Michael Jeffers may be relatively unknown although he will forever go down
as a small note in Hollywood history as the president of the Screen
Extras Guild who halted production of movies for a 24 hour
period in 1945 in protest because stuntmen and bit part actors were
getting extra work however extras were not obtaining bit part or stunt work.
He also led a further protest in 1946.
While acting as the bargaining agent for the SEG he was a thorn
in the side of the Screen Actors Guild. After being informed that
people affiliated with the Screen Extras Guild had restricted voting
rights Jeffers sued in a attempt to be able to vote on such matters.
As a result of this action, he received little work because a letter
was sent around hinting he had communist ties and that he was trying to
drive a wedge in the Screen Extras Guild. He fought in court from 1950
to 1958 trying to restore his name so he could receive more work and
recover damages for wages he lost as result of the letter.
He later went on to appear in scores of westerns in the 1950s, 1960s, and
1970s, eventually accumulating over 600 credits.