Western character actors of the 50s and 60s (1 Viewer)

[watsup]

I have been watching reruns of “westerns” from the 50s and 60s, and I notice that there are ten or fifteen character actors who show up time and time again in various roles. I imagine that if you were a screenwriter of westerns or a good director of westerns or a character actor who could ride a horse, that you had plenty of work in Hollywood in the 50s and 60s. Here is an article about some of those character actors. Jack Elam leads it off. Who couldn’t appreciate Jack Elam? Yes, he was ugly, but he turned that into steady work in westerns, most often as a villain. He started his adult work as an accountant. Anyway, here are some of those character actors and I imagine that you will recognize quite a few of them if you watched westerns back in the 50s and 60s: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls567859643/

 

[MamboDervish]

I have been watching reruns of “westerns” from the 50s and 60s, and I notice that there are ten or fifteen character actors who show up time and time again in various roles. I imagine that if you were a screenwriter of westerns or a good director of westerns or a character actor who could ride a horse, that you had plenty of work in Hollywood in the 50s and 60s. Here is an article about some of those character actors. Jack Elam leads it off. Who couldn’t appreciate Jack Elam? Yes, he was ugly, but he turned that into steady work in westerns, most often as a villain. He started his adult work as an accountant. Anyway, here are some of those character actors and I imagine that you will recognize quite a few of them if you watched westerns back in the 50s and 60s: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls567859643/

Wow. Where's Walter Brennan? Where's Andy Devine? How about Gabby Hayes and Slim Pickens? They seem to have left out the ones with the most distinct vocalizations. The idiosyncratic voices always made the sidekicks jump off the screen for me. Who can forget Neville Brand?

 

[watsup]

Wow. Where's Walter Brennan? Where's Andy Devine? Gabby Hayes and Slim Pickens? They seem to have left out the ones with the most distinct vocalizations. The idiosyncratic voices always made the sidekicks jump off the screen for me.

Walter Brennan and Andy Devine and Gabby Hayes were mostly in the movies pre-1950s. During the TV western era, they were not so much character actors in multiple shows as they were.”sidekicks” in certain individual shows.

 

[eman623]

I have been watching reruns of “westerns” from the 50s and 60s, and I notice that there are ten or fifteen character actors who show up time and time again in various roles. I imagine that if you were a screenwriter of westerns or a good director of westerns or a character actor who could ride a horse, that you had plenty of work in Hollywood in the 50s and 60s. Here is an article about some of those character actors. Jack Elam leads it off. Who couldn’t appreciate Jack Elam? Yes, he was ugly, but he turned that into steady work in westerns, most often as a villain. He started his adult work as an accountant. Anyway, here are some of those character actors and I imagine that you will recognize quite a few of them if you watched westerns back in the 50s and 60s: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls567859643/

Really loved him as the town drunk in Support Your Local Sheriff!

 

[btthegreat]

The thing about character actors, is that they normally start out doing just about anything in any genre, but get typecast by success in specific roles. Because they don't get well paid, they have to constantly work, so they tend permit that typecasting to continue. They perfect their niche roles, and age only improves the quality of what they do and quality improves their bottom line contract negociations. Smart directors know that it pays to put some cash into character actors with proven professional standards of conduct and results on screen.

Nobody cares about a character actor's wrinkles, blemishes or graceful movement because we don't want to be their love interests, or imagine ourselves in their beds. this means they get to work through their 50's 60's even their early 80's.

 

[watsup]

The thing about character actors, is that they normally start out doing just about anything in any genre, but get typecast by success in specific roles. Because they don't get well paid, they have to constantly work, so they tend permit that typecasting to continue. They perfect their niche roles, and age only improves the quality of what they do and quality improves their bottom line contract negociations. Smart directors know that it pays to put some cash into character actors with proven professional standards of conduct and results on screen.

Nobody cares about a character actor's wrinkles, blemishes or graceful movement because we don't want to be their love interests, or imagine ourselves in their beds. this means they get to work through their 50's 60's even their early 80's.

Just like any professsion—show up on time, know your lines, and be professional and easy to get along with.

 

[btthegreat]

Just like any professsion—show up on time, know your lines, and be professional and easy to get along with.

I periodically make it my habit to look up the resumes of actors who's faces are vaguely familiar in role after role. Character actors have fascinating lives, and fascinating careers, especially the one who transcend the old hollywood days of of studio contract work and transcend the boundaries into television. you will be shocked who worked in radio, who worked on Broadway, who did soaps, or shakespeare, or followed the greats from project to project. To use your example, If Gary Cooper liked your work as a spinster mother in a movie he did 5 years ago, he will want to see you in a similar part of a school teacher in his upcoming lead. A decade later, the casting director now works on the set of a detective show, and remembers and sees you in a recurring role as Grandmother to James Garner.

A great character actor can steal a scene, that really needs stealing, and hide under a bushel when the role demands it.

 

[nota bene]

Boy, am I here for this thread. Tagging @Rexedgar too.

I've never been much of a TV watcher, but the pandemic caused me to self-isolate, and lifelong curiosity about one episode of "Gunsmoke" persuaded me to watch to try to find it (Season 2's "No Indians"). Every time I flip to the INSP channel, I am astonished again by the character actors, all the "Who? You know, what's-his-name?" character actors.

My crushes: Royal Dano (the voice of Lincoln in the Smithsonian exhibit) and John Dehner.

Other outstanding actors who played everything (and in no particular order): Harold J. Stone, Denver Pyle, John Larch, R.G. Armstrong, Claude Akins, Strother Martin, John Anderson, and Morgan Woodward.

 

[nota bene]

I periodically make it my habit to look up the resumes of actors who's faces are vaguely familiar in role after role. Character actors have fascinating lives, and fascinating careers, especially the one who transcend the old hollywood days of of studio contract work and transcend the boundaries into television. you will be shocked who worked in radio, who worked on Broadway, who did soaps, or shakespeare, or followed the greats from project to project. To use your example, If Gary Cooper liked your work as a spinster mother in a movie he did 5 years ago, he will want to see you in a similar part of a school teacher in his upcoming lead. A decade later, the casting director now works on the set of a detective show, and remembers and sees you in a recurring role as Grandmother to James Garner.

A great character actor can steal a scene, that really needs stealing, and hide under a bushel when the role demands it.

I've made it my habit too just out of respect. So many talented and versatile people, and so few are "known," but they always had work and always the respect of their peers.

 

[btthegreat]

I've made it my habit too just out of respect. So many talented and versatile people, and so few are "known," but they always had work and always the respect of their peers.

You are so right. When I watch a you tube clip that includes a scene with one of these actors, I make it a point to research and 'name' them. A scene from a TV show, like All in the Family or Golden Girls or the Waltons tend to have these character actors popping up because the demographic is older. They deserve to be 'billed' by people like you and me in the comments, because nobody else bothers. We have to take our eyes off the stars and look at who else is bringing the script to life. These are the same people who, but for the grace of fate might have been the leads. Look at Marion Lorne in Bewitched ( Aunt Clara) or Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton or Deforest Kelly (Dr. McCoy). You don't think that there are hundreds of equally gifted professionals, who never got that one part in a series that caught our imagination sufficient to avoid poverty? No we should at least make sure we give them a name and identity when we can. To quote a favorit line from Death of a Salesman, "Attention must be paid"

 

[Rexedgar]

I grew up with late 50s and early 60s westerns. Most were half-hour offerings and I also look for those reoccurring faces and try to place names to them. One network tried rotating different series in the same slots on rotating weekends(?). “Sugarfoot” didn’t repeat but every other week or so, sharing the slot with “Cheyenne and Bronco.”

Sugarfoot - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

One stands out because of how short the run was and the opening sequence. “Temple Houston,” Also starring the aforementioned-mentioned Jack Elam. The opening had one or the other leads pranking the other by shooting at the boot and setting the spur to spinning, I can’t find a clip at all. The show only ran one season

Temple Houston (TV series) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Note: Look at some of the actors that played in the series at the end of the link.
I saw a late in career interview with Jack Elam in which he stated that an actor went through three phases,1) “Who is Jack Elam,(2) get me Jack Elam and finally, (3) who os Jack Elam!”

The reoccurring actors went on as TV evolved, COMBAT! had many of the same extras. Without hijacking the western theme, I have one more story about “COMBAT!.) We had only a poor 12” B&W unit. I planned my day around getting to watch COMBAT!. The first few years, it was p broadcast in B&W. Then about season 3-4, they broadcast it in color and made it part of the opening logo, “COMBAT! In Color.” I had to wonder what that looked Ike for a long time!

 

[nota bene]

I grew up with late 50s and early 60s westerns. Most were half-hour offerings and I also look for those reoccurring faces and try to place names to them. One network tried rotating different series in the same slots on rotating weekends(?). “Sugarfoot” didn’t repeat but every other week or so, sharing the slot with “Cheyenne and Bronco.”

Sugarfoot - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

One stands out because of how short the run was and the opening sequence. “Temple Houston,” Also starring the aforementioned-mentioned Jack Elam. The opening had one or the other leads pranking the other by shooting at the boot and setting the spur to spinning, I can’t find a clip at all. The show only ran one season

Temple Houston (TV series) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Note: Look at some of the actors that played in the series at the end of the link.
I saw a late in career interview with Jack Elam in which he stated that an actor went through three phases,1) “Who is Jack Elam,(2) get me Jack Elam and finally, (3) who os Jack Elam!”

The reoccurring actors went on as TV evolved, COMBAT! had many of the same extras. Without hijacking the western theme, I have one more story about “COMBAT!.) We had only a poor 12” B&W unit. I planned my day around getting to watch COMBAT!. The first few years, it was p broadcast in B&W. Then about season 3-4, they broadcast it in color and made it part of the opening logo, “COMBAT! In Color.” I had to wonder what that looked Ike for a long time!

I totally forgot to add Jack Elam to my list above. Thank you for referencing him!

 

[nota bene]

You are so right. When I watch a you tube clip that includes a scene with one of these actors, I make it a point to research and 'name' them. A scene from a TV show, like All in the Family or Golden Girls or the Waltons tend to have these character actors popping up because the demographic is older. They deserve to be 'billed' by people like you and me in the comments, because nobody else bothers. We have to take our eyes off the stars and look at who else is bringing the script to life. These are the same people who, but for the grace of fate might have been the leads. Look at Marion Lorne in Bewitched ( Aunt Clara) or Ellen Corby as Grandma Walton or Deforest Kelly (Dr. McCoy). You don't think that there are hundreds of equally gifted professionals, who never got that one part in a series that caught our imagination sufficient to avoid poverty? No we should at least make sure we give them a name and identity when we can. To quote a favorit line from Death of a Salesman, "Attention must be paid"

I agree. True story: When I was little, I'd sneak downstairs to the kitchen late at night (the only place besides my parents' bedroom where there was a TV) and watch old WWII (and Korea) movies, usually B movies. I developed a crush on an actor, the gravelly-voiced prototypical sergeant/stock character Aldo Ray. (I know...who?) I raved about him so much that my father encouraged me to write him a fan letter. I was only 8 or so, and I was all "Oh, I could never! He's so famous!"

When I was an adult, I came to regret not writing that letter because I realize now that Aldo Ray would have probably been over-the-moon thrilled. I never watched "Law and Order" when it first aired, so all the episodes were new to me just a few years ago, and lo and behold, there are so many character actors who have now established solid careers that were "earning their spurs" back in the '90's. So if you happen to be a fan of one of those actors, write him or her. I think every one of them would appreciate hearing from you and knowing that their work as "what's his name" is appreciated.

 

[btthegreat]

I agree. True story: When I was little, I'd sneak downstairs to the kitchen late at night (the only place besides my parents' bedroom where there was a TV) and watch old WWII (and Korea) movies, usually B movies. I developed a crush on an actor, the gravelly-voiced prototypical sergeant/stock character Aldo Ray. (I know...who?) I raved about him so much that my father encouraged me to write him a fan letter. I was only 8 or so, and I was all "Oh, I could never! He's so famous!"

When I was an adult, I came to regret not writing that letter because I realize now that Aldo Ray would have probably been over-the-moon thrilled. I never watched "Law and Order" when it first aired, so all the episodes were new to me just a few years ago, and lo and behold, there are so many character actors who have now established solid careers that were "earning their spurs" back in the '90's. So if you happen to be a fan of one of those actors, write him or her. I think every one of them would appreciate hearing from you and knowing that their work as "what's his name" is appreciated.

Nobody even waits for the credits to find out who these supporting actors are. Nobody knows who to write to.

 

[Rexedgar]

“The Rebel,” with Nick Adams
“Wanted Dead or Alive,” Steve McQueen
“Rawhide,” Clint Eastwood
“The Rifleman,” Chuck Connors. Connons did another Western where he plays a disgraced soldier , publicly broken out of the Army, “Branded.”
“The Virginian” James Drury and my favorite Doug McClure (just one rung down from “Bonanza,” imo.
“Bonanza” was the crown jewel of Westerns
“Tales of Wells Fargo” Dale Robertson

A COMBAT! knockoff lasted a few seasons, “The Gallant Men”

 

[Rexedgar]

Nobody even waits for the credits to find out who these supporting actors are. Nobody knows who to write to.

Only nostalgic old people wait for the closing credits to see if they remembered the actors name correctly.

 

[btthegreat]

Only nostalgic old people wait for the closing credits to see if they remembered the actors name correctly.

the right against self incrimination sits in our constitution. I want a lawyer!

 

[Rexedgar]

the right against self incrimination sits in our constitution. I want a lawyer!

Before the interwebs, we had to watch the show to the credits, now you can consult IMDB!

 

[watsup]

Before the interwebs, we had to watch the show to the credits, now you can consult IMDB!

What does IMBD stand for?

 

[Rexedgar]

What does IMBD stand for?

Man! Only the best film/TV research tool. It’s free if you tolerate some advertising!

IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows

IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers.

www.imdb.com

THERE’S AN APP SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO TYPE IT OUT EACH TIME YOU WANNA FIND SOMETHING,

Sorry for the caps….

 

[watsup]

Man! Only the best film/TV research tool. It’s free if you tolerate some advertising!

IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows

IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers.

www.imdb.com

THERE’S AN APP SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO TYPE IT OUT EACH TIME YOU WANNA FIND SOMETHING,

Sorry for the caps….

Actually, I wanted to know what the letters I, M, B, and d stand for in words.

 

[Rexedgar]

Actually, I wanted to know what the letters I, M, B, and d stand for in words.

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database containing information and statistics about movies, TV shows and video games as well as actors, directors and other film industry professionals.




oops, I transposed the last two letters?

 

[watsup]

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database containing information and statistics about movies, TV shows and video games as well as actors, directors and other film industry professionals.




oops, I transposed the last two letters?

I wonder who maintains it. There’s a lot of info there.

 

[Rexedgar]

I wonder who maintains it. There’s a lot of info there.

You’re connected to the interweb, right?

imdb ownwership - Google Search

 

[nota bene]

Nobody even waits for the credits to find out who these supporting actors are. Nobody knows who to write to.

I look up the show/episode on IMDb and go from there. Almost always there is a photo.