Biography
Born in Young America, MN, a town of 230 people, his family later moved to Saint Paul, MN. In the early 1930s, John worked as an usher at the Twin's Theater in West St. Paul. In early 1937, he helped a man drive to California with the aim of working in Hollywood. Armed with a letter of introduction from his job, he visited MGM Studios. While having lunch in the commissary, he saw Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Greta Garbo, Louise Rainer, Robert Taylor, and the Barrymore family. Overwhelmed, he decided he wanted to work there. He began as a busboy and was soon promoted to tray service for the stars. It was then he realized he wanted to work with actors as a make-up artist. Progress was slow until one day, during his rounds, he asked Norma Shearer for assistance. She agreed, and from that moment, his career took off. He apprenticed under Jack Dawn and later worked for William Tuttle. In 1940, he was the first at MGM to volunteer for selective service and served as a medical attendant. In January 1946, he returned to complete his apprenticeship. He contributed to nearly all the major musicals, numerous films, and worked with almost every MGM actor. Later in his career, he worked on several TV shows, including Combat and Medical Center. He passed away on May 19, 1981, after suffering a series of heart attacks.
