Martin Spellman
Spencer Tracy and Spellman in Boys Town (1938)
Born
Martin Spellman IV

(1925-10-08)October 8, 1925
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 2020(2020-05-06) (aged 94)
Vancouver, Washington, U.S.
OccupationChild actor
Years active1938–1957

Martin Spellman IV (October 8, 1925 – May 6, 2020) was an American child actor active in films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Career

Martin Spellman IV was born in 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa. After his family moved to California, at the age of 9 he first entered the MGM studios not as a prospective actor but as a newsboy.[1]

He became such a familiar figure at MGM that for Christmas 1937, they decided to give him a very special Christmas present. Clark Gable invited him to work as an extra for a few days on the film Test Pilot where he had an uncredited role. After that, he played Skinny in the 1938 film Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.[2] In 1939, he co-starred in Streets of New York with Jackie Cooper.[3] The following year he had another leading role in Son of the Navy with Jean Parker and James Dunn.

Spellman's film career ended in 1941. He then enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Returning to civilian life, he spent 27 years in the business world, and then switched to automobile finance and insurance.[4]

Spellman died in Vancouver, Washington in May 2020 at the age of 94.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role
1938 Test Pilot Kid
Boys Town Skinny
Sharpshooters Prince Michael Martin
Santa Fe Stampede Billy Carson
I Am a Criminal Bobby
1939 Let Us Live Jimmy Dugan
Beau Geste Digby Geste as a child
The Streets of New York William McKinley 'Gimpy' Smith
Law of the Wolf Johnny
Fangs of the Wild Buddy Brady
1940 Son of the Navy Tommy
Hold That Woman! Mike Mulvaney
1941 Meet the Chump Champ
Confessions of Boston Blackie Jimmy Parrish

References

  1. ↑ Holmstrom, John (1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 154.
  2. ↑ "Martin includes 'Daisy'". Oakland Tribune. April 28, 1940. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Jackie Cooper and Friend". The Bakersfield Californian. July 8, 1939. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Martin Spellman". Mar-Ken School/Lawlor Professional School. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  5. ↑ Martin Spellman IV, legacy.com; accessed June 20, 2020.

Bibliography

  • Holmstrom, John (1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 154.


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