Claude Jarman Jr. Dies at 90
Former child actor Claude Jarman Jr., who had an impressive career before retiring from acting in his early 20s, has died at the age of 90.
Jarman was discovered by director Clarence Brown, who cast him in THE YEARLING (1946). Jarman proved to be a talented, sensitive actor and received a special juvenile Oscar for his YEARLING performance.
Jarman made several more films before retiring from the big screen after appearing in Disney's THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE (1956) in his early 20s.
He worked in a couple TV shows later in his 20s but otherwise was offscreen until appearing as Earl Grebe in the TV miniseries CENTENNIAL (1979), his final acting role.
I was very fortunate to meet Jarman at the Lone Pine Film Festival in 2021 and 2022. In 2021 he attended festival screenings of RIO GRANDE (1950) and HANGMAN'S KNOT (1952), and in 2022 he introduced ROUGHSHOD (1949).
He's seen above in 2021 and below in 2022. Both photos were taken in the Lone Pine High School auditorium.
I especially appreciated Jarman's appearances in two favorite Westerns, the lesser-known ROUGHSHOD (1949)...
...and John Ford's classic RIO GRANDE (1950), where he played the son of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.
Jarman's work in RIO GRANDE included performing in the "Roman riding" sequence himself, along with Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr., rather than using a stunt double.
Jarman wrote a memoir, MY LIFE AND THE FINAL DAYS OF HOLLYWOOD, published by Covenant Books in 2018. I have a signed copy thanks to a kind friend.
Below, with Lloyd Nolan, Jeanette MacDonald, and Lassie in THE SUN COMES UP (1949).
Another great from the golden days of Hollywood has sadly passed from the scene, but his work will live on for as long as we watch "the movies."
He's seen above in THE OUTRIDERS with Joel McCrea and Arlene Dahl.
posted by Laura @ 10:35 AM
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