plasticjunkie

just about all the movie stars and future stars served in WWII.  Brian Keith was a US  Marine air gunner. Deforest Kelley was in the Air Corps in WWII. Gene Kelly was in the Navy, so was Ernest Borgnine who was a Gunner's mate. George Kennedy was in the US Army and served under Patton. Even Werner Klemperer served in the US Army in WWII. See more here: www.wonderfulworldofimages.com/.../wwii-movie-stars.html

Thanks for posting this SP, always liked Rooney but unfortunately haven't seen many of his films- I'm going to have to remedy that!

Good collection of actors, actresses, and others who were vets- if I may drop in two more?

Jack Palace got his unique look after he was pulled out of a medium bomber (I forget if it was B-25 or B-26) with severe burns and had to have plastic surgery on his face.

In the commentary track to the 'Lord of the Rings' movies (been awhile so I hope I got my facts straight here) Peter Jackson talks about a cut scene where Christopher Lee's character of Saruman gets stabbed in the back. Apparently Lee took Jackson aside before the filming and gave him advice on the scene- that as a member of the British special forces in the Second World War I know exactly what a man does when you stab him in the back...    

Yes, that link was full of good info of Mickey's compatriots and thier service related to WWII. Some that I was aware of, some that was new to me. They too are passing rapidly into history that many of them took part in.

I'm very surprised that Desi Arnaz was not listed on the site I posted. He enlisted in the US Army but did not see combat. None the less, he did his patriotic part. Also Cesar Romero was not listed. He served in the US coast Guard and saw action at Tinian and Saipan.

Yes there are a few omissions in there

plasticjunkie

 Even Werner Klemperer served in the US Army in WWII. See more here: www.wonderfulworldofimages.com/.../wwii-movie-stars.html

I read Robert Clary's autobiography and was amazed to learn that so many of the actors who played Germans on Hogans Heroes were actually holocaust survivors.  Klemperer was one of the lucky ones because his parents had enough money to get the whole family out of Germany before the really bad stuff started to happen to the Jews.  When they first approached Klemperer to play the Klink character he said he would under the condition that the writers would always make the Germans look goofy or always getting the short end of the stick.  It was a pretty interesting book about the whole situation and the show!

Brian

I agree, If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Hitler obsessed over getting Clark Gable kidnapped at one point during the war?

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

I agree, If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Hitler obsessed over getting Clark Gable kidnapped at one point during the war?

I also heard a rumor that Charlie Chaplain was also a target by Hitler.  When Hitler saw Chaplains movie "The Great Dictator" (which was panned in it's time but has become a classic!) he became so enraged he supposedly wanted him kidnapped or killed.

Brian

Adolf must have been steaming over the 3 Stooges 1943 short called Back from the Front where they play Hitler, Goering and Gobbels. The Horwitz boys and Louis Feinberg had a blast playing the part.

It was my understanding that there was a bounty placed on Clark Gable's head by Hitler (or at least by his henchmen).

Also, for the life of me, I can't picture Mel Brooks serving in combat during the Battle of the Bulge.  Apparently, however, it's twue!  It's twue!.

Eric

Ha! Madeline Kahn. Rest in peace  also