co-stars part nine
Born Dorothy Ford on 4 April 1923, Perris, California, USA, Some actresses may give off the aura from the screen of being larger than life, but Dorothy Ford presented that image for real, in person. Standing 6'2" tall, the dark-haired, beautifully proportioned Ford parlayed her height (which should have been an impediment) and good looks into a Hollywood career lasting more than 20 years. Ford appeared in school pageants and went into modeling after she graduated; her 38-26-38-and-a-half figure coupled with her 6'2" frame made her ideal for photographic work. Her first experience as a performer came about when Billy Rose cast Ford in his aquacade alongside Johnny Weissmuller. She also did a stint as an Earl Carroll showgirl, appearing in revues including Something to Shout About and Star Spangled Glamour. Ford's physique and striking good looks quickly brought her to the attention of casting offices, and she made her screen debut in 1942 in Lady in the Dark, playing a model. MGM put her under contract in 1943 and cast her in the musical Thousands Cheer 1944 and Broadway Rhythm 1944, in which she was seen sipping champagne with Charles Winninger; her other appearances that year included roles in Meet the People, Bathing Beauty, Two Girls and a Sailor, and The Thin Man Goes Home. She was seen in The Picture of Dorian Gray 1945 as part of an onscreen performing act, and worked in King Vidor's An American Romance 1945 before she left MGM. Ford took acting seriously and even spent time working and studying as a member of the Actors' Lab, the West Coast equivalent of New York's Group Theatre. Picture from 3 Godfathers 1948, Dorothy appeared in two movies with John Wayne . Dorothy passed away on October 15, 2010 in Canoga Park, California, USA.
Born Charles Hall Locher on 26 February 1915 Fresno, California, USA, Athletic leading man Jon Hall felt safe when, late in his career, he played fast and loose with the facts concerning his early life — including his actual date of birth. That's because until 1937, there was no Jon Hall, at least not officially. When he began his film career, he was billed as Charles Locher (notably in 1935's Charlie Chan in Shanghai) then went by the named of Lloyd Crane. With his starring role as a persecuted native boy in John Ford's The Hurricane 1937, the actor became Jon Hall for keeps. During the 1940s, Hall co-starred with the exotic Maria Montez in a series of nonsensical but very popular Technicolor costume pictures at Universal, bearing such titles as Arabian Nights 1942 and White Savage 1943. With his beefcake physique beefing up where it shouldn't by the early 1950s, Hall turned to television, where he starred in the well-circulated syndicated series Ramar of the Jungle from 1952 through 1954. He then left acting cold for several years to become an accomplished manufacturer of photographic equipment, making an excellent living renting out his underwater cameras to various Hollywood producers. He returned to films as the star and director of The Beach Girls and the Monster 1965, which not surprisingly was more entertaining in its underwater scenes than when it bobbed to the surface. He also kept busy as owner-manager of a small flying school. Jon only appeared in one movie with John Wayne, Picture from Winds Of The Wasteland 1936, Jon passed away on 13 December 1979 in North Hollywood, California, USA.
Born John Asbury Kirkhuff on 19 February 1885 in Missoula, Montana, USA, On screen from the late '20s, roly-poly B-Western and serial perennial Jack Kirk began turning up in low-budget Westerns after the advent of sound, usually as a member of various music constellations bearing names like "Range Riders" and "Arizona Wranglers." He later essayed scores of scruffy-looking henchmen and, as he grew older and more settled, began playing bankers, sheriffs, and ranchers. Under term contract with B-Western industry leader Republic Pictures from July 12, 1943, to July 11, 1944, Kirk found roles increasingly more difficult to come by thereafter and left films in 1948 to work on a fishing vessel in Alaska. Jack appeared in eighteen movies with John Wayne, Picture from Angel And The Badman 1947, Jack passed away on 13 September 1948 in Ketchikan, Alaska, USA.
Born on 20 August 1906 in Michigan City Indiana USA, Charles Arnt attended Princeton University where he was president of the Triangle Club and where he earned a geological engineering degree. Short, balding and with an air of perpetual suspicion concerning his fellow man, Arnt seemed far older than his 30 years when he was featured in the original Broadway production of Knickerbocker Holiday. In the movies, Arnt was often cast as snoopy clerks, inquisitive next-door neighbors or curious bystanders. Charles Arnt was seen in such films as The Falcon's Brother 1942, The Great Gildersleeve 1943 and That Wonderful Urge 1948 he also played one top-billed lead, as an obsessive art dealer in PRC's Dangerous Intruder 1946. Charles appeared in four movies with John Wayne, Picture from War Of The Wildcats 1943, Charles passed away on 6 August 1990 Orcas Island Washington USA.
Born Sabino Tomas Gomez on 10 July 1905, New York City, New York, USA, After graduating from high school in 1923, Thomas Sabino Gomez answered a help wanted ad, which resulted in his joining the Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne theater group. Prior to that time he had not considered acting as a career. He continued working as an actor with the Lunts, travelling across country and honing his acting skills. Eventually he began performing in New York's legitimate theatre. His film debut occurred in 1942 in Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror 1942 as, of course, a bad guy. While shooting that film he lived at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. He gained a reputation as a methodical man, who would have his daily newspaper brought to his room, where it was placed on the top of an ever growing stack. When he had time to read, he would have a bellboy come to the room and lift the stack of papers, from which he would withdraw the bottom paper. Gomez was a strong union man and served on the board of directors of the Screen Actors Guild for more than 40 years. In the late 1940s he purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills, and lived there until his death. While his film career consisted mostly of supporting roles, on the Broadway stage he was a star, playing lead roles in such productions as "A Man for All Seasons". He was also known as a devotee of gourmet dining, and was well known at most of the best restaurants in Hollywood and New York. Thomas appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from Pittsburgh 1942, Thomas passed away on 18 June 1971 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
Born Milton Kibbee on 27 January 1896 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, Milton Kibbee was the younger brother of prominent stage and screen character actor Guy Kibbee. Looking like a smaller, skinnier edition of his brother, Milton followed Guy's lead and opted for a show business career. The younger Kibbee never reached the professional heights enjoyed by Guy in the '30s and '40s, but he was steadily employed in bit parts and supporting roles throughout the same period. Often cast as desk clerks, doctors and park-bench habitués, Milton Kibbee was most frequently seen as a pencil-wielding reporter, notably (and very briefly) in 1941's Citizen Kane. Milton appeared in five movies with John Wayne, Picture from Flying Leathernecks 1951, Milton passed away on 17 April 1970 in Simi Valley, California, USA.
Born Robert Walker Jnr on 15 April 1940 in New York City, New York, USA, As the son of actors Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones, Robert Walker Jr. certainly had the right pedigree to make the grade in Hollywood. But his parents separated when Robert was only three, and at age 9 his stepfather became the powerful film mogul David O. Selznick who by this time had already taken firm control of his mother's career. Despite those setbacks, Walker Jr. began assuredly training at the Actors' Studio in the early 1960s. He also married wife Ellie Wood in the early 60s and they had three children. Walker Jr. preferred to find his own place in the entertainment field and tried to avoid the obvious comparisons, but his startling resemblance to his late father made it extremely difficult for film audiences to separate the two. He started his film career in good company and with two strong roles in The Hook 1963, a morality story set during the Korean war starring Kirk Douglas and Nick Adams, and The Ceremony 1963 in which he received a Golden Globe Award for "promising newcomer" as Laurence Harvey's brother. Walker Jr. also worked on TV and earned a Theatre World Award for his two 1964 off-Broadway roles in "I Knock at the Door" and "Pictures in the Hallway.", Robert only appeared in one movie with John Wayne, Picture from War Wagon 1967. Robert passed away on 5th of December , 2019 in Malibu, California, USA.
Born Francis Xavier Aloysius James Jeremiah Keenan Wynn on 27 July 1916 in New York City, New York, USA, Keenan Wynn was the son of legendary comedian Ed Wynn and actress Hilda Keenan, and grandson of stage luminary Frank Keenan. After attending St. John's Military Academy, Wynn obtained his few professional theatrical jobs with the Maine Stock Company. After overcoming the "Ed Wynn's Son" onus (his father arranged his first job, with the understanding that Keenan would be on his own after that), Wynn developed into a fine comic and dramatic actor on his own in several Broadway plays and on radio. He was signed to an MGM contract in 1942, scoring a personal and professional success as the sarcastic sergeant in 1944's See Here Private Hargrove 1944. Wynn's newfound popularity as a supporting actor aroused a bit of jealousy from his father, who underwent professional doldrums in the 1940s; father and son grew closer in the 1950s when Ed, launching a second career as a dramatic actor, often turned to his son for moral support and professional advice. Wynn's film career flourished into the 1960s and 1970s, during which time he frequently appeared in such Disney films as The Absent-Minded Professor 1960 and The Love Bug 1968 as apoplectic villain Alonso Hawk. Wynn also starred in such TV series as Trouble-shooters and Dallas. Encroaching deafness and a drinking problem plagued Wynn in his final years, but he always delivered the goods onscreen. Keenan appeared in only one movie with John Wayne but John appeared in a movie playing himself with Keenan called Cancel My Reservation which also starred Bob Hope. Picture from The War Wagon 1967, Keenan passed away on 14 October 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Valora Noland was an American actress, notable for her 1960s movie and television work. Among her more memorable characters were Rhonda (aka "Animal") in the first two Beach Party movies (co-starring with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon), Vickie in 1964's Sex and the College Girl, Kate Fletcher in 1967's The War Wagon, and Daras in the original Star Trek television series ("Patterns of Force"). Noland was the leading lady in a black and white film noir-style movie titled A Hot Summer Game (aka The Summer Children) that was stalled in the distribution process in 1965. A DVD release is currently in production. Valora only appeared in one movie with John Wayne, Picture from The War Wagon 1967.
Born Curtis Rudolf on 27 February 1915 in Cheney, Washington, USA, American utility actor Donald Curtis made his screen bow sometime around 1940. Plying his trade in serials and Westerns, Curtis specialized in villainy, usually at Columbia Pictures. One of his larger roles was as a sourpussed murder suspect in Red Skelton's The Fuller Brush Man 1948. Active until 1967, when he left show business to become a clergyman, Donald Curtis worked frequently in television, co-starring with Lynn Bari in the 1950 comedy-mystery series The Detective's Wife. Donald appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from They Were Expendable 1945, Donald passed away on 22 May 1997 in Desert Hot Springs, California, USA.
Born Muriel Adele Evanson on 20 July 1910 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, A child actress in her hometown of Minneapolis, Muriel Evans began her screen career in 1927 as a leading lady to comedian Lupino Lane. Her parents, however, demanded that she finish her education and she was offscreen until 1932. Blonde and, according to at least one reviewer, "unspoiled," Evans enjoyed a busy career in mainly B-films, including no less than 13 series Westerns with the likes of John Wayne, Buck Jones, and Tex Ritter. In the late 1930s, her career came full circle when she starred in two-reel comedies opposite James Finlayson. Muriel appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from King Of The Pecos 1936 , Muriel passed away on 26 October 2000 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born Otis Harlan on 29 December 1865 in Zanesville, Ohio, USA, Cherubic, pop-eyed character actor "Otis Harlan" came to films in the 1920s after extensive legitimate-stage and vaudeville experience. Though he essayed a variety of roles in silent films (he even appeared as a black family retainer in one effort), Harlan was most felicitously cast as a semi-regular in the "Reginald Denny" comedies at Universal. In 1929, he played Captain Andy in the first filmization of "Edna Ferber"'s "Show Boat." Most of his talkie assignments were bits, albeit memorable ones, including Starveling in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" 1935 and small-town constable Hi Jenks in the 1937 "Our Gang" 1-reeler Roamin' Holiday. Generations of cartoon fans have revelled in Harlan's voiceover portrayal of "Happy" in Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" 1937. Otis appeared in three movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Telegraph Trail 1933, Otis passed away on 21 January 1940, Martinsville, Indiana, USA.
Doreen McKay was born on May 21, 1914 in the USA. She was an actress, she only made five movies and two of them was with John Wayne known for Pals of the Saddle 1938, The Night Riders 1939 and The Higgins Family 1938. Picture from Pals Of The Saddle 1938, She died in May 1986 in the USA.
Born Samuel Southey Hinds on 4 April 1875 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, Hinds, a Harvard graduate. He was a lawyer in Pasadena, CA, and used to act in plays at the Pasadena Playhouse as a hobby, until the stock market crash of 1929, during which he lost most of his money. Several producers were impressed enough with his stage work to offer him parts in their films, and after a few years he quit law and became a full-time actor. The tall, dignified-looking Hinds appeared in over 200 films, characterizing men in positions of importance: doctors, judges, military officers, politicians, and such. His two most notable appearances were in Destry Rides Again, and It's a Wonderful Life. Hinds, who also appeared on stage during this time period. Samuel appeared in four movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Spoilers 1942, Samuel passed away on 13 October 1948 in Pasadena, California, USA.
Born William V. Mong on 25 June 1875 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA, William V. Mong was active in the motion picture industry from 1910, as a staff director for Selig Studios. After Selig folded in the mid-teens, Mong directed a handful of films for other studios, then switched to acting (he appeared in 18 films in 1916 alone!) His screen roles of the 1920s ranged from the teetotaling Parson Brown in The Strong Man (1926) to the earthy Cognac Pete in What Price Glory? William V. Mong remained busy right up to his death in 1940, playing innumerable bankers, doctors, ministers, and a Roman senator or two. William appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Big Trail 1930, William passed away on 10 December 1940 in Studio City, California, USA.
Born William Farnum on 4 July 1876 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, William Farnum was born the son of G.D. Farnum ad Adela Le Gros, actors who trained their three sons, William, Dustin, and Marshall, in their profession. William made his stage debut at the age of 10 in Richmond, Virginia, in a production of Julius Caesar starring Edwin Booth. His first New York appearance was in 1896. His first major stage success was in the title role of Ben Hur in which he toured for five years. From 1915 to 1925, he devoted himself exclusively to the motion pictures and became one of the highest paid stars in Hollywood receiving from William Fox $10,000 weekly. In 1924, he was seriously injured while filming The Man Who Fights Alone (1924). After that, he was reduced to playing minor roles until the end of the silent era. He returned to the stage in 1925 playing Sir Ralph Morgan in The Buccaneer. The following year he appeared in the title role of Julius Caesar and two years later was on Broadway as Banquo in Macbeth. William appeared in two movies with John Wayne, Picture from The Spoilers 1942, William passed away on 5 June 1953 in Hollywood, California, USA.