Harold Herman "Stubby" Kruger (September 21, 1897 – October 7, 1965) was an American competition
swimmer who represented the United States at the
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
in Antwerp, Belgium.
Kruger swam in the event final of the
men's 100-meter backstroke and finished fifth overall.
[
Kruger married dancer and actress Evan-Burrows Fontaine in 1928 or 29. A son Bobby was born to this union before their divorce in 1935. Kruger was a colleague of ]Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller (born Johann Peter Weißmüller; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was an American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive swimming records of the 20th century. H ...
's and performed at carnivals and fairs billed as the Incomparable Water Comedian. He also had a career in Hollywood as an actor and stunt double
In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes FOR another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...
that began in the silent era and lasted well into the 1950s. His last film credit was as Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...
's double in ''The Old Man and the Sea
''The Old Man and the Sea'' is a novella written by the American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cayo Blanco (Cuba), and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction written by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. ...
''. In 1986, Kruger was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum (ISHOF) is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests and serving as the central point for the s ...
as a "pioneer swimmer."[Stubby Kruger 68, Stunt Man Dies-The Gettysburg Times, October 8, 1965, pg. 5, Ancestry.com]
Sometime after his divorce, he married Annie Young. They are buried together at Diamond Head Memorial Park in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Filmography
See also
* List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
References
External links
Stubby Kruger (USA)
– Honor Pioneer Swimmer/Diver profile at International Swimming Hall of Fame
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kruger, Harold
1897 births
1965 deaths
American male backstroke swimmers
American stunt performers
Olympic swimmers for the United States
Swimmers from Honolulu
Swimmers at the 1920 Summer Olympics
20th-century American sportsmen