Here is the biography of Fred MacMurray:
Fred MacMurray was born in Kankakee, Illinois, to Maleta Martin and Frederick MacMurray. His father had Scottish ancestry and his mother's family was German. His father's sister was a vaudeville performer and actress. When MacMurray was five years old, the family moved to Beaver Dam in Wisconsin, his parents' birth state.
MacMurray graduated from Beaver Dam High School, where he was a three-sport star in football, baseball, and basketball. He retained a special place in his heart for his small-town Wisconsin upbringing, often referring to it in magazine articles or interviews.
MacMurray earned a full scholarship to attend Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin and had ambitions to become a musician. He participated in numerous local bands, playing the saxophone, and even recorded a vocal with Gus Arnheim's orchestra.
MacMurray married Lillian Lamont in 1936, and they adopted two children. He worked with some of Hollywood's greatest talents, including Preston Sturges, Humphrey Bogart, and Marlene Dietrich.
The 1940s gave him his chance to shine, with hits like "Above Suspicion", "Where Do We Go from Here?", and "The Egg and I". He became one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors by 1943, with a salary of $420,000.
MacMurray purchased a large parcel of land in Sonoma County, California and began a winery/cattle ranch. He raised his family on the ranch and it became the home to his second wife, June Haver, after their marriage in 1954.
Despite being typecast as a "nice guy", MacMurray often said that his best roles were when he was cast against type. He gave memorable performances in "Double Indemnity", "The Caine Mutiny", and "Pushover".
MacMurray's career got its second wind in the late 1950s, with hits like "The Shaggy Dog" and "The Apartment". He continued to work in Disney comedies and TV, including the hit series "My Three Sons".
MacMurray was a staunch supporter of the Republican Party and was known for being frugal. He retired to his ranch in 1978 and died of pneumonia at the age of 83 in 1991.
