John McCormick, a renowned American character actor, enjoyed a distinguished career on the stage, making occasional yet impactful appearances in films. Born in Albany, Indiana, McCormick attended Princeton University, where he excelled academically, earning honors and membership in the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa society.
In 1929, he joined the University Players in Massachusetts, a decision that would have a profound impact on his life and career. It was during this time that he shared a New York City apartment with a trio of aspiring performers: Henry Fonda, Joshua Logan, and James Stewart. While Fonda and Stewart went on to achieve immense success in Hollywood, Logan and McCormick gravitated towards the New York stage, developing a deep affinity for it.
McCormick's extensive experience on the stage also led to a successful career in radio drama, with him becoming one of the busiest actors in the medium. He occasionally ventured into film, including a notable appearance in the movie adaptation of Maxwell Anderson's "Winterset," which reunited the original Broadway cast.
McCormick's most iconic roles included his performances as Luther Billis in Joshua Logan's production of "South Pacific" and as Sergeant King in "No Time for Sergeants" (1958). He reprised the latter role in the film adaptation. Tragically, McCormick's life was cut short when he succumbed to cancer in 1962 at the age of 54.
