MovieChat Forums > Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) Discussion > 'Big Daddy' actually lived a long time

'Big Daddy' actually lived a long time

posted 11 years ago by Pogo_76
3 replies | jump to latest

First of all I was surprised that Burl Ives was only about 48 when he played a 65 year old Big Daddy but then I was more surprised that he died almost 40 years after this movie was made at the ripe age of 85. Being overweight like that made me assume that he died a long time ago but he surprisingly reached a pretty old age, dying at an older age than Liz Taylor and Paul Newman.

Ironically Jack Carson, who played his older son Gooper in the movie was only one year younger than Burl Ives and actually died of stomach and liver cancer of few years later.

[–] bhoover247 11 years ago

I had a feeling that Burl Ives wasn't as old as they made him out to be in this film. He certainly did a great job. I can remember that later in life Burl Ives did TV commercials for a tea company, maybe Luzianne.

[–] Pogo_76 11 years ago

I already like him in East of Eden. That's why I was pleasantly surprised to notice that he still had so many years ahead of him compared to his character as Big Daddy.

[–] ZolotoyRetriever 11 years ago

He was also really good as the irascible Navy ship commander in "Ensign Pulver", 1964. He was even more cantankerous than he was in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". A memorable performance!