Dean Jagger Dead At 87; Veteran Character Actor

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Veteran character actor Dean Jagger, who won a best-supporting Oscar for 1949's ``Twelve O'Clock High,'' died at his home yesterday, his wife said. He was 87.

Etta Jagger said her husband was recovering from the flu but was otherwise in good health. He died in his sleep, she said.

Mrs. Jagger said her husband acted in more than 150 movies, including ``White Christmas,'' ``Bad Day at Black Rock'' and ``Elmer Gantry.''

Mr. Jagger won an Emmy in 1989 for a performance for the religious program ``This is the Life.'' He also appeared as high- school principal Albert Vane on the television series ``Mr. Novak'' from 1963 to 1965.

Born in Lima, Ohio, on Nov. 7, 1903, Dean Jeffries Jagger studied at Indiana's Wabash College. He performed in theater and vaudeville in the 1920s and made his film debut in 1929's ``The Woman From Hell.'' He followed that with 1934's ``You Belong to Me'' and ``College Rhythm.''

Other parts were in ``Western Union,'' ``Valley of the Sun,'' ``Sister Kenny,'' ``Driftwood,'' ``Executive Suite,'' ``Rawhide,'' ``My Son John,'' ``The Robe,'' ``Jumbo,'' ``The Kremlin Letter,'' ``Vanishing Point,'' ``Game of Death'' and ``Alligator.''

Mrs. Jagger said one of her husband's favorite roles was the title role in 1940's ``Brigham Young - Frontiersman.''

In addition to his wife, Mr. Jagger is survived by daughter Diane Pearson and stepsons Tom Winger and Lee Winger.

Funeral arrangements were pending.