![]() ![]() These films also proved to be a hit with audiences. Warner decided to promote him to star status, teaming him with Natalie Wood in two films, a Western, The Burning Hills (1956), directed by Heisler, and The Girl He Left Behind (1956), a service comedy. Hunter, James Dean, and Natalie Wood were the last actors to be placed under an exclusive studio contract at Warner Bros. A few months later, he was named Most Promising New Personality in a nationwide poll sponsored by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. The report had no negative effect on Hunter's career. The innuendo-laced article, and a second one focusing on Rory Calhoun's prison record, were the result of a deal Henry Willson had brokered with the scandal rag in exchange for not revealing to the public the sexual orientation of his more prominent client, Rock Hudson. In September 1955, the tabloid magazine Confidential reported that Hunter had been arrested for disorderly conduct in 1950. It was based on a bestseller by Leon Uris and became Warner Bros.' largest grossing film that year, cementing Hunter's position as one of Hollywood's top young romantic leads. His character has an affair with an older woman, but ends up marrying the girl next door. His breakthrough role came when he was cast as the young Marine Danny in 1955's World War II drama Battle Cry, which was the year's third most financially successful film. It was a solid hit and Hunter began to get more notice. Wellman, who cast Hunter to play the younger brother of Robert Mitchum in Track of the Cat (1954). It was a big hit, but Hunter's part was relatively small. was The Sea Chase (1955), supporting John Wayne and Lana Turner. One of Hunter's first films for Warner Bros. Hunter with Natalie Wood at the 28th Academy Awards in 1956 Hunter was then offered, and accepted, a contract at Warner Bros. He began acting on stage, appearing in a production of Our Town. Small used him again for a war film, The Steel Lady (1953), supporting Rod Cameron, and as the lead in an adventure tale, Return to Treasure Island (1954). Hunter supported George Montgomery in Gun Belt (1953), a Western produced by Edward Small. The film, essentially a two-hander between Hunter and Darnell, was a hit. Hunter was a friend of character actor Paul Guilfoyle, who suggested him to director Stuart Heisler Heisler was looking for an unknown to play the lead in Island of Desire (1952) opposite Linda Darnell. ![]() Hunter's first film role was a minor part in a film noir, The Lawless (1950). It was Willson who named him "Tab Hunter". Career 1950s ĭick Clayton introduced Gelien to agent Henry Willson, who specialized in representing beefcake male stars such as Robert Wagner and Rock Hudson. Gelien met actor Dick Clayton socially Clayton suggested that he become an actor. When his superiors discovered his true age, they discharged him. While in the Coast Guard, he gained the nickname " Hollywood" for his penchant for watching movies rather than going to bars while on liberty. Gelien joined the United States Coast Guard at age fifteen, lying about his age to enlist. Gelien was sent to Catholic school by his religious mother. As a teenager, Arthur Gelien (as he was then known) was a figure skater, competing in both singles and pairs. His mother re-assumed her maiden surname, Gelien, and changed her sons' surnames as well. He was raised in California, living with his mother, his brother, and his maternal grandparents, John Henry and Ida (née Sonnenfleth) Gelien the family resided in San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles. Kelm's father was reportedly abusive, and within a few years of his birth, his parents divorced. Kelm's father was Jewish, and his mother was a Catholic German immigrant from Hamburg. Hunter's 2005 autobiography, Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star, was a New York Times bestseller.Īrthur Andrew Kelm was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of Gertrude ( née Gelien) and Charles Kelm. Hunter also had a music career in the late 1950s in 1957, he released a number one hit single " Young Love". Hunter's film credits include Battle Cry (1955), The Girl He Left Behind (1956), Gunman's Walk (1958), and Damn Yankees (1958). He was a Hollywood heartthrob of the 1950s and 1960s appearing on the covers of hundreds of film magazines. Known for his blond, clean-cut good looks, Hunter starred in more than forty films. ![]() Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm J– July 8, 2018) was an American actor, singer, film producer, and author. ![]()
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