Jody McCrea
Biography
Jody McCrea was an American actor who began with minor parts in his father's movies, among them Wichita (1955). After two years of training with Sanford Meisner in New York City, he worked often in television, and he and his father costarred in the NBC western Wichita Town, which ran briefly, starting in 1959. American International Pictures cast him as the dim-witted Deadhead, later known as Bonehead, in Beach Party (1963), and he returned to the character in Bikini Beach (1964) and Muscle Beach Party (1964). He played the Big Lunk in Pajama Party (1964) and appeared as Bonehead once more in How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), the last Beach Party film he made. His other films included The Monster That Challenged the World (1957), Lafayette Escadrille (1958), The Girls from Thunder Strip (1970), and Cry Blood Apache (1970), a western he also produced. After November Children (1972), he retired from acting.
74years old at death
- Born Los Angeles
- Died Roswell
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Also credited as Joel Dee McCrea
Movie Career
- Films
- 9
- Career span
- 13 years1957 to 1970
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Own stunts
McCrea was an avid body builder. Of all the actors who appeared in the American International Pictures beach movies, he was the only one who could surf.
Beyond film
In 1964, McCrea put out a 45 rpm single on Canjo Records to go with Bikini Beach. "Chicken Surfer" was on side A, and "Looney Gooney Bird" was on side B.
Behind the camera
McCrea wrote a script called Stage to Nowhere, but it seems the script was never turned into a made film.
A role that slipped away
In Sam Peckinpah's Major Dundee, McCrea took the role of Lieutenant Brannin, a cocky cavalry officer loosely modeled on George Armstrong Custer, though his scene did not survive into the final cut.
A role that slipped away
McCrea was replaced by Aaron Kincaid as Bonehead for Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, the Beach Party entry he did not appear in.
A change of course
McCrea briefly hosted Country Style, USA, a recruiting television program made by the Army and filmed in Nashville, Tennessee, where country music entertainers appeared.
Jody McCrea movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
William Asher directed four of these films. Annette Funicello appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Annette Funicello's page
John Ashley's page
Harvey Lembeck's page
Andy Romano's page
Frankie Avalon's page
Jerry Brutsche's page
William AsherDirector, 4 films, 1963 to 1965
All films by William Asher
Also three films together3 more actors
- Alberta NelsonHow to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965), Pajama Party (1964) and Beach Party (1963)
- Candy JohnsonBikini Beach (1964), Muscle Beach Party (1964) and Pajama Party (1964)
- Donna LorenBikini Beach (1964), Muscle Beach Party (1964) and Pajama Party (1964)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.