Buchanan was born in Helensburgh, Scotland. Buchanan made his first appearance on the UK stage in 1912, and on Broadway in 1924. He made his film debut in the silent cinema, in 1917, but his best-known film is undoubtedly his venture into Hollywood, The Band Wagon (1953), in which he plays camp theatre director, Jeffrey Cordova, opposite Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. He suffered from spinal arthritis (though this didn't stop him from performing several dance numbers with Astaire in Band Wagon), and died in London only four years later.
JackBuchanan typified the suave, debonair (almost bland) English gentleman of stage and screen; he could sing and dance hardly more than adequately, but there was something about his personality ("something about you that's different," as one of his songs put it) that was very charming and attractive.
Usually attired in top hat and tails, Buchanan was hailed by many critics as the British Fred Astaire, and although his dancing style was far more simplistic than Astaire's, Buchanan did possess the same relaxed manner.
Buchanan made his film debut as a leading man in the silent era; the films were all second-rate, and Buchanan was hopelessly miscast in them.
Buchanan was two years removed from a career in advertising and marketing that spanned more than 30 years, many of them as a partner in Buchanan-Vinson and Co.
Buchanan, who retired from his crew classic post in 1995 but remained on the board of directors, died June 8 at his home in Point Loma.
Buchanan was a founding director of the San Diego Trojan Club, passionately supporting his USC alma mater.
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