The Silver Screen Oasis

I am probably dead wrong, but could it be Leo McKern?

No, it isn't Mr. McKern.
He was Oscar Nominated in the Golden year of movies, a guest host on a popular TV Game show, and a published biographer.

No Takers?? I'm not very good at this, (it's actually my first go )
Ok, how about this: His wife of 6 years had a sibling who was also BIG. Both siblings, in fact, were 'bigger' than he was.

Laurence Olivier?

I guess I picked a doozy...I'm running out of clues.

Ok, how about this:

Some of his leading ladies include Billie Burke, Rosalind Russell, Elissa Landi, Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford.

I know!! Is he Brian Aherne??

YES!!!!!!

Now it's your turn!!!!

I'm not good at this, I rather guess, but I'll give it a try...

I began as a bit player and never became a big star in spite of being very beautiful and talented...I didn't have a big ambition.... I married one of Hollywood's greatest stars, but the marraige did not last too long....Today I'm best remembered for introducing a famous Standard in a film in which I did not star and for appearing in mammoth AA winning film. Who am I???

No takers?

I was married four times, but to three men (I married one of them twice); my second husband was a director and producer and I became his widow....

I don't think this is possibly right--but could it be Joan Bennett?

Hi Moira! No it's no Miss Bennett...this actress was a natural blonde, had dreamy eyes and appeared in a notorious Pre-Coder which was a remake of a Lon Chaney pic....

That did it, Fernando!! It's got to be Virginia Bruce.

She was bedraggled and degraded in the wild pre-code, Kongo (1932) with Walter Huston.

As the spoiled rich dilettante in the MGM musical in Born to Dance (1936), she introduced Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin," no?

Hey! Weren't you just reading the biography that Scott O'Brien wrote about Ms. B.?
I should have known!

Yes Moira, you nailed it congratulations! I was indeed reading her Bio by Scott O'Brien. A very enlightening piece of work. Now it's your turn.

Okay, here goes!

Beginning as an extra in a classically-inspired MGM movie when he was barely 13, this individual's relatively brief career ended by the time he was 30. While born in a large city, he was often cast as fresh-faced country boys who faced challenges in wartime, on the farm, on the racetrack, and, in one classic film noir, nearly found himself trapped in the dark recesses of a relative's wounded psyche. Who am I?

Sounds like Lon McAllister to me. But then again, I am quite a fan of Home in Indiana, so maybe I'm reading too much into your clue.