American actor best remembered for roles in films such as The Postman Always Rings Twice, Gentleman's Agreement, They Made me a Criminal, Force of Evil, Body & Soul, The Breaking Point and Four Daughters. In a 1975 biography the author mentioned in 1930 he had attained his full stature of "Five Feet Seven", that's if he thought tall and pulled in his gut and mentioned he was ashamed of his lack of height.
In another biography it mentioned how he walked in a
"funny way because he wore elevator shoes, and he was embarrassed about that part of his image. They were expensive shoes."
Len Blake said on 3/May/20
John Garfield, was extremely handsome and viral looking. Garfield, was muscular and had the bone
structure of a taller man. Build and bone structure enhance the perception of a taller, manly handsome
man. John Garfield was a great actor and humanitarian. While Garfield was probably 5ft7in tall,
his height was a non issue. No stories of standing on boxes and actress standing in ditches.
zoki said on 11/Apr/18
John Garfield was around 5ft7 in the movies but his talent was much bigger then all of those tall actors of the 1940's. Garfield was one of the first method actors in Hollywood with great movies like : The Postman Always Rings Twice, Body and Soul, Humoresque, The Breaking Point, The Fallen Sparrow.....
Arch Stanton said on 15/Oct/16
If you look at him with Tracey I reckon you'd be nearer with 5'6.5.
Arch Stanton said on 25/Jun/16
In some other scenes Tracy looks about 2 inches taller, I do think you might be more accurate with 169cm Rob.
Editor Rob
at times he could look 5ft 6, but really I think like many people, the more you watch, sometimes the more your own estimate of their range might get better.
Even today there are people I'm watching in say a TV show, or a film and I'm thinking if they appear what I give them, sometimes years later I see a run of episodes or another film and it can tip the balance to a different listing.
Arch Stanton said on 25/Jun/16
@Rob, what's the chance of 5'6.5? In Tortilla Flat Spencer Tracy looks about 2.5 inches taller. Now we know Tracy wasn't 5'9.5 though could look it at times, perhaps Tracy had bigger footwear? I wouldn't have thought Garfield quite 5 ft 7 with him.
Arch Stanton said on 2/May/15
Looks about right in Body and Soul.
Realist said on 14/Jan/15
@Dax 5'9 equivalent was more 5'6 range in the 1930s like 168-69. Remember most hollywood guys during those days were well above average like Clark Gable Cary Grant and loads of tall women like Kathryn Hepburn Lauren Baccall etc.
Dax said on 23/Dec/14
Well he was pretty much the average considering 5'7" in 1930 is roughly equivalent to a 5'9" American man today. Then again though, we hear 5'9" guys today complain about not being 'tall enough', so it's consistent I guess.
Sam said on 23/Dec/14
Somehow though, he looked equal in height to Paul Muni in Juarez and likewise was similar looking in height to Spencer Tracy in Tortilla Flatss, so I suspect big footwear or lifts may have been utilized.
Body & Soul is one of the best boxing movies of all time...guys beating the crap out of each other with big gloves on is a surprisingly cinematic sport.
Sam said on 23/Dec/14
This seemed to be pretty accurate, there's no way he was taller, being only a couple inches over Edward G. Robinson and towered over by Gregory Peck in Gentlemen's Agreement.
Arch Stanton said on 23/Dec/14
"his full stature of "Five Feet Seven", that's if he thought tall and pulled in his gut and mentioned he was ashamed of his lack of height."
John "G"!!!! What they mean to say is he was 5 ft 8 and standing tall!!