Who Is John Garfield? Age, Biography, and Wiki
As of 2025, John Garfield would be turning 112 years old. Born in New York City, Garfield's real name was Jacob Julius Garfinkle. He grew up in a working-class family and endured many hardships, which later influenced the authenticity and depth he brought to his performances. Garfield is best known for his roles in films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and Body and Soul (1947). His work earned him critical acclaim and solidified his status as one of the major actors of his time.
| Occupation | Stage Actor |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 4, 1913 |
| Age | 39 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 21 May, 1952 |
| Died Place | New York City, U.S. |
Popularity
John Garfield's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
John Garfield was known for his striking presence on screen. He stood at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall and maintained a well-proportioned physique. Though specific weight details may vary throughout his life, he was generally considered athletic and fit, reflecting the physical intensity required for many of his roles.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
John Garfield's personal life was as complex as his illustrious career. He was married to actress Robyn Miller from 1935 until his death in 1952, and the couple had two children together. While he was deeply committed to his family, Garfield was known to have had several high-profile romantic relationships in Hollywood. His strong camaraderie with fellow actors and actresses often sparked dating rumors, but he remained primarily devoted to his wife.
In early infancy, a middle name—Julius—was added, and for the rest of his life those who knew him well called him Julie. His father, a clothes presser and part-time cantor, struggled to make a living and to provide even marginal comfort for his small family.
Their mother never fully recovered from what was described as a "difficult" pregnancy and birth. She died two years later, and the young boys were sent to live with various relatives, all poor, scattered across the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx.
Several of these relatives lived in tenements in a section of East Brooklyn called Brownsville, and there, Garfield lived in one house and slept in another. At school, he was judged a poor reader and speller, deficits that were aggravated by irregular attendance.
He would later say of his time on the streets there, that he learned "all the meanness, all the toughness it's possible for kids to acquire."
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing, John Garfield's net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, a significant amount for the early 1950s. While specific figures about his salary per film vary, his earnings clearly reflected his status as a top-tier actor. Today, his estate and royalties from re-released films and memorabilia keep his financial legacy alive, and he remains a notable figure in the conversations around classic Hollywood earnings.
His "honeymoon" with Warners over, Garfield entered a protracted period of conflict with the studio, with Warners attempting to cast him in crowd-pleasing melodramas such as Dust Be My Destiny (also 1939) and Garfield insisting on quality scripts that would offer challenges and highlight his versatility.
The result was often a series of suspensions, with Garfield refusing an assigned role and Warners refusing to pay him. Garfield's problem was shared by any actor working in the studio system of the 1930s: by contract, the studio had the right to cast him in any project they wanted to.
But, as Robert Nott explains: "To be fair, most of the studios had a team of producers, directors, and writers who could pinpoint a particular star's strengths and worked to capitalize on those strengths in terms of finding vehicles that would appeal to the public—and hence make the studio money.
The forces that prevented him from getting high quality roles were really the result of the combined willpower of the Warner Bros., the studio system in general, and the general public, which also had its own perception of how Garfield (or Cagney or Bogart for that matter) should appear on screen."
Career, Business, and Investments
Garfield's career spanned nearly two decades, during which he appeared in over 30 films. He was a founding member of the Actors Studio, which became a critical hub for method acting and produced many successful performers. Despite his untimely death, his contributions to film continue to influence actors and filmmakers alike.
In the years following his passing, Garfield's films have enjoyed re-releases and extensive revival screenings, contributing to his posthumous influence and allowing fans to celebrate his work. His investments in theater production and his engagement with the community underscore his commitment to the arts.
Called to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), he denied communist affiliation and refused to "name names", effectively ending his film career. Some have alleged that the stress of this persecution led to his premature death at 39 from a heart attack.
Garfield is acknowledged as a predecessor of such Method actors as Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean.
Social Network
While John Garfield did not engage in social media as we know it today, his legacy thrives on various platforms. Classic film aficionados honor his memory through fan pages and discussion forums, celebrating his work and sharing materials related to his life and career. The enduring appeal of his films helps keep discussions alive across generations.
Garfield's debut had a cinematic impact difficult to conceive in retrospect. As biographer Lawrence Swindell put it: "Garfield's work was spontaneous, non-actory; it had abandon. He didn't recite dialogue, he attacked it until it lost the quality of talk and took on the nature of speech ...
Like Cagney, he was an exceptionally mobile performer from the start of his screen career. These traits were orchestrated with his physical appearance to create a screen persona innately powerful in the sexual sense. What Warners saw immediately was that Garfield's impact was felt by both sexes. This was almost unique."
Education
Garfield attended the City College of New York, where he developed his passion for acting. He studied under the guidance of prominent figures in the performing arts, setting the stage for his later achievements. His education laid the groundwork for his exceptional talent and depth as an actor.
John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle; March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of the Group Theatre. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of Warner Bros.' stars.
He received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Four Daughters (1938) and Body and Soul (1947).
