Trivia

In 1951 he was arrested at a bar in Louisiana for violating segregation laws. He was in a black establishment drinking alcohol with African-Americans. He protested in court that he was invited to the bar by black men in uniform and that he was proud to drink with US soldiers.

Known for his various charitable work, especially projects to help the poor and aid American troops.

He was a direct descendant of George Washington's only surviving sister, Betty.

First wife actress Elaine Anderson filed for divorce citing mental cruelty in November of 1949, but it was widely suggested she had fallen in love with author John Steinbeck. She and Steinbeck married in December of 1950, only months after the divorce was final.

He suffered from depression for years after a rafting accident. While rafting with actor John Emery, a riptide flung him onto a rock, knocking him unconscious. Emery carried him to shore.

He nearly drowned while on a rubber raft excursion in the Topanga Canyon area with actor John Emery. A riptide upset their boat, and Scott was knocked unconscious after hitting his head on a rock. Emery managed to rescue him and carry him to shore.

He left his royalties to daughter Shelley but requested that she give the money to her mother, his former wife, as long as her mother was alive. About three months after he died, Shelley decided to keep the money for herself, leading to her estrangement from her mother.

His daughter, Waverly Elaine Scott, was born January 24, 1936. Although Hollyood publicists wrote that she had been named after the novel, she was, in fact, named after her maternal grandfather. If she had been a boy, Scott had planned on naming him Zachary Thomson Scott III.

His mother, Sally Lee Scott, died November 1983 at 95. She left everything to be divided by her 3 children. Zachary Scott's two daughters split their late father's share. His widow, Ruth, tried to sue for a share of it for herself, but didn't have enough money for a lawyer.

The oldest continuously operating theatre in Texas, also one of ten original resident theatre companies in America, was renamed the Zachary Scott Theatre in 1968 in honor of the Austin-born actor. In the early 1990's, the theatre moved to professional status with Actor's Equity Association and was selected for a National Endowment for the Arts Advancement Grant.

His hobbies included golfing, gourmet cooking, gardening, horseback riding, swimming, antique collecting, and classical music.

Maintained an apartment in Manhattan's famous Dakota apartment building.

His daughter, Shelley, was born in 1941. He adopted her when he married her mother, Ruth Ford.

He died penniless, except for a $100,000 insurance policy he left his widow.

His nickname for his wife was Ruthless.

He was arrested in the summer of 1961 in Hawaii for public intoxication. He was doing a hula dance outside a bar when he was arrested.

He filed papers to adopt his daughter, Shelley, on Feb. 9, 1953. The adoption was finalized later that year.

At his first wedding, his father was his best man and his two sisters were bridesmaids.

He was the son-in-law of Waverly Andrew Anderson, a Texas oil man, during his marriage to his first wife.

Interred at Austin Memorial Park, Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA, Block 4, Lot 187A, Space 12.

Brother-in-law of bohemian surrealist Charles Henri Ford.

His daughter is married to painter Al Kaffaga.

Daughter, Waverly Scott (b.1936)

His grandson, David Melville Skinner, was born on January 6, 1957.

Zachary Scott and his co-star, Ann Sheridan, in The Unfaithful (1947) were both born in Texas and died two years apart at the age of 51 (of a brain tumor and cancer, respectively).

His father was a distinguished physician; his grandfather was a pioneer cattle baron.