Van Johnson Biography

Fast Facts

• Married Keenan Wynn's ex-wife Eve in a relationship that was supposedly set up by the studio to dispel rumors that he as homosexual
• Quote: "I'm the luckiest guy in the world․ All my dreams came true․ I was in a wonderful business, and I met great people all over the world․"
• Quote: "(On his years at MGM) "It was one big happy family and a little kingdom․ Everything was provided for us, from singing lessons to barbells․ All we had to do was inhale, exhale and be charming․ I used to dread leaving the studio to go out into the real world, because to me the studio was the real world""
• Despite never being nominated for an Academy Award, he was best known for wholesome and often times naïve supporting characters
• After graduating high school, he immediately moved to New York searching for roles on Broadway where he would eventually debut in 1936
• Introduced to MGM casting director Billy Grady by Lucille Ball when the two were catching dinner together in New York City
• Suffered a bad car accident in 1942 that left him with a metal plate in his skull, making him unable to serve in WWII
• Could always be seen wearing red socks