A fost unul dintre cei mai decorați soldați americani care au luptat în al Doilea Război Mondial. El a primit toate premiile militare de luptă pentru vitejie disponibile din partea armata SUA, precum și premii franceze și belgiene pentru eroism. Murphy a primit Medalia de Onoare pentru vitejie pe care a demonstrat-o la vârsta de 19 ani pentru că a ținut singur în loc o companie de soldați germani timp de o oră în Punga Colmar din Franța în ianuarie 1945, apoi a condus un contraatac de succes în timp ce era rănit și fără muniție.
După război, Murphy a început o carieră de actorie care a durat 21 de ani. În filmul din 1949, Bad Boy, a primit primul său rol principal.[6]
Suferind de ceea ce astăzi ar fi descris drept tulburare de stres post traumatic (PTSD), Murphy a dormit cu o armă încărcată sub pernă. A căutat mângâiere în somnifere care au creat dependență. În ultimii săi ani, a fost afectat de probleme cu banii, dar a refuzat ofertele de a apărea în reclame la alcool și țigări pentru că nu a vrut să dea un exemplu prost. Murphy a murit într-un accident de avion în Virginia în 1971, cu puțin timp înainte de a împlini 46 de ani. A fost înmormântat cu onoruri militare la Cimitirul Național Arlington, unde mormântul său este unul dintre cele mai vizitate.
^The Kid From Texas is the final movie shown at the local theater in Larry McMurty's novel The Last Picture Show.[10][11][12]
^
Henry Fleming is the Youth in Stephen Crane's novel. In the 1951 film, Fleming is played by Murphy shown in the cast listing as the unnamed character "The Youth". However, Fleming is addressed by name when other characters are speaking to him.[17]
^Alden Pyle is the American in Graham Greene's novel. In the 1958 film, Pyle is played by Murphy as the unnamed character "The American".[35]
^The parents of Seven Ways from Sundown Jones gave their children numbers for names. Murphy's character was the last of seven children. The storyline has him seeking the killer of his brother Two Jones.[48]
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Lectură suplimentară
Williamson, Thames (). The Woods Colt : a Novel of the Ozark Hills. Harcourt, Brace and Company. OCLC1399074.
Hargrove, Marion; Williamson, Thames (). Final script : "The Woods Colt". Audie Murphy Productions. OCLC40402371.