John Garfield (March 4, 1913 - May 21, 1952) was an American actor. Born Jacob Julius Garfinkle in New York City, he was sent to a school for problem children after the early death of his mother. It was there that he was introduced to boxing and acting. He won a scholarship to an acting school hosted by Maria Ouspenskaya, and made his Broadway debut in 1932. The play Golden Boy was written for him, but he was passed over for the role. He decided to leave Broadway and try his success in Hollywood. In 1938 he received critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for his role in Four Daughters.

Involved in liberal politics, Garfield became caught up in the McCarthy Communist scare of the late 1940s and, even though he denied having ever been a Communist, his forced testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee damaged his career. Heart problems caused his death at the age of 39.

Academy Award Nominations

• 1948 - Best Actor in a Leading Role - Body and Soul
• 1939 - Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Four Daughters

Garfield has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7065 Hollywood Blvd.

Filmography

• Four Daughters (1938)
• Swingtime in the Movies (1939) (short subject)
• They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
• Blackwell's Island (1939)
• Juarez (1939)
• Daughters Courageous (1939)
• Dust Be My Destiny (1939)
• Four Wives (1939)
• Castle on the Hudson (1940)
• Saturday's Children (1940)
• Flowing Gold (1940)
• East of the River (1940)
• The Sea Wolf (1941)
• Out of the Fog (1941)
• Dangerously They Live (1942)
• Tortilla Flat (1942)
• Air Force (1943)
• Show Business at War (1943) (short subject)
• The Fallen Sparrow (1943)
• Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
• Destination Tokyo (1943)
• Between Two Worlds (1944)
• Hollywood Canteen (1944)
• The Horn Blows at Midnight (1945) (Cameo)
• Pride of the Marines (1945)
• The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
• Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
• Humoresque (1946)
• (1946) (short subject)
• Body and Soul (1947)
• Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
• (1947) (short subject)
• Daisy Kenyon (1947) (Cameo)
• Difficult Years (1948) (narrator in American version)
• Force of Evil (1948)
• We Were Strangers (1949)
• Jigsaw (1949) (Cameo)
• Under My Skin (1950)
• The Breaking Point (1950)
• He Ran All the Way (1951) (also producer)