Whatever happened to Gordon MacRae, who starred in so many wonderful musicals? - T.N., Sterling Heights, Mich.
STATS: Born March 21, 1921, in East Orange, N.J. Attended high school in East Orange. Married twice. His first wife was actress Sheila MacRae. Their four children included actress Meredith MacRae.IN EARLY YEARS: MacRae started as a band singer in the 1940s, went into the Army in World War II and performed in service shows. After the service, he landed on Broadway and on radio in "The Texaco Star Theater," 1947-48. From 1948 to 1954, he starred in "The Railroad Hour," a popular radio show that presented music of all kinds. He started in movies in 1948 with "The Big Punch." For the next nine years, he starred in movie musicals and a few dramas. He moved into TV in 1954 and did various shows until 1957.
FAMOUS FOR: His greatest fame came in the mid-'50s in a series of musicals, many with Doris Day, and in the 1955 movie version of "Oklahoma!" and the 1956 movie version of "Carousel."
IN RECENT YEARS: By 1956, his movie career was over. He turned to regional theater and night clubs. As revealed in Sheila MacRae's 1992 book, "Hollywood Mother of the Year," MacRae's fall was due to addiction to alcohol and pills. He died in 1986.
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