Who Are Those Guys ~ Brandon deWilde

 

Andre Brandon deWilde was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 9, 1942. Shortly after Brandon’s birth the family moved to Bladwin, Long Island. DeWilde made his much-acclaimed Broadway debut at the age of seven in “The Member of the Wedding”. He was the first child actor to win the Donaldson Award, and his talent was praised by John Gielgud the following year. He also starred in the 1952 film version of the play, which was directed by Fred Zinnemann.

In 1952, he acted in “Shane” as Joey Starrett and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance, becoming the youngest nominee at the time in a competitive category. He starred in his own television series, ‘Jamie’, which aired in 1953 and 1954. Although the series was popular, it was canceled because of a contract dispute. In 1956, he was featured with Walter Brennan, Phil Harris and Sidney Poitier in the coming-of-age Batjac film production of “Good-bye, My Lady”, adapted from James Street's book. DeWilde's soft-spoken manner of speech in his early roles was more akin to a Southern drawl.

After 1965, many of his roles were limited to television guest appearances. "Being small for his age and a bit too pretty ... in his favour as a child ... worked against him as an adult," wrote author Linda Ashcroft after talking with deWilde at a party, "He spoke of giving up movies until he could come back as a forty-year-old character actor." DeWilde's final western role was in Dino De Laurentiis' 1971 Spaghetti Western “The Deserter”. He made his last screen appearance in “Wild in the Sky” (1972).

DeWilde was married twice and had one son. His first marriage was to writer Susan M. Maw, whom he wed in 1963. The couple had a son, Jesse, before divorcing in 1969. He married Janice Gero in April 1972.

On July 6, 1972, while in Colorado for a Denver stage production of “Butterflies Are Free”, deWilde was killed in a traffic accident in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. He was driving alone, not wearing a seatbelt, in a camper van that left the roadway before striking a guardrail and a parked truck. The van rolled onto its side, and he was pinned in the wreckage. He was taken to St. Anthony Hospital, where he died at 7:20 p.m. of multiple injuries that included a broken back, neck and leg. He was only 30 years old.

Besides the “Deserter” in 1971 where he played Lieutenant Ferguson, Brandon was seen in archive footage from “Shane” in the European documentary “Go West Young Man! released in 2002.

deWILDE, Brandon (aka Brandon de Wilde, Brandon deWilde) (Andre Brandon deWilde) [4/9/1942, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. – 7/6/1972, Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A. (car accident)] – theater, film, TV actor, singer, married to Susan Margot Maw [1945-    ] (1963-1970) father of fitness instructor, trainer Jesse DeWilde [1967-    ], married to Janice L. Gero [1942-    ] (1972-1972).

The Deserter – 1971 (Lieutenant Ferguson)

Go West Young Man! – 2002 [archive footage]