Martin Spellman

Martin Spellman was born in 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa. His family moved to California, and at the age of nine he first entered the MGM Studios as a newsboy. He became such a familiar figure at the Studios that for Christmas 1937, they decided to give him a very special Christmas present. He was invited by Carole Lombard and Clark Gable to work as an extra for a few days on the film Test Pilot where he had an uncredited role. After that, he played Skinny in the 1938 film Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. In 1939, he co-starred in Streets of New York with Jackie Cooper. The following year he had anther leading role in Son of the Navy with Jean Parker and James Dunn. His other films included: Sharpshooters; Santa Fe Stampede (with John Wayne); I Am a Criminal and several more. Martin's film career ended in 1941. He then enlisted in United States Army Air Corp during World War II. Returning to civilian life, he worked 27 years in the finance business, and then switched to automobile finance and insurance. He had six children by two marriages, and spent his golden years in Washington state.