Fred MacMurray

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Fred MacMurray was born on August 30, 1908, in Kankakee, Illinois. He began his career in music, playing saxophone in various bands, which led to stage roles alongside the likes of Bob Hope and Sidney Greenstreet before he signed with Paramount Pictures in 1934. He starred alongside Hollywood legends such as Claudette Colbert, Katharine Hepburn, and Carole Lombard in various films. His image served as the initial model for the superhero character Captain Marvel for Fawcett Comics in 1939.

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Known for his 'nice guy' image, MacMurray often said his best roles were when he was cast against type as they allowed him to showcase his versatility, notably as Walter Neff in Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity (1944) . His career saw a resurgence in 1959 with Disney's The Shaggy Dog followed by a further collaboration with Wilder in The Apartment (1960), alongside Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon.

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The first recipient of a Disney Legends award in 1987, Fred MacMurray passed on November 5, 1991 in Santa Monica, California.