NOTABLE ARKANSANS

He was born in Hot Springs. When he was 4 years old he saw his father die of a heart attack. A few months later, while playing with a box of matches, he accidentally set fire to the shabby apartment building where he and his poverty-stricken mother were living. With no home and no possessions, they moved to Oklahoma City. His mother married an unemployed house painter and the family moved to California.

As a boy he was malnourished and nicknamed "Tiny" by some of his classmates. In high school he excelled in diving. His coach encouraged him to train for the Olympics, but an injury ended his Olympic dream.

He had a starring role in a high school production of The Mikado. A Universal Pictures talent scout was in the audience and signed him to a contract. He was later dropped because, at 5 feet, 4 inches, the studio thought he was "too blond and too short."

He found work as a stagehand at Warner Bros. and took acting lessons. He was given an uncredited role in Citizen Kane (1941) and landed a major role in This Gun for Hire (1942), playing a hit man with a conscience. The role made him a star.

Then came -- among others -- Two Years Before the Mast (1946) and The Great Gatsby (1949), which led to 1953's Shane.

Notable Arkansans is written by Steve Stephens and produced by Clyde Snider

Who was this movie star from Hot Springs?

Answer on Page 6E

Style on 08/26/2018

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