Gig Young
American actor (1913–1978)
- Born
- 4 November 1913, St. Cloud
- Died
- 19 October 1978
- Citizenship
- United States
- Occupation
- actor, screenwriter, stage actor, television actor, film actor
- Films here
- 2
Gig Young (born Byron Elsworth Barr; November 4, 1913 – October 19, 1978) was an American actor. He was active in film, television, and theater from the late 1930s through the 1970s, and was initially known for his portrayals of characters with "light-hearted sophistication." He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), with two previous nominations for Come Fill the Cup (1952) and Teacher's Pet (1959).
Young's career was hampered by a troubled personal life. Dissatisfied with the quality of roles, his worsening alcoholism caused him to lose several high-profile parts, severely hurting his career prospects. In 1978, Young murdered his 31-year-old wife three weeks after their wedding before turning the gun on himself and committing suicide at the age of 64.
Filmography (martial arts films)
| Year | Film | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Kid Galahad | Cast |
| 1978 | Game of Death | Cast |
Frequent collaborators
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q344758 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.