Joel McCrea
Joel Albert McCrea, (November 5, 1905 - October 20, 1990) was a US film actor.
Born in South Pasadena, California, McCrea became interested in films after graduating from the University of Southern California. He worked as an extra in films from 1927 before being cast in a major role in The Jazz Age (1929). A contract with MGM Studios followed, and then another contract with RKO Studios. He established himself as a leading man who was considered versatile enough to star in both drama and comedy. In the early 1940s he reached the peak of this stage of his career in such films as Alfred Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent (1940), Preston Sturges' Sullivan's Travels (1941) and The Palm Beach Story (1942).
From the mid 1940s he appeared predominantly in westerns and became one of the most highly regarded actors of this genre. He costarred with fellow veteran western star Randolph Scott in Ride the High Country (1962) but only appeared in a few more films after this, as he preferred to live the remainder of his life as a rancher.
He was married to the actress Frances Dee from 1933 until his death at Woodland Hills, California from pneumonia.
Joel McCrea has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard.
