Before Starring in ‘The Munsters’, Fred Gwynne Served as a Radioman in the US Navy

Photo Credit: CBS / Getty Images
Photo Credit: CBS / Getty Images

Fred Gwynne, best remembered for his roles in The Munsters (1964-66) and Pet Sematary (1989), lived a life that went beyond his accomplishments in film and television. Before making it in Hollywood, the actor served in World War II as a sailor with the US Navy, and this lesser-known chapter highlights his broader societal contributions beyond the entertainment industry.

Fred Gwynne’s early life

Portrait of Dorothy, Gwynne's mother
Dorothy, Fred Gwynne’s mother, 1917. (Photo Credit: Bain / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain)
Fred Gwynne was born in New York City on July 10, 1926. His father, Frederick, was a partner in a security firm, leading to a childhood filled with moving to different cities often. His mother, Dorothy, worked as a comic artist before her marriage, which might have influenced Gwynne’s own artistic talents.

Some sources suggest that he started studying portrait painting in the years leading up to World War II. However, he set aside his artistic pursuits to enlist in the US Navy once the United States joined the conflict.

Details about his time in the military are sparse, including the year he enlisted. It seems unlikely he joined immediately after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, as he would have been just 15 in 1941, though it’s possible he may have lied about his age.

Enlisting in the US Navy

Phil Silvers and Fred Gwynne standing together while Silvers holds an owl
The Phil Silvers Show, 1955-59. (Photo Credit: CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images)

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

Yvonne De Carlo and Fred Gwynne as Lily and Herman Munster in 'The Munsters'
The Munsters, 1964-66. (Photo Credit: MoviePics1001 / MovieStillsDB)

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 

Fred Gwynne as Jud Crandall in 'Pet Sematary'
Pet Sematary, 1989. (Photo Credit: Flaying / Paramount Pictures / MovieStillsDB)

It wasn’t until he was cast in Arsenic and Old Lace (1969) that he was able to move forward with his career, getting cast in a handful of stage shows outside the Hollywood spotlight. He was close to being cast as Henry in Punky Brewster (1984-88) until the director called him Herman Munster, not Fred Gwynne.

The actor took on a number of smaller acting roles, but it wasn’t until he was cast in Stephen King‘s Pet Sematary that he was in another legendary part. His final role was in the 1992 film, My Cousin Vinny.

Fred Gwynne was more than just an actor

Portrait of Fred Gwynne
Fred Gwynne, 1965. (Photo Credit: CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images)

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.

Rosemary Giles

Rosemary Giles is a history content writer with Hive Media. She received both her bachelor of arts degree in history, and her master of arts degree in history from Western University. Her research focused on military, environmental, and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War. As a student, she worked in a variety of research positions, including as an archivist. She also worked as a teaching assistant in the History Department.

Since completing her degrees, she has decided to take a step back from academia to focus her career on writing and sharing history in a more accessible way. With a passion for historical learning and historical education, her writing interests include social history, and war history, especially researching obscure facts about the Second World War. In her spare time, Rosemary enjoys spending time with her partner, her cats, and her horse, or sitting down to read a good book.

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