangster in a comedy called Mrs. McThing starring Helen Hayes.[15] Another early role was a New York City Drama Company production at City Center of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost in 1953, in the role of Dull, a constable.[16] Gwynne preferred theater to film and television, and maintained that if the United States had a national theater mounting year-round productions, he would rather work there.[6]

In 1954, he made his first cinematic appearance playing – in an uncredited role – the laconic character Slim in the Oscar-winning film On the Waterfront. Shortly afterwards, Phil Silvers sought him for his television show because he had been impressed by Gwynne's comedic work in Mrs. McThing. As a result, Gwynne made a memorable appearance on The Phil Silvers Show in the episode "The Eating Contest" as the character Corporal Ed Honnergar, whose depressive eating binges are exploited in an eating contest.[citation needed]

Gwynne's second appearance on The Phil Silvers Show (in the episode "It's for the Birds") and appearances on many other shows led writer-producer Nat Hiken to cast him in the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? as Patrolman Francis Muldoon.[citation needed]

Gwynne was 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall, an attribute that contributed to his being cast as Herman Munster, a goofy parody of Frankenstein's monster, in the sitcom The Munsters. For his role, he had to wear 40 or 50 lbs (18 or 23 kg) of padding, makeup, and 5-inch asphalt-spreader boots. His face was painted a bright violet because it captured the most light on the black-and-white film.[citation needed] Gwynne was known for his sense of humor and retained fond recollections of Herman,[9] saying in later life, "I might as well tell you the truth. I love old Herman Munster. Much as I try not to, I can't stop liking that fellow."[15]

Gwynne (right) as Herman Munster, sharing a toast with Al Lewis (Grandpa) while Beverley Owen (Marilyn) looks on

After his iconic role in The Munsters, Gwynne found himself typecast, unable to gain new film roles for over two years.[citation needed] In 1969, he was cast as Jonathan Brewster in a television production of Arsenic and Old Lace. The Brewster character was originally played by Boris Karloff, who also played Frankenstein's monster on which Gwynne's Herman Munster character was based, in the Broadway production of the play. Gwynne then found success as a stage actor in regional state productions across the United States while maintaining a low Hollywood profile.[citation needed]

A talented vocalist, Gwynne sang in a Hallmark Hall of Fame television production The Littlest Angel (1969), and went on to perform in a variety of roles on stage and screen. In 1974, drawing upon his own Southern roots, he appeared in the role of Big Daddy Pollitt in the Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Elizabeth Ashley, Keir Dullea and Kate Reid. In 1975, he played the Stage Manager in Our Town at the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut.[17]

From 1975 to 1982, Gwynne appeared in 83 episodes in different roles on the popular radio drama series, the CBS Radio Mystery Theater, produced and directed by Himan Brown. He returned to Broadway in 1976 as Colonel J.C. Kinkaid in two parts of A Texas Trilogy. In 1984, Gwynne auditioned for the part of Henry on the sitcom Punky Brewster, then withdrew in frustration when a director identified him as Herman Munster rather than by his real name.[17] The role of Henry went to George Gaynes. In 1987, Gwynne starred in the short-lived TV series Jake's M.O., where he played an investigative reporter.[18]

Gwynne's performance as Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary was based on author Stephen King, who is only an inch shorter than the actor, and uses a similarly thick Maine dialect. The character's likeness and accent, as played by Gwynne, have been used in a number of episodes of the animated show South Park, beginning in 2001 and as recently as 2019.[19] Gwynne also had roles in the movies Simon, On the Waterfront, So Fine, Disorganized Crime, The Cotton Club, Captains Courageous, The Secret of My Success, Water, Ironweed, Fatal Attraction, and The Boy Who Could Fly. Despite his misgiving about having been typecast, he agreed to reprise the role of Herman Munster for the 1981 TV reunion movie The Munsters' Revenge. Gwynne performed the role of Judge Chamberlain Haller in his final film, the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny.[20]

As painter and illustrator

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In addition to his acting career, Gwynne sang professionally, painted, and wrote and illustrated children's books, including Best in Show (later titled It's Easy to See Why), Daddy Has a Mole on His Nose, A Chocolate Moose for Dinner, The King Who Rained, Pondlarker, The Battle of the Frogs and Mice, and A Little Pigeon Toad. Many of these efforts were based on children's frequent misperceptions of things they hear from adults, such as the "chocolate moose for dinner", illustrated as a moose seated at the dinner table. The other books on this theme were The King Who Rained, A Little Pigeon Toad (in which a child's mother thus describes her father), and The Sixteen Hand Horse.[9] Initially the books did not achieve wider popularity because their format was geared to a very young audience, but the concept was more appealing to older children and adults. Eventually they achieved critical success and became regular bestsellers for their publisher.[9] He also did his voice work for TV and radio commercials. Later in his career he held several shows of his artwork, the first in 1989.[citation needed]

Personal life

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In 1952, Gwynne married socialite Jean "Foxy" Reynard,[21] a granddaughter of New York City mayor William Jay Gaynor.[22] Before divorcing in 1980, the couple had five children: son Kieron (1953–1998); daughter Gaynor (b. 1954); son Evan (b. 1956); son Dylan (1962–1963, drowning);[23][24] and daughter Madyn (b. 1965).

In 1988, Gwynne married his second wife, Deborah Flater. They remained married until his death in 1993.[23]

Death

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Gwynne died of complications from pancreatic cancer,[23] in the cigar room at his home in Taneytown, Maryland, on July 2, 1993, aged 66.[25] He is buried in an unmarked grave at Sandy Mount United Methodist Church Cemetery in Finksburg, Maryland.[26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1954 On the Waterfront Mladen "Slim" Sekulovich Uncredited
1966 Munster, Go Home! Herman Munster
1979 La Luna Douglas Winter
1980 Simon Major General Korey
1981 So Fine Chairman Lincoln
1984 The Cotton Club George "Big Frenchy" DeMange
1985 Water Spender
1986 Off Beat Police Commissioner
The Boy Who Could Fly Uncle Hugo
The Christmas Star Officer Waters
1987 The Secret of My Success Donald Davenport
Fatal Attraction Arthur
Ironweed Oscar Reo
Jake's M.O. Jake Tekulve
1989 Disorganized Crime Max Green
Pet Sematary Jud Crandall
1991 Shadows and Fog Hacker's Follower
1992 My Cousin Vinny Judge Chamberlain Haller

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 The Repertory Theatre Performer Episode: "A Man's Game"
1953 You Are There Davy Crockett 2 episodes
1955–1956 The Phil Silvers Show Corporal Ed Honnegan
1956 Studio One in Hollywood Little Dude Episode: "The Landady's Daughter"
1957 The Kaiser Aluminum Hour "Egghead" Episode: "A Man's Game"
Suspicion Hughie Episode: "Hand in Glove"
Kraft Theatre Performer 2 episodes
1958 The Steve Allen Show Comedian Episode: #3.23
The Investigator Performer Episode: #1.07
DuPont Show of the Month E.J. Loffgrin 2 episodes
1961 The Play of the Week Performer Episode: "The Old Foolishness"
1961–1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Officer Francis Muldoon 60 episodes
1962 The DuPont Show of the Week William Magee Episode: "Seven Keys to Baldgate"
1963 The United States Steel Hour Willie Botsford Episode: "Don't Shake the Family Tree"
1964 Brenner Francis X. Fish Episode: "Charlie Paradise: The Tragic Flute"
My Son, the Witch Doctor Performer TV film
1964–1966 The Munsters Herman Munster Main role; 70 episodes
1965 The Red Skelton Show Episode: "Ta-Ra-Ra-Bum-Today"
1966 The Danny Kaye Show Episode: "Fred Gwynne"
New York Television Theatre The Professor Episode: "The Lesson"
1967 NET Playhouse Officer Avonzino Episode: "Infancy and Childhood"
1968 Mad Mad Scientist Warren Springer TV film
1969 Arsenic and Old Lace Jonathan Brewster
Anderson and Company Marshall Anderson
The Littlest Angel Guardian Angel
1971 Dames at Sea Hennesey
Great Performances Pike Episode: "Paradise Lost"
The Police Sergeant TV film
1972 Harvey Cab Driver
Norman Corwin Presents Performer Episode: "Aunt Dorothy's Playroom"
1976 Bound for Freedom Waldruss TV film
Captains and the Kings Performer Miniseries
1977 Captains Courageous Jack "Long Jack" TV film
1979 Sanctuary of Fear Judge Potter
1980 A Day with Conrad Green Conrad Green
1981 The Munsters' Revenge Herman Munster
1982–1987 American Playhouse Charles Dickens 2 episodes
1982 The Mysterious Stranger Balthasar Hoffman TV film
1985 Kane & Abel Davis LeRoy 2 episodes
1986 Vanishing Act Father Macklin TV film
1987 Murder by the Book Victor Greville
1990 Murder in Black and White Brannigan
Earthday Birthday Fred The Moose Voice, TV film
1992 Lincoln Edwin Stanton

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1952–1953 Mrs. McThing Stinker [27]
1953 Love's Labour's Lost Dull
The Frogs of Spring Luther Raubel
1960–1961 Irma La Douce Polyte-Le-Mou
1963–1964 Here's Love Marvin Shellhammer
1972 The Lincoln Mask Abraham Lincoln
1974–1975 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Big Daddy
1975 Our Town Stage Manager [28]
1976 A Texas Trilogy: The Last Meeting of the Knights of the White Magnolia Colonel J.C. Kinkaid [27]
A Texas Trilogy: The Oldest Living Graduate
1978 Angel W. O. Gant
Players Jock Riley
1982–1983 Whodunnit Inspector Bowden

References

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  1. ^ Census of Population and Housing, 1970 [United States]: Master Enumeration District (MED) Lists, June 28, 1984, doi:10.3886/icpsr08109.v2
  2. ^ Elias, Carlos; Kirlys, Rokas; Topyan, Kudret (August 1, 2017). "Return Predictability in Santiago Stock Exchange: an Empirical Analysis using Portfolio Method". Journal of Advances in Economics and Finance. 2 (3). doi:10.22606/jaef.2017.23005. ISSN 2519-5980.
  3. ^ a b "Cartoonist Fred Gwynne Is Elected Lampoon President". The Harvard Crimson. December 17, 1949.
  4. ^ Hill, Stephen (January 15, 2024). "Veteran of the Day: U.S. Navy Veteran Fred Gwynne". aerotechnews.com.
  5. ^ a b "Peabody Press: January 2023". Groton School. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Berkvist, Robert (May 7, 1978). "He Could Be the King of Curmudgeons". The New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Fred Gwynne". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  8. ^ "Gwynne, Frederick Hubbard, RM3 | TWS". navy.togetherweserved.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Wright, Andy (June 16, 2017). "The Man Behind Herman Munster Wrote Some Puntastic Children's Books". Atlas Obscura-Stories. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Ginsberg, Alexander B. (June 4, 2001). "Pursued By A Monstrous Image Of His Own Creation". The Harvard Crimson.
  11. ^ "Tribute to Fred Gwynne" Archived May 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Harvard Krokodiloes website.
  12. ^ "Notable Alumni". hastypudding.org.
  13. ^ "DA, Chief Plot Further Probe of 'Poon Parody | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Mittell, David A. (1995). The Duxbury Yacht Club Story. Attleboro, Massachusetts: Colonial Lithograph. p. 100.
  15. ^ a b c Lambert, Bruce (July 3, 1993) "Fred Gwynne, Popular Actor, Is Dead at 66". The New York Times, p. 8: Reference for Harvard Lampoon, Hasty Pudding Theatricals, Brattle Theatre, "Mrs. McThing".
  16. ^ Sheaffer, Louis. "Shakespeare Imaginatively Staged at City Center". Brooklyn Eagle, February 5, 1953.
  17. ^ a b "8 surprising facts about the great Fred Gwynne - 7. He almost starred on 'Punky Brewster.'". MeTV. July 10, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  18. ^ "Fred Gwynne stars in NBC-TV's "Jake's M.O."". NBC Press Release. July 30, 1987.
  19. ^ "The Complete Guide to South Park Movie Parodies and References". Denofgeek.com. April 16, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  20. ^ Mondello, Bob (March 7, 2017). "How Do Americans Feel About The Courts? Let Hollywood Be The Judge". NPR. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  21. ^ Fred(erick) (Hubbard) Gwynne. (2003). In Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.
  22. ^ "Enchanted Lady: The colorful columnist is moving into Ridgefield". Ridgefield Holiday. January 4, 2010. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011.
  23. ^ a b c Lambert, Bruce (July 3, 1993). "Fred Gwynne, Popular Actor, Is Dead at 66". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Fred Gwynne". Biography.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.
  25. ^ "Fred Gwynne". Biography. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  26. ^ Zaman, Natalie (October 8, 2016). Magical Destinations of the Northeast: Sacred Sites, Occult Oddities & Magical Monuments. Llewellyn Worldwide. ISBN 9780738749884. Retrieved May 3, 2021 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ a b "Fred Gwynne".
  28. ^ American Shakespeare Theatre (Stratford, Connecticut), 1975 Repertory (21st) Season, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, pp. 27–33.
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