Jack Edwards, a man of remarkable accomplishments and adventures, recently celebrated his 95th birthday surrounded by his loving family, including his wife Bea, son, daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This milestone was marked with an article published in the UK Guardian weekend edition on May 23, 2015, written by Tom Lamont, which highlighted Jack's impressive career in silent films.
The article featured a photograph of Jack and Eleanor Boardman from their roles in the movie "So This is Marriage", showcasing Jack's talent on the big screen. It is believed that he had small roles in an astonishing 40 films. The article's publication was a result of Austin and Howard Mutti-Mewse's approach to Jack for their sequel book on silent film stars, "I Used to be in Pictures, Too".
However, Jack's movie career was short-lived, lasting only until he was four years old. He spent most of his childhood in the Tampa Bay area, graduating from Plant High School in 1939. Jack then joined the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Pacific during World War II, where he received a Purple Heart for being wounded on Okinawa.
As a technical sergeant, Jack was U.N. Ambassador John Muccio's bodyguard during the Korean War, and one of the last to evacuate when the Chinese invaded Seoul. His impressive service is documented in the Truman Papers, where Muccio was interviewed. Jack's memoirs, detailing his adventures and assignments in the Marines, are currently being written.
After retiring from the USMC, Jack went on to earn two degrees. He first attended Florida State University and later earned a Master's degree in Mathematics at Central Michigan University. Jack spent 20 years teaching before dedicating himself to learning Japanese. He eventually delivered a speech in Japanese to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., which led to a TV segment about him on Japanese television.
