President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1963 to 1965, Dana Andrews was one of the first to speak out against the degradation of the acting profession, particularly actresses doing nude scenes just to get a role. Probably the first actor to do a public service announcement about alcoholism (in 1972 for the U.S. Department of Transportation), he was a member of the National Council on Alcoholism and did public speaking tours. Quote from Bob Greene, "Chicago Tribune", November 3, 1993: "To me, Andrews . . . represented both the grand possibilities and the ultimate despair the movies can offer a man. He was a certified movie star, yet by the end of his life he enjoyed neither artistic acclaim granted a Fellini, nor the ease of getting a job taken for granted by a Phoenix." Worked with such directors as Otto Preminger, Fritz Lang, William Wyler, William A. Wellman, Jean Renoir, Elia Kazan.
Trained as an opera singer, but was never allowed to use his fine singing voice in the movies. In the one musical he did make, State Fair, his voice was dubbed because the studio was unaware he was a trained singer. He later explained that he didn't correct their mistake because he felt the singer dubbing him probably needed the money. Brother of actor Steve Forrest. Son, David Andrews (1934-1964) Son, Stephen Andrews (b. 1944) Daughter, Katharine Andrews (b. 1942) Daughter, Susan Andrews (b. 1948) In the late 1940s, during the height of his popularity, the publicist for Fox sent a telegram to the mayor of Collins, Mississippi suggesting that the town officially change its name to Andrews in honor of its native son. The mayor wired back: "We will not change our name to Andrews. Have Andrews change his to Collins." President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1963-1965] Mentioned in the opening song to The Rocky Horror Picture Show ("Science Fiction") Suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his last years. He appeared with actress Gene Tierney in five films: Tobacco Road, Belle Starr (both 1941), Laura (1944), The Iron Curtain (1948) and Where The Sidewalk Ends (1950).