From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia John Garfield born Jacob Julius Garfinkle March 4 1913 May 21 1952 was an American actor who played brooding rebellious workingclass characters He grew up in poverty in Depressionera New York City In the early 1930s he became a member of the Group Theater In 1937 he moved to Hollywood eventually becoming one of Warner Bros stars Called to testify before the US Congressional House Committee on UnAmerican Activities HUAC he denied communist affiliation and refused to name names effectively ending his film career Some have alleged that the stress of this incident led to his premature death at 39 from a heart attack Garfield is acknowledged as a predecessor of such Method actors as Marlon Brando Montgomery Clift and James Dean