Gig Young started his movie career billed under his birth name, Byron Barr. He made his debut in You're in the Army Now (1941). The following year, he played in The Gay Sisters playing a larger supporting role, a character called Gig Young. While he would he would still continue going by Byron Barr for a while, he would eventually change it to Gig Young because there was an actor named Byron Barr already in Hollywood. When not going by his birth name, Young sometimes billed himself as Bryant Fleming. During WWI, Young was part of the Coast Guard. Upon his discharge, he returned to his movie career. Dashing and witty, Young often played second bananas and was frequently cast as a carefree bachelor who was more interested in fun than commitment. He also played guys who were always unlucky in love in romantic comedies. Occasionally Young would win the lead in B-movies. In 1969, Young earned an Oscar for his performance in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? On television, Young occasionally guest starred on series and movies. In 1976, he starred in the short-lived series Gibbsville. In 1978, Young and his bride of three weeks (he had been married four times before) were found dead of gunshot wounds in his Manhattan apartment. In Young's hand was the pistol and police surmised that he had shot her and then himself. His wife was Kim Schmidt, a 31-year-old German actress.
by Sandra Brennan
biography
