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John Kerr

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Actor

The Resume

    (November 15, 1931-February 2, 2013)
    Born in New York City, New York
    Birth name is John Grinham Kerr
    Acted in 'The Cobweb,' 'Tea and Sympathy,' 'Gaby,' 'South Pacific,' and 'Pit and Pendulum'
    Acted in stage versions of 'Bernadine' and 'Tea and Sympathy'
    Had a recurring role on the 'Peyton Place' TV Series

Why he might be annoying:

    He was divorced.
    Many are led to believe that he is Deborah Kerr's son because of his name, but he isn't.
    That he and Deborah co-starred in 'Tea and Sympathy' and starred separately in Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals has done little to downplay the notion.
    He turned down the Anthony Perkinsrole in 'Friendly Persuasion' to do 'Gaby' on the advice of his agent, who asked him if he 'wanted to be a leading man or a boy in pictures' (how'd that work out for ya).
    His signature role was in the musical, 'South Pacific,' in which his singing was dubbed.
    His dubbing was comical, as the snarling baritone voice of Bill Lee bore little resemblance Kerr's nasal, boy-like voice (Lee received no screen credit for the dubbing).
    'South Pacific' turned out to be a notorious flop, doing nothing to boost his career as a result.
    His career nose dived by the sixties, relegating him to television appearances.
    Fifty years later, women and gays still swoon over his half-naked shirtless scenes in 'South Pacific.'
    He failed to make traction as a Hollywood director.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His portrayal of Tom, a closeted homosexual, in 'Tea and Sympathy' was light years ahead of its time.
    He was good friends with James Dean and worked with him in one of his earliest appearances, in an episode of 'You Are There.'
    He won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor (Dramatic) for 'Tea and Sympathy' in 1954.
    He turned down the lead role of Charles Lindbergh in 'The Spirit of St. Louis' because he disapproved of Lindbergh's early support of the Nazis.
    He was a good sport about being replaced by Anthony Perkins in the road production of 'Tea and Sympathy' (he personally recommended Perkins).
    Ironically, he would share a 'Most Promising Newcomer' Golden Globe with Perkins in 1957.
    He expressed guilt in an interview over witnessing the abuse of a black student in his college dorm and doing nothing about it.
    He met his first wife while attending Harvard University.
    HIs romantic pairing with the Vietnamese Frances Nuyen in 'South Pacific' angered conservative segregationists.
    He managed to parlay his film career into a successful career practicing law.
    He is remembered fondly by Horror film enthusiasts as the Vincent Price's torture victim in Roger Corman's camp classic, 'The Pit and the Pendulum' (at the height of his elebrate 'Poe films' of the 60s).
    He was raised by a single mother with a frequently absent father.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 19 Votes: 21.05% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying