Albert Gordon MacRae was born on March 12, 1921, in East Orange, NJ. During his early years, he resided in Syracuse, NY, and, while in high school, spent much of his time singing and acting in the Drama Club. It was also during this time that he learned to play the piano, clarinet and the saxophone. At 19, he entered a singing contest and won a two-week engagement at The World's Fair in New York, performing with the 'Harry James . He suffered a stroke in 1982. He continued on with the support of his second wife, Elizabeth, and his five children. This brilliant performer continued to tour, when his health would permit, allowing audiences to relive some of his biggest film hits. On January 24, 1986, Gordon MacRae died at the age of 64, at his home in Lincoln, NE, of pneumonia, the result of complications from cancer of the mouth and jaw.
The father of actresses Meredith MacRae and Heather MacRae.
Ex-father-in-law of Greg Mullavey.
Suffered a stroke in 1982 but managed to tour occasionally upon his recovery. In the fall of 1985, however, he underwent a carotid artery operation. At that time he was diagnosed with cancer and was forced to retire completely.
Was supposed to co-star with Judy Holliday in the original Broadway musical production of "Bells Are Ringing" in 1956. There were contractual problems, however, and he was replaced by Sydney Chaplin.
In high school (Nottingham High School in Syracuse, NY) he was quite athletic, participating in football, hockey, swimming, baseball, basketball, track, and lacrosse. The National Rifle Association awarded him a marksmanship medal.
At age 11 he was an emcee for a local radio station.
At age 19, he won a talent contest sponsored by Picture Magazaine, earning a two-week engagement at the New York Worlds Fair Outdoor Dancing Pavilion singing for Harry James and Les Brown.
Had four children with Sheila MacRae : Meredith MacRae (born 1944); Heather MacRae ; William Gordon and Robert Bruce.
Some of his bigger songs with Capitol Records were "A Fellow Needs a Girl" and "Body and Soul."
While appearing in a nightclub act with his wife at Lake Tahoe, he received an emergency phone call to replace Frank Sinatra as "Billy Bigelow" in the film version of Rodgers and Hammersteins stage hit "Carousel", after Sinatra walked out on the filming when he discovered that every scene was to be filmed twice - once for regular CinemaScope and once for CinemaScope 55. Within three days MacRae, who was already familiar with the Broadway show and had wanted to play the role, reported to the set. Ironically, the producers then discovered a way to shoot in CinemaScope 55 and then convert it to regular CinemaScope without filming the movie twice.
Born of Scottish immigrant parents.
He performed in two film musicals with music by Richard Rodgers. Carousel and Oklahoma! .
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6325 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Had a son, Gar MacRae.
