American actors Claude Jarman Jr. and John Wayne on the set of Rio Grande, directed by John Ford. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Claude Jarman Jr, the actor who rose to fame as a child star, has died at the age of 90 at his home in Marin County, California. The star reportedly died peacefully in his sleep due to natural causes.
His passing comes seven decades after he received a Juvenile Academy Award for his performance in the 1946 classic film The Yearling. He later received another in recognition of his accomplishments.
Claude was only the seventh recipient of the Juvenile Academy Award, with Shirley Temple being the first to receive it back in 1934.
Other notable winners include Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, while Hayley Mills was the last to be honoured with the award in 1961 for her role in Pollyanna.
At just 10 years old, Claude was given his big break by Clarence Brown, the director of The Yearling. Three days after being scouted by Clarence, the young actor was told to prepare for .
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Claude Jarman Jr has died at the age of 90. (Image: Getty Images)
Claude’s career continued to flourish as he starred in the 1950 western Rio Grande alongside . He also made appearances in the 1950s television show Wagon Train and the TV series Centennial, reports .
Tributes for the actor have been pouring in across social media platforms.
One use reminisced: “I had the great honor to meet Claude Jarman, Jr. twice. Once, while interviewing him on the TCMFF red carpet in 2018 and the other was in 2023, at a Clarence Brown festival in Knoxville, Tenn. He was lovely and kind, and needless to say, I was star struck. Special memories.”
Another expressed their sadness, posting: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Claude Jarman Jr. Such a lovely gentleman. Condolences to his family.”
Meanwhile, a third reflected: “Claude Jarman Jr. died yesterday at the age of 90. He was unforgettable as Jody Baxter in *The Yearling*. I can’t count the number of times we watched this fantastic film together with our family.”
The actor will be buried in Nashville, Tennessee, while a celebration of life is being planned for San Francisco.
He is survived by his third wife, Katie, his children Claude III, Murray, Elizabeth, Vanessa, Natalie, Sarah, and Charlotte, and eight grandchildren.