Fred Gwynne, best known for his memorable performances in The Munsters (1964-66) and Pet Sematary (1989), lived an extraordinary life that went far beyond his accomplishments in film and television. Before rising to fame in Hollywood, he served as a sailor in the US Navy during World War II, a lesser-known chapter of his life that highlights his broader contributions to society beyond the entertainment world.
Fred Gwynne’s early life
Some sources suggest he began studying portrait painting in the years before World War II. However, when the United States joined the conflict, he set aside his artistic pursuits to enlist in the US Navy.
Details about his military service are scarce, including the specific year he enlisted. It’s unlikely he joined immediately after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, as he was only 15 at the time, though he could have potentially lied about his age to enlist.
Enlisting in the US Navy
It is known that Fred Gwynne served on the submarine-chaser USS Manville (PC-581), which was launched on July 8, 1942. Under the command of Lt. Com. Mark E. Deanett, the Manville was used as an escort and patrol ship throughout the war. Later, she was assigned to the Fifth Amphibious Force for the invasions of Saipan and Tinian in 1944. The Manville also played a role in rescuing two Allied pilots from a crashed Consolidated B-24 Liberator.
However, it remains unclear how much of this Gwynne experienced while serving as a radioman
Fred Gwynne’s Hollywood career
After World War II, Fred Gwynne took advantage of the GI Bill to enroll at Harvard University, where he studied art. During his time there, he developed a host of new passions, including drawing cartoons for the Harvard Lampoon and performing with the Hasty Pudding Theatricals.
Gwynne’s acting career demonstrated his exceptional talent and versatility. He’s best known for his portrayal of Herman Munster in the beloved series, The Munsters, in which his comedic timing and skills in physical comedy earned him a notable place in TV history. Before this, he’d gained recognition as Officer Francis Muldoon in Car 54, Where Are You? (1961-63).
His next big film role was Pet Sematary
His career began to gain momentum after he landed a role in Arsenic and Old Lace (1969), which opened the door for him to take part in various stage productions away from the glitz of Hollywood. He came close to securing the role of Henry in Punky Brewster (1984-88), but the director mistakenly referred to him as Herman Munster rather than Fred Gwynne.
Although the actor took on several smaller roles, it was his performance in Stephen King‘s Pet Sematary that marked his return to portraying an iconic character. His final on-screen appearance was in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny.
Fred Gwynne was more than just an actor
Fred Gwynne was far more than just an actor, as he took on a series of diverse side projects. He was a professional singer who continued the passion he’d picked up in university with the a cappella group, the Harvard Krokodiloes.
Later in life, Gwynne was an author-illustrator for children’s books. In fact, he wrote an entire series of them based on phrases that children misunderstand, such as A Chocolate Moose for Dinner, The King Who Rained and The Sixteen Hand Horse. They became some of the bestsellers for his publisher.
While he illustrated his own books, Gwynne was also a painter who eventually turned to exhibiting his work in galleries. The first of his shows was in 1989.
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Gwynne lived a diverse life, with an acting career that spanned Hollywood and Broadway, as an author-illustrator and, of course, as a serviceman. He died in his family home on July 2, 1993 from complications of pancreatic cancer.
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