Roman Bohnen was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Of Mice and Men, The Song of Bernadette, and The Best Years of Our Lives. His career spanned both stage and film, showcasing his talents as a character actor.
Personal and Family Life
Roman Aloys Bohnen, nicknamed “Bud,” was born on November 24, 1901, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was married to Hildur Marion Ourse from October 7, 1930, until her death on July 10, 1941. They had one child together. Bohnen was known to have been deeply affected by the pressures of his profession and family responsibilities.
Career Highlights
Bohnen was a member of the esteemed Group Theatre in New York from 1931 to 1940, where he excelled in classic plays such as “Waiting for Lefty” and “Golden Boy.” He moved to Hollywood during the late 1930s to earn a living for his family, taking on roles that often cast him as older characters due to his unique features. He became a regular performer in films directed by Lewis Milestone and was recognized as a talented character actor with a rich emotional range.
Death and Legacy
Roman Bohnen passed away on February 24, 1949, in Hollywood, California, following a heart attack that occurred while he was performing on stage. His death came shortly after he was blacklisted during the “Red Scare,” which some believe contributed to his stress and health issues. Bohnen left a lasting impact on both the stage and film industries, remembered as a rare talent taken too soon.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| The Best Years of Our Lives | 1946-12-25 | Pat Derry |
| Night Has a Thousand Eyes | 1948-08-20 | Special Prosecutor Melville Weston |
| The Strange Love of Martha Ivers | 1946-08-19 | Mr. O’Neil |
| Brute Force | 1947-07-16 | Warden A.J. Barnes |
| Arch of Triumph | 1948-02-17 | Dr. Veber |
| Joan of Arc | 1948-12-22 | Durand Laxart, Joan’s Uncle |
| The Song of Bernadette | 1943-12-21 | François Soubirous |
| For You I Die | 1947-12-17 | Smitty |
| Grand Central Murder | 1942-05-01 | Ramon |
| Mr. Soft Touch | 1949-07-28 | Barney Teener |
| Open Secret | 1948-02-14 | Roy Locke |
| Of Mice and Men | 1939-12-24 | Candy |
| The Hoodlum Saint | 1946-04-04 | Father O’Doul |
| Counter-Attack | 1945-04-26 | Kostyuk |
| The Tell-Tale Heart | 1941-10-25 | Old Man |
| The Hairy Ape | 1944-07-02 | Paddy |
| The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine | 1942-03-27 | Tom Forbes |
| Appointment for Love | 1941-10-31 | Dr. Gunther |
| Two Years Before the Mast | 1946-11-22 | Macklin |
| The Hitler Gang | 1944-04-26 | Captain Ernst Röhm |
| None But the Lonely Heart | 1944-10-17 | Dad Pettyjohn |
| Vogues of 1938 | 1937-08-18 | Morgan’s Lawyer |
| The Hard Way | 1943-01-13 | Sam Chernen (Uncredited) |
| Winter Wonderland | 1946-05-12 | Timothy Wheeler |
| So Ends Our Night | 1941-02-27 | Mr. Kern |
| California | 1947-02-21 | Col. Stuart |
| They Dare Not Love | 1941-05-16 | Baron Shafter |
| The Bugle Sounds | 1942-01-30 | Mr. Leech |
| Young America | 1942-02-06 | Mr. Barnes |
| Edge of Darkness | 1943-04-09 | Lars Malken |
| Mission to Moscow | 1943-04-29 | Mr. Krestinsky |
| Miss Susie Slagle’s | 1946-03-04 | Dean Wingate |
| A Bell for Adano | 1945-06-21 | Carl Erba – Cart Man |
| Song of Love | 1947-10-09 | Dr. Hoffman |
| Ghost Treasure | 1941-03-05 | Pete Wilkins (uncredited) |
| Kazan | 1949-07-13 | Maitlin |
| Deadline at Dawn | 1946-03-18 | Frantic Man with Injured Cat |