Brad Dexter (born Boris Michel Soso; April 9, 1917 â€" December 12,
2002) was an American actor and film producer. He is known for
tough-guy and western roles, including the 1960 film The Magnificent
Seven (1960), and producing several films for Sidney J. Furie such as
Lady Sings the Blues. He is also known for a short marriage to Peggy
Lee, a friendship with Marilyn Monroe and for saving Frank Sinatra
from drowning. Dexter's tough-guy roles contrasted with his easygoing
and friendly real-life personality.Dexter was born in Goldfield,
Nevada, the second of three children (all males) born to Marko and
Ljubica Šošo (later known as Marko and Violet Soso), who were ethnic
Serb immigrants from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbian was Dexter's first
language.The family soon decamped for Los Angeles, where he attended
Belmont High School. Tall, burly and handsome with bright blue eyes,
Dexter was usually given supporting roles as a rugged character. After
a stint as an amateur boxer, Dexter attended the Pasadena Playhouse,
where he studied acting. He had a small role in The Mortal Storm
(1940). During World War II he enlisted for military service with the
U.S. Army Air Corps, where he met and befriended Karl Malden, a fellow
Serbian-American, and appeared uncredited in the Corps play and film
Winged Victory (1944).After the war, Dexter had a role in Heldorado
(1946), a Roy Rogers western, as "Barry Mitchell". He was also
credited under this name in Sinbad, the Sailor (1947). He appeared on
Broadway in Magnolia Alley (1949).
2002) was an American actor and film producer. He is known for
tough-guy and western roles, including the 1960 film The Magnificent
Seven (1960), and producing several films for Sidney J. Furie such as
Lady Sings the Blues. He is also known for a short marriage to Peggy
Lee, a friendship with Marilyn Monroe and for saving Frank Sinatra
from drowning. Dexter's tough-guy roles contrasted with his easygoing
and friendly real-life personality.Dexter was born in Goldfield,
Nevada, the second of three children (all males) born to Marko and
Ljubica Šošo (later known as Marko and Violet Soso), who were ethnic
Serb immigrants from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbian was Dexter's first
language.The family soon decamped for Los Angeles, where he attended
Belmont High School. Tall, burly and handsome with bright blue eyes,
Dexter was usually given supporting roles as a rugged character. After
a stint as an amateur boxer, Dexter attended the Pasadena Playhouse,
where he studied acting. He had a small role in The Mortal Storm
(1940). During World War II he enlisted for military service with the
U.S. Army Air Corps, where he met and befriended Karl Malden, a fellow
Serbian-American, and appeared uncredited in the Corps play and film
Winged Victory (1944).After the war, Dexter had a role in Heldorado
(1946), a Roy Rogers western, as "Barry Mitchell". He was also
credited under this name in Sinbad, the Sailor (1947). He appeared on
Broadway in Magnolia Alley (1949).
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