Van Johnson's first big part was as Ted Randall in "A Guy Named Joe" seen here with his idol, Spencer Tracy. This film from 1943 was directed by Victor Fleming and also starred Esther Williams, Lionel Barrymore, Irene Dunne, Ward Bond, James Gleason, Don DeFore and Barry Nelson..

Here is Van Johnson with Phyllis Thaxter in a moving scene from the 1944 film "30 Seconds Over Tokyo". This film, directed by Mervin Leroy, also starred Robert Mitchum, Robert Walker, Don DeFore and Tim Murdock.

"Weekend at the Waldorf", which Van Johnson made in 1945, also starred Ginger Rogers, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, Edward Arnold, Keenan Wynn, Robert Benchley, Phyllis Thaxter and Leon Ames. The director was Robert E. Leonard.

In 1949, Van Johnson filmed the acclaimed war story "Battleground". Here he is in a scene with John Hodiak portraying the 101st Airborne Division at the Battle of the Bulge. This film was directed by William A. Wellman and also starred Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, James Whitmore, Leon Ames, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel, Don Taylor and Marshall Thompson.

Van Johnson didn't just make war movies, it happened to be the era in which his film career began. He was also known for light-hearted romantic comedies and even appeared in musicals. This lighter side of him is reflected in this photo on the left where he is on vacation with his wife, Evie, his daughter Schuyler and two stepsons, Ned and Tracy Wynn.