Born 1914 in Cincinnati, American actor Lee Bowman made his film debut in I Met Him in Paris (1937) for Paramount. He worked at that studio for a while, then RKO, before moving to MGM.
The lack of leading men in World War II was a boost to Bowman’s career and he co-starred with Rita Hayworth in Cover Girl and Jean Arthur in The Impatient Years. He was signed by Columbia Pictures.
The Impatient Years was a hit and Bowman was described in late 1944 as “now a very hot commodity in Hollywood.” However, he never quite progressed beyond supporting female stars and his status as a leading man faded.
In the early 1950s, Bowman became television’s second Ellery Queen, stepping into the role after the first, Richard Hart, died unexpectedly of a coronary. He hosted the short-lived game show What’s Going On? on ABC in late 1954.
Bowman died from a heart attack in Brentwood, Los Angeles, on Christmas Day 1979, three days before his 65th birthday. Take a look at these vintage photos to see portraits of Lee Bowman in the 1930s and 1940s.
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