Victor Mature

Victor Mature (born in Louisville, Kentucky; 29 January 1915–4 August 1999) was an American film actor. He is often described as an early examplar of the term ' due to his muscular physique and stolid onscreen manner. But unlike any of his contemporaries and his many successors, Mature always brought a sense of fragility, doubt and uncertainty to his characters. His Samson in Samson and Delilah is no doubt his best known role; not because of the beefcake, but for the pathos he brings to the blinded hero.

Related Topics:
Louisville, Kentucky - 29 January - 1915 - 4 August - 1999 - American - Film - Actor - Muscular - Samson and Delilah

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Discovered while on stage at the Pasadena Community Playhouse, his first leading role was as a fur-clad caveman in One Million B.C. (1940), after which he joined 20th Century Fox to star opposite actresses such as Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth. However, with the US entry into World War II, Mature entered military service.

Related Topics:
Pasadena Community Playhouse - Caveman - One Million B.C. - 1940 - 20th Century Fox - Betty Grable - Rita Hayworth - World War II - Military

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After the war, Mature was cast by John Ford in My Darling Clementine, playing Doc Holliday opposite Henry Fonda's Wyatt Earp. For the next decade, Mature settled into playing hard-boiled characters in a range of genres such as westerns and Biblical films, such as The Robe (with Richard Burton and Jean Simmons) and its popular sequel, Demetrius and the Gladiators (with Susan Hayward). Both films deal with the fate of the robe worn by Jesus before the crucifixion. Victor also starred with Hedy Lamarr in Cecil B. Demille's Bible epic, Samson and Delilah.

Related Topics:
War - John Ford - My Darling Clementine - Doc Holliday - Henry Fonda - Wyatt Earp - Westerns - Biblical - The Robe - Richard Burton - Jean Simmons - Demetrius and the Gladiators - Susan Hayward - Jesus - Crucifixion - Hedy Lamarr - Cecil B. Demille - Epic - Samson and Delilah

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Mature was under no illusions as to his acting prowess. Once, after being rejected for membership in a country club because he was an actor, he cracked, "I'm not an actor - and I've got 67 films to prove it!"

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Victor Mature died of leukemia on 4 August 1999, at the age of 84. He was once incorrectly listed as dead in a film book.

Related Topics:
Leukemia - 4 August - 1999 - Incorrectly listed as dead

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