John Huston was one of the most influential and acclaimed filmmakers in Hollywood history. He directed, wrote, and acted in dozens of films, many of which are considered classics today. He was known for his adventurous and rebellious spirit, his sharp wit and humor, and his artistic vision and style. He worked with some of the biggest stars of his time, such as Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, and Clint Eastwood. He also launched the careers of his children, Anjelica, Tony, Danny, and Allegra, who followed him into the film industry.
But how did John Huston die? What was the cause of his death? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.
Contents
Early Life and Career
John Huston was born on August 5, 1906, in Nevada, Missouri. His father was Walter Huston, a vaudeville actor who later became a successful movie star. His mother was Rhea Gore, a journalist and political activist. John grew up in a theatrical environment, traveling with his parents across the country. He developed a love for literature, art, and adventure at an early age.
He dropped out of school at 15 and joined the Mexican cavalry as a volunteer during the Mexican Revolution. He later returned to the United States and worked as a reporter, boxer, painter, and playwright. He moved to Paris in the late 1920s and studied fine art. He also wrote short stories and plays that were published in various magazines.
He moved to Hollywood in 1930 and began working as a screenwriter for Warner Bros. He collaborated with several directors, such as William Dieterle and Howard Hawks, and wrote scripts for films such as The Maltese Falcon (1931), Jezebel (1938), Juarez (1939), and Sergeant York (1941). He received several Academy Award nominations for his writing.
Directorial Debut and World War II
In 1941, John Huston made his directorial debut with The Maltese Falcon, a film noir adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s novel. The film starred Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade, a hard-boiled detective who gets involved in a quest for a priceless statuette. The film was a critical and commercial success and established Huston as a major director.
The following year, Huston joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a documentary filmmaker during World War II. He made several films that depicted the realities of war, such as Report from the Aleutians (1943), The Battle of San Pietro (1945), and Let There Be Light (1946). He also served in the Pacific Theater and received several military honors.
Breakthrough and Acclaim
After the war, John Huston returned to Hollywood and continued to make films that explored various genres and themes. He won his first Academy Awards for directing and writing The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948), a western adventure film starring his father Walter Huston as an old prospector who joins two Americans (played by Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt) in search of gold in Mexico. The film was praised for its realism, humor, and moral complexity.
Huston also directed films such as Key Largo (1948), a crime thriller with Bogart and Lauren Bacall; The Asphalt Jungle (1950), a heist film with Sterling Hayden and Marilyn Monroe; The African Queen (1951), a romantic comedy-adventure with Bogart and Katharine Hepburn; Moulin Rouge (1952), a biopic of painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec with Jose Ferrer; Moby Dick (1956), an adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel with Gregory Peck; The Misfits (1961), a drama with Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe; The Man Who Would Be King (1975), an adventure film with Sean Connery and Michael Caine; and Prizzi’s Honor (1985), a black comedy with Jack Nicholson and Anjelica Huston.
Personal Life and Death
John Huston was married five times and had five children. His first wife was Dorothy Harvey, whom he married in 1925 and divorced in 1933. His second wife was Lesley Black, whom he married in 1937 and divorced in 1945. His third wife was Evelyn Keyes, whom he married in 1946 and divorced in 1950. His fourth wife was Enrica Soma, whom he married in 1950 and had two children with: Anjelica Huston (born 1951) and Allegra Huston (born 1964). Enrica died in a car accident in 1969. His fifth wife was Celeste Shane, whom he married in 1972 and divorced in 1977.
Huston also had three sons from other relationships: Tony Huston (born 1950), Danny Huston (born 1962), and Pablo Huston (born 1975).
Huston suffered from emphysema for many years, which affected his breathing and forced him to use oxygen tanks. He continued to smoke and drink despite his condition. He also continued to work until the end of his life, making his last film, The Dead (1987), an adaptation of James Joyce’s short story, in Ireland.
He died on August 28, 1987, in Middletown, Rhode Island, at the age of 81. He was in Rhode Island for the filming of Mr. North (1988), a film he was producing and had written with Janet Roach. He died in his sleep of complications from emphysema, according to The New York Times. He was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Legacy and Influence
John Huston is widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. He received 15 Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars for directing and writing The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. He also received the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 1983 and the National Medal of Arts in 1985.
He influenced many directors, such as Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Quentin Tarantino. He was known for his versatility, originality, and independence. He tackled various genres and topics, from crime and war to romance and comedy. He adapted many literary works, from classics to contemporary novels. He worked with different actors, from stars to newcomers. He filmed in various locations, from Hollywood to exotic places.
He was also a prolific and talented screenwriter and actor. He wrote the screenplays for most of his films, often collaborating with other writers. He also acted in more than 20 films, playing memorable roles such as Noah Cross in Chinatown (1974) and Gandalf in The Hobbit (1980).
He was a man of many passions and interests. He was an avid reader, painter, hunter, traveler, gambler, and sportsman. He lived a colorful and adventurous life that inspired many of his films.
John Huston was a legend of cinema who left behind a rich and diverse body of work that continues to entertain and inspire audiences around the world.
