Myron McCormick

Myron McCormick (born Walter Myron McCormick on February 8, 1908) was an American actor whose career spanned stage, radio, film, and early television, earning him a reputation as a versatile and dependable performer. Born in Albany, Indiana, he was the middle child of Walter P. and Bessie M. McCormick; his father worked as a tinware manufacturer. After attending the New Mexico Military Institute, McCormick excelled academically at Princeton University, joining Phi Beta Kappa and graduating magna cum laude while honing his talents in musical theatre. His Broadway breakthrough came with the original production of South Pacific, where his portrayal of sailor Luther Billis captivated audiences for the show's historic run of 1,925 performances, culminating in a Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical in 1950 and a Donaldson Award the previous year. He also originated the role of Sergeant King in No Time for Sergeants and appeared in numerous other productions, including Thunder Rock (1939) and Joy to the World (1947). In film, McCormick debuted in Winterset (1936) and later featured in notable titles such as Jolson Sings Again (1949), Jigsaw (1949), and The Hustler (1961), where he played Charlie, the partner of Paul Newman's Fast Eddie. His voice work on radio included the soap opera Buck Private and His Girl, and he frequently guest‑starred on television series like The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Donna Reed Show during the 1950s and early 1960s. Married to actresses Martha Hodge and later Barbara MacKenzie, McCormick was a father of two, a son and a daughter. He succumbed to cancer on July 30, 1962, at New York‑Presbyterian Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to the performing arts and a body of work that continues to be celebrated by theatre historians.