Dean Jagger Biography

Fast Facts

• Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960
• Initially worked as a school teacher in his native Ohio before moving to Chicago to study acting at the Lyceum Art Conservatory
• After the release of his first film, "The Woman From Hell", he quickly found himself as a character actor and would eventually go on to appear in over 100 features throughout his career
• Gained critical acclaim for his role in "Twelve O'Clock High" in 1949, a role that would garner him an Oscar for best supporting actor
• Intensely studied the Mormon faith after portraying Brigham Young on film in 1940 and was eventually baptized as a member of the faith in 1972
• Spoke with a pronounced lisp his entire life, an impediment that would only disappear while on camera