Sterling Hayden

Actor

About

Also Known As

John Hamilton, Stirling Hayden, Sterling Relyea Walter

Birth Place

Montclair, New Jersey, USA

Born

March 26, 1916

Died

May 23, 1986

Cause of Death

Prostate Cancer

Biography

Filmography

Leuchtturm des Chaos (1982)

Photos & Videos

View All

Dr. Strangelove (1964) -- (Movie Clip) It Is My Clear Duty

Dr. Strangelove - (Original Trailer)

Family & Companions

Madeleine Carroll

Wife

Actor. Married in 1942; divorced in 1946.

Betty de Noon

Wife

Was married and divorced three times between 1947 and 1958; mother of four of Hayden's children.

Catherine Devine McConnell

Wife

Married from 1960 until his death: mother of Hayden's two younger children.

Bibliography

"Voyage"

Sterling Hayden (1976)

"Wanderer"

Sterling Hayden (1966)

Notes

Hayden was reportedly offered the role of Quint, the sea captain, in "Jaws" but had to decline the role because of a problem with the IRS.

Biography

A handsome, virile star of the late 1940s and 50s, Sterling Hayden spent several years at sea before signing with Paramount in 1940, appearing in two films with future wife Madeleine Carroll. Variously touted by the studio publicity machine as "The Most Beautiful Man in Movies" or "The Beautiful Blond Viking God," the actor broke his contract in 1941 to join the Marines. During WWII, he assisted the Yugoslavian partisans fight against the Germans and briefly joined the Communist Party in 1946 (resigning after six months) before resuming his acting career the following year. Shortly after his superb performance in "The Asphalt Jungle" (1950), Hayden was gray-listed and was unable to work in Hollywood for six months. He then privately called on the FBI to make a statement concerning his former Communist affiliations, but was subpoenaed by HUAC in 1951 and obliged to testify in public, naming his fellow believers. Hayden was then allowed to continue working, though he expressed his guilt over having "named names" in his 1966 autobiography, "Wanderer." Ironically, in Stanley Kubrick's classic comedy "Dr. Strangelove" (1963), Hayden played the deranged General Jack D. Ripper, whose over-zealous desire to stop the "communist threat" sets World War III in motion. Among his other memorable roles were the corrupt police captain in "The Godfather" (1972) and the chairman of the board in the comedy "9 to 5" (1980). He rounded out his career portraying John Brown in the CBS Civil War miniseries "The Blue and the Gray" (1982).

Filmography

Life Events

1940

Signed to a film contract by Paramount Pictures; billed as "The Most Beautiful Man in Movies"

1941

Film acting debut in "Virginia"

1941

Left performing to join the Marines; used pseudonym John Hamilton

1947

Returned to film acting in "Variety Girl" and "Blaze of Noon"

1950

Co-starred in "The Asphalt Jungle"

1954

Acted in "Johnny Guitar"

1956

Co-starred in "The Killing"

1960

Played title role in CBS adaptation of "Ethan Frome"

1964

Cast by Stanley Kubrick as General Ripper in "Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

1972

Portrayed the brutal, corrupt police captain in "The Godfather"

1973

Appeared in "The Long Goodbye"

1976

Co-starred in "1900"

1978

Had featured role as one of the monarchs in "King of the Gypsies"

1980

Played the chairman of the board in a cameo appearance in "9 to 5"

1982

Final film, "Venom"

1982

Last TV acting role as John Brown in the Civil War drama "The Blue and the Gray"

Photo Collections

Terror in a Texas Town - Movie Poster

Johnny Guitar - Movie Posters

Here are a few original-release movie posters from Johnny Guitar (1954), starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden and directed by Nicholas Ray.

Zero Hour! - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Paramount's Zero Hour! (1957), starring Dana Andrews, Linda Darnell, and Sterling Hayden. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

The Asphalt Jungle - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are a few photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of The Asphalt Jungle, featuring director John Huston.

Suddenly - Movie Posters

Here are a few original release American movie posters from Suddenly (1954), starring Frank Sinatra.

5 Steps to Danger - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for 5 Steps to Danger (1957), starring Sterling Hayden and Ruth Roman. One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.

Battle Taxi - Title Lobby Card

Here is the Title Lobby Card from Battle Taxi (1955), starring Sterling Hayden. Lobby Cards were 11" x 14" posters that came in sets of 8. As the name implies, they were most often displayed in movie theater lobbies, to advertise current or coming attractions.

The Iron Sheriff - Movie Poster

Here is a Half-Sheet movie poster from The Iron Sheriff (1957), starring Sterling Hayden and Constance Ford.

The Killing - Movie Poster

Here is the American one-sheet movie poster for Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956). One-sheets measured 27x41 inches, and were the poster style most commonly used in theaters.