- Born
- Died
- Birth nameSterling Relyea Walter
- Nicknames
- The Most Beautiful Man in the Movies
- The Beautiful Blond Viking God
- Shirley
- Height6′ 5″ (1.96 m)
- Born to George & Frances Simonson Walter, and named Sterling Relyea Walter. Father died in 1925. Adopted by stepfather 'James Hayden' renamed Sterling Walter Hayden. Grew up in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and Maine. Though very poor, attended prep school at Wassookeag School in Dexter, Maine. Ran away to sea at 17, first as ship's boy, then as doryman on the Grand Banks, as a seaman and fireman on numerous vessels before getting his first command at 19. He sailed around the world a number of times, becoming a well-known and highly respected ship's captain. At urging of friends, met with producer Edward H. Griffith who signs him to a Paramount contract. Fell for his first leading lady, Madeleine Carroll, and married her. Prior to Pearl Harbor, abandoned Hollywood to become a commando with the COI (later the OSS). Joined Marines under pseudonym "John Hamilton" (a name he never acts under), eventually running guns and supplies to Yugoslav partisans through the German blockade of the Adriatic, as well as parachuting into Croatia for guerrilla activities. Won Silver Star and citation from Tito of Yugoslavia. Briefly flirted with Communist Party membership due to friendship with Yugoslav Communists. Returned to film work, which he despised, in order to pay for a succession of sailing vessels. As Red Scare deepens in U.S., he cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee, confessing his brief Communist ties. Ever after regretted this action, holding himself in enormous contempt for what he considered "ratting". Offered role of Tarzan as replacement for Lex Barker, but refused. Made headlines defying court order not to sail to Tahiti with his children following divorce decree. Published autobiography "Wanderer" in 1963, and novel "Voyage" in 1976, both to great acclaim. Cast as Quint in Jaws (1975) but unable to play due to tax problems. Died of cancer in 1986.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jim Beaver <[email protected]>
- SpousesCatherine Devine McConnell(March 9, 1960 - May 23, 1986) (his death, 2 children)Betty Ann de Noon(c. 1956 - August 1958) (divorced)Betty Ann de Noon(c. 1954 - c.1955) (divorced)Betty Ann de Noon(April 25, 1947 - 1953) (divorced, 4 children)Madeleine Carroll(February 14, 1942 - May 8, 1946) (divorced)
- ChildrenChristian HaydenDana HaydenGretchen HaydenMatthew HaydenDavid Hayden
- ParentsGeorge WalterFrances Simonson Walter
- His towering frame and powerful stature.
- In film noir parts, frequently spoke his lines in rapid-fire delivery.
- Often played hard-drinking (possibly alcoholic) and scheming characters.
- Deep voice
- Had four children with Betty Ann de Noon. The couple married and divorced three times and went through a nasty custody battle.
- Was first choice of producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown to play the role of Quint in Jaws (1975), but Hayden's tax problems with the US government--he lived outside the country and if he entered the US he would have been arrested--precluded his taking the role.
- Dropped out of high school at the age of 15 and became a sailor, earning his master's license by the age of 21.
- He was the original choice to play the knife thrower Britt in The Magnificent Seven (1960). The part went to James Coburn when Hayden proved unavailable.
- He has appeared in five films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Johnny Guitar (1954), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), The Godfather (1972) and The Long Goodbye (1973).
- Incredible, really--how I got away with it; parlaying nine years at sea into two decades of posturing.
- To be truly challenging, a voyage, like a life, must rest on a firm foundation of financial unrest. If you are contemplating a voyage and you have the means, abandon the venture until your fortunes change. Only then will you know what the sea is all about.
- There's nothing wrong with being an actor, if that's what a man wants. But there's everything wrong with achieving an exalted status simply because one photographs well and is able to handle dialogue.
- I have yet to invest the first dime because I don't believe in unearned income. The question is inevitable: "If you don't believe in taking what you don't earn, then how could you be reconciled to the astronomical figures [you make]?" I never was. Furthermore, I couldn't stand the work.
- [on his films] Bastards, most of them, conceived in contempt of life and spewn out onto screens across the world with noxious ballyhoo; saying nothing, contemptuous of the truth, sullen and lecherous.
- The Killing (1956) - $40,000
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