O.Z. Whitehead
Actor

O.Z. Whitehead Net Worth

O.Z. Whitehead was an American character actor of a unique range, known for his membership in the "John Ford Stock Company". He began his career on the New York stage before entering films in the 1930s. He was known for playing a variety of characters, often quite different from his own age and type. He is most remembered for his role as Al Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940). Whitehead continued to work predominantly on the stage, appearing in films and television occasionally. He passed away in 1998 in Dublin, Ireland, where he had been living in semi-retirement for many years, due to cancer.
O.Z. Whitehead is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor
Birth Day March 01, 1911
Birth Place  New York City, New York, United States
Age 109 YEARS OLD
Died On July 29, 1998(1998-07-29) (aged 87)\nDublin, Ireland
Birth Sign Aries
Years active 1935–1997

💰 Net worth

O.Z. Whitehead, a renowned actor in the United States, is expected to have a net worth ranging from $100K to $1M by 2024. Widely recognized for his exceptional talent and versatility, Whitehead has established a successful career in the entertainment industry. With a plethora of notable performances under his belt, he has captivated audiences with his immense skill and dedication to his craft. As his popularity continues to soar, coupled with his relentless work ethic, it is no surprise that his net worth is projected to reach impressive heights in the coming years.

Biography/Timeline

1921

As a child he was fascinated by films and the theatre and decided to make his career as an actor after his father took him to see Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan in The Kid in 1921. After years in stage, film and television Whitehead struggled in the Hollywood Studio system, a pacifist in World War II and became dissatisfied with the roles he was given, and then first heard of the Bahá'í Faith in 1949. At his first informational meeting on the religion, Whitehead heard well-known researcher Marzieh Gail. Whitehead joined the religion late in 1950, gave public talks on the religion such as at World Religion Day observances and other occasions in the 1950s, went on pilgrimage to its spiritual and administrative center in Haifa in 1955. He also attended the first Bahá'í World Congress in 1963 in London. He then pioneered to Ireland while also taking to the Dublin theatrical opportunities. Whitehead was elected to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Dublin and the National Spiritual Assembly of Ireland on which he served for 15 years following its formation in 1972. From about 1973 through the end of his life Whitehead devoted much of his time to the concerns of the religion including work resulting in publishing three books collecting biographies of early Bahá'ís while in his 6th decade but he also supported the Irish Actors' Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild and served on the executive of the Irish branch of PEN, the international writers' club.

1933

Whitehead first appeared on Broadway in Martin Beck Theatre performing in The Lake (1933) in 55 performances from December 1933 to February 1934 (which was Katharine Hepburn's first Broadway leading role) and 11 other plays by 1939. Hepburn encourages his early career.

1935

The Scoundrel (1935) by Ben Hecht, and Charles MacArthur which won a 1936 Oscar for Best Original Story was Whitehead's first film. Whitehead most famously played Al Joad (Henry Fonda's younger brother) in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath (1940) which was nominated for, and won, several Oscars. Whitehead starred as Clarence in a stage production of Life with Father with Lillian Gish among a total of more than 50 films and TV series episodes performances. Whitehead's first TV episode was The Arrow and the Bow in Cavalcade of America in 1953 and continued in other shows like Gunsmoke (1958), Bonanza (1960), and two episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960–61). In 1961 he made a guest appearance on Perry Mason as murderer Harry Beacom in "The Case of the Cowardly Lion." Shortly thereafter Whitehead moved to Ireland and participated in theatre arts there.

1940

O. Z. Whitehead was one of the last surviving members of John Ford's "stock company" of character actors. Along with John Carradine, Donald Meek, Ward Bond, Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr. et al., Whitehead was one of the many actors regularly employed by Ford to breathe life into even the smallest roles in his films. His best-known part was that of Al in Ford's 1940 adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath.

1966

Following his move to Ireland he established the "O. Z. Whitehead Award" supporting theatre in 1966, the first year including Dr. Michael McDonnell, for his play All Gods Die on Friday. Other winners have been Ivy Bannister, Aodhan Madden, and Francis Harvey.

1998

Whitehead died of cancer in Dublin in 1998, at the age of 87.

Some O.Z. Whitehead images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.