He almost died in a terrorist attack as a child. But fate was on his side. Jack Oakey is a unique personality in which optimistic attitude and inner harmony were combined with a great desire to constantly improve and move forward. A successful comedian, a talented actor, host of his own radio show and an excellent journalist - in each of these professions he managed to prove himself and gain significant success.
Biography
Jack Oakey was born in the small town of Sedalia, which is located in the US state of Missouri. His father, James Madison Offield, was a grain trader and his mother, Evelyn Offield, taught psychology at a local college. When the boy was five years old, his parents decided to change their place of residence and move to Muskogee, Oklahoma. It was here that Jack came up with the nickname "Oakey", the semantics of which is based on an allusion to Oklahoma.
As a child, the boy also spent a lot of time visiting his grandmother, who lived in Kansas City. There he first went to school. Lessons were easy for Jack, so he decided to keep himself busy and found his first job. Oakey began to take part in the publication of a local newspaper, for which he received a good fee. He especially loved to write materials on political life: presidential election campaigns, politicians' ratings, world conflicts.
While studying and writing texts, Jack also worked as a courier. On one occasion, while on a mission, he was nearly injured in a bombing raid on Wall Street. This life episode had a significant impact on him. Since then, Jack began to treat himself and his life differently. He took control of his own destiny and began to seek his true destiny.
Career
In 1920, Oakey came to New York and began collaborating with amateur theater, where he acted as a copycat and comedian. And already in 1923 he made his professional debut on Broadway, where he took part in the production of "Little Nelly Kelly". Since then, his career has taken off. Jack began to be invited to work in popular musicals and comedies.
A little later, Oakey moved to Hollywood to try his hand at cinema. At that time, the era of silent cinema was coming to an end, and Jack dreamed of leaving his mark on it. As an actor, he appeared in several silent films, in which he vividly demonstrated his ability for acting. They began to recognize him on the streets and invite him to new creative projects.
In 1927, Jack signed a prestigious contract with the famous film company Paramount Pictures and starred in the first "talking" film "Mannequin". His unique voice and brilliant performance made a strong impression on the audience. Since then, Oakey has been constantly pursuing numerous fans who want to get the heart of a popular actor.
When Oakey's contract with Paramount Pictures ended, he decided to freelance for a bit. The period of his collaboration with completely different film companies and television channels began. He starred in 87 cult films of his time, and in 1933 appeared in the film Too Much Harmony with his mother, who played one of the secondary roles. Oakey respected his parents, so he always strove to give them the very best.
In the 1930s, Jack received the strange nickname "The World's Oldest Freshman." At the time, he made frequent appearances in university-themed films, playing students with difficult fates. In these productions, Ouki refused to use any kind of makeup to make him look even more like a young boy. He believed that she interferes with the performance of the role and hides real emotions.
In 1940, Oakey starred in one of the most sensational films by Charlie Chaplin, The Great Dictator. In it, the actor portrayed the politician Benzino Napaloni, for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His task in this production was to make a parody of the Italian dictator, who was an adherent of the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini, who was then in power.
Creation
In addition to his creative activities in the cinema, Jack Oakey from time to time moonlighted as a radio host. He had his own radio show, which was a great success. In it, Jack paid great attention to humorous sketches from real life, historical facts and art. In addition, Oakey was engaged in writing, but his works he created exclusive for himself and his family.
Personal life
Jack has been married twice. Venita Varden became his first lover. The couple met on the set, where they had a whirlwind romance. However, after two years, their relationship began to deteriorate and they had to temporarily disperse. Nevertheless, at the end of 1944, the lovers tried on and began to live together again. But in 1948, Venita died in a plane crash on which she flew to Pennsylvania.
Oakey's second marriage was to actress Victoria Horn. They married in 1950 and have never separated since. The actor spent the rest of his life with this woman. The couple lived on their own estate in the suburbs of Los Angeles, surrounded by a citrus orchard. There they also bred and raised Afghan hound dogs.
Jack died in January 1978 at the age of 74 from aortic aneurysm. Until the end of her days, his wife was engaged in preserving the memory of her talented husband. She bequeathed her estate to the University of Southern California, who later sold it by the developer. Now the Oakridge estate is considered a historical center, which houses a kind of museum dedicated to the work of Jack Oakey.
