Page Three Of Co-Stars
Page Three
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."
Born Pauline Marion Levy on 3 June 1910 Whitestone Landing, Long Island, New York, USA, Paulette Goddard was a child model who debuted with Ziegfeld at the age of 13. Paulette became famous with the Ziegfeld show as the girl on the crescent moon and was married to a wealthy man by the time she was 16. After her divorce, she went to Hollywood in 1931 where she appeared in small roles for a number of studios. A natural beauty, Paulette could impress any man she met. One of her bigger roles was when she appeared as a blond "Goldwyn Girl" in the Eddie Cantor film The Kid from Spain 1932. In 1932, she met 'Charlie Chaplin' and they became an item around town. Charlie cast her in Modern Times 1936 which was a big hit, but her movie career was not going anywhere due to her relationship with Chaplin. Secretly married in 1936, the marriage failed and they were separated by 1940. It was her role as Miriam Aarons in The Women 1939 that got her a contract with Paramount. Paulette was one of the many actresses tested for the part of "Scarlett" in Gone With The Wind but was not chosen. She appeared in one John Wayne movie. Paulette passed away on 23 April 1990 in Ronco, Switzerland. Picture from Reap the Wild Wind 1942.
Born Anna McKim on 2 August 1912 in New York, New York, USA, Ann Dvorak was the daughter of silent film star Anna Lehr. She entered films at the start of sound, as a dance instructor for the lavish MGM musicals. She came to international prominence in Scarface 1932 with Paul Muni, but often complained about the lack of quality of her films, that led to arguments with her bosses at Warners. She married a British actor in 1932, and came to Britain making a few films. She contributed to the British war effort driving an ambulance. She retired from the screen in 1951, she appeared in two movies with the Duke. Ann passed away on 10 December 1979 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Born Raymond William Hatton on 7 July 1887 in Red Oak, Iowa, USA, The son of a physician, Raymond Hatton appeared in Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man 1931 and then in almost 500 other pictures. In early silents he formed a comedy team with big, burly Wallace Beery in the late 1920's. He was best known as the tobacco-chewing, rip-snorting Rusty Joslin in the Three Mesquiteers series. He was also in the Rough Riders series and appeared as Johnny Mack Brown's sidekick as well. His last Western was, fittingly, Requiem for a Gunfighter 1965. He appeared in six movies with the Duke, Raymond passed away on 21 October 1971 in Palmdale, California, USA.
Born on 14 November 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas, USA Louise Brooks was one of the most fascinating personalities of Hollywood, always being compared with her most important characterization as protagonist Lulu in Pandora's Box 1928 of 'G. W. Pabst'. Because of her atypical beauty and being a modern woman not excepting all the normes of Hollywood she was not especially popular in her time although she was the inspiration for the comic heroine Dixie Dugan 1926. She grew up in a well situated surrounding and became a dancer of the Zigfield Follies on Broadway before starting her career in Hollywood. Until she ended her career in 1938 she had made only 25 movies. After that she spent her life writing, reading and painting. Louise Brooks retired from Hollywood at the peak of her career. Louise appeared in one movie with the duke Overland Stage Raiders 1938. Louise passed away on 8th August 1985 in Rochester, New York, USA.
Born Lucille Wood Smith on 31 October 1912 in Uvalde, Texas, USA, She was raised in Texas and Arkansas. Married at 14 and a mother at 15, she was divorced at 17 Intent on a singing career, she moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and worked in an insurance company while taking occasional radio singing jobs. After another unhappy marriage, she went to Louisville, Kentucky and became a popular singer on a local radio station. There she took the stage name Dale Evans (from her third husband, Robert Dale Butts, and actress Madge Evans). Divorced in 1936, she moved to Dallas, Texas and again found local success as a radio singer. She married Butts and they moved to Chicago, where she began to attract increasing attention from both radio audiences and film industry executives. She signed with Fox and made a few small film appearances, then was cast as leading lady to rising cowboy star Roy Rogers. They married a year later after his wife died and her marriage ended in divorce. Dale appeared in one duke movie, she played Cuddles Walker dance-hall singer In Old Oklahoma 1943. Dale passed away on 7 February 2001 in Apple Valley, California, USA.
Born Lucille Fay LeSueur on 23 March 1904 San Antonio, Texas, USA. Her parents separated before she was born. By age sixteen Lucille had known three fathers, one of whom a vaudeville theatre manager had given her the name Billie Cassin. By 1915 she and her mother lived in Kansas City and Billie worked in a laundry and also as a menial to pay school tuition. Winning an amateur dance contest in 1923 led to chorus work in Chicago, Detroit and New York. New Year's Day of 1925 she left for Hollywood. Before her second picture a "Photoplay" contest led to the name Joan Crawford. With Our Dancing Daughters 1928 she became a star. She had a string of successes playing a socialite or rags-to-riches shop-girl, most notably as Crystal Allen in The Women 1939. She stayed with MGM's for eighteen years, signing with Warner's in 1943.. Mildred Pierce 1945 was a defining role and won an Oscar for Joan. She appeared in one movie with the Duke Reunion in France 1942, Joan passed away on 10 May 1977 in New York, New York, USA.
Born Leonard Franklin Slye on 5 November 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, The "King of the Cowboys,". Rogers was one of the few cowboy heroes who "crossed over" into mainstream Hollywood: His pictures played major-circuit theaters and he was among the movie industry's top grossing stars for several years. Born into humble surroundings, he left Ohio in 1929 for California, where he worked as a transient fruit picker. He played in music groups named the Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws, and his own group, the International Cowboys. In 1934 he formed a group with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer the 'Sons of the Pioneers'. While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston, and finally Roy Rogers. They appeared in the 1936 movie, Rhythm on the Range 1936, starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye. In 1937 he went solo, and he made his first starring film Under Western Stars 1938. He made almost 100 films. "The Roy Rogers Show" ran from October 1951 through September 1964. he appeared in one movie with the John Wayne Dark Command 1940. Roy passed away on 6 July 1998 in Apple Valley, California, USA.
Born Royal Dano on 16 November in New York, New York, USA, You'd never peg this big, roughhewn character actor for a native New Yorker based on the roles he's played in movies. Beginning with 1950's Undercover Girl Dano worked in dozens of movies, almost always playing Western heavies or menacing rural types. He enjoyed some parts outside the outdoor-action arena, appearing in Moby Dick 1956, King of Kings 1961. Later he became a staple of lowbudget genre efforts, of which 1988's Killer Klowns From Outer Space and 1990's Spaced Invaders are, sadly, all too typical. In his last years, Dano eschewed most of the sinister parts and played crotchety old-timers. Royal appeared in two John Wayne movies, Royal passed away on 15 May 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Born Albert Clark Taylor on 29 August 1887 in Massachusetts, USA 'Al' Taylor quit the film industry in the late 1940's and became a steam engineer for a motion picture studio. That was his last occupation stated on his death certificate, Al appeared in eight movies with the Duke. Al passed away on the 2 March 1951 at the West Los Angeles (Veterans Administration Hospital), California, USA.
Born Floyd Taliaferro Alderson on 13 November 1895 in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA Star of low-budget westerns from the late silent era through the mid-30's. Born and raised on a Wyoming ranch, becoming an expert horseman. Entered films as an extra in 1915, but by the 1920s was starring in silent Westerns under the stage name Wally Wales. His career declined, and in the mid-1930s, he changed to a new stage name, 'Hal Taliaferro' and worked in supporting roles and even bit parts for the rest of his career, primarily in Westerns. He appeared in five movies with Duke. Wally passed away on 10 February 1980 in Sheridan, Wyoming, USA.
Born John Forrest Knight on 9 May 1901 in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA, Fuzzy Knight got into show business on his musicianship, appearing on vaudeville and in stage musicals, and once even led his own band. He broke solidly into films after Mae West caught his act and put him in a couple of her vehicles -- She Done Him Wrong 1933 and My Little Chickadee 1940. Provided sidekick comedy relief in scores of late 30s and 40s "B" westerns opposite sagebrush stars Tex Ritter and Johnny Mack Brown, he appeared in three John Wayne movies. Fuzzy passed away on 23 February 1976 in Hollywood, California, USA.
Born Fred Graham on 26 October 1908 in Springer, New Mexico Baseball gave Fred his start in motion pictures. In 1928 he worked for the M.G.M sound department, he also played semi-pro baseball on the side. The studio made a murder picture called Death on the Diamond 1934, starring Robert Young and Nat Pendleton. Fred was hired to tutor Young and Pendleton in the fine points of the game Fred doubled Pendleton in the catching scenes. This started Fred on a 40+ year career as a stuntman and actor. While at the studio he doubled Clark Gable, Nelson Eddy and Charles Bickford. Fred went over to Warner Bros in 1938 to double Basil Rathbone in The Adventures of Robin Hood 1938. In 1941 he moved to Republic Fred met John Wayne there and stunted for Wayne in many of his films. Fred also appeared in many films as an actor, he usually played truck drivers, cops and crooks etc, Fred appeared in 15 movies with John Wayne. In 1968 Fred went to work for Arizona's Department of Economic Development of Motion Pictures. In 1978 "Slugger" a nickname he got at Republic passed away on 10 October 1979 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Born Palmer Lee 25 January 1927 in San Francisco, California, USA, Norwegian by heritage and a San Franciscan by birth, brown-haired. brown-eyed Gregg Palmer broke into show biz as a radio announcer. After an early '50s stint as a contract player at Universal, he turned to freelancing, closing out the decade by starring and co-starring in a number of detective, Western and sci-fi adventures. In the '60s, Palmer drifted into supporting roles and much TV work, and reinforced his growing rep with Western fans by becoming a regular member of John Wayne's latter-day stock company. Gregg appeared in six movies with John Wayne. Sadly Greg passed away on 31 October 2015, Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Born 2 December 1922 in New York, New York, USA Big, burly, character actor, specializing in playing murderous brutes. Gordon's powerful physique, combined with his deep, menacing voice, was almost guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of even the bravest screen hero. Director Don Siegel, who used Gordon in his prison film Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954), said that "Leo Gordon was the scariest man I have ever met," and not just because of his screen presence. Before becoming an actor (he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts), Gordon served a stretch in San Quentin prison for armed robbery. "Riot in Cell Block 11" was filmed at San Quentin, and several of the guards remembered Gordon from his time there, when he was regarded as a troublemaker. Prison officials would not let Gordon enter and leave the prison with the other cast and crew members; he was only allowed to enter and exit by himself, and was thoroughly searched each time. Contrary to his image, though, Gordon was not just a one-note villain. Leo Gordon appeared in four movies with John Wayne, Leo passed away on 26 December 2000 Los Angeles, California, USA. Picture from Hondo 1953.
Roy Barcroft born 7 September 1902 in Crab Orchard, Nebraska, USA, Incredibly prolific American character actor of low-budget Westerns and als, most frequently seen as a villain. He was born in either Weeping Waters, Nebraska or Crab Orchard, Nebraska, depending on the source (the two towns are within a few miles of each other), to a farm family. In 1917, he joined the Army at the age of 15 and was wounded in action in France. At 16, he began traveling the U.S. doing odd jobs as a ranch hand, roughneck, and railway laborer. He sailed to the Mediterranean on a freighter as a seaman, then reenlisted in the Army. While stationed in Hawaii, he learned to play a number of musical instruments and afterwards made his living playing in dance bands. In 1929, he took his family to California, where his military background gained him work as a soldier-extra in films. Uninterested in movies, until he was spotted in a little theatre production and given a part in a Republic serial, S.O.S. Coast Guard (1937). His rough voice and demeanor were perfect for the 'heavy' roles that filled every B-Western and action picture, and Barcroft spent the next thirty years averaging an incredible ten films per year. Roy appeared in three movies with John Wayne, Roy passed away on 28 November 1969 in Woodland Hills, California, USA.
Robert Donner born 27 April 1931 in New York City, New York, USA and grew up in New Jersey, Michigan and Texas. Robert joined the Navy after he graduated from high school and served almost 4 years. After he left the Navy he stayed on the West Coast and worked as a shipping clerk, salesman, bartender, , commercial artist, gardener, and insurance investigator. Robert attended San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge), at nights taking courses in Art History, Psychology and speech. During this time, Robert Donner lived in Studio City and became friends with actor Clint Eastwood who lived in his apartment building. Clint urged Robert to study drama, telling him he was humorous and had a good face. When Robert is not acting he is active in athletics, and is known as one of Hollywood's most enthusiastic golfers. Robert as appeared in six John Wayne movies. Picture from El Dorado 1966, Robert passed away on June 8, 2006 in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Brunette Frances Dee was born in Los Angeles, where her Army officer father was stationed, and grew up in Chicago after her dad was transferred there. In 1929 he was re-assigned to L.A., and (as a lark) Dee began working in motion pictures as an extra; her debut was in "Words and Music" with Lois Moran. After playing her breakthrough role in "Playboy of Paris" opposite Maurice Chevalier, she met Joel McCrea on the set of the 1933 film "The Silver Cord"; following a whirlwind courtship, the two were married later that year in Rye, New York. In 1970, she and McCrea were rumored to be worth between fifty and one hundred million dollars. (Their 57-year marriage ended in 1990, the year of his death.) Dee hasn't acted since the mid-'50s, and says she doesn't miss it. The nonagenarian actress was a huge hit at the 1998 Memphis Film Festival in Tunica, Mississippi. She appeared in two films with The Duke. Frances passed away on 6 March 2004 in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA.