Fred Gwynne, widely recognized for his roles in The Munsters (1964-66) and Pet Sematary (1989), had an exceptional life that extended well beyond his achievements in film and television. Prior to gaining fame in Hollywood, he served as a sailor in the US Navy during World War II, a rarely discussed part of his life that underscores his important contributions to society beyond the entertainment industry.
Fred Gwynne’s early life
Some sources indicate that he began studying portrait painting in the years leading up to World War II. However, once the United States joined the conflict, he paused his artistic ambitions to enlist in the US Navy.
There is limited information about his military service, including the exact 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 it’s possible he could have 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
It wasn’t until he secured a role in Arsenic and Old Lace (1969) that his career began to progress, allowing him to take part in several stage productions away from Hollywood’s spotlight. He was close to being cast as Henry in Punky Brewster (1984-88), but the director mistakenly called him Herman Munster instead of Fred Gwynne.
The actor took on various smaller roles, but his role in Stephen King‘s Pet Sematary marked his next time playing a popular character. His final 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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