Lon McCallister

Herbert Alonzo "Lon" McCallister Jr. (April 17, 1923 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor. According to one obituary, he was best known for "playing gentle, boyish young men from the country." Another said he "had an ingenuous appeal that made him a favourite of family audiences, and was particularly at home in outdoor settings featuring dogs and horses. Ultimately his perennial boyishness and slight stature became a handicap for more mature roles."

Early life Born in Los Angeles, Lon McCallister was the son of a real estate broker. He attended Marken Professional School, which trained children for show-business careers and began appearing in movies at the age of 13. He had uncredited appearances in Let's Sing Again (1936) and Romeo and Juliet (1936), directed by George Cukor who, gave McAllister a large close up, and became a friend.

McCallister could also be glimpsed in Susan and God (1940), Henry Aldrich for President (1941), Dangerously They Live (1941), Always in My Heart (1942), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Spy Ship (1942), Night in New Orleans (1942), That Other Woman (1942), Gentleman Jim (1942), Quiet Please: Murder (1942), Over My Dead Body (1942), The Hard Way (1943), and The Meanest Man in the World (1943). Columnist Hedda Hopper called him "the cutest boy the movies have hauled up out of obscurity since Mickey Rooney."

McCallister leapt to fame playing the lead as Sparke in the horse-racing tale Home in Indiana (1944), also starring Walter Brennan and Jeanne Crain. This led to a contract with 20th Century Fox. He followed it with Winged Victory (1944) but then his career momentum was interrupted by war service.

Growing only to 5'6" he found it difficult to find roles as an adult. He appeared with Edward G. Robinson in 1947's The Red House and had the star role in Thunder in the Valley (1947), and supported June Haver in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).

McCallister had the lead in another animal story The Big Cat (1949) and co-starred with Shirley Temple in The Story of Seabiscuit (1949). He was in The Boy from Indiana (1950).

Television McCallister began appearing on TV in episodes of Suspense ("Lunch Box", "Collector's Item"), and Lux Video Theatre ("Down Bayou DuBac").

He had the lead in Sam Katzman's A Yank in Korea (1951) and a Western, Montana Territory (1952). However he was mostly seen in TV: Tales of Tomorrow ("Verdict from Space"), "The Last Man on Earth", ("Enemy Unknown"), The Ford Television Theatre ("My Daughter's Husband"), Schlitz Playhouse ("Operation Riviera"), and Footlights Theater ("My Daughter's Husband"). His last feature film was Combat Squad (1953).

McCallister and William Eythe were producers of the stage musical revue Lend an Ear, which began at Los Angeles' Las Palmas Theater and launched Carol Channing's career.

In a 1992 interview, McCallister said, "Being a movie star was great, but I never considered doing it for a lifetime. I wanted to be myself, to go where I pleased without causing a traffic jam. I've succeeded in this, and I'm happy".

Personal life McCallister was a long time romantic partner of fellow actor William Eythe, up until Eythe's death in 1957. He died from congestive heart failure at the age of 82.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1936 Let's Sing Again Orphan Uncredited Romeo and Juliet Minor Role Uncredited 1937 Stella Dallas Boy Uncredited Souls at Sea Cabin Boy Uncredited Make a Wish Summer Camp Kid Uncredited 1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Schoolboy Uncredited Judge Hardy's Children Uncredited Lord Jeff Uncredited That Certain Age Billy Uncredited Little Tough Guys in Society Uncredited 1939 The Spirit of Culver Cadet Uncredited Confessions of a Nazi Spy Uncredited Babes in Arms Boy Uncredited First Love Boy at School Uncredited Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President Johnny Uncredited1940 Susan and God Party Guest Uncredited 1941 Henry Aldrich for President Student Uncredited Dangerously They Live Newsboy Uncredited 1942 Always in My Heart Boy Uncredited Yankee Doodle Dandy Call Boy Uncredited Spy Ship Telegram Messenger Boy Uncredited Night in New Orleans Boy in Car Uncredited That Other Woman George Borden Gentleman Jim Page Boy Uncredited Quiet Please, Murder Freddie, the Stack Boy Uncredited Over My Dead Body Jimmie 1943 The Hard Way Bud – Call Boy in Montage Uncredited The Meanest Man in the World Bellboy Uncredited Stage Door Canteen California Jack Gilman 1944 Home in Indiana 'Sparke' Thornton Winged Victory Francis William 'Frankie' Davis 1947 The Red House Nath Storm Thunder in the Valley David MacAdam 1948 Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! Daniel 'Snug' Dominy 1949 The Big Cat Danny Turner The Story of Seabiscuit Ted Knowles 1950 The Boy from Indiana Lon Decker 1951 A Yank in Korea Andy Smith 1952 Montana Territory John Malvin 1953 Combat Squad Martin