Herbert Alonzo "Lon" McCallister Jr. (April 17, 1923 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor. According to one obituary, he was best known for "playing gentle, boyish young men from the country."Obituaries: LON MCCALLISTER Anonymous. Variety; Los Angeles Vol. 399, Iss. 5, (Jun 20 – 26, 2005): 44. Another said he "had an ingenuous appeal that made him a favourite of family audiences, and was particularly at home in outdoor settings featuring dogs and horses. Ultimately his perennial boyishness and slight stature became a handicap for more mature roles."OBITUARY: LON MCCALLISTER; Actor of perennial boyishness: [First Edition] Vallance, Tom. The Independent July 1, 2005: 47.

Early life Born in Los Angeles, Lon McCallister was the son of a real estate broker. He attended Marken Professional School, which trained children for show-business careers and began appearing in movies at the age of 13. He had uncredited appearances in Let's Sing Again (1936) and Romeo and Juliet (1936), directed by George Cukor who, gave McAllister a large close up, and became a friend.

Career He was uncredited in Stella Dallas (1937), Souls at Sea (1937), Make a Wish (1937), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Judge Hardy's Children (1938), Lord Jeff (1938), That Certain Age (1938), Little Tough Guys in Society (1939), The Spirit of Culver (1939), Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939), Babes in Arms (1939), First Love (1939), and Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (1939).Lon McCallister, 82, Hollywood Actor of the 40s: [Obituary (Obit)] New York Times June 22, 2005: 17.

McCallister could also be glimpsed in Susan and God (1940), Henry Aldrich for President (1941), Dangerously They Live (1941), Always in My Heart (1942), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), Spy Ship (1942), Night in New Orleans (1942), That Other Woman (1942), Gentleman Jim (1942), Quiet Please: Murder (1942), Over My Dead Body (1942), The Hard Way (1943), and The Meanest Man in the World (1943). Columnist Hedda Hopper called him "the cutest boy the movies have hauled up out of obscurity since Mickey Rooney."

Stardom

At 20, he appeared in the World War II morale booster Stage Door Canteen, where he played a star struck serviceman with theater actress and producer Katharine Cornell. The Los Angeles Times said he stole the film with "his bashful smile and winning ways".DRAMA AND FILM: McCrea to Act Doctor Role in Field Story Laughton Will join Cast of 'Dragon Seed;' Lon McCallister Set for Film at 20th Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times August 10, 1943: 11.

McCallister leapt to fame playing the lead as Sparke in the horse-racing tale Home in Indiana (1944), also starring Walter Brennan and Jeanne Crain. This led to a contract with 20th Century Fox. He followed it with Winged Victory (1944) but then his career momentum was interrupted by war service.

Growing only to 5'6" he found it difficult to find roles as an adult. He appeared with Edward G. Robinson in 1947's The Red House and had the star role in Thunder in the Valley (1947), and supported June Haver in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).

McCallister had the lead in another animal story The Big Cat (1949) and co-starred with Shirley Temple in The Story of Seabiscuit (1949). He was in The Boy from Indiana (1950).

Television McCallister began appearing on TV in episodes of Suspense ("Lunch Box", "Collector's Item"), and Lux Video Theatre ("Down Bayou DuBac").

He had the lead in Sam Katzman's A Yank in Korea (1951) and a Western, Montana Territory (1952).Drama: Bruce Bennett Obtains Scientific Subject; Lon McCallister Gets Break Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times September 20, 1951: A9. However he was mostly seen in TV: Tales of Tomorrow ("Verdict from Space"), "The Last Man on Earth", ("Enemy Unknown"), The Ford Television Theatre ("My Daughter's Husband"), Schlitz Playhouse ("Operation Riviera"), and Footlights Theater ("My Daughter's Husband"). His last feature film was Combat Squad (1953).

McCallister and William Eythe were producers of the stage musical revue Lend an Ear, which began at Los Angeles' Las Palmas Theater and launched Carol Channing's career.

Post-acting career In 1953, at the age of 30, McCallister retired from acting. Later, he became a successful real estate manager, wealthy from his investments.

After retirement, he still appeared in two television series, as Coley Wilks in the 1961 episode "The Hostage" of the ABC western series, The Rebel, starring Nick Adams; and as Willie in the 1963 episode "Triple Indemnity" of the CBS sitcom, The New Phil Silvers Show. In 1963 he said, "I'm happy. I'm doing what I want".Lon's Back as Silvers' Guest Star Chicago Tribune November 10, 1963: w13.

In a 1992 interview, McCallister said, "Being a movie star was great, but I never considered doing it for a lifetime. I wanted to be myself, to go where I pleased without causing a traffic jam. I've succeeded in this, and I'm happy".LON McCALLISTER, 82 The Globe and Mail July 1, 2005: S.7.

Personal life McCallister was a long time romantic partner of fellow actor William Eythe, up until Eythe's death in 1957. He died from congestive heart failure at the age of 82.Obituary: Lon McCallister: Child and teen actor: 'the cutest boy the movies hauled up out of obscurity' Bergan, Ronald. The Guardian July 9, 2005: 21.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1936 Let's Sing Again Orphan Uncredited Romeo and Juliet Minor Role Uncredited 1937 Stella Dallas Boy Uncredited Souls at Sea Cabin Boy Uncredited Make a Wish Summer Camp Kid Uncredited 1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Schoolboy Uncredited Judge Hardy's Children Uncredited Lord Jeff Uncredited That Certain Age Billy Uncredited Little Tough Guys in Society Uncredited 1939 The Spirit of Culver Cadet Uncredited Confessions of a Nazi Spy Uncredited Babes in Arms Boy Uncredited First Love Boy at School Uncredited Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President Johnny Uncredited1940 Susan and God Party Guest Uncredited 1941 Henry Aldrich for President Student Uncredited Dangerously They Live Newsboy Uncredited 1942 Always in My Heart Boy Uncredited Yankee Doodle Dandy Call Boy Uncredited Spy Ship Telegram Messenger Boy Uncredited Night in New Orleans Boy in Car Uncredited That Other Woman George Borden Gentleman Jim Page Boy Uncredited Quiet Please, Murder Freddie, the Stack Boy Uncredited Over My Dead Body Jimmie 1943 The Hard Way Bud – Call Boy in Montage Uncredited The Meanest Man in the World Bellboy Uncredited Stage Door Canteen California Jack Gilman 1944 Home in Indiana 'Sparke' Thornton Winged Victory Francis William 'Frankie' Davis 1947 The Red House Nath Storm Thunder in the Valley David MacAdam 1948 Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! Daniel 'Snug' Dominy 1949 The Big Cat Danny Turner The Story of Seabiscuit Ted Knowles 1950 The Boy from Indiana Lon Decker 1951 A Yank in Korea Andy Smith 1952 Montana Territory John Malvin 1953 Combat Squad Martin

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