This page uses content from the Jody McCrea biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.

Jody McCrea (born September 6, 1934 in Los Angeles, California) born Joel Dee McCrea, is the son of Frances Dee and Joel McCrea, both famous actors. He is the oldest of three children, and has 2 brothers, David and Peter.

Jody began acting in the short-lived 1959 series "Wichita Town" with his father. Since then, he has starred in films (mainly westerns) such as "Layfayette Escadrille", "The Broken Land (with Jack Nicholson)," "Law of the Lawless," and "Cry, Blood Apache (also which he produced)." However, he is most notable for his comedic role as dumb-minded "Deadhead (Bonehead)" in American International Pictures' 60's "Beach Party" films. Some beach movies he's appeared in are "Beach Party," "Muscle Beach Party," "Bikini Beach," and "Beach Blanket Bingo," among others. He was also in an AIP biker movie in 1968, "The Glory Stompers." He has made several television appearances over the years as well. He has appeared on "Wagon Train," "Vacation Playhouse," and "The Greatest Show on Earth". He had been cast in a small part as Lieutenant Brannin, a cocky, Custer-esque cavalry officer, in Sam Peckinpah's Western Major Dundee (1965), but his scene was excised in the final cut.

McCrea may have found it very hard to follow in the footsteps of his father Joel, especially as an actor of the "strong and silent-type." But when cast in the beach pictures, it is clear that McCrea finally realized his comedic potential. When first offered the role of "Deadhead", for example, he has been quoted at the time as saying that he "wasn't sure what the character would become." However, when he realized how much he made people laugh, he began to really enjoy the character. Though he occasionally did some roles in community theater over the years, McCrea retired from acting altogether in 1970 to become a rancher in New Mexico.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the biographical information on this page under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.