Person
Harry Shannon
Saginaw, Michigan, USA
Born and raised on a farm in Michigan in 1890, Irish-American character actor Harry Shannon had the credentials for becoming a staple player in westerns. He started off his career…
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Born and raised on a farm in Michigan in 1890, Irish-American character actor Harry Shannon had the credentials for becoming a staple player in westerns. He started off his career traveling around with repertory and stock companies and developed his musical abilities in tent shows, burlesque houses and such tuneful Broadway shows as "Oh, Kay!" (1926), "Hold Everything" (1928), "Simple Simon" (1931), and "Pardon My English" (1933). A company member of Joseph Schildkraut's Hollywood Theater Guild, Shannon broke into films at the advent of sound and started things off in comedy film shorts opposite such celebrated players as Bert Lahr, Shemp Howard, and Leon Errol. In the 1940s Shannon established himself in feature-length movies and although he remained a minor, second-string player, he proved himself a durable presence in westerns usually remaining on the good side of the law as sheriffs and bucolic dads. In lighthearted entertainment he could be found as a friendly Irish cop or bartender. He made a slight but memorable impression as Kane's alcoholic father in the classic Citizen Kane (1941), while his last role would be as the grandfather in the musical Gypsy (1962). In between were small parts in such notable films as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), The Jolson Story (1946), High Noon (1952), Touch of Evil (1958), and The Buccaneer (1958). 1950s TV westerns such as Cheyenne (1955), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), and Gunsmoke (1955) made consistent use of his rustic demeanor. Shannon died in 1964 at age 74.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1984
The World of Tomorrow
Movie Pop Middleton (archive footage)
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1963
The Dakotas
TV show
-
1962
Gypsy
Movie Grandpa
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1962
The Virginian
TV show Uncle Josh
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1961
Summer and Smoke
Movie Dr. Burke (uncredited)
-
1961
Wild in the Country
Movie Sam Tyler (uncredited)
-
1960
Angel
TV show
-
1959
Yellowstone Kelly
Movie Captain of the Far West (uncredited)
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1959
The Untouchables
TV show Michael Shaw
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1959
Lock-Up
TV show
-
1959
Rawhide
TV show Claggert
-
1958
The Buccaneer
Movie Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian
-
1958
Bat Masterson
TV show Jobe Crail
-
1958
The Texan
TV show Jayson Howell
-
1958
Man or Gun
Movie Justin Corley
-
1958
Touch of Evil
Movie Chief Gould
More credits
-
1957
26 Men
TV show
-
1957
The Real McCoys
TV show
-
1957
The Thin Man
TV show
-
1957
Sugarfoot
TV show Henry Shipman
-
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV show Jesse
-
1957
The Lonely Man
Movie Dr. Fisher
-
1957
Hell's Crossroads
Movie Clay Ford
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1957
Duel at Apache Wells
Movie Wayne Shattuck
-
1956
The Peacemaker
Movie Drunken Cowpuncher
-
1956
Written on the Wind
Movie Hoak Wayne
-
1956
Wire Service
TV show Harris Ellerby
-
1956
State Trooper
TV show
-
1956
Come Next Spring
Movie Mr. Totter
-
1955
At Gunpoint
Movie Marshal Pete MacKay
-
1955
Crossroads
TV show Detective Sergeant Dave Washburn
-
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV show Dr. Harner
-
1955
The Marauders
Movie John Rutherford
-
1955
The Tall Men
Movie Sam
-
1955
Cheyenne
TV show
-
1955
Navy Log
TV show
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1955
Gunsmoke
TV show Bowers
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1955
The Violent Men
Movie Purdue
-
1955
The Millionaire
TV show Judge William Jennings Westholme
-
1954
Lassie
TV show
