You may not be super familiar with his name, but we're willing to bet you have probably
seen his face.
He was one of the most prolific actors of Hollywood's golden age, appearing in nearly
100 films and countless TV shows.
He starred in some of the most iconic sci-fi movies of the 1950s, such as The Thing from
Another World, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, and It Came from Beneath the Sea.
He also played a variety of roles in genres ranging from westerns to war dramas to comedies.
He was Kenneth Tobey, a versatile and charismatic performer who left a lasting impression on
audiences.
But what happened to him?
How did he die?
And why does his death still shock us today?
In this video post, we will take a closer look at the life and career of Kenneth Tobey,
who died on December 22, 2002, at the age of 85.
We will explore his early years, his breakthrough roles, his personal challenges, his later
work, and his somewhat rare cause of death.
If you are curious about this fascinating actor or just love classic movies and TV shows,
you won't want to miss this amazing and surprising tribute to Kenneth Tobey.
Facts Verse Presents: Kenneth Tobey's Cause of Death Still Shocks Us Today
Early Years
Kenneth Jesse Tobey was born on March 23, 1917, in Oakland, California.
His father was Jesse Vincent Tobey, a salesman for an oil company, while his mother was a
homemaker named Alma Fern Johnson Tobey.
He had two older sisters named Helen and Dorothy.
Tobey grew up in a middle-class family that greatly valued education and culture.
He attended Oakland High School, where he excelled in sports and academics.
From an early age, he became interested in theater and joined the school's drama club
as a teen.
After graduating from high school in 1934, Tobey enrolled at the University of California
at Berkeley, where he planned to study law.
However, he soon realized that he had an intense passion for acting and decided to pursue it
as a career instead.
He then transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles, where he joined the Little
Theater group.
There he met other aspiring actors such as Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach, and Tony Randall.
Tobey graduated from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1939.
He then moved to New York City where he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater
for a year and a half under Sanford Meisner, one of the most influential acting teachers
of the 20th century.
Rise to Fame
Tobey made his Broadway debut in 1941 with a relatively minor, albeit memorable, role
in Johnny Belinda, a play about a deaf-mute girl who is sexually assaulted by her cousin.
The play was later adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Jane Wyman.
During this period of his early acting career, Tobey appeared in other Broadway plays such
as Winged Victory, Mr Roberts, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, and A View From The Bridge.
Around this time, he also worked as an understudy for Henry Fonda, John Garfield, and Paul Muni.
During World War II, Tobey served as an officer in the US Navy Air Corps.
He flew missions over Europe and Africa as part of Squadron VB-110 and was awarded several
medals for his bravery and service.
After returning from the war, Tobey resumed his acting career on stage and screen.
He made his film debut with an uncredited role as a sailor in 1947s Dangerous Venture,
a Hopalong Cassidy western.
He then landed his first major film role as Captain Patrick Hendry, the leader of an Arctic
expedition that discovers an alien spacecraft buried under ice, in 1951's The Thing From
Another World.
The film was produced by Howard Hawks, one of Hollywood's most acclaimed directors of
that era, who gave Tobey creative freedom and encouraged him to improvise dialogue.
The Thing From Another World was one of the first sci-fi films to deal with themes such
as paranoia, isolation, and distrust among humans facing an unknown enemy.
It was likewise one of the first films to feature realistic special effects such as
animatronics, pyrotechnics, and the incorporation of stylized matte paintings.
The film ended up becoming a huge hit with critics and audiences alike, and ultimately
it became one of Tobey's most memorable roles while establishing him as one of Hollywood's
leading men.
Career Highlights
After his breakthrough role in The Thing From Another World, Tobey continued to star or
co-star in many films and TV shows of different genres.
He became one of the most recognizable faces of 1950s sci-fi cinema, working with legendary
animator Ray Harryhausen on two films: The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms and It Came From
Beneath The Sea.
In these two now-iconic films, he played a military officer who faced giant monsters
that threatened major cities.
Tobey also had his own TV series, Whirlybirds, where he portrayed an adventurous helicopter
pilot who ran a charter service with his partner.
The series was produced by Desilu Productions, the company of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz,
and ran for 111 episodes from 1957 to 1960.
Tobey's career spanned more than half a century and included appearances in acclaimed films
such as 12 O'Clock High, The Wings of Eagles, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
He also later guest-starred on popular TV shows such as Perry Mason, Batman, and Star
Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Family Life
Tobey was only ever married once in his life.
Tobey's wife was June Hutton, a singer, and actress who was previously married to Axel
Stordah and was at point tied to Frank Sinatra Jr.
They tied the knot in 1968 and remained together until Hutton's death from cancer in 1973.
The couple had one daughter, Tina Tobey.
Private Struggles
Kenneth Tobey faced many challenges and hardships throughout his life and career.
As we previously touched on, he served as a fighter pilot in World War II.
Unfortunately, he ended up suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing
the horrors of war.
Following his time in the service, he struggled with alcoholism for many years and had several
run-ins with the law for drunk driving and disorderly conduct.
Tobey also faced discrimination and typecasting as an actor because of his rugged appearance
and deep voice.
He was often cast as a tough guy or authority figures such as a military officer or police
detective.
Because of this, he rarely got to play romantic leads or complex characters that showcased
his range and talent.
Tobey, furthermore, suffered from health problems later in life, such as diabetes, arthritis,
and heart disease.
Despite his struggles, he continued to work until his retirement in 1997.
Politics
Kenneth Tobey was a staunch conservative who supported Republican candidates and causes
throughout his life.
He was famous for being an outspoken critic of communism, liberalism, feminism, civil
rights movements, environmentalism, and LGBT rights movements.
On top of all of that, he firmly believed that America should maintain its military
strength and moral values against foreign enemies and domestic threats.
Tobey was also a devout Christian who attended church regularly and read the Bible daily.
His faith moved him to donate money to various religious charities.
Not one to hold back when it came to his personal beliefs, he often expressed his political
views on radio shows or public events where he would debate with other celebrities or
activists who disagreed with him.
He also wrote letters to newspapers or magazines where he would voice his opinions on current
issues or controversies.
Tobey's Death and Legacy
Kenneth Tobey died of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on December
22, 2002.
He was 85 years old.
He was survived by his daughter Tina Tobey.
Kenneth Tobey left behind a legacy of hundreds of films and TV shows that spanned more than
half a century.
He was admired by many fans and filmmakers who appreciated his rugged charm, commanding
presence, and versatile talent.
Additionally, he influenced many generations of actors who followed in his footsteps, such
as Kurt Russell and John Carpenter.
Kenneth Tobey's death was mourned by many Hollywood celebrities and colleagues who worked
with him or knew him personally.
Stars who were familiar with him expressed their condolences and tributes through various
media outlets such as newspapers, magazines, and websites.
Some of these stars included James Arness, who co-starred with him in The Thing from
Another World; Ray Harryhausen, who created the special effects for some of his sci-fi
films; Joe Dante, who directed him in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and Tom Weaver, who interviewed
him extensively for several books.
Kenneth Tobey will forever be remembered as one of the most prolific and iconic actors
of American cinema and television history.
He will also be remembered for his conservative views, political activism, and religious faith.
And to his surviving family members and friends, he will continue to be remembered as a committed
family man, father, and ally.
Well, that about wraps up our rundown of the life and career of Kenneth Tobey.
In the intro, we mentioned that he died in a rather unusual way – and while that might
have been a bit clickbaity, you got to admit it's pretty rare to hear of a star who died
of natural causes.
How will you remember Kenneth Tobey, and which one of his films or television shows was your
favorite?
Let us know in the comments.
And as always, thanks for watching.