Grant, Johnny 1923–

(John Grant)

PERSONAL

Full name, John Grant, Jr.; born May 1923, in Goldboro, NC. Avocational Interests: Photography.

Career: Actor and producer. WGBR (radio), Goldsboro, NC, newscaster, 1939–?; WINS (radio), contributed news features; provided color commentary for Pacific Coast football games, 1949; KECA-TV, daytime host, 1950–54; "Freeway Club," KMPC, Los Angeles, 1951–59; KMPC, White House correspondent, 1965; Operation Understanding, Washington, DC, producer and host, 1976; Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, producer, 1978–; Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, producer of pre-game events, 1989; Welcome Home Desert Storm parade, Los Angeles, creator and producer, 1991; Hollywood Centennial Celebration, chairman and executive producer; honorary mayor of Hollywood, CA; officiates over the unveiling of Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; serves as master of ceremonies for civic and charity events. Walk of Fame Selection Committee, chairman; Hollywood Historic Trust, chairman; Hollywood Entertainment Museum, member of board; Cultural Heritage Commission, City of Los Angeles, member; Los Angeles City Fire Commission, president; Los Angeles County Service Commission, president; Police Commission of Burbank, president; national USO Board of Governors, member; Nations Forces for the International Korean War Memorial, member. United Nations Day Chairman, 1992; Bob Hope USO, former member of board; Arthritis Foundation, former member of board; Los Angeles Council of the Boy Scouts of America, member of board. Named "The Man of the West," Festival of Western Arts, San Dimas, CA, 1986. Military service: Served in Army Air Corps during World War II, 1942–?; hosted radio show, Strictly GI. Participated in 55 USO and personal visits to troops in Korea, Vietnam, and other locations. California State Military Reserve; reached rank of major general,?–1982.

Awards, Honors: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, television, 1980; Wrangler Award, 1982; The Order of California, 1982, 1990; Legends of News Award, Los Angeles Press Club, 1987; Los Angeles Area Governor's Award, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, 1988; The Spirit of Hope Award, USO, 1997; Legion of Merit, 2000; Combat Entertainer's Badge, 2001; named Treasure of Los Angeles, 2002; awarded additional Hollywood Walk of Fame Star, 2002; Medal of Merit, National Guard; Bob Hope Combat Entertainer Award; General Matthew B. Ridgeway Award; additional Combat Entertainer's Badge; Heart Award, Variety Club; Pepperdine University, honorary doctorate; Annual Sweetheart Award, Childhelp USA; Golden Heart Award, Holland; Order of Merit, Russia; Distinguished American Award, USO.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(As John Grant) TV show host Johnny Grant, Mask of the Dragon, Lippert Pictures, 1951.

(Uncredited) Ed Harrison, White Christmas, Paramount, 1954.

(Uncredited) Disc jockey, The Great Man, Universal International Pictures, 1956.

Himself, Rock, Pretty Baby, Universal International Pictures, 1956.

Rescue party leader, The Woman Eater, Sony, 1957.

Himself, The Young and the Dead (documentary), 2000.

Himself, Hollywood Homicide, Sony 2003.

Television Appearances; Series:

Host, Beat the Clock, Dumont Network, 1946–49.

7 to 8, NBC, 1953–54.

Johnny Grant at Universal Studios, KTLA, 1969–71.

"Johnny Grant Backstage in Hollywood," News at Ten, KTLA, c. 1971–74.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Himself, Action, syndicated, 1999.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Himself, The Bob Hope Christmas Variety Special, 1965.

Himself, This is Your Life, NBC, 1987.

Guide, Hollywood Walk of Fame (documentary), AMC, 1997.

The Great Christmas Movies (documentary), AMC, 1998.

Hollywood at Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints (documentary), AMC, 2000.

Himself as honorary mayor of Hollywood, Christmas in Tinseltown, BBC, 2001.

Himself, The Three Stooges 75th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

(As John Grant) Chet Sparks, "The Girl Who Knew," Letter to Loretta, NBC, 1955.

Himself, "Downbeat," 77 Sunset Strip, ABC, 1959.

Himself, "Johnny Grant," This Is Your Life, NBC, 1960.

Himself, "Lucy Goes to a Hollywood Premiere," The Lucy Show, CBS, 1966.

Himself, "Chao Ong," China Beach, ABC, 1988.

Himself, "The Curse of the Faro," Buddy Faro, CBS, 1998.

Also appeared as himself, Burke's Law, CBS.

Television Executive Producer; Specials:

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1989, 1990, 1996.

Hollywood's Welcome Home Desert Storm Parade, syndicated, 1991.

The 61st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1992.

The 1997 Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1997.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Goldsboro News-Argus (Goldsboro, NC), April 24, 2005.

Los Angeles Times Magazine, April 16, 2000.

Electronic:

Johnny Grant Official Site, http://www.johnnygrant.com/, July 2, 2005.