Matinee Classics - Brad Dexter Biography & Filmography

Brad Dexter ACTOR

PHOTOS

BRAD DEXTER BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Brad Dexter was born on April 9th, 1917 in Goldfield, Nevada with the birth name Boris Malanovich. From a young age he developed an interest in boxing and as he grew older acting also began to fascinate him.

He first gained experience in the acting arena at the Pasadena Playhouse. He later joined the United States Air Corps during World War II. He soon was working with the troupe performing the Moss Hart Broadway tribute to the Corps which later was turned into a film version, "Winged Victory".

After he completed his military service he began to focus on a career in entertainment full time. He worked in theatrical productions as well as radio drama. Soon he was adding such credits to his resume as, "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950) starring Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen, Sam Jaffe, Louis Calhern, James Whitmore and Marilyn Monroe and "The Las Vegas Story" (1952) starring Victor Mature, Jane Russell, Vincent Price and Hoagy Carmichael.

He became most well known for his role in the film, "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) co-starring with Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz and Eli Wallach. He first made a name for himself in the industry under the stage name, Barry Mitchell, however, later he changed it to Brad Dexter at the request of John Huston, a director, actor and screenwriter.

Other roles he added to his credits include the films, "The George Raft Story" (1961), "Last Train from Gun Hill" (1959) starring Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Carolyn Jones and Earl Holliman, "Kings of the Sun" (1963), "Johnny Cool" (1963) and "Von Ryan's Express" (1965) starring Frank Sinatra.

In addition to his career as an actor, he also became a well know producer with such films as, "The Naked Runner", "Skag", "The Lawyer", "Little Fauss and Big Halsy" and "Lady Sings the Blues".

Brad Dexter married three times throughout his lifetime, first to Peggy Lee on January 4th 1953 however by November 1953 this marriage came to an end. He then married Mary Bogdanovich in 1971 and they were married until she passed away in 1994. His third and final marriage was to June Dyer in 1994 and they remained together until he passed away at the age of eighty five, on December 12th, 2002 in Rancho Mirage, California after suffering from emphysema. His remains are buried at the Desert Memorial Park.

Filmography

1988 Cognac

1979 Valentine

1979 The Incredible Hulk

1979 Winter Kills

1978 Project U.F.O.

1978 House Calls

1977 The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover

1976 Vigilante Force

1976 Law and Order

1975 S.W.A.T.

1975 McCloud

1975 Kojak

1975 Shampoo

1973 Jory

1972 Mission: Impossible

1970 Mannix

1965 Blindfold

1965 Von Ryan's Express