Humphrey Bogart

When interviewed in 1945, he said chess was one of those things that mattered to him most. Bogie added that he played every day between those tedious waits between takes when making movies. So did John Wayne and, more recently, Will Smith.

GM Larry Evans, in his latest article for WCN, reminded us about the best chess player in Hollywood.

There was a surprisingly large chess following in the Old Hollywood of the studio era. Permanently ensconced actors, writers, producers and directors needed diversions that helped fragile egos to claim intellectual credentials. Among those who played the game were Lew Ayres, John Barrymore, Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer, Jose Ferrer, Katharine Hepburn, Louis Jourdan and John Wayne. But Bogie was different. He became a director of the U.S. Chess Federation, involved himself in the California State Chess Association and pushed wood at every opportunity. He could beat John Wayne easily and taught the game to fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin.

Read also an earlier writing by Larry Parr.