THE BATTLES OF LIEUTENANT McGARRETT

His first marriage has always been surrounded by mystery

By Solange Plamondon for Lundi Magazine

April 12, 1980

For 12 years everyone has nicknamed him "The King of Hawaii". Some have given it in a teasing manner looking to mask their envy that they feel against this actor who has made a fortune thanks to a television series that is the most popular of all times. But, for the public, Jack Lord is not only the king of Hawaii, but he is also the king of police series. So, since 1967, jack Lord has been the headline of a total of 280 episodes of a series that has captivated television viewers up to now.

Born John Joseph Patrick Ryan, in New York, he was the son of a ship builder and with the example of his father, he became very interested in navigation at a very young age. The sea has always been a source of inspiration. During the time he was in the navy, he spent most of his leisure time painting and he never lost this habit. He had besides obtained his masters in the arts at the University of New York. Soon after his graduation, he was able to sell some 24 of his paintings to the famous Metropolitan Museum. Later, after having participated in the Korean War, he undertook a course in dramatic art. But though the moment had come to make his debut in the acting career that he had dreamed of he hesitated. His employment as a Cadillac salesman was earning him all of $18,000 per year and he was aware that at first, the acting profession would afford him less money, but, encouraged by his wife, he decided to take the risk, all or nothing. He didn’t have to have any regrets since without being a super star of the big screen, he was rarely out of work. He was given roles in several different films. But his true success began in 1967, when he was accepted to take part in the pilot film of a new police series, titled Hawaii Five-0.

THE MYSTERIOUS HERMITS

Speaking of this series, in which he shared all the rights of production with the CBS Network, Jack Lord affirms that it also forced him to make some sacrifices. He really earned his popularity. "For eight months each year, I had to get up a four every morning", he recently explained. "I had my breakfast, I jogged on the beach for a half-hour, then I went to the television studio. The work-week during the filming of Hawaii Five-0 was around 70 hours."

But this full schedule didn’t prevent Jack Lord from succeeding there, when many movie stars or television stars have failed. Married to Marie DeNarde since 1952 they always are a united couple. Not having any children, they live in Hawaii, in a condominium that they own. Jack and his wife almost never go out and they have only a few friends. In the neighborhood, they have the name "the mysterious hermits". But it’s only that they have chosen to live this way.

Before he met Marie, who was at that time a dress designer, Jack Lord had already been married. The failure of this marriage had already been a fact before he was even 20 years old, but it was always been enshrouded in a mystery that the actor himself has never volunteered to clear up. Two different versions have been given to this story; some say that the first wife of Lord, Ann Cicely Willard, has lost her life in giving birth to an infant, while others affirm that Lord had asked for a divorce in 1947 after his wife left him with his son. Ann Cicely Willard is still living and has remarried. They day that she lives in Madison, Connecticut. One thing is sure, the son of Jack Lord died in 1955, a victim of hepatitis.

THE CONTROVERSIAL MAN

But even if he’s not a millionaire, Jack Lord has had in the course of his last few years, profited from certain compensations. Loved by his wife, appreciated as a painter and famous actor, he is one of the most respected men in Hawaii. His work has reportedly brought some 30 million dollars to aid the economy of this Pacific Island not counting the impact that he has had over the tourist trade of Hawaii. A poll taken after of tourists who have come to Hawaii for the first time has shown that 25% of the visitors have been attracted by what they have seen in the Hawaii Five-0 series. They have already announced that for some years, Jack Lord had been proposed for the post of governor of his adopted state. To this subject, he has always explained: "I think not, two different parties who function here have promised that if I joined their ranks, I would have an important post in the politics of Hawaii. But I have refused in both cases."

Concerning his reputation, it is said that he doesn’t concern himself with, and is not envied by his co-workers. Jack Lord, without defending himself, never hesitates to explain the most plausible explanation that is: "I imagine that I talk too much. I say all that I think and that often hurts the people that are around me. I don’t like compromises. For a longtime, I have a fixed idea of achieving and I always work hard to reach my goals. I have never backed down before the opinions of others. I know what I must do and I say so." The fact that he has a large portion of the rights of production of his television series makes no doubt, another factor that he has a great influence and has become a sort of dictator as his co-workers have often called him. Defraying the cost of production of Hawaii Five-0, Jack Lord, a businessman advised that always wanting a maximum profit on his investments means that he personally and his employees work to earn their salaries.

At 57 years of age, after having refused many roles in some important films like "A Bridge Too Far", Jack Lord finally has found his freedom of action. He can from now on accept roles that interest him. But at this time, it’s not only a question of his dreams, but of making people forget his role of McGarrett as is often the case of actors who abandon a television series after some years. On the other hand, since he has already accepted to recreate some special episodes of "Hawaii Five-0" each year, there will always be reruns on CBS Television. And, if he makes numerous trips each year to the American film capital, he intends anyway, to continue to live in Hawaii, this Enchanted Island that gave birth to Lieutenant McGarrett.