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
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
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
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
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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