Did you know that Western legend Joel McCrea maintained a ranch that spanned over 2,000 acres, and that his grandson has converted that ranch into a museum? In a world where the majority of Western stars were phonies, Joel McCrea was the real deal. Joel McCrea was an actor that made a name for himself in lighter fare before deciding that he only wanted to do Westerns. This decision came after he appeared in the 1946 film The Virginian. While working on the film, Joel also decided that he wanted to become a rancher. He gradually became less interested in acting and more interested in ranching, to the point where he listed his occupation on his income taxes as a rancher. By the time of his death in 1990, Joel McCrea was as much of a Western legend as any of the characters that he had portrayed in his numerous films.
▬Contents of this video▬ 00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Joel McCrea Was the Real Deal 01:36 - Joel McCrea Went from Actor to Rancher 04:07 - Joel’s Grandson Is Paying His Respects 05:36 - Joel McCrea Grew Up Around Hollywood 06:41 - Joel Was a True Western Legend 07:58 - Outro
Though Joel McCrea ended his life on the ranch, he started it in Hollywood. Joel was born in South Pasadena, and happening across film shoots was a common occurrence as the future star was growing up. Joel’s physicality and athleticism allowed him to start working as a stuntman during his high-school years. Following this, Joel would become more and more interested in acting.
By the 1930s, Joel was appearing in films. Over the course of the decade, he made a name for himself by starring in romantic comedies. By the time the 1940s came around, roles in Western started coming the actor’s way. He began to fancy these roles more and more, and also began to embody the Western philosophy in his own life. Join Facts Verse as we explore how Joel McCrea was exactly the kind of man we hoped he’d be.
Joel McCrea Was Exactly the Kind of Man We Hoped He’d Be
By: Facts Verse Title: Joel McCrea Was Exactly the Kind of Man We Hoped He’d Be Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvRad61coNs
