John Agar
John Agar (1921–2002) was the son of a Chicago meatpacker. In 1945, he met Shirley Temple, the former child star who was one of the most famous young actresses in Hollywood. The 25-year-old Agar and the 17-year-old Temple were married that year.
In 1946, he was signed to a six-year movie contract by producer David O. Selznick. He made his screen debut in 1948 (opposite Temple) in John Ford's cavalry drama Fort Apache starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. His work in that movie led to a larger role in Ford's She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, also starring Wayne. John Wayne took a liking to the younger actor, and arranged for him to have a major role in The Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), which was one of the most popular war movies of its era.
In 1950, Temple divorced Agar and his career slowed considerably. In 1955, Agar starred in Revenge of the Creature, directed by Jack Arnold. This was the first sequel to The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and it was nearly as successful as its predecessor. Agar's career was revitalized and he was cast as the lead in Arnold's next science-fiction film, Tarantula. He left Universal Studios when the studio refused to give him roles in a wider range of movies. This strategy was not successful for him, and he appeared almost entirely in science fiction and western movies for the next decade.
His career eventually moved into the realm of supporting and character parts, including a small but key role in Roger Corman's first big-budget studio film The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. He returned to working with John Wayne in three Westerns: The Undefeated, Chisum, and Big Jake. He had a role in the 1976 remake of King Kong, but he primarily supported himself by selling insurance. In the late 1970s, he agreed to let his name be used by the Arkansas theme park Dinosaur World, which was then renamed as John Agar's Land of Kong (featuring a 40-foot tall statue of King Kong).
In the 1990s, Agar was rediscovered by directors including John Carpenter, who began using him in their movies and television productions, and he worked onscreen in small roles into the 21st century.[1] Agar eventually appeared in the 2005 film The Naked Monster alongside several other former B-Movie actors, including Paul Marco.
Agar's marriage to Shirley Temple lasted five years and they had one daughter together. Following his divorce from Temple, Agar was married in 1951 to model Loretta Barnett Combs (1922-2000). They remained married until her death. They had two sons, Martin Agar and John G. Agar III.
Agar died on April 7, 2002, in Burbank, California, of complications from emphysema. He was buried beside his wife at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.[2]
Notes[]
- John Agar starred in Zontar: The Thing from Venus, a made-for-TV remake of It Conquered the World that was first broadcast in 1967. Agar played the Peter Graves role.
Riffed Movies[]
- Women of the Prehistoric Planet (Episode #104) - as Doc Farrell
- Revenge of the Creature (Episode #801) - as Dr. Clete Ferguson
- The Mole People (Episode #803) - as Dr. Roger Bentley
- Attack of the Puppet People (RiffTrax) - as Bob Westley
- The Brain from Planet Arous (The Mads Are Back and RiffTrax) - as Steve March
- Invisible Invaders (Movie Jo Night) - as Major Bruce Jay
Gallery[]
Filmography[]
1995 Words From Jerusalem
1993 Body Bags
1992 Invasion of Privacy
1991 The Perfect Bride
1990 Nightbreed
1990 Fear
1989 Miracle Mile
1987 Perfect Victims
1984 Highway to Heaven: "The Return of the Masked Rider"
1976 King Kong
1976 Charlie's Angels: "Target: Angels"
1975 The Amazing Mr. No-Legs
1971 Big Jake
1970 Chisum
1969 The Undefeated
1968 Night Fright
1967 The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
1966 Zontar, the Thing from Venus
1966 Johnny Reno
1966 Women of the Prehistoric Planet
1966 Waco
1966 Curse of the Swamp Creature
1965 Young Fury
1965 Branded: $10,000 for Durango
1965 Hell Raiders
1964 Law of the Lawless
1964 Stage to Thunder Rock
1963 Of Love and Desire
1963 Cavalleria Commandos
1963 The Young and the Brave
1962 Hand of Death
1962 Journey to the 7th Planet
1961 Lisette
1960 Raymie
1959 Invisible Invaders
1958 Attack of the Puppet People
1958 Frontier Gun
1958 Jet Attack / Paratroop Command
1957 Ride a Violent Mile
1957 Flesh and the Spur
1957 Daughter of Dr. Jekyll
1957 Joe Butterfly
1957 Flesh and the Spur
1957 The Brain from Planet Arous
1956 The Mole People
1956 Star in the Dust
1955 Tarantula
1955 Hold Back Tomorrow
1955 Revenge of the Creature
1955 The Lonesome Trail
1954 The Golden Mistress
1954 Shield for Murder
1954 Bait
1954 The Rocket Man
1953 Man of Conflict
1952 Woman of the North Country
1951 Along the Great Divide
1951 The Magic Carpet
1950 Breakthrough
1949 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
1949 Adventure in Baltimore
1949 Sands of Iwo Jima
1949 I Married a Communist
1948 Fort Apache[3]