The main characters played by the American theater and film actor Van Heflin were supporting characters. However, the owner of the prestigious Oscar has played several major roles. For his contribution to the development of cinematography, he was awarded named stars on the Walk of Fame.
An artistic career was chosen not only by Emmett Evan "Wan" Heflin Jr., but also by his younger sister Mary Francis.
Carier start
The biography of the future artist began in 1910. The child was born on December 13 in the small town of Walters in the family of a dentist. When the boy was in 7th grade, his parents and his younger sister moved to Long Beach.
The teenager who saw the ocean for the first time decided to start a career as a sailor, which was completely disapproved of in the family. He continued his education at the local Polytechnic School. During the summer holidays, Heflin went on a schooner. He visited Hawaii, Mexico, South America.
The graduate continued his studies at the University of Oklahoma. The student became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The young man did not think about a film career. However, in the thirties he started playing on Broadway. Katharine Hepburn, who has already become a star, who has seen the artist's play in one of the productions, said that she only agreed with this actor to star in the new film.
In 1936, the actor entered the cinema. He made his debut in The Woman Riots in the role of Lord Gerald Keythorn. However, the premiere did not bring satisfaction to the performer himself, and it turned out to be commercially unprofitable.
In 1940, the aspiring film actor reappeared on the screen in the film "The Road to Santa Fe". Warner Bros. Studio was replaced by MGM. The artist starred in the film “G. M. Pulham Esquire "in 1941. This work received positive reviews from critics and audiences. Even more successful was the film "Johnny Yeager". His hero was Jeff Hartnett, as journalists called him, “Taylor's always drunk companion,” a lawyer and friend of the actor who shone in the title role.
Successful work
The press was unanimous in assessing the work of the performer. The image of a self-hating hero depicted by him turned out to be so strong that it literally overshadowed the main character. As Best Supporting Artist, Heflin received an Oscar.
The studio management, despite the successful work, was in no hurry to offer the actor the main roles. It was filmed only in low-budget commercial film projects. In more prestigious films for the performer, there were only supporting roles. But the work turned out to be so much that throughout all the forties the performer was engaged in honing his skills.
He was successful in his role as President Andrew Johnson in the 1942 film Johnson of Tennessee. In the film of the same period, Murder at Grand Central, he played Rocky Custer. A private detective brilliantly uncovers the mysterious murder of a Broadway star overnight.
And again, the press unanimously acknowledged that a rather modest detective picture with elements of comedy owes its success to the cunning detective played by Van Heflin. He has been called a grossly underrated performer.
Vivid roles
During World War II, the actor served in the American military in Europe. He was an operator in the Air Force. The film career continued after returning to Hollywood.
In the dramatic "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers" in 1946, the actor played Sam Masterson, with whom the heroine of the film was in love for many years. In 1947, the famous Athos became his character in the film adaptation of The Three Musketeers.
In the film noir Act of Violence in 1948, the artist reincarnated as the main character, Frank R. Anley. A war hero and peacetime construction contractor has received numerous accolades for the successful implementation of a promising project. But a successful businessman hides many secrets. One of them becomes fatal for his family.
In the 1953 film "Shane," Van Heflin reincarnated as Joe Starrett, in whose defense the main character of the film stands up in the face of the threat of eviction from the house and the valley he had equipped. At the same time, he played the main character of the film "Black Widow" by Peter Denver. The action takes place in the theatrical bohemian of New York.
A well-known Broadway producer is suspected of murdering a young provincial writer who has arrived in town. He will have to prove his innocence only on his own. According to critics, the artist perfectly played the character who was circled around his finger.
All facets of talent
Successful work on the film "At 3:10 to Yuma" in 1956. His hero, the owner of the ranch Dan Evans, with his sons in 1880 witnessed the robbery of a stagecoach. The leader of the gang is arrested. However, the authorities fear the return of his accomplices. They decide to hire volunteers to secretly deliver the prisoner to the train that takes him to Yuma. Evans took a chance. Alex Porter, a city drunkard, agrees to become his partner.
Van Heflin successfully worked in radio. The productions with his participation were very popular with the audience. A surprisingly velvety low voice made the performer recognizable. Van Heflin has voiced the heroes of nearly 2,000 radio soap operas.
The artist did not stop playing on the theater stage either. He appeared on the Broadway Philadelphia Story, and was also featured in Memories of Two Mondays and View from the Bridge, based on plays by Arthur Miller.
A family
Completed a film career in the famous film "Airport" in 1970. Van Heflin reincarnated as a passenger who decided to commit suicide by an explosion in an airplane in order to get his widow insurance later, in Guerrero.
The performer tried to improve his personal life several times. His first choice and wife was a colleague, actress Eleanor Shaw. The marriage with her lasted only six months. For a quarter of a century, Van Heflin was the husband of Francis Neal. Their family had three children, two daughters and a son, Tracy. The girls, Vana and Caitlin, have chosen artistic careers. They became famous under the names of Kate Heflin and Vana O'Brien. Their parents separated in 1967.
The actor loved to fish in the ocean, swam in the pool every day to keep himself in good shape. And the artist died in 1971, on July 23.
For his contribution to the development of television and cinema, he was awarded two stars on the Walk of Fame.
