part two - page one
Lloyd Benedict Nolan Born on 11 August 1902 in San Francisco, California, USA, This 5' 10½" actor who was raised and educated in northern California but spoke with a distinctive Bronx accent-but then, this dependable character lead actor spent half a century confounding both critics who predicted major stardom for him, and audiences who took him for granted even while looking forward to seeing him on-screen. Nolan who started acting on stage in 1927 most often played contemporary American types. this handsome, easygoing actor found a welcome home in such vintage crime films as The G Men 1935, He won more fans as the dapper detective Michael Shayne in seven Fox films from 1940-42. He shone well in comedies such as Every Day's a Holiday 1938, Buy Me That Town 1941 and The Lemon Drop Kid 1951. His T.V appearances, he's remembered as the crabby Dr. Chegley on the TV series Julia 1968-71 other TV roles include a guest shot as Bugs Moran on The Untouchables, the title role in Martin Kane, Private Eye 1951 and his Emmy-winning performance as Capt. Queeg in a live The Caine Mutiny Court Martial 1955. He appeared in two films with John Wayne. Lloyd died on 27 September 1985 in Los Angeles, California. Picture from Island In The Sky 1953.
Glenn Strange born on 16 August 1899 in Weed, New Mexico, USA, This craggy-faced, mustached actor, a prolific heavy who menaced virtually every major cowboy star in more than 200 Westerns, was himself a cowboy before launching a singing career in the late 1920s, performing western songs on the radio. Strange got into movies in 1934, at first singing, then playing unbilled bits in cheapie horse operas. His first film he played Bandy sidekick to Dick Foran in Land Beyond The Law 1937. He earned his place in movie history by being cast as the Frankenstein monster in The House of Frankenstein 1944, The House of Dracula 1945 and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein 1948, he also appeared in 14 films with John Wayne. In 1962 Strange joined the "Gunsmoke" TV show as Sam the bartender where he worked until his death. Glenn died on 20 September 1973 Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born Charles Roberson on 10 May 1919 Raised on cattle ranches in Shannon, Texas and Roswell, New Mexico, Roberson left school at 13 and became a cowhand and oilfield roughneck. He married and took his wife and daughter to California, where he joined the Culver City Police Department and guarded the gate at MGM studios. Following army service in World War II, Roberson returned to the police force. During duty at Warner Bros. studios during a labor strike, he met stuntman Fred Kennedy, who told him about a stunt job at Republic studios. Roberson got the job, due both to his expert horsemanship and to his resemblance to John Carroll (I), whom he doubled in Roberson's first picture, Wyoming 1947. His resemblance to John Wayne led to nearly thirty years as Wayne's stunt double. He often played small roles and stunted in other roles in the same film, which frequently resulted in his shooting "himself, " once the picture was cut together. He appeared in twenty-two films with John Wayne. At the time of his death, he was one of the most respected stuntmen in Hollywood, Charles died on 8 June 1988 in Bakersfield, California, USA. and was greatly missed. Picture from The War Wagon 1967.
Born Betty May Adams on 17 October 1926 in Waterloo, Iowa, USA. Although born in the Hawkeye State, Betty May Adams grew up in Arkansas and made her acting debut in a third grade play, "Hansel and Gretel" She moved to California after deciding to become an actress She worked three days a week as a secretary to support herself and spent the remainder of her time taking speech lessons and making the rounds at the various studios' casting departments. Her first movie role was playing a starlet, appropriately enough, in Paramount's Red, Hot and Blue 1949, she then played a leading role in the western The Dalton Gang. Over a period of five weeks, she appeared in six more quickie Westerns. Adams' first big show biz break was at Universal, when she appeared in a screen test opposite All American footballer Leon Hart, a Detroit Lions end. It was Hart who was being considered by the studio, but the gridiron star flopped while Universal execs flipped over Adams. The studio changed her first name from Betty to Julia and later to Julie. She appeared in only one film with John Wayne. Julie passed away on February 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California, USA
Born Vincent Markowski on 9 August 1903 in Port Henry, New York, USA. This 6' 1½" American star of silent and early sound Westerns and serials. Raised in Michigan, he went through a number of strenuous jobs (sailor, boxer lumberjack, coal miner, etc.) before landing in Los Angeles and getting work as a movie extra and stuntman. His good looks and athletic physique (he was a champion weight-lifter) led to an offer to play the lead in a series of silent Westerns, which he filmed under the stage name Bill Burns. FBO signed him and changed his name to Tom Tyler. He became one of the studio's most popular action stars and initially made a smooth transition into talking pictures, for which he worked hard to lose his natural Lithuanian accent. As the Thirties progressed, however, he began to face stiff competition in the arena of B-Westerns and started taking supporting roles in larger budget pictures. In 1941, he took on perhaps his most famous role as the eponymous hero of The Adventures of Captain Marvel 1941. This serial and several others brought him new fame, but within three years of playing Captain Marvel, Tyler's career was almost erased when his health failed. Rheumatoid arthritis crippled him and he was reduced to occasional minor supporting roles, often for 'John Ford. He appeared in five films with John Wayne. Tom died on 1 May 1954 in Hamtramck, Michigan, USA.
Earl Dwire Born on 3 October 1883 in Missouri, USA. American character actor Earl Dwire was most closely associated with the B-Western movie mills of the 1930s. Dwire frequently played the antagonist in the low-budget vehicles of such cowboy stars as Bob Steele and Johnny Mack Brown. In the early '30s, he was virtually a regular in the John Wayne Westerns produced by the Lone Star outfit. He also occasionally accepted such contemporary minor roles as a priest in Angels With Dirty Faces (1938) and a gangster in Accidents Will Happen (1939). Earl Dwire's last known film credit was the Universal serial Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). He appeared in sixteen movies with John Wayne. Earl passed away on 16 January 1940 in Carmichael, California, USA.
Born Raymond Benard on 14 February 1902 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Ray was a physical culturist and very good athlete. This is how he began working in Hollywood, as a physical fitness trainer for movie stars. Bit parts in 1932 led to action roles in the "Undersea Kingdom" and "The Leathernecks Have Landed" in 1936, the same year he began his role as Tucson Smith in the "Three Mesquiteer" series for which he did 24 pictures before leaving in 1939. He also did 20 of the 24 "Range Busters" series which ran from 1940 to 1943. He finished up playing apes in "White Gorilla" (1947) and "Killer Apes" (1953) and the role of It in "It, the Terror from Beyond Space" (1958), Crash appeared in eight movies with John Wayne. After he retired he operated a number of successful businesses. One of these, Corriganville, was a ranch and town used for filming TV and movie westerns. His nickname 'Crash' derived from his powerful physique and willingness to undertake dangerous stunts. Crash passed away on 10 August 1976 in Brookings Hollow, Oregon, USA.
Born Kenne Duncan on 17 February 1903 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. Veteran movie villain Kenne Duncan began plying his wicked trade in 1933. He hit his stride in the 1940s, when he was under contract to Republic Pictures. Duncan sneered and skulked his way through scores of westerns and serials, usually as the raffish aide-de-camp of the principal heavy (as in the 1941 serial The Adventures of Captain Marvel). When Republic slowed down production in the mid-1950s, Duncan reluctantly found himself in the circle of Hollywood "fringies" who populated the films of immortal bad-movie maven Ed Wood Jr. One of Kenne Duncan's final screen appearances was as phony mystic and erstwhile vampire Dr. Acula in Wood's Night of the Ghouls, Kenne appeared in four movies with John Wayne. Kenne passed away on 5 February 1972 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Robert J. Wilke on 18 May 1914 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Prolific American character actor of primarily villainous roles. He worked as a lifeguard at a Miami, Florida hotel, where he made contacts in the business. He was able to obtain work as a stuntman and continued as such until the mid-Forties, when he began getting actual roles in low- budget Westerns. A prominent appearance as one of the heavies in High Noon 1952 led to work in higher quality films. He worked extensively in television as well as movies, and became an enormously familiar face, though a fairly Anonymous one to the general public. His weathered visage made him a perfect Western bad guy, but he occasionally played sympathetic parts as well, as in Days of Heaven 1978. An expert golfer, he was said by his friend Claude Akins to have earned more money on the golf course than he ever did in movies, he only appeared alongside John Wayne in one film The Fighting Seabees. Robert died on 28 March 1989 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born LeRoy Mason on 2 July 1903 in Larimore, North Dakota, USA. The quintessential "Big Boss" heavy in B-Westerns, with or without a mustache, LeRoy Mason entered films in the mid-'20s as Roy Mason, playing mostly juveniles. After the advent of talkies, he was usually on the wrong side of the law, appearing opposite nearly every Western star on the Hollywood prairie, a career that included quite a few action serials as well. By the 1940s, he had become one of the busiest character actors in Hollywood, switching from 20th Century Fox to Republic and back again with seemingly little time to recuperate. In 1943, he signed a "term player" contract with Republic and became busier than ever. The hectic schedule took an awful toll, however, when he suffered a fatal heart attack on 13 October 1947 Los Angeles, California, USA. while on the set of the 1947 Monte Hale Western "California Firebrand"
Born Leonard Clapham on 24 August 1889 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Grizzled character actor of scores of Westerns. A native of Kentucky, he spent his early manhood as a salesman. He obtained work with the Selig film company in Chicago as a property man and came to California when that firm moved west. He began to get small parts in the Westerns Selig produced and both his expertise with horses and his rugged appearance soon led him to larger roles. In 1924, he adopted the stage name Tom London after years of performing under his real name. He played heavies and comical roles with equal skill and became, throughout the Thirties and Forties, a familiar face low-budget pictures. He played the comic sidekick to Western star Sunset Carson in a number of B-Westerns and continued to play character roles until his death on 5 December 1963 in North Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Charles Lafayette King Jr on 21 February 1895 in Hillsboro, Texas, USA. In films since his adolescence (he appeared in 1915's "Birth of a Nation"), Charles King played a variety of roles in silent films, and even made a series of comedy shorts for Universal in the '20s. However, it was as a western villain that King achieved his greatest fame. In the 1930s and 1940s, he appeared in scores of westerns, and was usually killed off before the end of the movie. There's a great line in "Blazing Saddles" where Gene Wilder says, "I've killed more men than Cecil B. DeMille"; well, it's doubtful that anybody has been killed more times in films than Charlie King. He's been beaten up and shot by the likes of John Wayne, Buster Crabbe, Buck Jones, Tim McCoy, and pretty much anybody who ever appeared in a film with him, Charles appeared in four movies with the Duke. After a memorable career as a punching bag and moving target for most of the actors in Hollywood, Charlie King retired, and died on 7 May 1957 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Granville G. Withers on 17 January 1904 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. Strappingly handsome leading man Grant Withers worked as an oil company salesman and newspaper reporter before he turned to acting in 1926. One of the more popular second echelon stars of the early '30s, Withers was unable to sustain his celebrity. By the end of the 1930s, Withers was pretty much limited to character roles and bits, with such notable exceptions as the recurring role of the brash Lt. Street in Monogram's Mr. Wong series. In 1930, Withers eloped with 17-year-old actress Loretta Young, but the marriage was later annulled. Some of Withers' later screen appearances were arranged through the auspices of his friends John Ford and John Wayne. Grant appeared in nine movies with John Wayne, Grant committed suicide on 27 March 1959 in North Hollywood, California, USA., leaving behind a note in which he apologized to all the people he'd let down during his Hollywood days.
Born Richmond Reed Carradine on 5 February 1906 in New York, New York, USA. Son of a reporter/artist and a surgeon. Grew up in Peekskill and Kingston NY. Attended Christ Church School, and Graphic Art School, studying sculpture. Roamed the South selling sketches. This gaunt, deep-voiced Shakespearean actor would be a safe choice to win any competition for Most Movies Ever Made. A classically trained stage actor of the bravura school, he relished showy character parts, no matter how minor the footage; he can truly be said to have believed the old adage, "There are no small roles, only small actors." Carradine wasn't above chewing a little scenery here and there, and left unrestrained he frequently could be seen going over the top. But when handled by a great director-say, John Ford, for whom Carradine was extremely effective-he delivered brilliant performances. He can be glimpsed in bit roles in the early 1930s, in everything from The Sign of the Cross 1932 to such Universal horror classics as The Black Cat 1934 and Bride of Frankenstein 1935. In the late 1930s, Carradine worked virtually nonstop in dozens of films, including such John Ford landmarks as Stagecoach, Drums Along the Mohawk both 1939, and The Grapes of Wrath 1940, as well as Captains Courageous 1937, Jesse James, The Hound of the Baskervilles both 1939, and Blood and Sand 1941. In the 1940s, he renewed his association with Universal horror films, playing Dracula in House of Frankenstein 1944 and House of Dracula 1945, John appeared in four movies with John Wayne. Picture from Stagecoach 1948, John passed away on 27 November 1988 in Milan, Italy of natural causes.
Born Lafayette Stocking McKee on 23 January 1872 in Morrison, Illinois, USA. Lafe McKee began working in Hollywood around 1913. He usually played the likeable father of the heroine, the distressed businessman, or the ranch owner on the verge of losing his homestead or cattle to the villains. The majority of his films were westerns and he supported such actors as Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Gene Autry, Tim McCoy, Tom Tyler, and others. Lafe appeared in eleven films with The Duke, Lafe died on 10 August 1959 in Temple City, California, USA.
Born Sigrid Gurie Haukelid on 18 May 1911 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Sigrid and her family went back to Norway in 1912 and were not too far away from The Titanic when it sank. Sigrid Gurie came to Hollywood in 1936 as a newly discovered talent whom Samuel Goldwyn introduced in the 1937 production of The Adventures of Marco Polo. Strangely enough he promoted her a Norwegian goddess, but made her an oriental princess teamed with Gary Cooper. She made a sensation in the early 1940s when the press found out she was born in Brooklyn and not in Norway. Sigrid only appeared in one movie with John. Sigrid died on 14 August 1969 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Born Owena Wolcott 16 June 1903 in Portland, Oregon, USA. Dramatic leading and supporting actress in 1930s and 40s Hollywood, her background had encompassed both vaudeville and the Broadway musical stage. A slim, pale blonde, Ona Munson achieved film immortality as the tainted Belle Watling in "Gone With The Wind". Her other film roles were sporadic supporting roles in dramas and westerns. She introduced the song "You're the Cream in My Coffee" in the Broadway play "Hold Everything" 1927. Memorable as Belle Watling in 'Gone With the Wind' (1939). Portrayed Lorelei Kilbourne, society editor for The Illustrated Press, on CBS Radio's "Big Town" (1940-1942). She replaced Claire Trevor in the role. Ona appeared in two movies with The Duke, Ona died on 11 February 1955 in New York City, New York. This note was found next to her bed at death, "This is the only way I know to be free again ... Please don't follow me."