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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Louisville, Kentucky: Louisville, Kentucky...

29 January: REDIRECT January 29...

1915: 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar)....

Victor Mature related Images and Photos (experimental)

Easy Living Victor Mature Lizabeth Scott Lucille Ball Sonny Tufts Lloyd Noaln 1949	Song of the Islands Victor Mature Betty Grable Jack Oakie 1942	Footlight Serenade John Payne Betty Grable Victor Mature on Window Card 1942	Betrayed Lana Turner Clark Gable Victor Mature 1954
Cinemascope Screen with Image of Actor Victor Mature as Demetrius in Calvary Scene from "The Robe"	Footlight Serenade John Payne Betty Grable Victor Mature 1942	Demetrius and the Gladiators Susan Hayward Victor Mature 1954	Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo	Victor Bicycles	Victor Hugo's Funeral	Raising Victor Vargas