Jimmy Lydon was born on May 30 1923 in Harrington Park, New Jersey. He was the fifth out of nine children. His father was an alcoholic who announced that he was quitting his job and retiring in 1937. The rest of Jimmy Lydon's family then had to seek out work. It was a family friend who suggested to his mother that she try making one of her children an actor. Jimmy Lydon lied about his acting experience, claiming to have already been in three plays, and was cast as Danny in the 1937 Broadway production Western Waters. In the late Thirties he appeared on Broadway in Sunup to Sundown, Prologue to Glory, Sing Out the News, and The Happiest Days. Jimmy Lydon made his film debut in the movie Back Door to Heaven in 1939. By 1940 he was playing the lead character in the movie Tom Brown's School Days. In the late Thirties he also appeared in the movies The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair (1939), Two Thoroughbreds (1939), Little Men (1940), and Bowery Boy (1940).
In the Forties he took over playing Henry Aldrich from Jackie Cooper (who had played the role in the first two movies. He played Henry in the films Henry Aldrich for President (1941), Henry Aldrich Editor (1942), Henry and Dizzy (1942), Henry Aldrich Swings It (1943), Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour (1943), Henry Aldrich Haunts a House (1943), Henry Aldrich, Boy Scout (1944), Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid (1944), and Henry Aldrich's Little Secret (1944). In Life with Father (1947) he played the eldest son of the title character (who was played by William Powell). During the Forties he also appeared in the movies Naval Academy (1941), Cadets on Parade (1942), The Mad Martindales (1942), Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), Aerial Gunner (1943), My Best Gal (1944), When the Lights Go On Again (1944), The Town Went Wild (1944), Strange Illusion (1945), Twice Blessed (1945), Affairs of Geraldine (1946), Cynthia (1947), Sweet Genevieve (1947), Joan of Arc (1948), An Old-Fashioned Girl (1948), Miss Mink of 1949 (1949), Bad Boy (1949), Tucson (1949), When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950), Tarnished (1950), Destination Big House (1950), September Affair (1950), Hot Rod (1950), and The Magnificent Yankee (1950). He made his television debut in episodes of The Life of Riley in 1949. He also guest starred on The Silver Theatre.
In the Fifties Jimmy Lydon played Skeezix in two films based on the comic strip Gasoline Alley: Gasoline Alley (1951) and Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951). He appeared in the movies Oh! Susanna (1951), Island in the Sky (1953), The Desperado (1954), Rage at Dawn (1955), Battle Stations (1956), Chain of Evidence (1957), The Hypnotic Eye (1960), and I Passed for White (1960). On television he was a regular on The First Hundred Years, CBS's first daytime soap opera. He was also a regular on the shows Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, So This is Hollywood, Love That Jill, and The Gale Storm Show. He guest starred on the shows The Bigelow Theatre, Crown Theatre with Gloria Swanson, Your Jeweler's Showcase, Mr. & Mrs. North, The Ford Television Theatre, Racket Squad, The Revlon Mirror Theatre, Public Defender, The Lineup, Screen Directors Playhouse, Matinee Theatre, Crossroad, Sneak Preview, Sergeant Preston of Yukon, Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal, Lux Video Theatre, Wire Service, Navy Log, Casey Jones, The Silent Service, Tales of the Texas Rangers, Lawman, Maverick, Trackdown, 77 Sunset Strip, Union Pacific, Colt .45, Man with a Camera, M Squad, Tightrope, Hotel de Paree, Wagon Train, The Texan, New Comedy Showcase, Peter Gunn, and Lassie.
In the Sixties Jimmy Lydon guest starred on the TV shows The Twilight Zone, Bronco, General Electric Theatre, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Real McCoys, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Stagecoach West, Whispering Smith, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 87th Precinct, Hennesey, Wagon Train, 77 Sunset Strip, The Fisher Family, Many Happy Returns, and The F.B.I. He also served as a producer on the shows 77 Sunset Strip, Temple Houston, and Mister Roberts. He appeared in the films The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) and Death of a Gunfighter (1969).
In the Seventies he guest starred on the shows Cannon; Love, American Style; Cade's Country; O'Hara United States Treasury; The Jimmy Stewart Show; The Wonderful World of Disney; Police Story; Adam-12; The Six Million Dollar Man; Gunsmoke; Ellery Queen; The Rockford Files; The Quest; Lou Grant; and Baa Baa Black Sheep. He produced the show Roll Out. He appeared in the movies Scandalous John (1971), Bonnie's Kids (1972), and Vigilante Force (1976).
In the Eighties Jimmy Lydon guest starred in The Greatest American Hero, The Fall Guy, Simon & Simon, Misfits of Science, and St. Elsewhere.
It is safe to say Jimmy Lydon will always be remembered for playing Henry Aldrich in the "Aldrich Family" movies and Clarence in Life with Father. That having been said, he leaves behind several fine performances in other roles, including many guest appearances on television. Over the years he played law enforcement officers, lawyers, military officers, and other roles. What is more, he did all of them well.
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