Birth Day: 1890-06-12
Place of birth: 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 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.
Credits
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As Pop Middleton (archive footage) -
As Grandpa -
As Dr. Burke (uncredited) -
As Sam Tyler (uncredited) -
As Captain of the Far West (uncredited) -
As Chief Gould -
As Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian -
As Justin Corley -
As Clay Ford -
As Wayne Shattuck -
As Dr. Fisher -
As Hoak Wayne -
As Mr. Totter -
As Drunken Cowpuncher -
As Dr. Harner -
As John Rutherford -
As Marshal Pete MacKay -
As Sam -
As Purdue -
As Ed Benedeck -
As Michael Reilly -
As Judge Pierce -
As Captain Donnelly -
As Sheriff Brown -
As Tom Carter -
As Sam 'Pop' Tracy -
As Smokestack the Train Engineer -
As Pat McGowan -
As Cooper -
As Mike Callan -
As Mr. Buchanan -
As Walter Shannon -
As Fred Salter -
As John (Policeman) -
As Asylum Warden Anderson -
As Charlie -
As Vice Admiral Williams -
As Clay -
As Wallace Bennett -
As Dr. Maynard -
As Kelsey Bunker -
As Mr. Yaeger -
As Judge Waller -
As Chuck (uncredited) -
As Clanahan -
As Sandy Reeves -
As Police Officer Houlihan -
As George Parker -
As Sheriff Harmon -
As Lew -
As Sawyer -
As Police Sergeant Garrett -
As Nelse Lansing -
As Police Captain Henry (uncredited) -
As Thomas Lee -
As Chauncey -
As Tesander -
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As Dr. Jonathan Byrne -
As Judge Raymond -
As Detective Owens, San Diego Police -
As Police Lieutenant -
As Cab Driver -
As Det. Capt. R.W. Davis -
As Capt. Rogers -
As Mr. Holstrom -
As Severance -
As Capt. Lawrence -
As Henry McLane (uncredited) -
As Warden Kelly -
As Cop (Uncredited) -
As Police Lieutenant Blake -
As Shannon -
As Simmons -
As Police Commissioner Collins -
As Uncle Ralph -
As Sam Weston -
As Tom Cary -
As Sheriff Elwood -
As Albert Ness -
As Charlie Witherspoon -
As Tom Gibbons -
As Mr. Mason -
As Sam Bennett -
As Judge John Grey -
As John 'Pop' Ormsby -
As Mr. Hendricks -
As Barnes -
As Mr. Carlin -
As Ed Cumberland -
As Detective Grimes (Uncredited) -
As Florida Doctor (uncredited) -
As Steve Finnerty -
As Policeman -
As Pinky Dolan -
As Mr. Tim Wiggs -
As Chief R.L. Graves -
As American Immigration Official (uncredited) -
As Jim Kane -
As Ed, Chief of Police -
As Lieutenant Sullivan -
As McDermott -
As Capt. Mahoney -
As Timson -
As Passline -
As Mr. Casey -
As Army Captain Brackett -
As Randall -
As Father McGann -
As Father -
As Railroad Detective -
As Macbeth -
As The Landlord -
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As Bank Robber -
As Harry Wart -
As Grogan
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As Bartender
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As Police Sergeant
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As Capt. Denny -
As Larry -
As Dynamite Dan