Steve Forrest (actor)

Steve Forrest (born William Forrest Andrews; September 29, 1925 – May 18, 2013) was an American actor who was well known for his role as Lt. Hondo Harrelson in the hit television series S.W.A.T. which ran from 1975 to 1976.[1] He was also known for his performance in Mommie Dearest (1981).

Steve Forrest
Steve Forrest in a publicity photo for S.W.A.T. in 1975
Born
William Forrest Andrews

(1925-09-29)September 29, 1925
DiedMay 18, 2013(2013-05-18) (aged 87)
OccupationActor
Years active1943–2003
Spouse(s)
Christine Carilas
(m. 1948)
Children3
RelativesDana Andrews (brother)

Life and career

Forrest was born William Forrest Andrews in Huntsville, Texas, the 12th of 13 children of Annis (née Speed) and Charles Forrest Andrews, a Baptist minister. One of his older brothers was film star Dana Andrews.

Forrest enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 18 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. In 1950, he earned a bachelor's degree with honors from UCLA, majoring in theater with a minor in psychology.[1][2][3]

He worked as a stagehand at the La Jolla Playhouse outside San Diego. There Gregory Peck discovered him, cast him in La Jolla's production of Goodbye Again, and then arranged for Forrest's first screen test with MGM, where he was signed to a contract.[1]

Among Forrest's notable films were So Big, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor, The Longest Day, North Dallas Forty, and Mommie Dearest. He had cameo roles in the comedies Spies Like Us and Amazon Women on the Moon, and the 2003 film version of S.W.A.T.[4]

Forrest was also a trained vocalist, and he made his debut on Broadway as prizefighter Bob Stanton in the 1958 production of The Body Beautiful opposite Mindy Carson, Jack Warden and Brock Peters.[1]

Forrest played later U.S. Senator William Borah in the 1963 episode, "The Lion of Idaho", of the syndicated television anthology series, Death Valley Days. In the story line, Borah as a young attorney defends a woman in Nampa, Idaho, on a murder charge.[5]

In 1965, Forrest and his family moved to London, where he starred as John Mannering in the title role of the British crime drama The Baron. His other television credits included The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Storefront Lawyers, S.W.A.T., Hollywood Wives, and Rod Serling's hour-long Twilight Zone episode "The Parallel" (as well as Serling's Night Gallery segment "The Waiting Room").

On a 1969 episode of Gunsmoke titled "Mannon" he portrayed Will Mannon (one of the very few men ever to outdraw Matt Dillon), then reprised the character 18 years later for the 1987 television film Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge with James Arness.

Jock Ewing, the character played by Jim Davis in the television series Dallas from 1978 to 1981, was presumed to have been killed in a helicopter crash during the 1981-82 season, although Jock's body was never found. In 1986 Lorimar Television extended Steve Forrest's contract from the 1985-1986 television season (the "Dream Season") where he had played Ben Stivers, and brought him back as a similar character but renamed Wes Parmalee, who would be revealed to actually be Jock Ewing, in the 1986-87 season of Dallas. A backlash from Dallas fans forced Lorimar to drop the Wes Parmalee character, as they believed it was disrespectful to the memory of Jim Davis who had originated the role.

Personal life

Forrest married Christine Carilas on December 23, 1948. They had three sons: Michael, Forrest and Stephen.

An accomplished golfer, Forrest often played in charity tournaments, including, on the American team, at the Bing Crosby Great Britain vs. U.S.A. Tournament at Gleneagles course.[1]

Forrest died on May 18, 2013 in Thousand Oaks, California, aged 87, from undisclosed causes.[6]

Partial filmography

Radio appearances

YearProgramEpisode/source
1953Lux Radio TheatreThe Girl in White[7]

References

  1. Barnes, Mike (22 May 2013). "'S.W.A.T' Star Steve Forrest Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  2. Fox, Margalit (May 23, 2013). "Steve Forrest, Performer on Film and TV's 'S.W.A.T.', Dies at 88". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  3. "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  4. Mitchell, Elvis (August 8, 2003). "S W A T (2003) FILM REVIEW; Working Up A S.W.E.A.T." The New York Times.
  5. "The Lion of Idaho on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  6. Levy, Gabrielle (23 May 2013). "S.W.A.T. star dies at 87". United Press International. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  7. Kirby, Walter (May 17, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 27, 2015 via Newspapers.com.
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