Bruce Bennett was a remarkable man who excelled in both sports and cinema. He won a silver medal in the shot put at the 1928 Olympics and later became a successful Hollywood actor, appearing in over 100 films. He lived a long and adventurous life, but how did he die? Here is what we know about Bruce Bennett’s cause of death.
A Legendary Career
Bruce Bennett was born as Harold Herman Brix in Tacoma, Washington, in 1906. He was a gifted athlete who played football and competed in track and field at the University of Washington. He set a world indoor record for the shot put in 1930 and represented the United States at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, where he won the silver medal.
Bennett moved to Los Angeles in 1929 and befriended actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr., who arranged a screen test for him at Paramount. He was initially cast as Tarzan in a MGM film, but he broke his shoulder while filming another movie and was replaced by Johnny Weissmuller. He later got another chance to play the jungle hero in a serial film produced by Burroughs-Tarzan Enterprises, Inc.
Bennett changed his name to Bruce Bennett in 1943 to pursue a more serious film career. He appeared in many genres, including film noir, western, war, and comedy. Some of his notable films include Sahara (1943), Mildred Pierce (1945), Dark Passage (1947), and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). He worked with famous directors such as Howard Hawks, Michael Curtiz, and John Huston.
Bennett retired from acting in 1960, but made a cameo appearance in the 1980 film The All-American Boy. He also ran a successful business that supplied lighting equipment to film studios. He was married to Jeannette C. Braddock from 1933 until her death in 2000. They had two children, Christopher and Christina.
A Peaceful Death
Bennett was an active and healthy man who enjoyed skiing, hiking, and skydiving. He last skydived at the age of 96, descending from an altitude of 10,000 feet near Lake Tahoe. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2006 and received a letter of congratulations from President George W. Bush.
Bennett died on February 24, 2007, at a hospital in Santa Monica, California. According to his son, Christopher, he died of complications from a broken hip that he suffered in a fall at his home. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Bennett’s death was mourned by his family, friends, and fans. He was remembered as a versatile and talented actor who had a remarkable longevity. He was also honored as an Olympic medalist and a pioneer of the shot put. He left behind a legacy of achievements and adventures that few people can match.
