Dana Andrews
An actor whose understated, everyman gravitas defined the haunted American male in postwar cinema's greatest films.
1909–1992 (age 83)·American actor·Birthday: January 1·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Dana Andrews brought a new kind of hero to the screen: not a swashbuckler, but a sober, sometimes troubled man shouldering the weight of the modern world. His breakthrough came in the 1940s, where his calm intensity was perfectly suited to the shadowy moral landscapes of film noir. As Detective Mark McPherson in 'Laura', he projected a cool obsession that became iconic. His most celebrated role was as Fred Derry, the traumatized bombardier in William Wyler's 'The Best Years of Our Lives', a performance of raw, quiet devastation that captured a nation's uneasy homecoming. Andrews never cultivated a flashy persona; his power lay in restraint and a voice that could convey both authority and deep vulnerability. While later career struggles with alcoholism led to less prominent roles, his work in cinema's golden era remains a benchmark of naturalistic acting.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Dana was born in 1909, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1909
Dana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1909Born
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1914Started school
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Became a teenager
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Could drive
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1927Could vote
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1930Turned 21
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1939Turned 30
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 40
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 50
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 60
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 70
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 80
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Died at 83
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
Key Achievements
- Delivered a landmark performance as war veteran Fred Derry in the Best Picture-winning 'The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946).
- Starred as the obsessed detective Mark McPherson in the classic film noir 'Laura' (1944).
- Played the lead role in the influential early noir 'The Ox-Bow Incident' (1943).
- Served as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1963 to 1965.
Did You Know?
He worked as a bookkeeper and studied business administration before pursuing acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.
He was a licensed pilot and often flew himself to film locations.
He was one of the first major Hollywood stars to speak publicly about his struggle with alcoholism, helping to destigmatize the issue.
He turned down the lead role in the television series 'Perry Mason', which later went to Raymond Burr.
His brother, Steve Forrest, also became a successful film and television actor.
“The most important thing in acting is honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.”
