Jeffrey Lynn (February 16, 1909 – November 24, 1995) was an American actor.Born Ragnar Lind in Auburn, Massachusetts, Lynn was a school teacher before he began his acting career. He came to Hollywood and made his film debut in Out Where the Stars Begin (1938). He achieved a notable success in 1938 appearing with the Lane Sisters in Four Daughters, and the popularity of the movie was so great that it was followed by three sequels, Daughters Courageous (1939), Four Wives (1939) and Four Mothers (1941) with Lynn reprising his role in each of them.After the success of Four Daughters, Lynn was screen tested for the role of Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939). He was considered to be the front runner for the role, partly due to his physical resemblance to the character as written. Lynn was used extensively during the "Search for Scarlett" playing Ashley in the screen tests for many of the actresses who tried out for the part. David O. Selznick eventually cast the more experienced and popular Leslie Howard.Instead, Lynn acted in The Roaring Twenties (1939), a gangster film that reunited him with Four Daughters star Priscilla Lane, as well as James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. As one of a trio of friends, and the only one not to "go bad", Lynn won excellent reviews. His success continued with such films as The Fighting 69th (1940) in which he portrayed poet-soldier Joyce Kilmer opposite Cagney, It All Came True (1940), All This and Heaven Too (1940) and Million Dollar Baby (1941). His movie career was interrupted by service during World War II and when he returned to the screen in 1948 he was not able to establish himself again. He was in the notably successful A Letter to Three Wives (1949) but his film career had stalled. Lynn starred in Home Town Story (1951) which featured Marilyn Monroe in a minor role. It was not until the 1960s that he achieved more successes with BUtterfield 8 (1960) and Tony Rome (1967).He began appearing in television, in such series as Robert Montgomery Presents, Your Show of Shows, My Son Jeep (with young Martin Huston), and Lux Video Theatre during the early fifties. He also made appearances on Broadway in the shows Lo and Behold! (1952), Any Wednesday (1966) and Dinner at Eight (1967).His final acting appearance was in a guest role in Murder, She Wrote in 1987, a television sequel to the feature film Strange Bargain (1949), which reunited him with his original co-star, Martha Scott.After his acting career went into decline, particularly in the 1950s, Lynn began working in real estate and from then his acting career was a secondary interest.He died in Burbank, California, aged 86, from natural causes. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Developed an interest in acting while studying at Bates College in Maine. Was signed by Warner Brothers in 1937, after appearing in a touring production of 'Brother Rat'.
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After marrying Robin Chandler they honeymooned in Bermuda and then resided in Santa Monica, California. Two children from this union: Letitia of Charleston, S.C. & Jeffrey Jr of Southampton, L.I. Letitia attended Smith College and then married a Lithuanian named Dominicus Valiunas who, at the time, was President of Neris Transatlantic Minerals, Inc. (New York-based coal company with mines in West Virginia). They have since divorced.
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Lived in Tarzana, California in 1975.
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Wife Patricia had seven children from a previous marriage when they wed.
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His father, John A. Lind, died June 14, 1954, in Auburn, Massachusetts at the age of 80. He had been a welder at Crompton & Knowles Loom Works for 47 years retiring at the age of 77.
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Earned a Bronze Star in World War II (Air Force).
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Served as his unit's Intelligence Officer in WWII. Occasionally played bartender in his unit's Officers's Club, introducing many young airmen to their first martini.
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Handsome, pleasant dark-haired leading man of WWII films who typically played young husband, boyfriend or recruit. His film career was fatally interrupted by military service and in post-war years sought work on stage and TV.
Prior to acting he earned a teaching degree at Bates College in Maine and became a drama and English high school teacher for a time.
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Retired from acting to work in real estate.
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Legally changed to stage name in 1942.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Secret Storm
1954
TV Series
Charlie Clemens (1966-1967)
The Philip Morris Playhouse
1953
TV Series
Main Street to Broadway
1953
Jeffrey Lynn - First Nighter (uncredited)
Medallion Theatre
1953
TV Series
My Son Jeep
1953
TV Series
Doctor Robert Allison
Checkmate
1953
TV Movie
Goodyear Playhouse
1953
TV Series
Lux Video Theatre
1951-1953
TV Series
Tom / Ralph Caswell / Seth Warner
The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
1952
TV Series
Tales of Tomorrow
1952
TV Series
Schlitz Playhouse
1952
TV Series
Family Theatre
1951
TV Series
Bartimeus the Beggar
The Clock
1951
TV Series
Cameo Theatre
1951
TV Series
Home Town Story
1951
Blake Washburn
Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre
1951
TV Series
Up Front
1951
Capt. Ralph Johnson
Lights Out
1951
TV Series
Studio One in Hollywood
1950
TV Series
Art Hugenon
Captain China
1950
Capt. George Brendensen
Strange Bargain
1949
Sam Wilson
A Letter to Three Wives
1949
Bradford 'Brad' Bishop
Whiplash
1948
Dr. Arnold Vincent
For the Love of Mary
1948
Phillip Manning
Black Bart
1948
Lance Hardeen
The Body Disappears
1941
Peter DeHaven
Law of the Tropics
1941
Jim Conwoy
Underground
1941
Kurt Franken
Million Dollar Baby
1941
James Amory
Flight from Destiny
1941
Michael Farroway
Four Mothers
1941
Felix Deitz
Money and the Woman
1940
Dave Bennett (Bennet in Newspaper Story)
My Love Came Back
1940
Tony Baldwin
All This, and Heaven Too
1940
Henry Martyn Field
It All Came True
1940
Tommy Taylor
The Fighting 69th
1940
Joyce Kilmer
Four Wives
1939
Felix Dietz
A Child Is Born
1939
Jed Sutton
The Roaring Twenties
1939
Lloyd Hart
Espionage Agent
1939
Lowell Warrington
Daughters Courageous
1939
John S. 'Johnny' Heming
Yes, My Darling Daughter
1939
Douglas Hall
Four Daughters
1938
Felix Deitz
Cowboy from Brooklyn
1938
Chronicle Reporter
When Were You Born
1938
Reporter Davis (Gemini)
Out Where the Stars Begin
1938
Short
The Makeup Artist
Midnight Caller
1990
TV Series
Ambrose McGee
Knots Landing
1990
TV Series
Mr. Ahern
Murder, She Wrote
1987
TV Series
Sam Wilson
Simon & Simon
1983
TV Series
Perkins Oliphant
Forbidden Love
1982
TV Movie
Dr. Brinkley
Barnaby Jones
1973
TV Series
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
TV Series
Thomas Cleary
Ironside
1969
TV Series
Prof. Halstead
Tony Rome
1967
Adam Boyd
Theatre '62
1961
TV Series
The Spiral Staircase
1961
TV Movie
Doctor Parry
BUtterfield 8
1960
Bingham Smith
Play of the Week
1959
TV Series
George Wilson
The United States Steel Hour
1959
TV Series
David Carpenter
Lost Lagoon
1957
Charlie Walker
The Edge of Night
1956
TV Series
District Attorney Mike Karr (1971) (temporary replacement)
Appointment with Adventure
1956
TV Series
Justice
1955
TV Series
Robert Montgomery Presents
1953-1955
TV Series
Danger
1954
TV Series
Kraft Theatre
1954
TV Series
The Elgin Hour
1954
TV Series
Jackson
Doorway to Suspicion
1954
Paul Stapleton
Suspense
1949-1954
TV Series
Don Ashley / John Bantreagh
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Movieland Magic
1946
Short performer: "You're Lovely as You Are" - uncredited
It All Came True
1940
performer: "Angel in Disguise" 1940, "Londonderry Air", "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" 1912, "Sobre las olas Over the Waves" 1888, "The Gaucho Serenade" 1940, "Cuddle Up a Little Closer, Lovey Mine" 1908 - uncredited
Four Wives
1939
performer: "Symphonie Moderne" 1939 - uncredited
Out Where the Stars Begin
1938
Short performer: "You're Lovely as You Are" - uncredited
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Lost Lagoon
1957
additional dialogue
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
What's My Line?
1966
TV Series
Mystery Guest
The Wonderful World of Wash 'n' Wear
1958
Short
Himself - Host
Star Stage
1955-1956
TV Series
Himself - Host
Your Show of Shows
1952
TV Series
Himself - Guest Performer
Wonderful Town, U.S.A.
1951
TV Series
Himself
Penthouse Party
1951
TV Series
Himself
Breakdowns of 1942
1942
Short
Himself (uncredited)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies