John Garfield

From Grokipedia

John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkel; March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American stage and film actor of Jewish descent, born to Russian immigrant parents on New York City's Lower East Side, who rose from poverty and a childhood stutter to embody brooding, resilient everyman characters in gritty dramas. A product of the experimental Group Theatre, Garfield transitioned to Hollywood in the late 1930s, earning consecutive Academy Award nominations for his debut in Four Daughters (Best Supporting Actor, 1939) and his lead role as a boxer in Body and Soul (Best Actor, 1948), while starring in seminal film noirs and social dramas such as The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946), Force of Evil (1948), and Gentleman's Agreement (1947). His career abruptly halted in 1951 amid the Red Scare, when, despite testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee and denying Communist Party membership, his reluctance to identify associates—amid prior affiliations with left-leaning causes—resulted in effective blacklisting by major studios, financial ruin, marital strain, and a fatal heart attack at age 39, exacerbated by preexisting cardiac issues and acute stress.

In brief

John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle; March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of the Group Theatre.

In 1937, he moved to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of Warner Bros.' stars. He received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Four Daughters (1938) and Body and Soul (1947). Called to testify before the U.S.