Chandler, Jeff, CPT

Actor, Singer. Although his career was cut short by his tragic death at a young age, Jeff Chandler was a prolific actor hitting his stride in the 1950s becoming a star making westerns and action pictures. He was born in Brooklyn as Ira Grossel and attended Erasmus High School a school that produced many stage and film personalities. His childhood friend and the neighbor next door was Susan Hayward. She appeared in an elementary school production of 'Cinderella in Flowerland' with Ira while in elementary school. He took a drama courses and worked in stock companies to sharpen his skills. World War II found him serving in the military as an officer. In the postwar, he acted in radio dramas and comedies and was the voice portraying the character Professor Boynton on the 1940 radio series 'Our Miss Brooks.' He was signed by Universal to a contract making his screen debut in 'Johnny O'clock' appearing for the first time as Jeff Chandler. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Cochise in 'Broken Arrow' and in a follow-up he made two sequels 'The Battle of Apache Pass' and 'Taza, Son of Cochise.' Some of his other pictures - 'Away All Boats,' 'Toy Tiger,' 'Drango,' 'The Tattered Dress,' 'Man in the Shadow,' 'Foxfire,' 'A Stranger in My Arms' and 'Thunder in the Sun.' where he would again meet Susan Hayward as she starred beside him. He had a concurrent career - possessed with a fine singing voice, he recorded several successful albums for Liberty Records, wrote music, played violin and owned Chandler Music, a publishing company. He died at age 42 shortly after completing his role in 'Merrill's Marauders,' where he injured his back. Needing surgery for a herniated spinal disc, Jeff entered Culver City Memorial Hospital. There were severe complications, an artery was damaged resulting in hemorrhaging. Additional surgery over and above the original resulted in death. A Jewish funeral was conducted in the Chapel at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City with Tony Curtis a pallbearer and entombment followed in the Hall of Graciousness Mausoleum. Prologue: His botched surgery resulted in a malpractice lawsuit and a large settlement was paid to his two children. Ironically, both daughters Jamie and Dana died of cancer a year apart from each other. The hospital where Jeff Chandler died received such bad publicity that area residents began referring to it negatively as the Jeff Chandler Hospital and they soon changed their name. (bio by: Donald Greyfield)

Source: findagrave.com