Gig Young appeared to be one of the most laid-back, relaxed 1940s support actors, although in reality he was anything but.

Born Byron Barr in St Cloud, Minnesota, he worked as a used car salesman before he started acting at the Pasadena Playhouse, where a Warner Brothers talent scout spotted him.

His first Hollywood role was in The Gay Sisters, playing an artist called Gig Young (Warner Bros, 1942). The name stuck, so it became his stage name. Gig was an alcoholic and played one in Come Fill The Cup (Warner Bros 1951) for which he was Academy Award-nominated.

He went on to win an Academy Award as best supporting actor in They Shoot Horses Don't They (US Studios 1969).

Red Buttons, another famous support actor of the time, said: "Beneath Gig's light-hearted sophistication is a man who needs an arm around him."

He support-acted many stars, Erroll Flynn in They Died With Their boots On, Frank Sinatra in Young At Heart, and John Wayne in Wake Of The Red Witch.

His story came to a tragic end in Hollywood. He was found dead at his Osborne Apartments home with his third wife Kim Schmidt, both killed by the .38 calibre revolver he clutched in his hand.

Gig Young died in 1978, aged 65.

  • Gordon Dean, Lancing