John Hodiak (/ˈhoÊŠ.diË .æk/ HOH-dee-ak; April 16, 1914 â€" October
19, 1955) was an American actor who worked in radio, stage and
film.Hodiak was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Walter
Hodiak (October 25, 1888 â€" August 21, 1962) and Anna Pogorzelec
(February 28, 1888 â€" October 17, 1971). He was of Ukrainian and
Polish descent. Hodiak grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan.Hodiak had his
first theatrical experience at age 11, acting in Ukrainian and Russian
plays at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. From the moment he first
appeared on the stage, he resolved to become an actor. Hodiak was not
even swayed when as a third baseman on his local high school baseball
team, he was offered a contract with a St. Louis Cardinals farm club.
He turned the offer down.When Hodiak first tried out for a radio
acting job, he was turned down because of his accent. He became a
caddie at a Detroit golf course, then worked at a Chevrolet automobile
factory â€" and practiced his diction. When he conquered the diction
hurdle, he became a radio actor and moved to Chicago. There Hodiak
created the role of the comic strip character Li'l Abner on radio.
19, 1955) was an American actor who worked in radio, stage and
film.Hodiak was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Walter
Hodiak (October 25, 1888 â€" August 21, 1962) and Anna Pogorzelec
(February 28, 1888 â€" October 17, 1971). He was of Ukrainian and
Polish descent. Hodiak grew up in Hamtramck, Michigan.Hodiak had his
first theatrical experience at age 11, acting in Ukrainian and Russian
plays at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. From the moment he first
appeared on the stage, he resolved to become an actor. Hodiak was not
even swayed when as a third baseman on his local high school baseball
team, he was offered a contract with a St. Louis Cardinals farm club.
He turned the offer down.When Hodiak first tried out for a radio
acting job, he was turned down because of his accent. He became a
caddie at a Detroit golf course, then worked at a Chevrolet automobile
factory â€" and practiced his diction. When he conquered the diction
hurdle, he became a radio actor and moved to Chicago. There Hodiak
created the role of the comic strip character Li'l Abner on radio.
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