John Lund (actor)

John Lund's father, Edward M. Lund, was a Norwegian immigrant and glassblower in Rochester, New York. His mother, Rose A. Mooney, was born in Columbus, Ohio. Lund did not finish high school,{{Cite news|last=Grimes|first=William|date=May 13, 1992|title=John Lund, Actor, Is Dead at 81; Leading Man in 1940's and 50's (Published 1992)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/13/arts/john-lund-actor-is-dead-at-81-leading-man-in-1940-s-and-50-s.html|access-date=February 16, 2021|issn=0362-4331}} and he tried several businesses before settling on advertising in the 1930s. His jobs included being "a soda-jerk, carpenter and timekeeper".{{cite news|title=Jobs upon a Time|newspaper=The Kane Republican |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2616146/the_kane_republican/|agency=The Kane Republican|date=September 20, 1948|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = June 14, 2015}} {{Open access}}

While working for an advertising agency, he was asked by a friend to appear in an industrial show for the 1939 World's Fair. As a result, he served as stage manager of Railroad on Parade at the fair and played several roles in the production.{{cite news|last1=Hopper|first1=Hedda|title=John Lund – He's 'New Look'|newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2616191/the_salt_lake_tribune/|agency=The Salt Lake Tribune|date=September 26, 1948|page=95|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = June 14, 2015}} {{Open access}} Before moving to New York City he had appeared in several amateur productions in Rochester.Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper, March 6, 1946, also Rochester Times Union newspaper, March 8, 1946; both articles are archived in the 1944–1946 Scrapbook of the Rochester Community Players collection, Local History Department, Rochester Public Library

He began acting professionally by appearing on Broadway in a production of William Shakespeare's As You Like It (1941) alongside Alfred Drake.

He wrote the book and lyrics for Broadway's New Faces of 1943 (1943), as well as appearing in the production.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ka9JAAAAIBAJ&pg=5378%2C3487114 |author= |title=Actor John Lund, 81 |page=4 |newspaper=Bangor Daily News (Maine) |agency=Associated Press |date=May 12, 1992 |access-date=2025-03-16 }} That same year, he performed as O'Connor in Early to Bed at the Broadhurst Theatre."Musical Comedy to Open Tonight: Richard Kollmar Will Present 'Early to Bed,' in Which He Plays Featured Role." New York Times. June 17, 1943: 16.

It was his work as Yank in the play The Hasty Heart (1945) that got him recognized by Hollywood and led to a long-term film contract with Paramount Pictures.The Life Story of John Lund

Picture Show; London Vol. 51, Iss. 1305, (December 28, 1946): 12.Paramount Snatches John Lund From Stage: Sol Lesser First Will Stage Then Produce 'God's Front Porch' as Film

Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times January 16, 1945: A9.

Lund had the title role in the serial Chaplain Jim on the Blue Network in the early 1940s.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EwtRbXNca0oC&dq=%22Chaplain+Jim,+war+drama%22+%22John+Lund%22&pg=PA149 |last=Dunning |first=John |author-link=John Dunning (detective fiction author) |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |section=Chaplain Jim |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |page=149 |edition=Revised |access-date=2019-10-23}} Lund also played Johnny Dollar in the radio show Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar, taking over from 1952 until 1954.{{Cite news|last=Plotnik|first=Gene|title=Television-Radio: Television Radio Reviews – Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar|date=December 20, 1952|work=The Billboard|issue=51|volume=64|page=13}}{{Cite book|last=Lane|first=Philip J.|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Encyclopedias/IDX/Encyclopedia-of-Radio/Encyclopedia-of-Radio-Complete-OCR-Page-1654.pdf|title=The Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Radio|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn|year=2004|editor-last=Sterling|editor-first=Christopher H.|location=New York|pages=1589–1591}}

Lund was vice-president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1950 to 1959.{{Cite news|title=Obituaries|date=May 18, 1992|work=Variety|page=78}}

File:John Lund by A. L. Whitey Schafer 2.jpg

Lund's first film had him as star To Each His Own (1946) with Olivia de Havilland for Paramount, in which he played dual roles. It was written and produced by Charles Brackett and was critically and commercially successful.John Lund Baffled by Rise to Stardom Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times September 26, 1948: D1.

Paramount cast Lund as Betty Hutton's leading man in The Perils of Pauline (1947), another hit.[https://archive.org/stream/variety169-1948-01#page/n62/mode/1up "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p. 63] He was one of many Paramount stars who made cameos in Variety Girl (1947). In the Billy Wilder film A Foreign Affair (1948), Lund was a romantic lead for Marlene Dietrich and Jean Arthur.[https://archive.org/stream/variety173-1949-01#page/n45/mode/1up "Top Grossers of 1948", Variety 5 January 1949 p. 46]

He supported Edward G. Robinson in Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948). Brackett gave him the lead in a comedy Miss Tatlock's Millions (1948). He played Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara in Bride of Vengeance (1949) alongside Paulette Goddard and MacDonald Carey, following the suspension of Ray Milland;{{Cite news|title=Lund Switching Roles in Paramount's Mask|date=August 11, 1948|work=Variety|page=9}} the film was largely ill-received by critics.Scheuer, Philip K. "'Bride of Vengeance' Odd Cinematic Venture." Los Angeles Times. May 13, 1949: 23.Crowther, Bosley. "The Screen in Review: Paulette Goddard, Macdonald Carey Play Borgias in 'Bride of Vengeance,' at Paramount." New York Times. April 7, 1949: 38.Coppinger, John M. "Need Escape? Try 'Bride of Vengeance'." The Washington Post. June 24, 1949: C7.

Hal Wallis used him in My Friend Irma (1949) as Al, boyfriend of Irma (Marie Wilson). The film is remembered, however, for introducing Martin and Lewis (Jerry Lewis had meant to play the role of Al but realized he was miscast).

He supported Barbara Stanwyck in No Man of Her Own (1950) and reprised his performance as Al in My Friend Irma Goes West (1950). Paramount announced Union Station for himParamount Movie to Star John Lund: 'Union Station,' Based on Story by Thomas Walsh, Scheduled for Early Next Year Special to The New York Times. Oct 17, 1949: 18. but William Holden ended up playing it.

Lund played the false love interest in Duchess of Idaho (1950) for MGM; the film featured Esther Williams and Van Johnson in the leads.

Brackett gave him another good role in The Mating Season (1951), alongside Gene Tierney, Miriam Hopkins, and Thelma Ritter. He was Joan Fontaine's leading man in Darling, How Could You! (1951).Drama: John Lund Will Play in Loan-out Feature Los Angeles Times March 1, 1951: A6.

Paramount wanted to loan him to Universal for Week-End with Father but he refused and was put on suspension.Metro Plans Film of Spy Melodrama: 'Eye Street' Concerns an 'Iron Curtain' Embassy in Capital – John Lund Suspended of Local Origin. Thomas F. Brady, Special to New York Times March 7, 1951: 43.

Lund left Paramount for Universal, where he was Ann Sheridan's leading man in Steel Town (1952), replacing Jeff Chandler.

He co-starred with Chandler in The Battle at Apache Pass (1952) and Scott Brady in Bronco Buster (1952) then was reunited with Sheridan in Just Across the Street (1952).Drama: Lund, Jeff Chandler Set as Costars; New Deal Matures Out of 'Well'

Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times11 June 1951: B9.

He was top billed in Woman They Almost Lynched (1953), a western.

Lund played another false love interest at MGM Latin Lovers (1953) with Lana Turner.

He made a series of westerns: White Feather (1955), at Fox, second billed to Robert Wagner; Five Guns West (1955), the first film directed by Roger Corman, at ARC; Chief Crazy Horse (1955) with Victor Mature at Universal; and Dakota Incident (1956) with Linda Darnell at Republic.

Around this time he was also in a war film at Columbia, Battle Stations (1956), and he played Grace Kelly's fiancé George in MGM's High Society, the musical remake of The Philadelphia Story.

He was top billed in Affair in Reno (1957) for Republic. His last performances included support performances in The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960) at Columbia and If a Man Answers (1962) at Universal.

Lund was married to Marie Charton, who was an actress and a model.{{cite news|date=April 4, 1950|title=In Hollywood|newspaper=The Courier-Gazette |page=6|agency=The Courier Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2613852/the_couriergazette/|access-date=June 14, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Lund retired from acting in 1962 to his home in Coldwater Canyon. He died from a heart condition in 1992.

{{Div col}}

• 1946: To Each His Own – Captain Bart Cosgrove / Gregory Pierson
• 1947: The Perils of Pauline – Michael Farrington
• 1947: Variety Girl – Himself
• 1948: A Foreign Affair – Captain John Pringle
• 1948: Night Has a Thousand Eyes – Elliott Carson
• 1948: Miss Tatlock's Millions – Tim Burke posing as Schuyler Tatlock
• 1949: Bride of Vengeance – Alfonso D'Este
• 1949: My Friend Irma – Al
• 1950: No Man of Her Own – Bill Harkness
• 1950: My Friend Irma Goes West – Al
• 1950: Duchess of Idaho – Douglas J. Morrison Jr.
• 1951: The Mating Season – Val McNulty
• 1951: Darling, How Could You! – Dr. Robert Grey
• 1952: Steel Town – Steve Kostane
• 1952: The Battle at Apache Pass – Maj. Jim Colton
• 1952: Bronco Buster – Tom Moody
• 1952: Just Across the Street – Fred Newcombe
• 1953: Woman They Almost Lynched – Lance Horton
• 1953: Latin Lovers – Paul Chevron
• 1955: White Feather – Col. Lindsay
• 1955: Five Guns West – Govern Sturges
• 1955: Chief Crazy Horse – Maj. Twist
• 1956: Battle Stations – Father Joseph McIntyre
• 1956: High Society – George Kittredge
• 1956: Dakota Incident – John Carter (aka Hamilton)
• 1957: Affair in Reno – Bill Carter
• 1960: The Wackiest Ship in the Army – Lt. Cmdr. Wilbur F. Vandewater
• 1962: If a Man Answers – John Stacy (final film role)

{{div col end}}

• As You Like It (October 20, 1941 – October 25, 1941) in the ensemble cast
• New Faces of 1943 (December 22, 1942 – March 13, 1943) as various roles; writer of the book and lyrics
• Early to Bed (June 17, 1943 – May 13, 1944) as O'Connor
• The Hasty Heart (January 3, 1945 – June 30, 1945) as Yank

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|0526184}}
• {{IBDB name}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lund, John}}

Category:1911 births

Category:1992 deaths

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male radio actors

Category:American people of Norwegian descent

Category:Male actors from Rochester, New York

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:Paramount Pictures contract players