Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Glenn Ford
Glenn Ford Facts
| Sign | Taurus |
| Born |
May 1, 1916 Quebec City, Canada |
| Died |
Aug 30, 2006 Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County |
| Age | Died at 90 |
| Total Facts | 38 |
According to a biography of Sam Peckinpah, Ford was considered for Robert Ryan's role in The Wild Bunch (1969).
Actively campaigned for Adlai Stevenson in the 1956 presidential election, and attended the Democratic National Convention that year.
After having been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a year, he joined the Marine Corps during WWII in December of 1942, and subsequently met first wife, tap-dancing extraordinaire Eleanor Powell, at a war-bond cavalcade. They married in 1943.
Awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal by the Country of France for his service in World War II. [1992]
Despite his excellence and popularity as a star, he was never nominated for an Oscar.
During his salad days, he worked in a Santa Monica bar as a barkeep for $5 a week.
Ford had been scheduled to make his first public appearance in fifteen years at a 90th birthday tribute gala in his honor hosted by the American Cinematheque at Grauman's Eqyptian Theatre in Hollywood on 1 May 2006, but he was unable to attend. He had suffered a series of minor strokes since his retirement, and was consequently very frail.
Ford had intended to play Hondo Lane in Hondo (1953), but backed out when John Farrow was chosen to direct. Ford and Farrow had not got along while making Plunder of the Sun (1953). The part was subsequently played by John Wayne.
Ford was a US Naval Reserve officer who rose to the rank of Captain.
Glenn appeared in 5 movies with classic leading actress, Rita Hayworth: Affair in Trinidad (1952), The Lady in Question (1940), The Loves of Carmen (1948), The Money Trap (1965) and Gilda (1946).
Grandfather of Aubrey Newton Ford (b. 1977), Ryan Welsie Ford (b. 1984), and Eleanor Powell Ford (b. 1988), whose parents are Ford's son, Peter Ford (b. 5 February 1945), and his wife, Lynda Gundersen.
Has family roots in the English town of Horwich, near Bolton, Lancashire.
He is a direct descendant of President Martin Van Buren
He is credited with being the fastest "gun" in Hollywood westerns, able to draw and fire in 0.4 seconds, he was faster than James Arness (Matt Dillon of "Gunsmoke" (1955)) and John Wayne.
He was a close friend of William Holden.
He was replaced by Robert Mitchum in "African Skies" (1991) after being hospitalized with blood clots in his legs.
His first screen test at 20th Century Fox did not turn out well. He was given a second chance by Columbia a year later, however, and was signed.
In 1967, Naval Reserve Officer Lt. Cmdr. Ford (then aged 50) volunteered to serve for three months as a liaison officer attached to a Marine unit with the rank of Colonel in Vietnam, and on several occasions endured enemy shelling.
Inducted into the Hall of Fame of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. [1978]
Like his close friend Ronald Reagan, Ford started as a Democrat but gradually switched to becoming a conservative Republican.
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch).
Often during his career Ford insisted on being shot looking to camera left - he had been kicked in the right side of his jaw by a horse and insisted the left side of his face was his only filmable side.
On May 1st, 2006, Glenn had a gala 90th birthday celebration at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. There was a showing of a newly-restored print of Gilda (1946) and his son, Peter Ford, hosted the event. Over 700 tickets went on sale and were quickly sold out.
Parents were Newton and Hannah Ford. His father did not block his movie star aspirations but insisted that he learn a trade first. He listened and became an expert on plumbing, wiring and air-conditioning. He also worked as a roofer and installer of plate-glass windows.
Parents, with Eleanor Powell, of actor Peter Ford.
Played "Jonathan Kent" in the 1978 film Superman (1978). In Superman Returns (2006), a photograph of him as "Jonathan Kent" can be seen in Clark Kent's old home.
Portrayed the title character on NBC Radio's "The Adventures of Christopher London" (1950).
Quit smoking cigarettes in 1958.
Received a special tribute as part of the Annual Memorial tribute at The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007) (TV).
Related to Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada.
Retired from acting in 1991 following heart and circulatory problems.
Romantically linked over the years with Joan Crawford, Brigitte Bardot, Linda Christian, Hope Lange, Debbie Reynolds, Dinah Shore, Laraine Day, and Rita Hayworth.
Served in Vietnam as a reserve military officer.
Took up hang gliding at the age of 64.
Voted the number one box office attraction. [1958]
Was half Welsh, his mother was from Pontypridd in south Wales.
Was once engaged to Evelyn Ankers.
Went on a jungle mission with a Special Forces Team during the Vietnam War.