Audie Leon Murphy
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Audie Murphy became the most decorated combat soldier of World War II, earning the Medal of Honor by age 20. He transitioned to acting, starring in 44 films including the 1955 hit To Hell and Back. He died in a plane crash near Catawba, Virginia on May 28, 1971 at the age of 45.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Audie Murphy — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Audie Murphy by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Audie Murphy — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Poor sharecropper’s son Audie Leon Murphy dropped out of school in the eighth grade to help support his family. Born June 20, 1925 in Kingston, Texas, to Josie Bell and Emmett Berry Murphy of Irish descent, he enlisted in the army on his 17th birthday in June 1942, using a false affidavit to appear 18 years old.
Murphy’s war heroism caught the interest of James Cagney, who invited him to Hollywood in 1945. After initial struggles and small roles, he landed his first lead in Bad Boy 1949 and starred in John Huston’s The Red Badge of Courage 1951. His breakthrough came with the film adaptation of his autobiography, To Hell and Back 1955, which became a massive hit and held Universal’s box office record for 20 years. He starred in a string of Westerns, including Night Passage 1957 with James Stewart and The Unforgiven 1960 directed by John Huston.
Murphy had a turbulent marriage to actress Wanda Hendrix from February 1949 to April 1950; she claimed he once held her at gunpoint during a nightmare. Four days after the divorce, he married airline stewardess Pamela Opal Lee Archer on April 23, 1951. They had two sons, Terry Michael born 1952 and James Shannon born 1954. Murphy suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, sleeping with a loaded pistol, and was acquitted of attempted murder after a bar fight. He also struggled with insomnia and addiction to the sleeping pill Placidyl, which he eventually overcame.
Audie Murphy remains the most decorated U.S. combat soldier of World War II, with 33 awards including the Medal of Honor. His legacy includes the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine Street, awarded in 1960. In 1996, a section of U.S. Highway 69 in Texas was renamed the Audie Murphy Memorial Highway. He was also honored with a U.S. postage stamp in 2000 as part of the Distinguished Soldiers series. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where his grave is the second most visited, after President John F. Kennedy’s.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Audie Murphy — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Audie Murphy — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Never Liked Being Called the Most Decorated Soldier. There Were so Many Guys Who Should Have Gotten Medals and Never Did – Guys Who Were Killed.
Hell, I Don’t Think Anyone Has Any Friends in the Industry. When You’re Hot, Everyone Wants a Piece of You. When Word Gets Around You’re Washed Up, No One Will Touch You with a 10-Foot Pole. They’re Afraid You Will Ask Them for a Job. or a Loan. or Maybe Repayment of an Old Debt.
Little-known facts about Audie Murphy — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Audie Murphy is the most decorated combat soldier in American history. By age 20, he had earned every commendation the army could bestow, including the Medal of Honor. He also received France’s and Belgium’s highest decorations.
During a replacement of tombstones at Arlington National Cemetery, Medal of Honor recipients’ stones were embossed in gold leaf, but Murphy’s family requested his remain plain as he would have wanted. His grave is the second most-visited at Arlington, after President John F. Kennedy’s.
Medal of Honor Citation: 2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. He ordered his men to withdraw, remained at his command post, and directed artillery fire. He then climbed onto a burning tank destroyer and used its machine gun to kill dozens of Germans, holding off the enemy despite a leg wound until his ammunition ran out. He then organized a counterattack that forced the Germans to withdraw.
Murphy died broke and in debt. His widow Pamela spent the next 35 years working as a patient liaison at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center paying off his debts. She died in 2010 at age 90.
He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1601 Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
The Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, is named after him.
While photographing the making of The Unforgiven 1960, Inge Morath noticed Murphy in the water after he fell out of his boat. She stripped to her underwear, reached him, and hauled him ashore using her bra strap while the duck hunt continued uninterrupted.
His friends in Hollywood were mostly character actors and film crew members, whom he often protected and helped advance their careers. He once skipped a party full of wealthy people to hang out with the African-American kitchen staff and compliment their cooking.
Although commonly referred to as Sgt. Audie Murphy, he was given a battlefield commission and promoted to 2nd Lt. prior to receiving his Medal of Honor. He received most of his decorations before turning 20.
A non-smoker who rarely drank alcohol, he turned down large offers to advertise cigarettes and spirits.
Just before his death he was offered the role of the villain in the original Dirty Harry 1971, which went to Andrew Robinson.
Reputedly once frightened a drunken, misbehaving movie tough-guy Lawrence Tierney into leaving a party without raising his voice or physically harming him.
Buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. His ex-wife attended his memorial service.
He was born in Kingston, TX, and grew up in Celeste. He went to school in Celeste until 8th grade, when he dropped out to help support his family.
The Audie Murphy Research Foundation was established by Murphy’s family for collection, preservation and distribution of historical information about him. Contact info is 18008 Saratoga Way, Ste. 516, Santa Clarita, CA 91351; fax 805-251-8432.
Disliked the name Audie as a child and usually went by his middle name, Leon. In the army he discovered that Leon was considered synonymous with rednecks, and thereafter went by Audie or Murph.
While many are aware he was the most decorated serviceman of World War II, few have seen the full list of his awards. His awards include the Medal of Honor. He also received the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with V, two Purple Hearts, US Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, two Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Silver Star and four Bronze Service Stars representing nine campaigns, Bronze Arrowhead for assault landings at Sicily and Southern France, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, and Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm.
Had two sons with Pamela Archer: Terry Michael born April 14, 1952 and James Shannon Skipper, born March 24, 1954.
Mentioned in Pork Chop Hill 1959 — Gregory Peck says to Robert Blake, Who do you think you are, Audie Murphy?.
June 20, 1996 was proclaimed Audie Murphy Day by the Greenville Area Postal Customer Advisory Council in Greenville, TX. US Highway 69 North from North Greenville city limits to the Fannin County line was renamed the Audie Murphy Memorial Highway. He was also inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame that year.
Pulp Western novelist J.T. Edson created a character named Dusty Fog based on Murphy. A thinly-disguised version appears in one of Stephen Hunter’s novels. The character of Fredrick Zoller in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds is a mirror universe Nazi analogue to Murphy. Robert Stack cited Murphy as a partial inspiration for his take on Eliot Ness in The Untouchables. David Morrell First Blood cited Murphy as a partial inspiration for John Rambo.
He and James Arness both served in the 3rd Infantry Division during World War II. Murphy was in the 15th Infantry Regiment and Arness in the 7th Infantry Regiment. Both took part in the landings in Sicily and Anzio.
He and producer Hal B. Wallis tried unsuccessfully to persuade Desmond T. Doss to sell them the rights to his life story. Doss refused all offers; a film about Doss was finally made and released ten years after his death as Hacksaw Ridge 2016, directed by Mel Gibson.
First wife Wanda Hendrix claimed he had horrible nightmares and held her at gunpoint once. Four days after his divorce from Hendrix was finalized, he married airline stewardess Pamela Archer.
He was sought to run for political office by liberal Democrats in Hollywood but declined.
In 1995 he was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars #55 in film history.
Was a life member of the National Rifle Association of America NRA. He was also a supporter of the Democratic Party.
Referenced in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood 2019.
Honored by the USPS with a stamp on May 3, 2000, along with Alvin York, Omar Bradley, and John L. Hines in the Distinguished Soldiers Set Scott Catalogue #3393-3396.
He joined the army at 18 from being a cotton picker in Texas and served in Africa, Italy, and France, becoming the most decorated soldier of WWII.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Audie Murphy.
Celebrities similar to Audie Murphy — same craft, ranked by reach.
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