John Garfield
ActingAbout John Garfield
John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle; March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in Depression-era New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of the Group Theater. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood, eventually becoming one of Warner Bros.' stars. Called to testify before the U.S. Congressional House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), he denied communist affiliation and refused to "name names", effectively ending his film career. Some have alleged that the stress of this incident led to his premature death at 39 from a heart attack. Garfield is acknowledged as a predecessor of such Method actors as Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and James Dean.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of John Garfield reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 48 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of John Garfield's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 52% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), John Garfield remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Movie Tough Guys, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best John Garfield Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from John Garfield's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of John Garfield.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Classic Movie Bloopers: Uncensored | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Nick Blake in Nobody Lives Forever (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | The John Garfield Story | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | John Garfield | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1991 | Movie Tough Guys | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Broadway's Dreamers: The Legacy of the Group Theatre | Joe Bonaparte (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1983 | Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | He Ran All the Way | Nick Robey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Breaking Point | Harry Morgan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Force of Evil | Joe Morse | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Under My Skin | Dan Butler | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | We Were Strangers | Tony Fenner | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Jigsaw | Loafer with Newspaper (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | Gentleman's Agreement | Dave Goldman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Body and Soul | Charley Davis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Humoresque | Paul Boray | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Nobody Lives Forever | Nick Blake | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Okay for Sound | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Postman Always Rings Twice | Frank Chambers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Pride of the Marines | Albert Schmid | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Breakdowns of 1944 | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Hollywood Canteen | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Between Two Worlds | Tom Prior | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Destination Tokyo | Wolf | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Fallen Sparrow | John 'Kit' McKittrick | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Show-Business at War | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Air Force | Tail Gunner Joe Winocki | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Breakdowns of 1942 | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Tortilla Flat | Daniel Alvarez | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Dangerously They Live | Dr. Michael 'Mike' Lewis | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Breakdowns of 1941 | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Out of the Fog | Harold Goff | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Sea Wolf | George Leach | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | East of the River | Joseph Enrico 'Joe' Lorenzo | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Flowing Gold | Johnny Blake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Saturday's Children | Rims Rosson | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Castle on the Hudson | Tommy Gordon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Breakdowns of 1939 | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Four Wives | Mickey Borden | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Dust Be My Destiny | Joe Bell | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Daughters Courageous | Gabriel Lopez | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Juarez | General Porfirio Diaz | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Blackwell's Island | Tim Haydon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | They Made Me a Criminal | Johnnie Bradfield, aka Jack Dorney | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Swingtime in the Movies | Himself (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Four Daughters | Mickey Borden | Hit | Similar → |
John Garfield - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of John Garfield?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring John Garfield is "Movie Tough Guys" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has John Garfield acted in?
John Garfield has been featured in at least 48 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by John Garfield?
Other notable films include "The John Garfield Story", "Los Angeles Plays Itself", and "Hollywood Canteen".