Before Hollywood had sound, George O’Brien was one of the most popular silent film actors of his time. Handsome, athletic, and charismatic, he rose to the top of the silent screen movie stars with John Ford’s The Iron Horse, a landmark film that made him a household name. At a time when audiences filled theaters to watch their favorite silent film stars male and female, O’Brien stood out as one of the most famous silent movie stars in America.
But O’Brien’s life was never defined by fame alone. He had already served his country in World War I, and when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941, he did not hesitate. By then in his forties, with a thriving career and a family, he left the spotlight behind and put on a Navy uniform once again. Unlike many silent movie film stars who clung to celebrity, O’Brien traded the red carpet for the dangers of war.
For O’Brien, patriotism mattered more than celebrity. While many silent movie film stars are remembered for their glamour, his story reminds us that some chose duty over the spotlight. By the time his career ended, he had appeared in 85 films and served in three wars, living a life that bridged two very different worlds. As part of our Hollywood Goes to War series, Roger McGrath shares the tale.
PHOTO: George O'Brien in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)]