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Gig Young (1913 - 78)
His real name was Byron Barr, but he changed it
in 1942 after being given the role of Gig Young
in the picture The Gay Sisters, which was
his first prominant movie role. He had wanted to
change his name for there was another actor at the
Warner Bros. Studio also named Byron Barr.
Gig Young developed his love of performing while
in highschool. After appearing in several high school
plays and getting some experiance, Byron Barr got
a scholarship to the Pasadena Community Playhouse.It
was there, while starring in the play Pancho,
that he and costar George Reeves were discovered
by a Warner Bros. talent scout in 1941. They were
both signed to supporting player contracts with
the studio.
By the 1950's Gig Young really hit his stride and
perfected playing the 'other man' characters in the
era's cheeky sex comedies (he was nominated for playing
just such a character in Teacher's Pet). But
Young shocked audiences more than once with his acting
depth. Byron Barr got his first Oscar nomination for
playing the role of an alcoholic in Come Fill the
Cup (1951) and then later won the Oscar for another
dramatic role in the 1969 film, They Shoot Horses,
Don't They?
Gig Young had a troubled personal life. Byron Barr
was married five times, three of the marriages ended
in divorce, one widowed. In 1978, Young shot and
killed his wife of three weeks, German actress Kim
Schmidt, before then killing himself.
Young's Best Supporting nominations, are:
COME FILL THE CUP (51)
TEACHERS PET (58)
Gig Young's other films include:
MISBEHAVING HUSBANDS
THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON
THE GAY SISTERS
OLD ACQUAINTANCE
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
THE THREE MUSKETEERS
COME FILL THE CUP
YOUNG AT HEART
DESK SET
ASK ANY GIRL
THAT TOUCH OF MINK
STRANGE BEDFELLOWS
LOVERS AND OTHER STRANGERS
THE HINDENBERG
THE KILLER ELITE
THE HINDENBURG
BRUCE LEE, THE LEGEND
GAME OF DEATH
Young's television credits include:
WARNER BROTHERS PRESENTS (TV Series)
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE
THE ROGUES (64, series)
THE NEON CEILING
COMPANIONS IN NIGHTMARE
THE GREAT ICE RIP-OFF
THE TURNING POINT OF JIM MALLOY
SHERLOCK HOLMES IN NEW YORK
GIBBSVILLE (TV Mini-Series)
SPECTRE
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