John Agar
Encyclopedia
John George Agar was an American actor. He starred alongside John Wayne
in the films Sands of Iwo Jima
, Fort Apache
and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
, but was later relegated to B movies, such as Tarantula
, The Mole People
, The Brain from Planet Arous
, Flesh and the Spur
, and Hand of Death. He also starred with Lucille Ball
in the 1951 movie The Magic Carpet.
Agar was born in Chicago
, Illinois
, the son of Lillian (née
Rogers) and John Agar, Sr., a meat packer (see Agar Hams) He was educated at the Harvard School for Boys in Chicago and Lake Forest Academy
in Lake Forest, Illinois
and graduated from Trinity-Pawling Preparatory School
in Pawling, New York
, but did not attend college. He and his family moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1942, following his father’s death. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps, and he was a sergeant
at the time he left the army in 1946.
He was Shirley Temple
's first husband (1945–1950), and they worked together in Fort Apache
. His marriage to Temple lasted five years and they had one daughter together, Linda Susan Agar, who was later known as Susan Black, taking the surname of her stepfather Charles Alden Black
. Following his divorce from Temple, Agar was married in 1951 to model Loretta Barnett Combs (1922–2000). They remained married until her death in 2000. They had two sons, Martin Agar and John G. Agar III.
Agar died on April 7, 2002 at Burbank, California
of complications from emphysema
. He was buried beside his wife at Riverside National Cemetery
in Riverside, California
.
Agar made six movies with John Wayne: Fort Apache
, Sands of Iwo Jima
, Big Jake
, Chisum
, The Undefeated
and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
. He also made two movies with Shirley Temple, Fort Apache
and Adventure in Baltimore
, also starring Robert Young
.
He is mentioned in the Frank Zappa
song "The Radio is Broken" from the album The Man From Utopia
(1983).
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
in the films Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It stars John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. The movie was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant and directed by Allan Dwan...
, Fort Apache
Fort Apache
-Places:* Fort Apache, Arizona* Fort Apache Indian Reservation, the White Mountain Apache tribe's reservation and former US Army cavalry post near Whiteriver, Arizona* Fuerte Apache, a housing project outside Buenos Aires, Argentina.-Military:...
and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. The film was the second of Ford's trilogy of films focusing on the US Cavalry ; the other two films were Fort Apache and Rio Grande...
, but was later relegated to B movies, such as Tarantula
Tarantula (film)
Tarantula is a 1955 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Leo G. Carroll, John Agar, and Mara Corday. Among other things, the film is notable for the appearance of a 25-year-old Clint Eastwood in an uncredited role as a jet pilot at the end of the film.-Plot summary:The plot...
, The Mole People
The Mole People
-Plot:The film begins with a narration by Dr. Frank Baxter, an English professor at the University of Southern California, explaining the premise of the movie and its basis in reality...
, The Brain from Planet Arous
The Brain from Planet Arous
The Brain from Planet Arous is a 1957 science-fiction film that features the theme of alien possession.-Plot:An outer-space terrorist from a planet named Arous - a brain-shaped creature named Gor - arrives on Earth and possesses young scientist Steve March...
, Flesh and the Spur
Flesh and the Spur
Flesh and the Spur is a 1957 Western film directed by Edward L. Cahn. The movie stars John Agar as Lucius Random, Marla English as Wild Willow, and future Mannix star Mike Connors as Stacy Tanner.-Plot:...
, and Hand of Death. He also starred with Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
in the 1951 movie The Magic Carpet.
Agar was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, the son of Lillian (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Rogers) and John Agar, Sr., a meat packer (see Agar Hams) He was educated at the Harvard School for Boys in Chicago and Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy
Lake Forest Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12 located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States. As of the 2008-2009 school year, students at Lake Forest Academy come from 20 states and 28 countries. The current Head of School is Dr....
in Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest, Illinois
Lake Forest is an affluent city located in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The city is south of Waukegan along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is a part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the North Shore. Lake Forest was founded around Lake Forest College and was laid out as a town in...
and graduated from Trinity-Pawling Preparatory School
Trinity-Pawling School
Trinity-Pawling School is an all boys private high school in Pawling, New York. Dr. Frederick Luther Gamage, once Headmaster of St. Paul's School in Long Island, founded the Pawling School in 1907. Located on high on a hill overlooking the Hudson River Valley, Trinity-Pawling has a colonial brick...
in Pawling, New York
Pawling (village), New York
Pawling is a village in Dutchess County, New York, USA. The population was 2,233 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area...
, but did not attend college. He and his family moved from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1942, following his father’s death. During World War II he served in the Army Air Corps, and he was a sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
at the time he left the army in 1946.
He was Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
's first husband (1945–1950), and they worked together in Fort Apache
Fort Apache (film)
Fort Apache is a 1948 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande , both also starring Wayne...
. His marriage to Temple lasted five years and they had one daughter together, Linda Susan Agar, who was later known as Susan Black, taking the surname of her stepfather Charles Alden Black
Charles Alden Black
Charles Alden Black was a California businessman known for aquaculture and oceanography, and for his marriage to Shirley Temple Black.Black was born in Oakland, California...
. Following his divorce from Temple, Agar was married in 1951 to model Loretta Barnett Combs (1922–2000). They remained married until her death in 2000. They had two sons, Martin Agar and John G. Agar III.
Agar died on April 7, 2002 at Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
of complications from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
. He was buried beside his wife at Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
.
Agar made six movies with John Wayne: Fort Apache
Fort Apache (film)
Fort Apache is a 1948 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande , both also starring Wayne...
, Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It stars John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. The movie was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant and directed by Allan Dwan...
, Big Jake
Big Jake (film)
Big Jake is a 1971 Western film, filmed on location in Durango, Mexico, starring John Wayne and directed by George Sherman.Big Jake was released to box-office success and generally-positive critical reviews, despite a mixed reaction by John Wayne fans....
, Chisum
Chisum
Chisum is a 1970 Warner Bros. Technicolor western motion picture starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Geoffrey Deuel, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, and Richard Jaeckel....
, The Undefeated
The Undefeated (1969 film)
The Undefeated is a 1969 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and John Wayne and starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. The film portrays events surrounding the French Intervention in Mexico and is also loosely based on General J. O...
and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. The film was the second of Ford's trilogy of films focusing on the US Cavalry ; the other two films were Fort Apache and Rio Grande...
. He also made two movies with Shirley Temple, Fort Apache
Fort Apache (film)
Fort Apache is a 1948 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande , both also starring Wayne...
and Adventure in Baltimore
Adventure in Baltimore (1949 film)
Adventure in Baltimore is a 1949 Drama directed by Richard Wallace, starring Robert Young and Shirley Temple. Dinah Sheldon is a student at an exclusive girl's school who starts campaigning for women's rights...
, also starring Robert Young
Robert Young (actor)
Robert George Young was an American television, film, and radio actor, best known for his leading roles as Jim Anderson, the father of Father Knows Best and as physician Marcus Welby in Marcus Welby, M.D. .-Early life:Born in Chicago, Illinois, Young was the son of an Irish immigrant father...
.
He is mentioned in the Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
song "The Radio is Broken" from the album The Man From Utopia
The Man from Utopia
The Man from Utopia is a 1983 album by Frank Zappa. It is a more song-driven, and less conceptual work than many others in Zappa's oeuvre. The album is named after a 1950s song, written by Donald and Doris Woods, which Zappa covers as part of "The Man from Utopia Meets Mary Lou".The sleeve art...
(1983).
Filmography
- The Naked MonsterThe Naked MonsterThe Naked Monster is a 2005 American ultra low-budget science fiction and horror comedy film written by Ted Newsom and directed by Newsom and Wayne Berwick as an homage to and spoof of the "giant monster-on-the-loose" films of the 1950s...
(2005) - The Pandora DirectiveThe Pandora DirectiveThe Pandora Directive is an adventure game for the PC. It takes place in the world of Tex Murphy, hero of Mean Streets, Martian Memorandum, Under a Killing Moon, and Tex Murphy: Overseer....
(1996) "Thomas Malloy" - Body Bags (1993) (TV) "Dr. Lang"
- Invasion of Privacy (1992) (TV) Old Convict
- The Perfect Bride (1991) (TV) Gramps
- NightbreedNightbreedNightbreed is a 1990 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his 1988 novella Cabal. The film features Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg. The story centers in a community of mutant outcasts that hides from humanity, known as the...
(1990) Special Appearance - FearFear (1990 film)Fear is a thriller/horror/suspense film. It is directed by Rockne S. O'Bannon and stars Ally Sheedy, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Michael O'Keefe, Lauren Hutton, Keone Young, Stan Shaw, Dean Goodman, Don Hood and Jonathan Prince.-Plot summary:...
(1990) (TV) "Leonard Scott Levy" - Miracle MileMiracle Mile (film)Miracle Mile is a 1988 apocalyptic thriller cult film written and directed by Steve De Jarnatt, and starring Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham that takes place mostly in real time. It is named after the Miracle Mile neighborhood of Los Angeles, where most of the action takes place. The movie was...
(1989) "Ivan Peters" - Attack of the B-Movie Monster (1985) "Dr.Ferguson
- Mr. No Legs (1981)
- King KongKing Kong (1976 film)King Kong is a 1976 American monster movie produced by Dino De Laurentiis and directed by John Guillermin. It is a remake of the 1933 classic film of the same name, about a giant ape that is captured and imported to New York City for exhibition....
(1976) "City Official" - Big JakeBig Jake (film)Big Jake is a 1971 Western film, filmed on location in Durango, Mexico, starring John Wayne and directed by George Sherman.Big Jake was released to box-office success and generally-positive critical reviews, despite a mixed reaction by John Wayne fans....
(1971) "Bert Ryan" - ChisumChisumChisum is a 1970 Warner Bros. Technicolor western motion picture starring John Wayne, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Glenn Corbett, Geoffrey Deuel, Andrew Prine, Bruce Cabot, Patric Knowles, and Richard Jaeckel....
(1970) "Amos Patton" - The UndefeatedThe Undefeated (1969 film)The Undefeated is a 1969 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and John Wayne and starring John Wayne and Rock Hudson. The film portrays events surrounding the French Intervention in Mexico and is also loosely based on General J. O...
(1969) "Christian" - Hell Raiders (1968)
- St. Valentine's Day MassacreThe St. Valentine's Day Massacre (film)The St. Valentine's Day Massacre is a 1967 gangster film based on the 1929 Chicago mass murder of seven members of the Northside gang, directed against George "Bugs" Moran by Al Capone...
(1967) "Dion O'Banion" - Night FrightNight FrightNight Fright is a 1967 American film directed by James A. Sullivan.The film is also known as E.T.N.: The Extraterrestrial Nastie, E.T.N.: The Extraterrestrial Nasty, The Extraterrestrial Nastie or The Extraterrestrial Nasty in the United Kingdom.- Plot summary :A Texas community is beset with a...
(1967) "Sheriff Clint Crawford" - Johnny RenoJohnny RenoJohnny Reno is a 1966 American western film made by A.C. Lyles Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by R.G. Springsteen, produced by A.C. Lyles, with a screenplay by Andrew Craddock, Steve Fisher and A.C...
(1966) "Ed Tomkins" - WacoWaco (1966 film)Waco is a 1966 western film starring Howard Keel and Jane Russell. The film was directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Max Lamb, Steve Fisher, and Harry Sanford...
(1966) - Curse of the Swamp CreatureCurse of the Swamp Creature-Plot:Deep in the rural swamps of Texas the insane Dr. Simond Trent is conducting experiments on the local swamp people in an attempt to discover the secret of evolution...
(1966) "Barry Rogers" - Women of the Prehistoric PlanetWomen of the Prehistoric PlanetWomen of the Prehistoric Planet is a 1966 film. It was featured in the first season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1989.-Plot:A spacefaring crew from an advanced civilization is preparing to return home after an extended voyage...
(1966) "Dr. Farrell" - Zontar, The Thing from VenusZontar, The Thing from VenusZontar, the Thing from Venus also known as Zontar: The Invader from Venus is a 1966, made for television, science fiction film, directed by Larry Buchanan and based on the teleplay by Hillman Taylor and Buchanan. It is a remake of Roger Corman's It Conquered the World , and also featured an alien...
(1966) "Dr. Curt Taylor" - Young Fury (1965) "Dawson"
- Stage to Thunder Rock (1964) "Dan Carrouthers"
- Law of the Lawless (1964) "Pete Stone"
- The Young and The BraveThe Young and The BraveThe Young and The Brave is a classic feature film released in 1963 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film has been recognized by Turner Classic Movies as an historical representation of the war film genre and in 2006, the network executives selected the film for preservation in their archives...
(1963) Intelligence officer - Cavalry Command (1963) " Sergeant Norcutt"
- Of Love and Desire (1963) "Gus Cole"
- Hand of Death (1962) "Alex Marsh"
- Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962) "Capt. Don Graham"
- Fall Girl (1961) "Joe McElroy"
- RaymieRaymieRaymie is a 1960 film starring David Ladd.It is most known for comedian Jerry Lewis being the singer of the title song....
(1960) "Ike" - Invisible Invaders (1959) "Major Bruce Jay"
- Frontier Gun (1958) "Jim Crayle"
- Attack of the Puppet PeopleAttack of the Puppet PeopleAttack of the Puppet People is a 1958 American black-and-white science fiction Horror film directed, produced and written by Bert I. Gordon. It stars John Hoyt as an eccentric doll maker...
(1958) "Bob Westley" - Jet Attack (1958) "Capt. Tom Arnett"
- The Brain from Planet ArousThe Brain from Planet ArousThe Brain from Planet Arous is a 1957 science-fiction film that features the theme of alien possession.-Plot:An outer-space terrorist from a planet named Arous - a brain-shaped creature named Gor - arrives on Earth and possesses young scientist Steve March...
(1957) "Steve March" - Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957) "George Hastings"
- Flesh and the SpurFlesh and the SpurFlesh and the Spur is a 1957 Western film directed by Edward L. Cahn. The movie stars John Agar as Lucius Random, Marla English as Wild Willow, and future Mannix star Mike Connors as Stacy Tanner.-Plot:...
(1957) 'Luke' Random/Matt Random - Joe ButterflyJoe ButterflyJoe Butterfly is a comedy film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Audie Murphy, George Nader, Keenan Wynn, and Burgess Meredith in the title role. The movie follows the staff of Yank magazine, who are among the first American troops in Tokyo after Japan's surrender. They are given the difficult...
(1957) "Sergeant Dick Mason" - Ride a Violent Mile (1957) "Jeff Dunning"
- The Mole People (1956) "Dr. Roger Bentley"
- Star in the DustStar in the DustStar in the Dust is a 1956 American western film made by Universal International Pictures and starring John Agar, Mamie Van Doren, and Richard Boone....
(1956) "Sheriff Bill Jorden" - Revenge of the CreatureRevenge of the CreatureRevenge of the Creature is the first sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon. The film is notable for being the only 3-D film to be released in 1955; the only 3-D sequel to a 3-D film; and for being the first screen role for Clint Eastwood. The movie was released May 11, 1955, in the United States...
(1955) Professor Clete Ferguson - The Lonesome Trail (1955) "Johnny Rush"
- Hold Back TomorrowHold Back TomorrowHold Back Tomorrow is an American 1955 film released by Universal-International.-Plot:A death row inmate has one final request before his impending hanging: he wants to spend the night with a woman. The police bring him a suicidal prostitute. After a night of lovemaking, the two are married by the...
(1955) "Joe Cardos" - TarantulaTarantula (film)Tarantula is a 1955 science fiction film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Leo G. Carroll, John Agar, and Mara Corday. Among other things, the film is notable for the appearance of a 25-year-old Clint Eastwood in an uncredited role as a jet pilot at the end of the film.-Plot summary:The plot...
(1955) "Doctor Matt Hastings" - Bait (1954) "Ray"
- The Golden MistressThe Golden MistressThe Golden Mistress is a 1954 adventure film directed by Abner Biberman. It is set in Haiti, and deals with the search for a voodoo treasure.-Cast:*John Agar as Bill Buchanan*Rosemarie Stack as Ann Dexter *Jacques Molant as Ti Flute...
(1954) "Bill Buchanan" - The Rocket Man (1954) "Tom Baxter"
- Shield for Murder (1954) "Mark Brewster"
- Man of Conflict (1953) "Ray Compton"
- Woman of the North Country (1952)
- Along the Great DivideAlong the Great DivideAlong the Great Divide is a 1951 American western film directed by Raoul Walsh. The movie stars Kirk Douglas, Virginia Mayo, John Agar, and Walter Brennan.-Plot:...
(1951) "Billy Shear" - The Magic Carpet (1951) "Ramoth"
- Breakthrough (1950) "Lieutenant Joe Mallory"
- Sands of Iwo JimaSands of Iwo JimaSands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It stars John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. The movie was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant and directed by Allan Dwan...
(1949) "PFC Peter Conway" - She Wore a Yellow RibbonShe Wore a Yellow RibbonShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a 1949 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. The film was the second of Ford's trilogy of films focusing on the US Cavalry ; the other two films were Fort Apache and Rio Grande...
(1949) Lieutenant Flint Cohill - Adventure in Baltimore (1949) "Tom Wade"
- I Married a CommunistI Married a Communist (film)I Married a Communist is a 1949 film drama produced by RKO Radio Pictures. Due to audience resistance to the title, RKO re-released the film as The Woman on Pier 13 and Beautiful But Dangerous.-Plot:...
(1949) "Don Lowry " - Fort ApacheFort Apache (film)Fort Apache is a 1948 Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande , both also starring Wayne...
(1948) "Lieutenant Michael O'Rourke"