Van Heflin (December 13, 1908 – July 23, 1971) was a highly respected and exceptionally versatile American actor, known for his rugged, intelligent, and dependable on-screen presence. While he often played character parts, his talent was such that he also had a successful run as a leading man during the 1940s, bringing a grounded reality to every performance.
He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his powerful portrayal of an alcoholic intellectual in the film noir Johnny Eager (1942). His versatility during this period was further showcased with a key dramatic role in the all-star MGM musical Till the Clouds Roll By (1946). Later, Heflin became most identified with the Western genre, delivering iconic performances as the principled farmer Joe Starrett in Shane (1953) and the determined rancher Dan Evans in the original 3:10 to Yuma (1957).
