The fate of this forgotten film actor was unusual. He did not dream of fame, took on any job and did not consider any genres demeaning for himself.
There are people in the history of cinematography, whose talent is undeniable, whose works become standard. Most of the guys and girls who are caressed by the beams of the spotlights do not reach such heights. The biography of our hero would be lost among hundreds of similar destinies of Hollywood artists, if not for his unique resilience and optimism. The lack of fanaticism helped him not to wait for the role of his dreams, but to master a number of genres.
Childhood
In May 1915, a boy was born to Joseph and Eunice Bowman. He was given the name Ralph. The family lived in a small town in Nebraska. The beginning of the 20th century was a period of fundamental changes in the lives of ordinary Americans. Farming fell into decay, people were attracted to big cities. In 1920, the family moved to California and settled in the vicinity of the famous star factory.
Ralph followed his father's example. He wanted to get a working profession and provide for his loved ones. The boy went to Hollywood high school and, of course, was interested in filming. True, he did not see himself in the main role. He was more attracted to the technical side of making the film. Parents, people far from the bohemian world, approved of the plans for the future that their son was building. When our hero entered the University of Southern California and began to master the art of a cameraman, he was happy.
Youth
Having received his education, Ralph waited to be offered an interesting and well-paid job. The reality was different from Bowman's predictions - the young specialist was not interested in the directors. The young man did not remain a dependent and wait for his finest hour. He found a way to make a living by mastering the craft of radio presenter. The excellent diction that our hero developed will later help him get on the screens and voice the leading characters in radio plays.
The cheerful inhabitant of Hollywood got his first role in a movie in 1938. His real name was indicated in the credits. Stage name John Archer Ralph invented for himself to participate in the competition, which was held by the RKO company. The sound came to the sets, so the jury paid special attention to the announcer from the radio. As a result, he was among those with whom a contract was signed. Bowman's golden page began with the victory in this competition.
Serious passions
All young people of the first half of the 20th century loved songs and dances. John was no exception. A failed cinematographer and already seen by the public, a film actor was looking for a job on Broadway. There he met Marjorie Lord. She dreamed of being a ballerina, but found work in musicals attractive. The stubborn guy was able to win the heart of the beauty, and in 1941 she became his wife. Two children were born in the marriage. In 1944, Archer was able to enter the music hall stage. Now the lovers did not part for a minute.
The wife was unhappy with the way her chosen one lives. She rejected most of the proposed roles because they did not suit her sophisticated tastes, he also took on any job. In 1953, the couple broke up. Their eldest child continued the work of his parents. Anna Archer became a movie star. She began her journey to the screens with roles in TV shows.
Successes
Marjorie's criticism was unfounded. By the time of his divorce, John had already starred in several films that won the recognition of viewers and film critics. Among them were the musical comedy "Hello Frisco, Hello" and the war drama "The Diary of Guadalcanal". The artist was no longer treated like a random person. The directors assigned him serious roles. The only thing that our hero could not be happy with was the fact that he rarely got the main roles, and there was not a single award for the embodiment of the image.
John Archer was a sought-after actor on Broadway. The ex-wife infected the artist with a love for the theatrical stage, and he had time from the set for rehearsals and live performances. He hadn't been on the radio for a long time. Television was much more attractive to him. The soap makers were flattered by the involvement of a real Hollywood actor in their product. John was offered roles in detective stories and serial westerns.
Life goes on
In 1956, John Archer met Ann Leddy. This girl was far from the art world, but she truly fell in love with the artist. Soon they got married and became the parents of two kids. The faithful did not interfere in the affairs of her husband, he did not try to involve her in filming or theatrical performances. An idyllic period began in John's personal life, which lasted until his death.
5 years after a successful marriage, John was lucky in the field of creativity. In 1961 he was offered a role in the film Blue Hawaii. An unpretentious story about a young rebel from a wealthy family could have become another ordinary tape in the filmography of our hero, if not for the name of the leading actor. It was Elvis Presley. The rays of glory of the king of rock and roll illuminated all of his colleagues.
John Archer lived a long life. He managed to see his daughter Anna on the red carpet of the Oscar ceremony, and was delighted with his grandchildren. In his declining years, he stopped acting in films and appearing on television, spending all the time in the company of his wife Anne. In December 1999, John Archer passed away. His cause of death was lung cancer.
