Jimmy Lydon
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Lydon is an American movie actor
and television producer
, whose career in the entertainment industry began as a teenage actor
in the 1930s.
Lydon grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey
. He initially appeared on the Broadway stage
in 1937, before making movies beginning as a teenager. One of his first starring roles was the title character in the 1940 movie, Tom Brown's School Days, which also starred Cedric Hardwicke
and Freddie Bartholomew
. It was well received by critics, with Variety
praising it in a January 1940 review as "sympathetically and skillfully made, with many touching moments and an excellent cast". Lydon was called "believable and moving in the early portions, but too young for the final moments".
Lydon then starred as the screechy-voiced, adolescent Henry Aldrich
in the movie series of that title, between 1941–1944. After completing the Henry Aldrich series, the 21-year-old Lydon signed a contract in 1944 with Republic Pictures
. He appeared with William Powell
, Irene Dunne
, and Elizabeth Taylor
in the acclaimed 1947 film Life with Father
, in the role of college-bound Clarence. Variety called Jimmy Lydon's portrayal "effective as the potential Yale man". He then appeared opposite James Cagney
in the 1948 movie, The Time of Your Life
. In the 1950s, he had a number of television acting roles, including appearances on Wagon Train
and The Twilight Zone
. After working increasingly in television in the 1950s, Lydon turned to production roles, helping to create M*A*S*H (1972) and 77 Sunset Strip
(1958).
Lydon resides in Bonita, California
with his wife, Betty Lou Nedell, whom he married in 1952. They have two daughters.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
, whose career in the entertainment industry began as a teenage actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
in the 1930s.
Lydon grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey
Bergenfield, New Jersey
Bergenfield is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,764.Bergenfield was formed on the basis of a referendum held on June 25, 1894, from portions of Englewood Township and Palisades Township at the height of the...
. He initially appeared on the Broadway stage
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1937, before making movies beginning as a teenager. One of his first starring roles was the title character in the 1940 movie, Tom Brown's School Days, which also starred Cedric Hardwicke
Cedric Hardwicke
Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke was a noted English stage and film actor whose career spanned nearly fifty years...
and Freddie Bartholomew
Freddie Bartholomew
Frederick Cecil Bartholomew , known for his acting work as Freddie Bartholomew, was an English-American child actor. One of the most famous child actors of all time, he became very popular in 1930s Hollywood films...
. It was well received by critics, with Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
praising it in a January 1940 review as "sympathetically and skillfully made, with many touching moments and an excellent cast". Lydon was called "believable and moving in the early portions, but too young for the final moments".
Lydon then starred as the screechy-voiced, adolescent Henry Aldrich
The Aldrich Family
The Aldrich Family, a popular radio teenage situation comedy , was also presented in films, television and comic books. In the radio series' well-remembered weekly opening exchange, awkward teen Henry's mother called, "Hen-reeeeeeeeeeeee! Hen-ree Al-drich!", and he responded with a breaking...
in the movie series of that title, between 1941–1944. After completing the Henry Aldrich series, the 21-year-old Lydon signed a contract in 1944 with Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
. He appeared with William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
, Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne
Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performances in Cimarron , Theodora Goes Wild , The Awful Truth , Love Affair and I Remember Mama...
, and Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
in the acclaimed 1947 film Life with Father
Life with Father (film)
Life with Father is a 1947 American comedy film. It tells the true story of Clarence Day, a stockbroker who wants to be master of his house, but finds his wife and his children ignoring him, until they start making demands for him to change his own life. In keeping with the autobiography, all the...
, in the role of college-bound Clarence. Variety called Jimmy Lydon's portrayal "effective as the potential Yale man". He then appeared opposite James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
in the 1948 movie, The Time of Your Life
The Time of Your Life (film)
The Time of Your Life is a 1948 film starring James Cagney adapted from the 1939 William Saroyan play of the same title. The movie was adapted by Nathaniel Curtis, directed by H. C. Potter, and featured William Bendix as Nick, Wayne Morris as Tom, Broderick Crawford as Krupp, and Ward Bond as...
. In the 1950s, he had a number of television acting roles, including appearances on Wagon Train
Wagon Train
Wagon Train is an American Western series that ran on NBC from 1957–62 and then on ABC from 1962–65...
and The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
. After working increasingly in television in the 1950s, Lydon turned to production roles, helping to create M*A*S*H (1972) and 77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip
77 Sunset Strip is an hour-length American television private detective series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Roger Smith, and Edd Byrnes....
(1958).
Lydon resides in Bonita, California
Bonita, California
Bonita is a census-designated place in southern San Diego County, California, nestled between the cities of Chula Vista, National City, and San Diego. The population was 12,538 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bonita is located at ....
with his wife, Betty Lou Nedell, whom he married in 1952. They have two daughters.