Fred McMurray Dead at 83

[SoDesuKa]

Now that 16 years have passed, it's time to say that not all of Fred MacMurray's roles were warm and fuzzy. As Lt. Keefer, the role he played in The Caine Mutiny, MacMurray was not at all likeable. The best part was near the end of the film when José Ferrer threw a drink in his face. Curiously, José Ferrer also died at 83.



Fred MacMurray (left)

[Trajan]

1. ...

[arcadian]

2. Was he related to Tim Russert?

n't

[arcadian]

3. duplicate

n't

[cornermouse]

4. This is one that makes me sad.

I loved My Three Sons.

[orleans]

17. me too. i'd love to see those shows again

"Born in Kankakee, Illinois, MacMurray was raised in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin"
imdb
5 November 1991, Santa Monica, California, USA (pneumonia, pulmonary edema, Sepsis Syndrome, urinary tract infection, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0534045/

[HereSince1628]

24. After he was caught transiting a window in the girls dorm he was expelled

from Carroll College, WI. When he was retired the college tried to give him to recieve an honorary degree. He turned them down.

[orleans]

46. what is "transiting" ?

[hfojvt]

31. He should never be forgiven

for allowing the little girl character on the show. What was her name? Doty. That's it. My baby sister started walking around saying that she was Doty. It was so annoying I came very close to gouging out my eyeballs.

Curse you, Fred McMurray :argh:

[shanti]

38. yes, that was a staple

on our teevee when growing up.

[bluestateguy]

5. Let's see how many self-righteous people blast him as a "Bush/Neo-con enabler"

Here we go...

[Hokie]

6. Don't forget Double Indemnity

I thought that was one of his best roles. Barbara Stanwyk and Edward G. Robinson were great too.

[Jed Dilligan]

10. Hell yeah

Great flick!

[SpookyCat]

49. I completely forgot that was him!

He was so young. That's one of my favorite noir movies, and definitely his best role, IMHO.

Good run though, 83.

[XOKCowboy]

7. Darn another of my childhood icons is gone...

My Three Sons was one of my favorite shows growing up. He played a good dad.

[eleny]

8. In Double Indemnity he played another heavier role

RIP

[kevinmc]

9. All those old Disney Movies 8-) n/t

[Submariner]

13. Son of Flubber

:thumbsup:

[Hokie]

15. Professor Brainard in the Absent Minded Professor

and Son of Flubber

[Starbucks Anarchist]

11. He died in 1991.

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0534045/

[BuelahWitch]

23. Yeah, that's what I thought, he's been dead a long time

[kevinmc]

28. HAHAHA I just found that out ...... oh well 8-)

[Bunny]

12. Grave pisser!

How DARE you! The man's only been gone 16 years! He has a wife and kids and a family who is grieving and you can't wait to dance on his grave. Shame.

[begin_within]

14. He was also excellent in "The Apartment" (1960) as the boss cheating on his wife

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. Yep.

[AlCzervik]

18. yes he was, Fred made a good bad guy.

[PSPS]

21. An interesting tidbit about McMurray's role in "The Apartment"

Actually, most of McMurray's roles up to and including "The Apartment" were heavies or serious characters. But the negative reaction to his character in "The Apartment" was the tipping point and it was then that he decided to change the types of roles he played. So from that point forward, it was Disney and My Three Sons -- at which he also excelled. He was a very versatile actor with a very wide range.

And now, another tidbit -- this time about the theme to My Three Sons. I think Frank DeVol composed it. Anyway, it is a very tricky score with two seemingly dissimilar beats: the theme in normal 4/4 while "Chopsticks" is playing in 3/4. Quite a trick!

[begin_within]

42. Wow - thanks

[Aristus]

47. "Chopsticks also made a cameo appearance in the theme from "The Jetsons".

n/t

[Hokie]

19. He will be remembered when Timmie is forgotten....

Just had to say it.. :evilgrin:

[democrat2thecore]

37. They will *both* be remembered. -nt

[Tuesday Afternoon]

20. I am sorry to see this. May he rest in peace. May I offer my

condolences to his family.

[BuelahWitch]

22. Was Fred MacMurray obsessed with Bill Clinton's penis?

Did he beat the drums for war in Iraq? :shrug:
Please explain the reasoning for this thread...

[Faygo Kid]

25. Gen. Franco: Still dead. Like MacMurray. Except Fred was a great, underrated actor.

I think this post says it all, on the excellent Findagrave.com: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1560

Excerpt: ". . . He was searing in "Double Indemnity," brilliant in "The Caine Mutiny," and unforgettable in "The Apartment." He was so good as a heel, in fact, that his many fans who enjoyed him in so many Disney movies and the legendary television series "My Three Sons" simply would not accept that Fred MacMurray could ever play a "bad guy." . . ."

[MzNov]

26. R.I.P. Steve Douglas! n/t

[tabasco]

27. A really talented actor.

RIP

[Cleita]

29. Fred McMurray and his wife June Haver paid my tuition for my

first year of college until I could earn it myself. May he rest in peace. These were very nice people.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

32. What a great story!

It says that his Steve Douglas role was closer to the real Fred McMurray than the villains he portrayed.

[renate]

52. Omigosh!

It's so nice to hear when famous people turn out to be as nice as their publicity says they were. How sweet!

[kath]

30. How dare you! 16 years is not long enough.

Seventeen, now, *might* be okay, though. We'll have to take a poll. (and we'll have to be sure to invite all the morally-superior types, so that we can be sure we're behaving properly.)

[Hokie]

33. Think we will have a Tim Russert thread in 2024?

I think not.

[SoDesuKa]

40. I'll Start One

Don't be so sure nobody will post a Tim Russert thread 16 years from now. I'm punching it into my Date Minder as we speak. If we're both still alive in June 2024, look for the Tim Russert thread. I will probably be calling him a schmuck, which I can't do now out of respect for people who have bonded with his on-screen persona.

[napi21]

41. It depends on who replaces him on MTP. Remember, we are STILL

talking about how we want Cronkite and Morrow back and THEY'VE been off aire for a LOT MORE than 16 years!

[BuelahWitch]

34. Actors and journalists are not the same thing

Actors play roles, journalists do not.
I still don't understand the reasoning behind this thread, if it's comparing MacMurray's roles with Russert's toadying for Bushco. Does not compute...

[SoDesuKa]

39. Displacement Thread

This thread is for people who'd like to express their condolences for the fact that people die, but just can't bring themselves to mourn Tim Russert. Fred MacMurray came to mind because my grandfather loved him in My Three Sons and felt betrayed when he later saw him in Caine Mutiny. Pop was one of those people who couldn't separate actors from the roles they played on television. Soap opera performers run into such people all the time, and apparently we've got a few of them here.

As for your contention that television journalists aren't entertainers, you might get an argument about that. I remember Russert demanding to know when Hillary Clinton would apologize to the American people for saying that she didn't believe Bill was cheating on her. Some people considered Howard Cosell to be the most obnoxious person on television. For me it was Tim Russert, followed closely by David Broder and George Will.

- Oh. I just realized. I blurted out something I shouldn't have said.

[BuelahWitch]

44. Ok, thanks for the explanation

Always liked Fred myself...:hi:

[JackRiddler]

53. Talking heads are performers, albeit not very entertaining.

[democrat2thecore]

35. Follow Me Boys, Follow Me!! ---- A GREAT actor...die in 1991 -nt

[rurallib]

36. Ever see "Murder, He Says"? One of the funniest shows ever

IMHO.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037931/

[catchnrelease]

48. That was a great one!!

Also, The Egg and I with Claudette Colbert.

[no_hypocrisy]

43. The Happiest Millionaire

Anthony J. Drexel Biddle

[pleah]

45. His first great role was Double Indemnity with Barbara Stanwick!

Sorry he is gone.:(

[Skittles]

50. I always thought my English grandfather looked like Fred

[cwydro]

51. I'm still laughing

at how many people have posted to this thread thinking the guy just died.:rofl:

Do folks just not read the entire post or what?