Hollywood heart-throb of the 1950s Tab Hunter dies at 87

Los Angeles, July 10

Actor Tab Hunter, Hollywood heart-throb of the 1950s famous for films ‘Damn Yankees’, ‘Pandemonium’ and eponymous series ‘The Tab Hunter Show’, has died. He was 87.

The news of the actor’s death was shared by Facebook page Tab Hunter Confidential which stated that he died three days before his 87th birthday.

“Tab passed away tonight three days shy of his 87th birthday. Please honour his memory by saying a prayer on his behalf. He would have liked that,” read the post.

The actor was born as Arthur Andrew Kelm in New York City in 1931 and later raised in California.

However, it was his agent Henry Willson, who gave him his on-stage name Tab Hunter.

His first film was 1950’s ‘The Lawless’ and he followed it up with ‘Island of Desire’, ‘Gun Belt’ and ‘Track of the Cat’.

Hunter rose to prominence with 1955’s ‘Battle Cry’, in which he played a World War II soldier. His other major films were 1956’s ‘The Burning Hills’ and 1958 musical ‘Damn Yankees’.

The actor later found a younger cult audience when he played opposite the drag queen Divine in John Waters’ 1981 film ‘Polyester’ and Paul Bartel’s 1985 film ‘Lust in the Dust’.

Apart from his hit movies, his recording of ‘Young Love’ topped the Billboard pop chart in 1957.

For years, his personal life was a subject of media speculation with many reports claiming that the actor was gay.

He came out in his 2005 autobiography, ‘Tab Hunter Confidential: The Making of a Movie Star’ and confessed to a relationship with ‘Psycho’ star Anthony Perkins. PTI