Jeff Chandler Biography

Fast Facts

• Was nominated for two Laurel Awards for Top Male Star in 1958 and 1959
• Served in the U․S․ military during World War II and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands for four years, reaching the rank of lieutenant
• Worked as a restaurant cashier and as a layout artist for a mail order catalogue in order to pay for a drama course at the Feagin School of Dramatic Art
• Made his screen acting debut in the film "Thrill of a Romance" in 1945
• Performed in stock companies for two years and formed his own company, the Shady Lane Playhouse, which was successful up until the start of World War II
• After the war, he worked as a radio actor, playing the lead in "Michael Shayne" and Phillip Boynton in "Our Miss Brooks," among other roles
• Best known for his role as Cochise in "Broken Arrow" and as Captain Jebediah S․ Hawks in "Away All Boats․"
• Formed the production company Earlmar Productions in 1957, through which he produced "Drango" with Meyer Mishkin, and later former another called August, through which he made "The Plunderers․"
• Was also a singer and recording artist, who in 1955 became only the second person to play at the Riviera in Las Vegas, after featured headliner Liberace
• Was the first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for portraying a Native American for his role as Cochise in "Broken Arrow․"