biography

John Bromfield Born Farron Bromfield in South Bend, Indiana, on June 11, 1922, actor John Bromfield attended Saint Mary's College in the San Francisco area in the early 1940s, where he excelled in sports. He met his first wife, Grace, while in college, but the marriage didn't last long. A stint in the Navy during World War II followed, and after he detached he developed an interest in acting. Spotted by a talent scout in a play, soon Bromfield was starring in film noir and western films for the next decade. While Bromfield's rugged frame made him a natural for the westerns in which he was often cast, he also proved to be a sturdy leading man in other film genres as well, including horror, action/adventure, war films, and even a few comedies.

Corinne CalvetTab Hunter and John Bromfield

LEFT: Actress Corinne Calvet was the second Mrs. Bromfield. RIGHT: Bromfield with Tab Hunter

John Bromfield's first film roles came in 1948, when he was cast in the film noir thriller Sorry, Wrong Number (1948; with Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, and Wendell Corey) for Columbia and in the Paramount adventure Harpoon (1948; with Mike Ragan). During the making of his third film, Rope of Sand (1949), Bromfield met actress Corinne Calvet, also a cast member. The couple married after completing the film in 1948 but parted ways in 1954. His career continued to thrive through the mid 1950s, often starring in film noir releases and adventures, as well as the horror film Revenge of the Creature (1955; with John Agar and Lori Nelson). In 1956, he secured the title role in the Desilu-produced syndicated TV show Sheriff of Cochise, which was retitled U.S. Marshal during its third season. Bromfield met dancer Larri Thomas on the set of Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956; with Beverly Garland), and they married shortly thereafter. But this union ended in 1959, as did his TV show the following year.

the films of john bromfield

Sorry, Wrong Number (1948)

John Bromfield and Leif Erickson

From Paramount's film noir thriller Sorry, Wrong Number with Leif Erickson

Rope of Sand (1949)

John Bromfield, Paul Henreid, and Corinne Calvet

From the Paramount film noir adventure Rope of Sand with Paul Henreid and Corinne Calvet

Easy to Love (1953)

John Bromfield and Esther Williams

From Easy to Love with Esther Williams

The Black Dakotas (1954)

John Bromfield

From the Columbia western The Black Dakotas

Revenge of the Creature (1955)

John BromfieldJohn Agar, Lori Nelson, and John BromfieldJohn Agar, Lori Nelson, and John BromfieldJohn Bromfield and the Gill Man

LEFT: John Bromfield looks for the Gill Man in the Universal 3-D horror film Revenge of the Creature, the first sequel to Creature from the Black Lagoon. CENTER With John Agar and Lori Nelson. RIGHT: Bromfield meets an early end

The Big Bluff (1955)

Martha Vickers and John BromfieldMartha Vickers and John Bromfield

From The Big Bluff with Martha Vickers

Hot Cars (1956)

Joi Lansing and John BromfieldJoi Lansing and John Bromfield

From Hot Cars with Joi Lansing


Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956)


John BromfieldJohn Bromfield and Beverly GarlandJohn Bromfield and Beverly GarlandJohn Bromfield and Beverly Garland

Stills from the Universal-International adventure flick Curucu, Beast of the Amazon with Beverly Garland

Crime Against Joe (1956)

Julie London and John Bromfield

From Crime Against Joe with Julie London

Manfish (1956)

Victor Jory and John Bromfield

With Victor Jory in the adventure Manfish

Sheriff of Cochise, aka U.S. Marshal (1956-1960 Syndicated TV Series)

John BromfieldJohn BromfieldJohn Bromfield

LEFT: Promotional shot of Bromfield from U.S. Marshal. CENTER: Souvenir program for the 1960 Los Angeles Sportmen's Show featuring John Bromfield (in character as Frank Morgan) on the cover. Spot Yogi Bear and Huckleberry Hound on the TV inset photo (thanks to Michael Barnum). RIGHT: A 1964 promotional photo

later years

Bromfield portrayed Frank Morgan in the TV series Sheriff of Cochise, produced by Desilu and released in the fall of 1956. Actor Stan Jones, who wrote the hit song Ghost Riders in the Sky, portrayed Deputy Olson. A total of 55 episodes were produced before the title of the series was changed to U.S. Marshal in 1958. More than 60 episodes of the retitled show were lensed until its demise in 1960. Following the cancellation of the series, Bromfield retired from the screen to produce sports shows and to fish off Newport Beach. After putting the wrap on his sports career, he moved to Arizona. Sadly, John Bromfield passed away on September 18, 2005, at the age of 83. He was survived by his fourth wife, Mary, whom he married in 1962.

filmography

FILM
Crime Against Joe (1956) with Julie London, Patricia Blair, Joel Ashley, Rhodes Reason, and Joyce Jameson
Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956) with Beverly Garland
Hot Cars (1956) with Joi Lansing, Mark Dana, and Dabbs Greer
Manfish (1956) with Victor Jory, Barbara Nichols, and Lon Chaney Jr.
Frontier Scout (1956) with Peggie Castle, Tony Martin, John Smith, Ron Randell, John Doucette, Morris Ankrum, and Peter Mamakos
Three Bad Sisters (1956) with Marla English, Kathleen Hughes, and Brett Halsey
Frontier Gambler (1956) with Coleen Gray, Kent Taylor, Jim Davis, Veda Ann Borg, and Tracey Roberts
The Big Bluff (1955) with Martha Vickers, Robert Hutton, and Rosemarie Stack
Revenge of the Creature (1955) with John Agar and Lori Nelson; once featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000
The Black Dakotas (1954) with Gary Merrill, Wanda Hendrix, Noah Beery Jr., Jay Silverheels, and Clayton Moore
Ring of Fear (1954) with Mickey Spillane, Clyde Beatty, Pat O'Brien, Sean McClory, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, and Kenneth Tobey
Easy to Love (1953) with Esther Williams, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, King Donovan, and Carroll Baker
Flat Top (1952) with Sterling Hayden, Richard Carlson, Keith Larsen, William Schallert, and Phyllis Coates
Hold That Line (1952) with Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall, and Veda Ann Borg
The Cimarron Kid (1951) with Audie Murphy, Hugh O'Brian, Beverly Tyler, James Best, Yvette Duguay, John Hudson, Leif Erickson, Noah Beery Jr., Gregg Palmer, William Reynolds, and Roy Roberts
The Furies (1950) with Barbara Stanwyck, Gilbert Roland, Wendell Corey, Walter Huston, Judith Anderson, Beulah Bondi, and Albert Dekker
Paid in Full (1950) with Robert Cummings, Lizabeth Scott, Diana Lynn, Eve Arden, Ray Collins, Kasey Rogers, Carol Channing, Margaret Field, Carole Mathews, and Dewey Robinson
Rope of Sand (1949) with Burt Lancaster, Peter Lorre, Corinne Calvet, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sam Jaffe, Mike Mazurki, and Hayden Rorke
Harpoon (1948) with James Cardwell
Sorry, Wrong Number (1948) with Barbara Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey, Ed Begley, Leif Erickson, and William Conrad

TELEVISION SERIES
Sheriff of Cochise, aka U.S. Marshal, 1956-1960 syndicated TV series produced by Desilu. Bromfield portrayed U.S. Marshal Frank Morgan. The half-hour show's title was changed to U.S. Marshal during its last two seasons (1958-1960). More than 115 episodes of the series were produced between 1956 and 1960

john bromfield trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for John Bromfield's 1955 horror film Revenge of the Creature

john bromfield television appearances

Watch a July 12, 1957 episode of Sheriff of Cochise titled Robbery

john bromfield film now showing

Watch John Bromfield's 1955 noir thriller The Big Bluff
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This page premiered January 9, 2001.
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