Lee Bonnell

Nov 24, 1918 - May 12, 1986

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the staunch Captain Wallen in "Men Against the Sky." Born Everett Bonnell, he was raised within a traditional working-class family, the youngest of three children born unto a barber and housewife. While performing in the drama club while earning his economics degree from Indiana University, he was encouraged by his peers to enter into the "Gateway to Hollywood" talent contest and was introduced to director Jesse L. Lasky upon winning first place in the masculine category. Impressed by his dark good looks, slim physique, and distinctive voice, he took notice of his potential and arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in a supporting role in "Stranger on the Third Floor" (1940). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 25 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, soldiers, authority figures, detectives, reporters, playboys, white-collared workers, medics, doctors, playboys, policemen, waiters, chauffeurs, doormen, businessmen, bailiffs, cowboys, deputies, historical figures, and aristocrats.

He appeared in such feature films as "Let's Make Music" (1940), "Footlight Fever" (1941), "The Saint in Palm Springs" (1941), "Lady Scarface" (1941), "Parachute Battalion" (1941), "Father Takes a Wife" (1941), "Unexpected Uncle" (1941), "The Gay Falcon" (1941), "Look Who's Laughing" (1941), "Wedding Blitz" (1942), "Land of the Open Range" (1942), "The Mayor of 44th Street" (1942), "Army Surgeon" (1942), "The Navy Comes Through" (1942), "Sagebrush Law" (1943), "Step by Step" (1946), "Sister Kenny" (1946), "Criminal Court" (1946), "San Quentin" (1946), "Jiggs and Maggie in Society" (1947), "Smart Woman" (1948), "The Checkered Coat" (1948), "Simon Peter, Fisherman" (1948), "Life of St. Paul Series" (1949), and "Rim of the Wheel" (1951).

During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, had presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, had been a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, was a member of the Hollywood Republican Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Baptist church, was the celebrity spokesman for Chevrolet, served in the coast guard during World War II, and he was married to actress and singer Gale Storm from 1941 until his death (their union produced four children; actor and producer Peter Bonnell, actor Paul Bonnell, actor and technologist Phil Bonnell, and actress Susanna Bonnell).

Upon his withdrawal from acting in 1951, he established the Lee Bonnell Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Agency in Encino, California, and went on to enjoy a lucrative newfound career as a notable salesman until his 1982 retirement.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

10/22/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129583688/everett-leroy-bonnell