Biography
American stage actor John Harvey (1917-1970), whose credits should not be confused with those of British actor also named John Harvey (1911-1982), came from the stage and made a brief, if unexceptional, name for himself in films toward the end of WWII. He was born John Harvey Johnson, Jr. in New Rockford, North Dakota, in 1917, the son of John Sr., a real estate man, and his wife Katherine. John Jr. began his career in radio as an announcer while his splendidly resonant voice eventually carried him into stage work.
Relocating to the West Coast to pursue a film career, John sought attention first on the L.A. legitimate stage with productions of "White Cargo" and "Getting Gertie's Garter". His lead in the former led to an arrest of him and his leading lady, Patricia Saunders, due to its offensive material and semi-nudity. The attention certainly didn't hurt him. Bro, but Broadway beckoned before any film/TV jobs came his way. He made his NY debut with "Johnny 2 X 4" in 1942, followed by "Kiss and Tell" which was produced and directed by George Abbott the next year. By this time he had met and fallen in love with actress Judy Parrish. In fact the two married each other just a few days before the March 17, 1943 opening of "Kiss and Tell" in which they co-starred together. The show was a hit and ran for two years. Their daughter, Johanna, was born in February of 1944.
The dark-haired, genially handsome actor, having developed heartthrob status with his role of Private Earhart on Broadway, once again gave films a try. Signed by 20th Century-Fox, he was given romantic co-starring status in the war-era films with Kay Francis in Four Jills in a Jeep (1944) and Betty Grable in Pin Up Girl (1944). For some reason, he felt uncomfortable before the camera and, despite his amiable good looks, his discomfort showed and he came off stiff and bland. Unsatisfied with himself on film, he asked for the release of his contract after filming The Spider (1945).
Returning to the first love, the stage, John and his wife enjoyed a strong run of the L.A. play "Petticoat Fever" before showing up again on Broadway in a brief run of "Open House" in 1947. They also gave on-camera work a try and appeared together on the West Coast in the early Dumont TV sitcom The Growing Paynes (1948) with John playing insurance salesman George Payne and Judith portraying his wife Laraine. They were eventually replaced before the series was canceled. John went on and attempted TV showcases as well, appearing in a number of live dramas including "The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre," "NBC Presents," "Kraft Theatre," "Robert Montgomery Presents".
By the early 1950s John had tired of his acting career and instead, along with his wife, opened up his own talent agency, United Talent, Inc. back in New York City. He also focused on union activity of SAG and AFTRA. He was elected to the national board of TvA (Television Authority), serving as its chairman, and in the 1960s became treasurer of Theatrical Artist Representatives, a group of agents affiliated with Actors Equity.John continued to work in New York City and died suddenly of a heart attack on Christmas Day in 1970.
