Editing Fred MacMurray (section)

==Career==
[[File:Hands across the table.jpg|right|thumb|MacMurray with [[Carole Lombard]] in ''[[Hands Across the Table]]'' (1935)]]

=== Acting ===
In 1928, MacMurray chauffeured his mother to Los Angeles for her health and to visit family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Courier-Journal 05 Jan 1947, page Page 29 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/107134304/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> While there he found work as an extra and continued playing the saxophone with the California Collegians, a vaudeville group that was formed out of the pit orchestra at the [[Hollywood Pacific Theatre|Warner Brothers Hollywood Theatre]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The San Francisco Examiner 13 Nov 1934, page 12 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457436690/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> His extra work was earning him $10 a day. The band was hired to appear on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in ''[[Three's a Crowd (musical)|Three's a Crowd]]'' (1930–31) with [[Fred Allen]], [[Clifton Webb]] and [[Libby Holman]], resulting in a move to New York City from California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cincinnati Enquirer 12 Jan 1947, page 56 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100163270/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> MacMurray was offered a role in the production, leading to a further casting in the musical ''[[Roberta (musical)|Roberta]]'' alongside [[Sydney Greenstreet]] and [[Bob Hope]] (1933–34).<ref>{{cite web|author=The Broadway League |url=http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=50837 |title=IBDb |publisher=IBDb |access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref> MacMurray signed with [[Paramount Pictures]] in 1934.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watters |first=Sam |date=2011-10-01 |title=Mr. Un-Modern Fred MacMurray |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-oct-01-la-hm-lost-la-fred-macmurray-20111001-story.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Stardom ===
[[File:Irene Dunne and Fred MacMurray.jpg|left|thumb|MacMurray with [[Irene Dunne]] in a promotional photo for ''[[Invitation to Happiness]]'' (1939)]]
In the 1930s, MacMurray worked with film directors Billy Wilder and [[Preston Sturges]], and actors [[Barbara Stanwyck]], [[Henry Fonda]], [[Humphrey Bogart]], [[Marlene Dietrich]], and in seven films, [[Claudette Colbert]], beginning with ''[[The Gilded Lily (1935 film)|The Gilded Lily]]''. He co-starred with [[Katharine Hepburn]] in ''[[Alice Adams (1935 film)|Alice Adams]]'', with [[Joan Crawford]] in ''[[Above Suspicion (1943 film)|Above Suspicion]]'', and with [[Carole Lombard]] in four productions: ''[[Hands Across the Table]]'', ''[[The Princess Comes Across]]'', ''[[Swing High, Swing Low (film)|Swing High, Swing Low]]'' and ''[[True Confession]]''. Usually cast in light comedies as a decent, thoughtful character (''[[The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936 film)|The Trail of the Lonesome Pine]]''), and in melodramas and musicals, MacMurray became one of the film industry's highest-paid actors of the period. In 1943, his annual salary had reached $420,000, making him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and the fourth-highest-paid person in the nation.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news| last=Flint| first=Peter B.| title=Fred MacMurray Is Dead at 83; Versatile Film and Television Star| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/06/arts/fred-macmurray-is-dead-at-83-versatile-film-and-television-star.html| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| date=November 6, 1991|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name="metv.com">{{cite web |title=How My Three Sons star Fred MacMurray became one of the wealthiest actors in the biz |url=https://metv.com/stories/how-my-three-sons-star-fred-macmurray-became-one-of-the-wealthiest-actors-in-the-biz}}</ref>

MacMurray did not serve in the military during the [[World War II|Second World War]], instead working to sell [[war bond]]s and as an air-raid warden in his [[Brentwood, Los Angeles|Brentwood]] neighborhood. The movies that he did produce during this period were mostly considered to be "morale-boosters" rather than outright "war pictures" that some of his contemporaries were churning out. In 1944, his earnings increased to $439,000, making him again the highest-paid actor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Tranberg |first=Charles |title=Fred MacMurray - A biography |publisher=BearManor Media |year=2007 |isbn=978-1593930998 |edition=1st}}</ref>

During the production of the 1947 film [[The Egg and I (film)|''The Egg and I'']], the hens appearing in the movie laid over 300 eggs. MacMurray and costar Claudette Colbert autographed one egg each in fifty cartons. The eggs were sold at a local farmers market and profits were donated to the [[Braille Institute of America]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Daily Times 25 Jan 1947, page 3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/303174689/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

Having starred in many episodes of [[Lux Radio Theatre]] in the late 1930s and 1940s, MacMurray returned to the medium in 1952. He featured in ''[[Bright Star (radio)|Bright Star]],'' along with [[Irene Dunne]], in which he portrayed a reporter for a local newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RUSC - Old Time Radio Shows - Bright Star |url=https://www.rusc.com/old-time-radio/Bright-Star.aspx?s=498 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.rusc.com}}</ref>
[[File:Double-Indemnity-LIFE-1944-2.jpg|right|thumb|MacMurray with [[Barbara Stanwick]] in ''[[Double Indemnity]]'' (1944)]]
Despite being typecast as a "nice guy", MacMurray often said his best roles were when he was cast against type, such as under the direction of Billy Wilder and [[Edward Dmytryk]]. Perhaps his best known "bad guy" performance was that of Walter Neff, an insurance salesman who plots with a greedy wife to kill her husband in the [[film noir]] classic ''[[Double Indemnity]]''. MacMurray stated in 1956 that this was his favorite role, and that it "...proved I could do serious acting".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=The Kansas City Times 12 Dec 1956, page 24 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/658704503/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> In another turn in the "not so nice" category, MacMurray played the cynical, duplicitous Lieutenant Thomas Keefer in Dmytryk's film ''[[The Caine Mutiny (1954 film)|The Caine Mutiny]].''<ref name="TCM Movie Database">{{cite web |url=http://tcmdb.com/participant/participant.jsp?participantId=119195 |title=TCM Movie Database |publisher=Tcmdb.com |access-date=August 24, 2012 |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002647/http://tcmdb.com/participant/participant.jsp?participantId=119195 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Six years later, MacMurray played Jeff Sheldrake, a two-timing corporate executive in Wilder's [[Academy Awards|Oscar]]-winning film ''[[The Apartment]]''. In 1958, he guest-starred in the premiere episode of [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]]'s ''[[Cimarron City (TV series)|Cimarron City]]'' Western series, with [[George Montgomery (actor)|George Montgomery]] and [[John Smith (actor)|John Smith]]. MacMurray's career continued upward the following year, when he was cast as the father in the [[Walt Disney Studios (production)|Disney]] film ''[[The Shaggy Dog (1959 film)|The Shaggy Dog]].''<ref name="TCM Movie Database" />

=== ''My Three Sons'' ===
[[File:My Three Sons cast photo 1967.jpg|left|thumb|MacMurray (third from left) with the cast of ''[[My Three Sons]]'' in 1967]]
In an interview with [[Hedda Hopper]] in 1956, MacMurray noted that he had been asked to take on the role of [[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]] on television. He turned it down, saying "I want to do as little TV work as possible – it's lots of work. I guess I am just lazy".<ref name=":3" />

From 1960 to 1972, he starred in ''[[My Three Sons]],'' a long-running, highly rated TV series. Concurrently with it, MacMurray starred in other films, playing Professor Ned Brainard in ''[[The Absent-Minded Professor]]'' and its sequel ''[[Son of Flubber]]''. Using his star-power clout, MacMurray had a provision in his ''My Three Sons'' contract that all of his scenes on that series were to be shot in two separate month-long production blocks and filmed first. That condensed performance schedule provided him more free time to pursue his work in films, maintain his ranch in [[Northern California]], and enjoy his favorite leisure activity, golf.<ref name="TCM" /> Over the years, MacMurray became one of the wealthiest actors in the entertainment industry, primarily from wise real estate investments and from his "notorious frugality".<ref name="TCM">Gaita, Paul. [https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/119195%7C55171/fred-macmurray#biography "Fred MacMurray"], biographical profile, Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved June 2, 2017.</ref>

=== Retirement ===
[[File:President Richard Nixon, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, and Fred MacMurray at Lakeside Golf Course in Los Angeles (Toluca Lake), CA.jpg|right|thumb|Left to right: [[James Stewart]], MacMurray, [[Bob Hope]] and President [[Richard Nixon]] playing golf (1970)]]
In the early 1970s, MacMurray appeared in commercials for the [[Greyhound Lines]] bus company.<ref>{{Citation |title=1974 Fred MacMurray Greyhound Bus TV Commercial | date=January 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7xpqprdJUE |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en}}</ref> In 1979, he appeared in a series of commercials for the Korean ''[[chisenbop]]'' math calculation program.<ref>{{Citation |title=Chis-An-Bop with Fred MacMurray (Commercial Offer, 1979) | date=January 3, 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtARCOoQTT8 |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en}}</ref> MacMurray's final film was ''[[The Swarm (1978 film)|The Swarm]]'', costarring Michael Caine, Olivia de Havilland and Henry Fonda.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-11 |title=The Swarm Is a Disaster Movie Only a Murder Hornet Could Love |url=https://gizmodo.com/the-swarm-is-a-disaster-movie-only-a-murder-hornet-coul-1843363739 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref> The actor, semi-retired at this point, was called back for one last film by director [[Irwin Allen]] entitled [[Fire! (1977 film)|''Fire!'']]; however, his diagnosis of throat cancer caused him to pull out. Allen then offered him the small role (for a total of two days on set) of a pharmacist in ''The Swarm''. MacMurray told reporters that he didn't "...really miss it. A lot of actors go crazy if they aren't working, but I guess I'm a little lazy." He successfully underwent treatment for his cancer during the production.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Star-Gazette 20 Nov 1977, page 65 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275739781/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Redlands Daily Facts 15 Sep 1977, page Page 5 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/15321608/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Business ventures ===
MacMurray was also a prolific businessman, frequently earning over $400,000 a year in the 1940s.<ref name="metv.com" /> In 1941, he purchased land in the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River Valley]] in [[Northern California]] and established MacMurray Ranch. At the {{Convert|1,750|acre|adj=on}} ranch, he raised prize-winning [[American Angus|Aberdeen Angus cattle]], cultivated prunes, apples, alfalfa and other crops, and enjoyed watercolor painting, fly fishing, and [[skeet shooting]].<ref>Taylor, Dan (2013). [http://arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/23142/healdsburg-museum-exhibits-memorabilia-from-actor-fred-macmurrays-nearby-ranch/ "Healdsburg Museum exhibits memorabilia from actor Fred MacMurray's nearby ranch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106234136/http://arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/23142/healdsburg-museum-exhibits-memorabilia-from-actor-fred-macmurrays-nearby-ranch/|date=November 6, 2016}}. ''Press Democrat'' (Santa Rosa, California), May 31, 2013, arts section. Retrieved June 4, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Linda |date=2003-03-06 |title=Hollywood to vine / A film star's daughter returns home to a Pinot paradise |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Hollywood-to-vine-A-film-star-s-daughter-2630274.php |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Evening Independent 05 Mar 1947, page Page 4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/3858711/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> MacMurray wanted the property's agricultural heritage preserved, so five years after his death, in 1996, it was sold to [[E & J Gallo Winery|Gallo]], which planted vineyards on it for wines that bear the MacMurray Ranch label.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 6, 1996 |title=Gallo Family to Buy MacMurray Ranch |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/NORTH-BAY-Gallo-Family-to-Buy-MacMurray-Ranch-2983362.php |access-date=August 24, 2012}}</ref> One of MacMurray's children now lives on the property (in a cabin built by her father), and is "actively engaged in Sonoma's thriving wine community, carrying on her family's legacy and the heritage of MacMurray Ranch".<ref name="Ranch">{{cite web |date=February 25, 2008 |title=Kate MacMurray |url=http://www.macmurrayranch.com/About-MacMurray/Kate-MacMurray.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424003250/http://www.macmurrayranch.com/About-MacMurray/Kate-MacMurray.asp |archive-date=April 24, 2011 |access-date=August 24, 2012 |website=MacMurray Ranch}}</ref><ref name="MacMurray_Estate">{{cite news |author1=Wright, Johnathan L. |date=July 26, 2017 |title=Inside the wine ranch once owned by a movie legend |work=Reno Gezette Journal |url=https://www.rgj.com/story/life/food/2017/07/26/inside-wine-ranch-once-owned-movie-legend/103993474/ |access-date=April 25, 2020 |quote=Famed actor Fred MacMurray purchased the property in 1941. Today, his daughter Kate is the winery's guiding spirit.}}</ref>

In 1944, he purchased the [[Bryson Apartment Hotel]] in the [[Westlake, Los Angeles]] neighborhood for $600,000, using profits from ''Double Indemnity'', and was a co-owner of three other apartment buildings.<ref name=":0" /> The actor was cautious with his finances, which went hand-in-hand with his sedate lifestyle. The majority of his earnings were used for investments (including a knitting mill, co-owner of a golf-and-tennis club and a cold-storage business).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evening Star 05 Jan 1947, page 39 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/867975626/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref> MacMurray insisted upon a percentage of gross of the films in which he starred.

In 1945, along with former actor [[Leslie Fenton]], MacMurray formed a production company, entitled "Mutual Pictures".<ref>{{Cite news |title=SCREEN NEWS; MacMurray and Fenton Form Producing Firm Of Local Origin |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.comhttp//arch-timesmachine-fe-prd-40741-2-575473780.us-east-1.elb.amazonaws.com/timesmachine/1945/01/30/88189004.html?pageNumber=22 |access-date=2023-07-11 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> With this production company the pair made one film, ''[[Pardon My Past]]'', a moderate success.<ref name=":2" />

A 1977 profile dispelled the myth of MacMurray's wealth, reporting that if he "...sold everything I'd be worth maybe $3 million to $4 million. Maybe". He stated that the myth of his wealth being in league with [[Doris Duke]] and the [[Aga Khan IV|Aga Khan]] ($75 to $100 million range) stemmed from his life-long frugality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Daily Herald-Tribune 27 Oct 1977, page 11 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/731055335/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Newspapers.com |language=en}}</ref>