- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJames Joseph Lydon
- Height1.80 m
- Born to a large Irish Catholic family (the fifth of nine children) and raised in New York City, Lydon overcame a birth defect and alcoholic father to begin a Broadway career in 1937, acting opposite Van Heflin, Sidney Lumet and Uta Hagen in separate productions. After a number of films with Paramount and RKO, Lydon hit his stride in the "Henry Aldrich" B movie series of the early 1940s. After working increasingly in television in the early 1950s, Lydon turned to production roles, helping to create M.A.S.H. (1972) and 77 Sunset Strip (1958). He is still active as a producer and writer.- IMDb mini biography by: <anthony-adam@tamu.edu>
- SpousesBetty Lou Nedell(May 1, 1952 - January 1, 2022) (her death, 2 children)Patricia Jane Pernetti(April 14, 1945 - August 11, 1948) (divorced)
- ParentsLuke Stanislaus LydonMary Cecilia Doran
- Gave a 15-year-old Elizabeth Taylor her first screen kiss in Cynthia (1947).
- Did not enjoy the Hollywood experience as a juvenile. He appeared on Broadway and films initially to help support an alcoholic father and family of nine children. He had practically no education as a result.
- Lydon is a licensed pilot.
- Real-life son-in-law of actress Olive Blakeney, who played his mother in all but the first of the "Henry Aldrich" film series.
- Was directed in "Joan of Arc" by Victor Fleming, but told film critic Leonard Maltin in an interview that he (Lydon) did not have a high opinion of Fleming's working method as a director.
- I don't like to see any kids on stage or screen. It's unnatural.
- [on John Wayne] Duke was just a private citizen and he kept his beliefs private. Now, Ward Bond was a thickheaded loudmouth ... He was the one screaming all sorts of things that nobody else cared about.
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