Trivia

Met his future wife, Gale Storm, in 1939 when they became the first place winners of Jesse L. Lasky's "Gateway to Hollywood" talent contest.

Acted in school plays before performing in college productions at Indiana University, where he also studied business and economics.

After his acting career ended, he moved into selling life insurance and eventually set up his own company , the Lee Bonnell Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Agency in Encino, CA.

He was there for his wife, Gale Storm in the 1970s when she battled acute alcoholism. At one point she had to be institutionalized.

Tried to enlist during WWII but poor eyesight deemed him unfit for duty. He subsequently served with the Coast Guard.

Two years after they met and both won RKO contracts from the "Gateway to Hollywood" contest in 1939, they married and had three sons and a daughter.

Four children: Phil Bonnell, Paul Bonnell, Peter Bonnell and Susanna Bonnell.

His father was a barber in South Bend, IN. Had two sisters, Thelma and Pati.

At one point he produced religious films. According to Laura Wagner in her article on him in the Spring 2013 issue of "Films of the Golden Age", he once took courses at a Southern California college with the intent of pursuing the ministry.

Initially worked at RKO under the name 'Terry Belmont'.