Jack Lord

This remarkable actor’s was married to Anne Willard but the relationship ended in divorce in 1947. They had a son who was later killed in an accident at the tender young age of 13. The actor had met his son only once.

In 1949, the actor exchanged nuptial vows with Marie de Narde who pursued a career in fashion designing prior to the marriage.

Try as he might, this actor could never quit chain smoking. Although traditional methods of quitting failed, his faith helped him break the habit after he made a solemn promise in a Catholic church to never smoke again.

John Joseph Patrick Ryan was born on December 30, 1920 to William Lawrence Ryan, a blue collar employee in a steamer company and his wife. They were Irish-American.

He spent his childhood in Morris Park (present day Richmond Hill), Queens, New York. As a child he grew up in close vicinity of horses at his ancestral fruit orchard and began harbouring his equestrian skills since a tender age.

The family spent their summers at the sea and the talented lad he grew quite adept at painting landscapes of the places they visited in Africa, the Mediterranean, and China. He had plans to become a renowned artist when he grew up.

He received education at ‘St. Benedict Joseph Labre School’, and then later at ‘John Adams High School’ in New York. John then enrolled at the ‘United States Merchant Marine Academy’, Connecticut, graduating as an Ensign with a Third Mates License.

The aspiring artist obtained a football scholarship and went on to obtain a degree in Fine Arts from the New York University’ (NYU). During this time, he established the ‘Village Academy of Arts with his brother Bill.

He made his first professional sale when two linoleum cuts—‘Vermont’ and ‘Fishing Shacks’—were picked up by the ‘Metropolitan Museum of Arts’.

During World War II, he was enlisted into the engineering corps of the US Army and was posted in Persia. When the war ended, for a brief period he served on a merchant ship before undergoing training for deck officer at Fort Trumbull.

It was during this time that the marine officer was involved in the making of warfare training films and developed a penchant for acting.

Considering acting as a career choice Lord trained under Sanford Meisner. To support himself he took up a job as a car salesman; first for Horgan Ford and then, Cadillac.

He made his movie debut through the anti-Communist production, ‘The Red Menace’ a.k.a. ‘Project X’ in 1949. The following year, he worked as an associate producer for the movie ‘Cry Murder’.

He starred for a whopping twelve seasons on Hawaii Five-O as Detective Steve McGarrett. His role was highly appreciated and is remembered as one of Lord’s most memorable works. The catchphrase “Book him, Danno!" became a part of pop culture.