User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 3 of 3

Thread: A Man of Many Talents

  1. #1
    Points: 74,571, Level: 66
    Level completed: 62%, Points required for next Level: 879
    Overall activity: 40.0%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsSocialVeteran
    Standing Wolf's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    314970
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Posts
    25,612
    Points
    74,571
    Level
    66
    Thanks Given
    5,716
    Thanked 21,087x in 12,282 Posts
    Mentioned
    415 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)

    A Man of Many Talents

    Sterling dropped out of school at the age of sixteen and took a job as a mate on a schooner. In the years following he was a fisherman on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, ran a charter yacht and served as a fireman aboard a steamer. While still a young man he skippered a trading schooner in the Caribbean, worked his way around the world several times and was awarded command of a square rigger at the age of twenty-two. He spoke of his nautical adventures before a meeting of the New York Adventurer's Club in 1940.

    In 1938 Sterling's photo appeared on the cover of a magazine, prompting Paramount Pictures to offer him a screen test. With no acting experience or training, he didn't think much would come of it, but his 6'5" physique and good looks won him a contract. He appeared in two movies, but in December of 1941 he declared, "I'm no actor, I'm a sailor!" and enlisted in the U.S. Army. While in training he broke his ankle and was discharged. Having recovered, he enlisted in the Marine Corps under an assumed name - "John Hamilton". During basic training at Parris Island he was recommended for Officer Candidate School.

    After graduation from OCS, he was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant and was transferred to service as an undercover agent with William J. "Wild Bill" Donovan's Office of the the Coordinator of Information, remaining there after it had become the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). As an OSS agent "John Hamilton" sailed with supplies from Italy to Yugoslav partisans and parachuted into fascist Croatia. He established air crew rescue teams in enemy-occupied territory, and was rapidly promoted to first lieutenant and then captain. Sterling received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in the Balkans and Mediterranean, a Bronze Arrowhead device for parachuting behind enemy lines, and the Yugoslav Order of Merit from Josip Tito.

    He returned to Hollywood, expressing a distaste for acting, but saying that it was the only way he had to pay for his ships and voyages. From 1946 until shortly before his death in 1986 at the age of 70, he appeared in more than seventy films and t.v. episodes, often being cast in westerns and noir features. He also found time to write two best-selling books - one an autobiography and the other a novel.

    One of his most iconic and well-remembered roles was as the mad general, Jack. D. Ripper in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove.

    Sterling Hayden - Sailor, Actor, Spy and true life hero.










    Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing.” - Robert E. Howard

    "Only a rank degenerate would drive 1,500 miles across Texas and not eat a chicken fried steak." - Larry McMurtry

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Standing Wolf For This Useful Post:

    Captdon (12-03-2021),Common (12-03-2021),FindersKeepers (12-03-2021),Red Lily (12-03-2021)

  3. #2
    Points: 23,503, Level: 37
    Level completed: 30%, Points required for next Level: 847
    Overall activity: 49.0%
    Achievements:
    Social10000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Red Lily's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    7077
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    4,490
    Points
    23,503
    Level
    37
    Thanks Given
    13,343
    Thanked 7,070x in 3,436 Posts
    Mentioned
    41 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Interesting thank you.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Red Lily For This Useful Post:

    Common (12-03-2021)

  5. #3
    Points: 445,362, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 1.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialVeteran50000 Experience PointsOverdrive
    Common's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    339112
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    66,765
    Points
    445,362
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    8,785
    Thanked 18,315x in 10,924 Posts
    Mentioned
    396 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I remember Sterling Hayden well and have seen some of his movies including Dr Strangelove...I did not know his history and his bravery, thanks for posting that

    Just like Audie Murphy before him, hollywood had a soft spot for WW1 and 2 combat veterans and there was more than a few cast in roles.
    LETS GO BRANDON
    F Joe Biden

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts