Forrest Tucker

Forrest Tucker
Tucker in the role of "Professor" Harold Hill, 1962.
Born	Forrest Meredith Tucker (1919-02-12)February 12, 1919 Plainfield, Indiana, U.S.
Died	October 25, 1986(1986-10-25) (aged 67) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Lung cancer
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1940–1986
Spouse(s)	Sandra Jolley (m. 1940; div. 1950) (one child) Marilyn Johnson (m. 1951; her death 1960) Marilyn Fisk (m. 1961; div. 1985) (two children) Sheila Forbes (m. 1986; his death 1986)
Children	Brooke Tucker (b. 1944) Forrest Sean Tucker Cindy Tucker

Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker worked as a vaudeville aged fifteen years old. A mentor provided funds and contacts for a trip to California, where party hostess Cobina Wright persuaded guest Wesley Ruggles to give Tucker a screen test, based on his photogenic good looks, thick wavy hair and height of six feet, five inches - putting him into the same league as John Wayne, Chuck Connors, Fess Parker, James Arness, and Peter Graves, Arness' younger brother. Tucker was a sight reader who needed only one take, and his film career started well despite a perception in most Hollywood studios that blond men were not photogenic, but he enlisted during World War II. After twenty years mainly spent in westerns and action roles, he returned to his roots showing versatility as a comedic and stage musical actor. He also became identified with a character in the TV show F Troop, in which he played a manipulative Cavalry Sgt. Morgan O'Rourke (quite similar to Phil Silvers's role as MSgt Ernie Bilko). Tucker struggled with a drinking problem that began to affect his performances in the later years of his career.

Tucker described himself as a farm boy. He was born in Plainfield, Indiana on February 12, 1919, a son of Forrest A. Tucker and his wife, Doris Heringlake. His mother has been described as an alcoholic. Tucker began his performing career at age 14 at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, pushing the big wicker tourist chairs by day and singing "Throw Money" at night. After his family moved to Washington, D.C., Tucker attracted the attention of Jimmy Lake, the owner of the Old Gaiety Burlesque Theater, by winning its Saturday night amateur contest on consecutive weeks. After his second win, Tucker was hired full-time as master of ceremonies at the theatre. However, his initial employment there was short-lived; it was soon discovered that Tucker was underage. Tucker graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., in 1938. Tucker joined the United States Army cavalry. He was stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington County, Virginia, but was discharged when his age became known. He returned to work at the Old Gaiety after his 18th birthday.