Francis McDonald | |
|---|---|
 McDonald and Shirley Mason in The Final Close-Up (1919) | |
| Born | August 22, 1891 Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | September 18, 1968 (aged 77) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1913–1965 |
| Spouses | |
Francis McDonald (August 22, 1891 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor whose career spanned 52 years.
Born on August 22, 1891, [1] in Bowling Green, Kentucky, McDonald was the son of John Francis McDonald and Catherine Ashlue McDonald. He was educated at St. Xavier College in Cincinnati, Ohio. [2] [3]
McDonald's started acting professionally in stock theater with the Forepaugh Stock Company in Cincinnati. Following eight months with it, he worked one season with a stock company in Seattle, after which he performed for three seasons with a troupe in San Diego and Honolulu. He concluded his tenure in stock theater as juvenile leading man with the American Stock Company in Spokane, Washington. [1]
By 1913 McDonald began to perform in the rapidly expanding film industry, initially working for Marion Leonard's Monopole Company in Hollywood. [2] He was cast in over 280 films between 1913 and 1965, including The Temptress in 1926 with Greta Garbo. After he was designated "Hollywood's Prettiest Man", McDonald sought a tougher image by shaving his mustache and seeking roles of villains. [4]
McDonald was one of Cecil B. DeMille's favorite character actors.[ citation needed ] DeMille gave him credited supporting roles in six of his films: The Plainsman (1936), The Buccaneer (1938), Union Pacific (1939), North West Mounted Police (1940), Samson and Delilah (1949), and The Ten Commandments (1956).
McDonald performed in over two dozen television series during the 1950s and early 1960s, including six episodes of The Roy Rogers Show , five episodes of Lone Ranger , and four episodes each of Broken Arrow , Sugarfoot , and Perry Mason . Among his four Perry Mason roles were his portrayals of Captain Noble in the episode "The Case of the Crooked Candle" (1957) and of Salty Sims in "The Case of the Petulant Partner" (1959). He played the town savant Liveryman in "Wanted: Dead or Alive" S2 E10 "Reckless" which aired 11/6/1959. He also portrayed "Winkler" in a 1960 episode of Bat Masterson .
McDonald married actress Mae Busch on December 12, 1915. They divorced on November 24, 1923. He died on September 18, 1968, and was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California. [1]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1913 | Carmen | Don Jose | |
| 1914 | St. Elmo | Murray Hammond | |
| The Human Soul | Robert Thompson - Alice's Suitor | ||
| 1915 | The Crystal | ||
| 1916 | The Price of Power | Dave Belmont - John's Son | |
| In the Web of the Grafters | Whitey | ||
| The Devil at His Elbow | Andrew Sealey | ||
| Intolerance | Extra | Uncredited | |
| 1917 | Black Orchids | George Renoir / Ivan | |
| The Gates of Doom | Jang Sattib | ||
| Perils of the Secret Service | Serial, (Episode #3) | ||
| The Voice on the Wire | Red Warren | ||
| Mr. Dolan of New York | 'Spider' Flynn | ||
| The Gray Ghost | Williams | Serial | |
| The Love Doctor | Hildreth | ||
| 1918 | I Love You | Jules Mardon | |
| The Gun Woman | The Gent | ||
| Real Folks | Jimmie Dugan | ||
| The Light Within | Dr. Green | ||
| The Answer | Guidi Garcia | ||
| The Hand at the Window | Tony Brachieri | ||
| The Painted Lily | Tom Burton | ||
| The Ghost Flower | Tony Cafarelli | ||
| Tony America | Tony America | ||
| 1919 | Toton the Apache | Pierre | |
| The Final Close-Up | Jimmie Norton | ||
| The Divorce Trap | Jim Drake | ||
| His Debt | Blair Whitcomb | ||
| Love's Prisoner | Party Guest | Uncredited | |
| Pretty Smooth | Jimmy Hartigan | ||
| Prudence on Broadway | Grayson Mills | ||
| 1920 | The Confession | Tom Bartlett | |
| The Kentucky Colonel | Philip Burwood | ||
| Nomads of the North | Bucky McDougall | ||
| 1921 | Puppets of Fate | Gabriel Palombra | |
| Hearts and Masks | Galloping Dick | ||
| The Golden Snare | Pierre Thoreau | ||
| The Call of the North | Achille Picard | ||
| 1922 | The Man Who Married His Own Wife | Freddie Needham | |
| Trooper O'Neill | Pierre | ||
| Monte Cristo | Benedetto | ||
| Captain Fly-by-Night | Second Stranger | ||
| The Woman Conquers | Lawatha, Indian Guide | ||
| 1923 | The Buster | Swing | |
| Look Your Best | Alberto Cabotto | ||
| Mary of the Movies | James Seiler | ||
| Trilby | Geko | ||
| Going Up | Jules Gaillard | ||
| South Sea Love | Manuel Salarno | ||
| 1924 | Arizona Express | Victor Johnson | |
| Racing Luck | Tony Mora | ||
| East of Broadway | Professor Mario | ||
| So This Is Marriage? | Smith | ||
| 1925 | The Hunted Woman | Joe De Bar | |
| Go Straight | The Dove | ||
| Anything Once | |||
| Northern Code | Raoul La Fane | ||
| Satan in Sables | Emile | ||
| Bobbed Hair | Pooch | ||
| My Lady of Whims | Rolf | ||
| 1926 | The Yankee Señor | Juan Gutiérrez | |
| The Palace of Pleasure | Captain Fernandez | ||
| The Bar-C Mystery | |||
| Puppets | Bruno | ||
| Battling Butler | Alfred Battling Butler | ||
| The Temptress | Timoteo | ||
| The Desert's Toll | Frank Darwin | ||
| 1927 | The Wreck | Joe | |
| The Valley of Hell | Creighton Steele | ||
| The Notorious Lady | Manuela Silvera | ||
| Outlaws of Red River | Ben Tanner | ||
| Paid to Love | Apache Dancer | Uncredited | |
| 1928 | A Girl in Every Port | Gang Leader | |
| The Legion of the Condemned | Gonzolo Vasquez | ||
| The Dragnet | Sniper Dawson | ||
| The Viking | Viking Friend of Leif | Uncredited | |
| 1929 | The Iron Mask | Fisherman | Uncredited |
| The Carnation Kid | The Carnation Kid | ||
| Girl Overboard | Francisco | ||
| 1930 | Burning Up | 'Bullet' McGhan | |
| Dangerous Paradise | Ricardo | ||
| The Runaway Bride | Barney Black | ||
| Safety in Numbers | Phil Kemptom | ||
| Brothers | Tony | ||
| Morocco | Caporal Tatoche | ||
| The Lash | A caballero | Uncredited | |
| 1931 | The Gang Buster | Pete Caltek | |
| The Lawyer's Secret | The Weasel | ||
| The Ruling Voice | Business Man | Uncredited | |
| In Line of Duty | Jacques Dupres | ||
| 1932 | The Woman from Monte Carlo | Karkuff | |
| The World and the Flesh | Revolutionary | Uncredited | |
| Honor of the Mounted | Jean Le Train | ||
| The Last Mile | First Gas Station Holdup Man | Uncredited | |
| 70,000 Witnesses | Dominic Silvera | Uncredited | |
| Hidden Valley | Frank Gavin | ||
| Trailing the Killer | Pierre LaPlant | ||
| Texas Buddies | Blake | ||
| Madison Square Garden | Hood | Uncredited | |
| The Devil Is Driving | Ticker | Uncredited | |
| 1933 | Terror Trail | Tad McPherson | |
| Broadway Bad | Charley Davis | ||
| The Devil's in Love | Officer Reading Verdict | Uncredited | |
| Night Flight | Radioman | Uncredited | |
| Straightaway | Rogan | ||
| 1934 | Voice in the Night | Henchman Jackson | |
| Viva Villa! | Captain Arresting Pancho | Uncredited | |
| The Trumpet Blows | Vega | ||
| The Line-Up | Henchman Trigger | ||
| Sing and Like It | Mug in Restaurant | Uncredited | |
| Sadie McKee | Joe - Alderson's Chauffeur | Uncredited | |
| Operator 13 | Officer Denton | Uncredited | |
| Burn 'Em Up Barnes | Ray Ridpath, race car henchman | Serial, [Chs. 1-6] | |
| Girl in Danger | Tony - Russo Henchman | Uncredited | |
| A Successful Failure | Radical Speaker in Park | Uncredited | |
| Evelyn Prentice | Charles - Chauffeur | Uncredited | |
| Red Morning | Sakki | ||
| The Gay Bride | Detroit Gangster | Uncredited | |
| 1935 | The Marriage Bargain | Ben Ainsley | |
| In Spite of Danger | Race Driver | Uncredited | |
| It Happened in New York | Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Mississippi | Gambler | Uncredited | |
| West Point of the Air | Civilian Pilot | Uncredited | |
| Star of Midnight | Kinland Henchman | Uncredited | |
| Ladies Crave Excitement | Terry | ||
| Anna Karenina | Officer at Banquet | Uncredited | |
| Diamond Jim | Gambler | Uncredited | |
| Redheads on Parade | Joe - the Film Cutter | Uncredited | |
| 1936 | The Prisoner of Shark Island | John Wilkes Booth | |
| Robin Hood of El Dorado | Pedro the Spy | ||
| Big Brown Eyes | Malley - Gunman | Uncredited | |
| Under Two Flags | Husson | ||
| White Fang | Suds | Uncredited | |
| Mummy's Boys | Rasheed Bey | ||
| Dimples | Stranger | Uncredited | |
| The Plainsman | A River Gambler | ||
| 1937 | Woman-Wise | Charley | Uncredited |
| The Devil's Playground | Romano | ||
| Criminal Lawyer | Jack 'Fingy' Doremus | Uncredited | |
| Parole Racket | Nat Beldon | ||
| The Soldier and the Lady | Chieftain | Uncredited | |
| The Last Train from Madrid | Mora | Uncredited | |
| The Devil Is Driving | Bit Part | Uncredited | |
| Born Reckless | Henchman Louie | ||
| Wild West Days | Assayer Purvis | ||
| Ali Baba Goes to Town | Ringleader | Uncredited | |
| Conquest | Cossack | Uncredited | |
| Every Day's a Holiday | Henchman #2 | ||
| 1938 | The Buccaneer | Camden Blount | |
| Gun Law | Henchman Nevada | ||
| The Texans | Bit Part | Uncredited | |
| If I Were King | Casin Cholet | ||
| 1939 | Idiot's Delight | Flight captain | Uncredited |
| Juarez | Le Marc - a Creole | (scenes deleted) | |
| Union Pacific | General Grenville M. Dodge | ||
| Chasing Danger | Legionnaire with Message for Duvac | Uncredited | |
| Beau Geste | Arab Scout | Uncredited | |
| Bad Lands | Manuel Lopez | ||
| Range War | Dave Morgan | ||
| The Light That Failed | George | ||
| 1940 | Green Hell | Gracco | |
| Strange Cargo | Moussenq - Convict | Uncredited | |
| The Carson City Kid | Laramie | ||
| Captain Caution | French Seaman in Pub | Uncredited | |
| The Sea Hawk | Kroner | ||
| Wyoming | Dawson - Henchman | Uncredited | |
| North West Mounted Police | Louis Riel | ||
| One Night in the Tropics | Escobar's Aide | Uncredited | |
| The Devil's Pipeline | Gaddi Sang | ||
| The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date | Santos the Portuguese | ||
| 1941 | The Sea Wolf | Svenson | |
| Blood and Sand | Manolo's Friend | Uncredited | |
| Men of the Timberland | Jean Collett | ||
| The Kid from Kansas | Cesar | ||
| 1942 | Wild Bill Hickok Rides | Kidnapper | Uncredited |
| Valley of the Sun | Governor's Interpreter | Uncredited | |
| The Girl from Alaska | Pelly | ||
| 1943 | Rhythm of the Islands | Leader of the Natives | |
| Buckskin Frontier | Duval | ||
| The Kansan | Gil Hatton | ||
| Bar 20 | Quirt Rankin | ||
| The Desert Song | French Captain | Uncredited | |
| 1944 | Texas Masquerade | Sam Nolan | |
| Lumberjack | Clyde Fenwick | ||
| Mystery Man | Bert Rogan | ||
| Bordertown Trail | Matthews | ||
| Till We Meet Again | Cart Driver | Uncredited | |
| Cheyenne Wildcat | Jim Douglas | ||
| Mystery of the River Boat | Batiste | Serial | |
| Zorro's Black Whip | Dan Hammond | ||
| Belle of the Yukon | Miner Investing on River-Freeze Date | Uncredited | |
| 1945 | Great Stagecoach Robbery | Con Hollister | |
| Corpus Christi Bandits | Dad Christie | ||
| Bad Men of the Border | Capt. Jose Garcia | ||
| South of the Rio Grande | Torres | ||
| River Gang | Indignant Man | Uncredited | |
| Strange Confession | Hernandez | ||
| 1946 | The Bandit of Sherwood Forest | Robin Hood's Man | Uncredited |
| Tangier | Sanchez | ||
| The Catman of Paris | Devereaux | ||
| Night in Paradise | High Priest | Uncredited | |
| My Pal Trigger | Storekeeper | ||
| Night Train to Memphis | Doctor | ||
| Canyon Passage | Cobb | Uncredited | |
| Notorious | Man | Uncredited | |
| The Invisible Informer | Jules Ravelle | ||
| Roll on Texas Moon | Steve Anders | ||
| The Devil's Playground | Roberts | ||
| Magnificent Doll | Jenks | Uncredited | |
| Duel in the Sun | Gambler | Uncredited | |
| 1947 | Spoilers of the North | Pete Koster | |
| Dangerous Venture | Kane - Henchman | ||
| That's My Man | Racetrack Man | Uncredited | |
| Saddle Pals | Sheriff | ||
| The Perils of Pauline | Western Saloon Set Heavy | ||
| Brute Force | Pat Regan | Uncredited | |
| Unconquered | Frontiersman | Uncredited | |
| 1948 | Panhandle | Crump | |
| The Bold Frontiersman | Adam Post | ||
| The Dead Don't Dream | Bart Lansing | ||
| Son of God's Country | Tom Ford | ||
| Strange Gamble | Longhorn | ||
| The Three Musketeers | Fisherman | Uncredited | |
| An Act of Murder | Mr. Russell | Alternative title: Live Today for Tomorrow | |
| The Paleface | Lance | Credited as Francis J. McDonald | |
| 1949 | Rose of the Yukon | Alaskan | |
| Daughter of the Jungle | Montu | ||
| Brothers in the Saddle | Hoyt Parker | ||
| Rustlers | Pierre - Roulette Wheel | Uncredited | |
| Big Jack | Basil - Prisoner | Uncredited | |
| Son of a Bad Man | Joe Christ | ||
| The Lady Gambles | Horse Trainer | Uncredited | |
| Rim of the Canyon | Charlie Lewis | ||
| Calamity Jane and Sam Bass | Horse Race Starter | Uncredited | |
| The Gal Who Took the West | O'Hara Cowhand in Town with Lee | Uncredited | |
| Abandoned | Winey - Pool Player | Uncredited | |
| Apache Chief | Mohaska | ||
| Always Leave Them Laughing | Wounded Messenger in Newark Musical | Uncredited | |
| Powder River Rustlers | Shears Williams | ||
| Samson and Delilah | Storyteller | Credited as Francis J. McDonald | |
| 1950 | The Nevadan | Hotel Guest | Uncredited |
| Woman in Hiding | North Carolina Cannoneer | Uncredited | |
| Fortunes of Captain Blood | Sailor | Uncredited | |
| Kim | Letter Writer | Uncredited | |
| California Passage | County Recorder Joe Kane | ||
| Stage to Tucson | Northern Radical | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | Gene Autry and the Mounties | Batiste | |
| Oh! Susanna | Fisher | Uncredited | |
| Santa Fe | Corporal Fletcher Murphy | Uncredited | |
| Red Mountain | Marshal Roberts | Uncredited | |
| 1952 | Fort Osage | Osage Chief | |
| Rancho Notorious | Harbin | ||
| Son of Ali Baba | Palace Official | Uncredited | |
| The Raiders | John Cummings | ||
| Ride the Man Down | Telegrapher | Uncredited | |
| 1953 | San Antone | Barfly with Confederate Money | Uncredited |
| The Bandits of Corsica | Grisha | ||
| Fort Algiers | Oil Field Foreman | Uncredited | |
| The Mississippi Gambler | Frank | Uncredited | |
| Calamity Jane | Hank | Uncredited | |
| 1954 | Three Hours to Kill | Deputy Vince | |
| 1955 | Bad Day at Black Rock | Tall - White-haired Cafe Lounger | Uncredited |
| Ten Wanted Men | Deputy Warner | Uncredited | |
| Shotgun | Dishwasher | Uncredited | |
| The Road to Denver | McGovern | Uncredited | |
| The Naked Dawn | Railroad Guard | ||
| The Vanishing American | Stage Guard | Uncredited | |
| Texas Lady | Gantz | Uncredited | |
| Dig That Uranium | Indian Chief | Uncredited | |
| 1956 | Raw Edge | Chief Kiyuva | Uncredited |
| Walk the Proud Land | The Shaman | Uncredited | |
| Thunder Over Arizona | Pliny Warren | ||
| Canyon River | 1st Rancher | Uncredited | |
| The Ten Commandments | Simon | Credited as Francis J. McDonald | |
| 1957 | Chain of Evidence | Felipe Rodriguez | Uncredited |
| Duel at Apache Wells | Hank | ||
| The Guns of Fort Petticoat | Col. Chivington's Aide | Uncredited | |
| The Last Stagecoach West | Old Man Colter | ||
| Pawnee | Uncle Tip Alden | ||
| Joe Dakota | Joe Dakota | Uncredited | |
| 1958 | Fort Massacre | Piute Man | |
| The Saga of Hemp Brown | Old-Timer | Uncredited | |
| 1959 | The Big Fisherman | Scribe Spokesman | |
| 1964 | Robin and the 7 Hoods | Old Man at Robbo's Club | Uncredited |
| 1965 | The Great Race | Russian | Uncredited, (final film role) |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1953 | The Ford Television Theatre | Carnahan | 1 episode |
| 1954 | The Lineup | Warner | 1 episode |
| 1955 | Adventures of Superman | Great Horse | 1 episode |
| Highway Patrol | Charlie Barrett | 1 episode | |
| The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin | Soccoro - Apache Chief | 1 episode | |
| 1955–1956 | The Adventures of Champion | Will Calhoun | 2 episodes |
| 1956 | My Friend Flicka | Thundercloud | 1 episode |
| Lassie | Clem Wyatt | 1 episode | |
| 1957 | Cavalcade of America | Pablo aka The Calaveras Kid | 1 episode |
| The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp | Jake Caster | "Old Jake", with Carol Thurston in an episode based on the Sand Creek massacre | |
| 1958 | Tombstone Territory | Winnie Joe Westerby | 1 episode |
| Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Jeb Coleman | 1 episode | |
| Trackdown | Milo | 1 episode | |
| 1959 | Lawman | Chief Red Horse | 1 episode |
| Mr. Lucky | Old Fisherman | 1 episode | |
| Maverick | Pop Talmadge | 1 episode | |
| Perry Mason | Salty Sims | Season 2 Episode 25 "The Case of the Petulant Partner" | |
| 1960 | Cheyenne | Sitting Bull | 1 episode |
| Wichita Town | Medicine Chief | 1 episode | |
| Law of the Plainsman | Watkins | 1 episode | |
| Shotgun Slade | Bonanza Jake | 1 episode | |
| Bat Masterson | Winkler | 1 episode | |
| 1961 | The Deputy | Roy Wilkins | 1 episode |
| The Untouchables | Sully MacGuyver | 1 episode | |
| 1962 | Laramie | Gimp | 1 episode |
| 1963 | The Virginian | Saul Weintraub | Episode "Echo of Another Day" (credited as Francis J. McDonald) |
| 1964 | The Virginian | Storekeeper | 1 episode |
| Perry Mason | Peg-Leg Jasper | 1 episode | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
