Vinton Hayworth

Vinton Hayworth (June 4, 1906 – May 21, 1970), also known as Jack Arnold and Vincent Haworth,[note 1] was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter who began in weaselly and milquetoast roles and aged into dignified character parts.[1] He appeared in over 90 films during his career, as well as on numerous television shows. He is most likely best known for his final role, that of General Winfield Schaeffer in the fourth and fifth seasons of the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. He is the uncle of Rita Hayworth, as well as being the uncle (by marriage) of Ginger Rogers.

Vinton Hayworth
Vinton as Jack Arnold with Donna Damerel as Marge Minter from the Myrt and Marge radio show, 1935
Born(1906-06-04)June 4, 1906
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedMay 21, 1970(1970-05-21) (aged 63)
Van Nuys, California, U.S.
Other namesJack Arnold
Vincent Haworth
OccupationActor, playwright, screenwriter
Years active1921–1970
Spouse(s)Jean Owens
RelativesVolga Hayworth (sister)
Eduardo Cansino, Sr. (brother-in-law)
Rita Hayworth (niece)
Ginger Rogers
(niece by marriage)
Phyllis Fraser (niece by marriage)

Career

Born in Washington, D.C., he began acting in his late teens. He was a pioneering radio announcer in the early 1920s, first in Washington, later in New York City, and then in Chicago.[1] Subsequently, he appeared on numerous radio programs in various roles. He played Fred Andrews on Archie Andrews,[2] was an announcer on Chaplain Jim,[2]:70–71 played Philip Roberts on It's Higgins, Sir,[2]:166 played Port on Lone Journey,[2]:204 played Alonzo Smith on Meet Me in St. Louis,[2]:223 and played Jack Arnold on Myrt and Marge.[2]:249

He entered movies in 1933, under the stage name Jack Arnold and made appearances in small roles, usually played comically good-natured, sneaky characters. However, he did occasionally have larger parts, such as the starring role in 1937's China Passage, billed as Vinton Haworth.[3] His appearances as Jack Arnold ended in the early 1940s and he did a two-year stint on Broadway from 1942 to 1944 before returning to California. He made appearances in film from the late 1950s onward.

Hayworth was also one of the founders of AFRA (later AFTRA), the union representing radio and television artists, of which he was also the president from 1951–54.

Hayworth began appearing on television in the 1950s. In 1953–1954, he was an announcer on The Buick-Berle Show on NBC.[4]

He appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Dennis the Menace (as Mr. Cramer in 1960 episode "Out of Retirement"), Petticoat Junction, Ripcord, Hazel (6 episodes), The Munsters, Green Acres (1965) and Dick Tracy (1967). He played Magistrado Carlos Galindo on Disney's Zorro (1957–1959). His final role was as General Winfield Schaeffer on I Dream of Jeannie between 1969 and 1970.[4]:490–491 Hayworth replaced Barton MacLane, who had played General Martin Peterson until his death in 1969. Coincidentally, both Hayworth and MacLane died before the final episodes in which they appeared had been broadcast.

Death

Hayworth died of a heart attack on May 21, 1970, shortly after completing his recurring role of General Winfield Schaeffer in I Dream of Jeannie.

Personal

Hayworth was married to actress Jean Owens (1905-1995) whose sister was Lela Emogene Owens (1891-1977), mother of actress Ginger Rogers. Another sister-in-law, Verda Virginia Clendenin (née Owens; formerly Brown Nichols) (1895-1958), was the mother of actress Phyllis Fraser. [5] Hayworth's elder sister was Volga Hayworth, mother of screen star Rita Hayworth, making Vinton Hayworth maternal uncle of Rita Hayworth and uncle by marriage of Ginger Rogers and Phyllis Fraser.[6]

Partial filmography

Notes
  1. Although some sources cite Vinton Hayworth's real surname as Haworth, the Haworth Association genealogy site includes an excerpt from the 1900 Census for Washington City, District of Columbia which clearly shows the surname as Hayworth. The genealogy site indicates that his great-grandfather changed the original name from Haworth to Hayworth.

References
  1. Biography, Answer.com
  2. Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924–1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  3. "China Passage: Abbreviated View". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  4. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 145–146. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. "Jean Hayworth". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. "TV's Vincent Hayworth Has Two Beauties Saying 'Uncle'". The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Texas). January 29, 1951. p. 6. Retrieved August 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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