part seven page two
Born David Gainey Clarke on 30 August 1908 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, David Clarke made his Broadway debut in "Journeyman" in 1938, and subsequently appeared in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" with Raymond Massey. He also played at the Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles, where he caught the eye of agent Leland Hayward, leading to his first film role in Knockout 1941. Over the next five decades Clarke appeared in scores of films and TV shows (from the "Golden Age" of live dramas to more recent series), and was featured on Broadway in the original productions of "A View from the Bridge", "Orpheus Descending", "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe", "Inquest", and "The Visit" with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. David appeared in three movies with John Wayne, David passed away on 18 April 2004 in Arlington, Virginia, USA.
Born Earle Hodgins on 6 October 1893, Utah, USA, Actor Earle Hodgins has been characterized by more than one western-film historian as a grizzled, bucolic Bob Hope type. Usually cast as snake-oil salesmen, Hodgins would brighten up his "B"-western scenes with a snappy stream of patter, leavened by magnificently unfunny wisecracks ("This remedy will give ya a complexion like a peach, fuzz 'n' all..."). When the low-budget western market died in the 1950s, Hodgins continued unabated on such TV series as The Roy Rogers Show and Annie Oakley. He also made appearances in such "A" films as East of Eden (55), typically cast as carnival hucksters and rural sharpsters. In 1961, Earle Hodgins was cast in the recurring role of wizened handyman Lonesome on the TV sitcom Guestward Ho!. Earle appeared in four movies with John Wayne, Picture from Paradise Canyon 1935, Earle passed away on 14 April 1964, Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Pedro Armendáriz Jr on 6 April 1940 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Pedro Armendáriz Jr. has become a film and television star in his own right in Mexico and abroad. He started acting in the '70s, mostly with bit parts in violent Westerns starring Anthony Quinn, John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood. During the '80s he made a lot of films in Mexico and eventually worked in Europe and Hollywood. While a leading man in his native country, he had mostly walk-on roles in U.S. productions. American audiences may recognize him as President Hector Lopez in Licence to Kill or Pancho Villa in The Old Gringo. Other small roles continued in Before Night Falls, The Mexican, Original Sin, and The Crime of Padre Amaro. Back in Mexico, he finally received recognition for his acting with starring roles in the award-winning films La Ley de Herodes and Su Alteza Serenisma. In 2003, he appeared in John Sayles's Casa de los Babys and Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Pedro appeared in two westerns with John Wayne. Picture from Chisum 1970, Pedro passed away on December 26, 2011 in New York City, New York, USA
Born Paul Smith on 13 January 1912, Atmore, Alabama, USA, Paul Birch was a veteran of 39 movies, 50 stage dramas and an untold number of television shows including the "Hallmark Hall of Fame" 1951. In the late 1950s he starred, along with William Campbell, in the syndicated series "Cannonball" (1958), a half-hour drama adventure show about over-the-road truckers. He was the original "Marlboro Man" in TV commercials and played both Union Gen. U.S. Grant and Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in several historical playlets. He started out as the first of the original members of the Pasadena Playhouse and his stage work included "The Caine Mutiny". He was often called upon to play Grant due to the striking resemblance (when bearded) he bore to the former General and President. He enjoyed playing the roles of Lee and Grant and once remarked, "There were times when I was switching those two roles so fast I could have surrendered to myself. Paul appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962, Paul passed away on 24 May 1969 in St. George, Grenada.
Born James McEachin on May 20, 1930 in Rennert, North Carolina. USA, African American actor was a stage actor until signed to a Universal contract in the mid-1960s. Though relatively young, McEachin projected a middle-aged, "solid citizen" image that perfectly suited his title character in the Universal television series Tenafly 1973. McEachin was cast as private eye and loyal family man Harry Tenafly, one of the few TV detectives who relied more on brains than movie-star charisma. Since that time, James McEachin has usually been cast as a cop; he played Sergeant and later Lieutenant Brock on virtually every Perry Mason TV movie of the 1980s and 1990s-a notable exception being the 1987 entry The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel, in which he was cast as "Harry Forbes. James appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Undefeated 1969.
Born Tiger Androwaous on 19 March 1920, Brooklyn, New York, USA, The son of Lebanese parents, American actor Tige Andrews, born Tiger Androwaous, played supporting roles on television and in films where he was usually cast as an amiable bad-guy. He was best known for his television work; he was a regular on the 1970s series Mod Squad. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1970. He recorded a record single "Keep America Beautiful" and "The Mod Father" in the early 70's, Tige was an artist who painted with oil paints, and published in the book "Actors as Artists." He had gallery shows. Tige appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Wings of Eagles 1957, Tige passed away on 27 January 2007 in Encino, California, USA.
Born Jacqueline Wells on 30 August 1914, Denver, Colorado, USA, Colorado-born leading lady Julie Bishop, who also acted under her birth name of Jacqueline Wells and the stage name Diane Duval, started off as a silent movie child actress, working with such legends as Clara Bow and Mary Pickford. The daughter of a wealthy banker and oilman, she was raised in Texas and eventually Los Angeles following her parents' divorce. Julie Bishop was signed by Warner Bros in 1940 and played a dutiful sweethearts opposite filmdom's top male stars, notably Errol Flynn in Northern Pursuit 1943, Humphrey Bogart in Action in the North Atlantic 1943, John Wayne in both Sands of Iwo Jima 1949 and The High and the Mighty 1954, and Alan Ladd in The Big Land 1957, her last picture. But, for the most part, she was never given anything challenging enough to become a top-flight star. Picture from Sands of Iwo Jima 1949, Julie passed away on 30 August 2001in Mendocino, California, USA.
Born Frank Puglia on 9 March 1892 in Sicily, Italy, Puglia started his career at age 15 when he joined a traveling operetta company. Frank appeared in Italian opera from the age of 13. He came to the U.S. in 1907 and worked in a laundry before joining an Italian language theatre group in New York. In 1921, while appearing on stage, he was spotted by D.W. Griffith and was hired immediately. Puglia played a number of ethnic roles throughout his 150+ films career, as well as frequently playing priests, diplomats and musicians. Frank appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from Tall in the Saddle 1944, Frank passed away on 25 October 1975 in South Pasadena, California, USA.
Born Russell Hopton on 18 February 1900 in New York, New York, USA, Stage actor Russell Hopton made his first screen appearance in a bit role in 1926's Ella Cinders. Hopton came into his own in the early 1930s, playing glowering, sarcastic characters who often bear such ill-suited names as Smiley and Happy. One of his largest roles was phony elocution expert Jerry Daniels in Once in a Lifetime, the famed 1932 satire of Hollywood's early-talkie days. In 1935 and 1936, Hopton directed a handful of "B" pictures for producer Maurice Conn. Russell Hopton spent the last eight years or so of his life as an RKO contract player, essaying villainous or disreputable supporting roles in both feature films and 2-reel comedies. Russell appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from Idol of the Crowds 1937, Russell passed away on 7 April 1945 in North Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Richard M. Wessel on 20 April 1913, Wisconsin, USA, Dick Wessel this husky-framed character began his career on stage before arriving in films in the mid-30s. Glimpsed in extra roles at first, he appeared on both sides of the moral fence over the years, playing as many brutish gangsters, henchmen and convicts as he did rough hewn cops or streetwise characters cabbies, mailmen, bartenders, boxers, etc. The tough-sounding names of his characters, such as "Monk," "Beans," "Moxie" and "Chopper Kane" pretty much said it all. His best showcase, and it should have worked out better for him, was his bold menace as the bald-pated arch villain Harry "Cueball" Lake in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball 1946. Here he was finally given a chance to shine but it did not lead to other meatier roles. Dick appeared in three movies with John Wayne, Picture from Dakota 1945, Dick passed away on 20 April 1965 in Studio City, California, USA.
Born Frank S. Hagney on 20 March 1884 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Arriving in America from his native Australia at the turn of the century, Frank S. Hagney eked out a living in vaudeville. He entered films during the silent era as a stunt man, gradually working his way up to featured roles. While most of Hagney's film work is forgettable, he had the honor of contributing to a bonafide classic in 1946. Director Frank Capra hand-picked Frank S. Hagney to portray the faithful bodyguard of wheelchair-bound villain Lionel Barrymore in the enduring Yuletide attraction It's A Wonderful Life 1946. Frank appeared in seven movies with John Wayne, Picture from Seven Sinners 1936, Frank passed away on 25 June 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born Herman Arthur Lauter on 19 June 1914 in White Plains, New York, USA, Born to Herman E. and Franceska Lauter, he was raised in Denver, Colorado. Although it has been suggested that he appeared briefly in a couple of films during the Thirties, his real movie career began in 1946. American character actor specializing in villainous roles. Harry Lauter came to be a familiar presence in low-budget films, serials, and television programs in the 1950s, though he only once really came close to stardom, as one of the leads in the television series "Tales of the Texas Rangers" (1955). Most of his career was spent as a serviceable second lead or heavy, though he continued to play bit parts in larger pictures. The son of an artist, he devoted much of his energy late in life to his own painting and running an art gallery. Harry appeared in three movies with John Wayne, Picture from Operation Pacific 1951, Harry passed away on 30 October 1990 in Ojai, California, USA.
Born Pierre Watkin on 29 December 1889 in Sioux City, Iowa, USA, Pierre Watkin was one of a stable of tall, distinguished-looking and sophisticated character actors (such as Russell Hicks, Minor Watson, Selmer Jackson and Paul Harvey) whom Hollywood kept steadily employed playing political leaders, army officers, wealthy businessmen and the like. Few had more flair for it than Watkin; he managed to bring just the right amount of upper-class condescension to his roles to arouse enough suspicion as to the trustworthiness of his character. He was especially memorable as Mr. Skinner, the banker, in the W.C. Fields comedy The Bank Dick 1940, wherein he uttered the now-classic line "Allow me to give you a hearty handclasp". Pierre appeared in three movies with John Wayne, Picture from Dakota 1945, Pierre passed away on 3 February 1960 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Richard Alexander on 19 November 1902 in Dallas, Texas, USA, Though he started in films around 1924, beefy American character actor Richard Alexander was regarded in studio press releases as a comparative newcomer when he was cast in the 1930 antiwar classic All Quiet on the Western Front. Alexander played Westhus, who early in the film orders novice soldier Lew Ayres to get out of his bunk. After this promising assignment, Alexander was soon consigned to bit parts, usually in roles calling for dumb brute strength; for example, Alexander is the bouncer at the violent Geneva "peace conference" in Wheeler and Woolsey's Diplomaniacs 1933. Though familiar for his dozens of villainous roles in westerns, Alexander is best-known for his kindly interpretation of the noble Prince Barin in the Flash Gordon serials of the 1930s. Towards the end of his career, Richard Alexander became active with the executive board of the Screen Actors Guild, representing Hollywood extras. Richard appeared in Seven movies with John Wayne, Picture from Dark Command 1940, Richard passed away on 9 August 1989 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born Virginia Brissac on 11 June 1883 in California, USA, Stern-visaged American actress Virginia Brissac was a well-established stage actress in the early part of the 20th century. For several seasons in the 1920s, she headed a travelling stock company bearing her name. Once Brissac settled down in Hollywood in 1935, she carved a niche in authoritative parts, spending the next twenty years playing a steady stream of schoolteachers, college deans, duennas and society matrons. Once in a while, Virginia Brissac was allowed to "cut loose" with a raving melodramatic part: in Bob Hope's The Ghost Breakers, she dons a coat of blackface makeup and screams with spine-tingling conviction as the bewitched mother of zombie Noble Johnson. Virginia appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from Operation Pacific 1951, Virginia passed away on 26 July 1979 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Vivian Eichelberger on 21 February 1890 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA, In films from 1912, Wheeler Oakman was one of the silent era's sturdiest leading men. Oakman's co-stars ranged from Mabel Normand Mickey, 1918 to Jackie Coogan Peck's Bad Boy, 1921 to his one-time spouse Priscilla Dean. He made an auspicious sound-film debut in the first all-talking feature film, 1928's The Lights of New York; as gangster Hawk Miller, it was Oakman who coined the immortal crime-flick catchphrase "Take him for a ride" (each word carefully articulated into the primitive "mike" hidden in the candlestick telephone on Hawk Miller's desk). In films until his death in 1949, Wheeler Oakman essayed dozens of character roles in the 1930s and 1940s, usually as slightly seedy criminal masterminds; he was prominently featured in several East Side Kids films, as well as such serials as The Lost Jungle 1934, Darkest Africa (1936), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars 1938, Buck Rogers 1939, Brenda Starr 1945, Jack Armstrong 1947, Brick Bradford 1947, and Superman 1948. Wheeler appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from Two-Fisted Law 1932, Wheeler passed away on 19 March 1949, Van Nuys, California, USA.
Born Paul Hurst on 15 October 1888 in Traver, Tulare County, California, USA, American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his early work was in low budget western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the emerging film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well (some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect). In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. He proved adept at working as a director for some of the cheapest producers along Gower Gulch, where movies were normally shot on location in a week or less and where stunt men were often the highest paid folks on the set. Within a few years, he focused all of his energies into acting, notably becoming one of the few successes to emerge from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Paul appeared in five movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Big Stampede 1932, Paul passed away on 27 February 1953 in Hollywood, California, USA.