Who is Glenn Ford?
Glenn Ford (born Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford on May 1, 1916) was a Canadian‑born actor who became
one of Hollywood’s most reliable leading men, active for more than five
decades. He earned his place in film history by playing the “everyman” caught
in extraordinary circumstances, especially in noir and westerns, and remains a
beloved figure of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Birth
Place, Early Life & Parents
✅Glenn Ford was born in Sainte‑Christine‑d’Auvergne,
Québec, Canada on May 1, 1916.
✅His
father was Newton Ford, a
railway machine‑operator (with the Canadian Pacific Railway) and later working
on trams in California; his mother was Hannah Wood (née Mitchell).
✅When
Glenn was about six years old (circa 1922) the family emigrated to the United
States, settling first in Venice and then Santa Monica, California.
✅His
father’s practical advice shaped him: “Be able to take a car apart and put it
together… be able to build a house, every part of it. Then you’ll always have
something.” Glenn later took plumbing, wiring and other home‑improvement jobs
even while a star.
✅Though
born Canadian, Ford became a naturalised U.S. citizen on November 10, 1939.
Education
& Early Ambitions
✅Glenn Ford attended Santa Monica High School in California, where he participated
in drama productions.
✅After
graduation (circa mid‑1930s) he worked in small theatre companies and odd jobs
(one was working for Will Rogers,
learning horsemanship) before breaking into films.
✅His
early years laid the groundwork for his film career: stage experience, stable
practical work, and the move from Canada to the U.S.
Career
of Glenn Ford
✅Ford’s
film debut came around 1939 with the drama Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence.
✅Under
contract with Columbia Pictures,
he steadily rose to major‑star status.
✅His
breakout came in Gilda (1946), where he co‑starred with Rita Hayworth—a now‑classic film‑noir role.
✅He
became known for versatile portrayals: western heroes, noir anti‑heroes,
romantic leads, and dramatic roles.
✅Notable
films include: The Big Heat
(1953), 3:10 to Yuma
(1957), Blackboard Jungle
(1955), and Superman (1978) in which he played Clark Kent’s adoptive father.
✅Ford’s
career spanned over 50 years and more than 100 films, making him one of the
era’s most consistent box‑office draws.
“I
think Glenn Ford is one of the finer actors of Hollywood’s golden age… He
handled and rode horses so naturally.” — a fan comment.
✅He
also served in the U.S. Navy/Marine Reserve during WWII and beyond (which added
to his “hero” persona).
Achievements,
Awards & Records
✅Ford
was voted the #1 male box‑office attraction in 1958.
✅He won
the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Pocketful of Miracles (1961).
✅He has
a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6933 Hollywood Blvd.
✅He was
inducted into the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Hall of Fame (for his
many westerns).
✅Many
of his films are regarded by critics and scholars as culturally or historically
significant.
Records
& Notable Facts
✅Ford’s
career longevity: over 50 years active, spanning from the late 1930s through
the early 1990s.
✅Appeared
in 100+ films (some sources say “over 106”).
✅He
successfully crossed genres: westerns, film‑noir, comedies, romance and drama.
✅Born
Canadian but became a prominent U.S. screen actor—giving him a unique cross‑border
identity.
Height
& Weight
✅Glenn
Ford was approximately 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) tall.
✅His
weight varied; sources give typical actor build of his era (~170‑180 lbs/77‑82 kg), though exact figures fluctuate.
Zodiac
Sign
✅Being
born on May 1,
Glenn Ford’s zodiac sign was Taurus.
Net
Worth
✅Net
worth is quite sufficient.
Family
& Personal Life
✅Married
actress/dancer Eleanor Powell
in 1943; they had one son, Peter Ford.
They divorced in 1959.
✅Married
actress Kathryn Hays in
1966; divorced 1969.
✅Married
model Cynthia Hayward
in 1977; divorced 1984.
✅Married
Jeanne Baus in
1993; divorced 1994.
✅Ford
was married four times, had a long‑term career, and maintained homes in
California.
✅Health
issues in later life: suffered strokes and heart problems; died August 30, 2006, in Beverly Hills at age 90.
✅While
he did not have publicised social‑media in the modern era, his legacy lives on
via film archives and fan communities.
Top
Films: List of Glenn Ford’s Films & Dramas
Top
Films:
- Gilda (1946)
- The Big Heat (1953)
- 3:10 to Yuma (1957)
- Blackboard Jungle (1955)
- Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
- The Man from the Alamo
- The Gazebo (1959)
- Midway (1976)
- Superman (1978)
- Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
(1939) – his debut
Top
Dramas & Westerns:
✅West‑genre:
The Last Challenge, The Violent Men, The Man from Colorado
✅Drama:
A Stolen Life, Interrupted Melody
✅Film‑Noir:
Gilda, The Big Heat
✅Romance/Comedy:
The Mating of Millie, Love is a Ball
✅TV/Miniseries:
Cade’s County (1971‑72), The Family Holvak (1975)
Scandals
or Controversies
✅While
Ford maintained a mostly respectable public image, later biographies reveal
that his off‑screen life included affairs and periods of marital strain which
contributed to his multiple divorces.
✅He
struggled somewhat with regaining momentum after his WWII service, a challenge
for many actors of his era.
✅No
major public scandal (in the tabloid sense) overshadowed him; his reputation
remains upright, disciplined and professional.
Contact
& Social Media
✅As a
historical figure who died in 2006,
Glenn Ford
does not maintain active social‑media accounts.
✅ “Management”
or estates: His son, Peter Ford,
has served as guardian of the legacy; for archival or media enquiries one might
contact relevant film archives or the Ford family estate (no public direct “contact No.” is available).
✅For
estates, agents or licensing from his films, you’d approach studio rights‑holders
(Columbia Pictures,
etc.)
Summary
Glenn Ford combined Canadian roots with American
stardom, building a career that exemplified versatility, reliability and a
genuine every‑man appeal. From his birth in Québec to his education in Santa Monica, from stage beginnings to over a
hundred films, his life spans much of what is romanticised about classic
Hollywood.
His
legacy lives in the films that continue to entertain decades later—and the
natural‑acting style and integrity he brought to his roles. For film students,
western fans or noir aficionados, Glenn Ford remains a pillar of mid‑20th‑century
cinema.
%20Instagram.png)
0 Comments