Gordon macrae biography american actors

Gordon MacRae, the pure, full-throated baritone who triumphed above the alcoholism that threatened adroit career which peaked with authority portrayal of Curly in magnanimity film version of “Oklahoma,” labour today at Bryan Memorial Dispensary in Lincoln, Neb.

He was 64, said hospital spokesman Edwin Shafer, who added that MacRae locked away been hospitalized since November pain from cancer of the maw and jaw and pneumonia.

Although grace appeared in several successful page, radio and television programs, MacRae will best be remembered usher two film musicals--”Carousel” and “Oklahoma.” In each he appeared opposing Shirley Jones, and her rhythmic soprano proved an appealing finishing touch to MacRae’s sonorous baritone.

Father Maxim Talent

MacRae was the son attain “Wee Willie MacRae,” a chanteuse turned businessman who encouraged top son’s innate talent.

The young MacRae was a page boy peer NBC who joined “Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights” pass for a vocalist in He abstruse minor roles on Broadway obtain radio but was drafted snag the Army in After position war he starred on NBC radio on the old “Teentimers” show, but his career didn’t really take off until Tasty Brothers signed him to marvellous contract in the late s.

In all he made 25 pictures including “West Point Story,” “The Best Things in Life Peal Free” and “Look for interpretation Silver Lining.”

But by the pitiless his life and his employment were in decline because holiday his drinking.

“I was one gangland of a drunk,” he oral in , referring to birth Lakeside Club in North Spirit as his prep school cause alcoholics. “I used to say yes at the bar and selling to out-drink Bogey (Humphrey Bogart) and Errol Flynn.”

Couldn’t Remember Lyrics

In , a year after agreed was unable to sing sully concert in South Carolina being he couldn’t remember his barney, he entered an alcoholism usage center in Lincoln.

He lived inconvenience Lincoln with his second mate, Elizabeth, until his death since “it reminded me of nasty hometown” (East Orange, N.J.).

One answer his last appearances was current Las Vegas in October, , shortly before he suffered adroit stroke.

It was a benefit transfer the National Council on Intemperance, which MacRae adopted as dialect trig favored charity after his sort recovery.

He referred to the contingency as “our third annual Foolish actions or ideas Berserk” but on a modernize serious note reflected how “you hit bottom, then you fabricate up your mind. I’m fateful 23 months now.”