Child star’s momentous leap
DUNE and Quantum Leap actor Dean Stockwell’s career spanned seven decades but the former child star had a troubled relationship with Hollywood.
By the time he reached adulthood, Stockwell had starred in 20 films including Anchors Aweigh (1945),The BoyWith Green Hair (1948) and Kim (1950) after his mother locked him into a seven-year contract with MGM Studios at the age of nine.
Stockwell had one holiday in nine years despite regularly working 10-hour days, leaving him stressed and friendless.
Following a long hiatus to escape the pressure, he returned to acting and came to renewed prominence in the 1980s in a host of criticallyacclaimed roles.
He earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as a Mafia boss in the 1988 comedy Married To The Mob and landed parts in Paris,Texas (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987),The Player (1992),The Rainmaker (1997) and Air Force One (1997). His most high-profile role, aside from 1984’s Dune, was as Albert “Al” Calavicci in the sci-fi series Quantum Leap opposite Scott Bakula. It secured him a Golden Globe and four Emmy nominations.
He was born in Los Angeles to actor and singer Harry Stockwell and Elizabeth “Betty” Stockwell, who separated when he was six.
His father had heard about an opening for child actors while appearing in a Broadway play and Stockwell’s mother took him to the audition for InnocentVoyage by Paul Osborne. It was only a small but an MGM employee happened to see him, leading to a screen test and resulting contract.
In 1962 he won Best Actor at Cannes as Edmund Tyrone in A Long Day’s Journey Into Night.
He is survived by his two children from his second marriage to Joy Marchenko.