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Max Baer Biography |
Maximilian Adalbert Baer (February 11, 1909-November 21, 1959) was a famous boxer in the US in the 1930s and a Heavyweight Champion of the World.
An opponent died in a bout, and Baer was charged with manslaughter. He was later cleared of all charges, and returned to the ring, but he didn't fare well until Jack Dempsey took Baer under his wing. In all, his record was 72-12 (53 knockouts), which makes him a member of the exclusive group of boxers to have won fifty or more bouts by knockout.
He was heavyweight champion of the world from June 14, 1934 to June 13, 1935. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1984, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
Baer fought Lou Nova in the first televised heavyweight boxing match on June 1, 1939. Baer's last match was another loss to Nova, in 1941.
Starting during the peak of his boxing career, Baer was an actor in almost twenty movies, including an Abbott and Costello movie, and made several TV appearances. Coincidentally, Nova also later had a similarly successful acting career.
Baer's younger brother Jacob Henry "Buddy" Baer (June 11, 1915-July 18, 1986) was also a boxer-turned-actor. Both Max and Buddy Baer lost fights to Joe Louis, Buddy's two losses to Louis coming in world title fights.
On his passing in 1959, Max Baer was interred in Saint Mary's Mausoleum in Sacramento, California. There is a park named after him in Livermore, California, which he considered his home town, even though he (and Buddy) were born in Omaha, Nebraska.
Baer was married twice.
Max Baer, Jr.
His son, Max Baer, Jr. (born December 4, 1937) is a American actor. He had 19 guest starring TV roles, but most people only remember him as Jethro Bodine on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-1971). He appeared in four movies, but, due to being heavily typecast as Jethro, had to write, direct, and/or produce most of them.
In late 2003, Baer, Jr. started to try to develop a building in Carson City, Nevada into a hotel and casino that capitalizes on his Hillbillies character. He originally wanted to develop a casino, mall, and movie theater in Reno, Nevada.
Baer was married once, and is currently divorced. |
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