Dean Jagger (November 7, 1903 – February 5, 1991) was an American actor of film, stage, and television. He was known as one of the most "dependable character actors" of the Golden Age of Hollywood, though he also played leading roles. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Twelve O'Clock High (1949), and was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on the television series Mr. Novak (1963–65).
Dean Jeffries Jagger (or Dean Ida Jagger) was born in Columbus Grove or Lima, Ohio. Growing up on a farm, he wanted to act, and practiced oratory on cattle while working. He later won several oratory competitions. At age 14, he worked as an orderly at a sanatorium.
He dropped out of school several times before finally attending Wabash College. While there, he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and played football. He dropped out in his second year, realizing he was not suited to an academic life.
At age 17, he taught all eight grades in a rural elementary school, before heading to Chicago. He studied at the Conservatory of Drama with Elias Day, and through him got a job on the Chautauqua circuit.
Jagger studied acting at Chicago's Lyceum Arts Conservatory. He eventually played Young Matt in a production of Shepherd of the Hills on stage in Chicago. This experience resulted in his deciding to try his luck in New York City.
He joined a stock company as Spencer Tracy's replacement. He performed in vaudeville, on the radio, and on stage, making his Broadway debut in 1925 in a bit part in a George M. Cohan production. He was in the play Remote Control in 1928.
Jagger visited Los Angeles on a vaudeville show with Irene Rich. While there, he made his film debut in The Woman from Hell (1929) with Mary Astor. "My good notices", he later recalled, "had a reverse effect on the industry, which was suddenly revolutionized by sound pictures. With the one film to my credit, I was considered part of that group of untouchables – silent film stars." He followed it with Handcuffed (1929).
Jagger decided to move into film production, helping raise money to make a feature that ultimately never was released. He returned to New York City.
Jagger's big career break came when cast in a lead role in the play Tobacco Road in 1933. The play was a huge hit and ran until 1941, though Jagger left the show in 1934 to appear in They Shall Not Die, which only ran 62 performances.
In April 1934, Jagger signed a contract with Paramount, for which he made You Belong to Me (1934) with Lee Tracy, then College Rhythm (1934) with Jack Oakie, Behold My Wife! (1934) with Sylvia Sidney, Wings in the Dark (1935) with Myrna Loy and Cary Grant, Home on the Range (1935) with Jackie Coogan, Randolph Scott and Evelyn Brent, Car 99 (1935) with Fred MacMurray and Ann Sheridan, People Will Talk (1935) with Charlie Ruggles, and Men Without Names (1935) with Fred MacMurray. Paramount gave him a lead role in the B Western Wanderer of the Wasteland (1935). He was back in supporting parts in It's a Great Life (1935), Woman Trap (1936), and 13 Hours by Air (1936).
Victor Halperin borrowed him to play the lead role in Revolt of the Zombies (1936). He went to 20th Century Fox for Pepper (1936) and Star for a Night (1936), then to MGM for Under Cover of Night (1937).
Jagger did Woman in Distress (1937) at Columbia, and Dangerous Number (1937) and Song of the City (1937) at MGM.
Jagger appeared in Republic Pictures' Escape by Night (1937) and Exiled to Shanghai (1937).
Jagger played Michael Drops In in summer stock and returned to Broadway to star in Missouri Legend (1938), which ran 48 performances. He was also in short runs for Everywhere I Roam (1938–39), Brown Danube (1939), Farm of Three Echoes (1939–40) with Ethel Barrymore, and Unconquered (1940) by Ayn Rand.
Jagger made his breakthrough with his portrayal of Mormon leader Brigham Young in Brigham Young (1940) at 20th Century Fox, alongside Tyrone Power for director Henry Hathaway. He was cast on the basis of his performance in Missouri Legend. According to George D. Pyper, a technical consultant on the film who had personally known Brigham Young, Jagger not only resembled Young, but he also spoke like him and shared some of his mannerisms. Some 32 years later in 1972, he was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Fox signed him to a long-term contract and put him in Western Union (1941) for Fritz Lang. He was announced for the Biblical film The Great Commandment and a biopic of Lewis and Clark with Randolph Scott, but neither was made.
Instead, Jagger appeared in The Men in Her Life (1941) for Columbia, Valley of the Sun (1942) at RKO, and The Omaha Trail (1942) at MGM.
Jagger had a rare lead role in I Escaped from the Gestapo (1943) for the King Brothers, then went back to supporting roles for The North Star (1943) for Sam Goldwyn. The King Brothers gave him top billing again with When Strangers Marry (1944). Jagger acted in Alaska (1944) at Monogram, which was distributed to King films.