Brad Dexter

Infobox Person
name = Brad Dexter


image_size = 150px
caption = Brad Dexter in "99 River Street" (1953)
birth_name = Veljko Šošo
birth_date = birth date|1917|04|09
birth_place = Goldfield, Nevada, U.S.
death_date = death date and age|2002|12|12|1917|04|09
death_place = Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
death_cause = Emphysema
nationality = American
other_names = Barry Mitchell
known_for = "The Magnificent Seven"
occupation = Actor
spouse = June Dyer (1994 – 12 December 2002) (his death)
Mary Bogdanovich (27 January 1971 – 12 June 1994) (her death)
Peggy Lee (4 January 1953 – November 1953) (divorced)

Brad Dexter (Serbian: Бред Декстер, "Bred Dekster") (April 9, 1917 – December 12, 2002) was a Serbian-American actor, best known for his role as Harry Luck in "The Magnificent Seven".

Dexter was born Veljko Šošo ( _sr. Вељко Шошо) in Goldfield, Nevada of Serbian and Yugoslavian parentage. He spoke Serbian as his first language. Burly, dark and handsome, Brad Dexter was usually given supporting roles of a rugged character. Early in his acting career, he went by the name of Barry Mitchell.

After having a stint as an amateur boxer, Dexter attended the Pasadena Playhouse where he studied theatre. During World War II he enlisted for military service with the U.S. Army Air Corps and appeared in the Corps play and film "Winged Victory". His career in Hollywood spanned over four decades. Other films Dexter appeared in include "Last Train from Gun Hill", "Kings of the Sun", and "Johnny Cool".

Dexter's relationship with singer and actor Frank Sinatra began in 1964 when he saved him from drowning. On May 10, 1964, during production of the World War II film "None But the Brave" in Kaui, Hawaii, Sinatra and Ruth Koch, the wife of producer Howard Koch, were swimming at a beach when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned. Sinatra's co-star Dexter and two surfers swam out and rescued them. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. Sinatra and Dexter co-starred in a second film together "Von Ryan's Express" and Dexter subsequently produced "The Naked Runner" which starred Sinatra and was filmed in London. The two men clashed over Sinatra's unwillingess to finish the film and after it was completed, Dexter resigned. "I was the only guy who dropped Sinatra," Dexter said. "I couldn't put up with his nonsense."

Dexter helped produce "Skag" with fellow American-Serb actor Karl Malden.

He died in Rancho Mirage, California, from emphysema.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0223290/ Brad Dexter] at the Internet Movie Database.
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7232203 Brad Dexter's Gravesite]