Wallace Ford

For the Nation of Islam leader, see Wallace Fard Muhammad.
"Sam Grundy" redirects here. For the character, see Love on the Dole.

Wallace Ford
Ford in The Beast of the City (1932)
Born
Samuel Grundy Jones

(1898-02-12)12 February 1898
Bolton, Lancashire, England
Died11 June 1966(1966-06-11) (aged 68)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Occupations
  • Actor
  • stage performer
  • vaudevillian
Years active1918–1965
Spouse
Martha Haworth
​
(m. 1922)​
Children1

Wallace Ford (born Samuel Grundy Jones; 12 February 1898 – 11 June 1966) was an English–American vaudevillian, stage performer and screen actor. Usually playing wise-cracking characters, he combined a tough but friendly-faced demeanor with a small but powerful, stocky physique.

Early life

Ford was born Samuel Grundy Jones[1] in Bolton, Lancashire, England, into a working-class family of limited means who left him in the care of an aunt and uncle. At the age of three, his uncle and aunt left him with Barnardo's orphanage because they were unable to maintain him and their own children. When he was seven, he and other children from similar backgrounds were shipped to Canada to new foster families as a part of the British Empire's ongoing programme to populate the territory.

Jones was adopted by a family in Manitoba. He was ill-treated and became a serial runaway, being resettled several times with different families by the Canadian authorities. According to his own account, at the age of 11 he ran away for the last time and joined a vaudeville traveling troupe touring Canada called the Winnipeg Kiddies, from which he acquired his initial training as a performer.[2]

In 1914, 16-year-old Jones and another youth named Wallace Ford decided to head south to the United States to seek their fortunes, riding a freight train illicitly. During the trip, Ford was killed beneath the wheels of a train. Later, Jones adopted as his stage name the name of his dead traveling companion.[3]

Acting career

Ford (left) and Broderick Crawford in the original Broadway production of Of Mice and Men (1938)

Following his service as a trooper in the army at Fort Riley, Kansas, with the United States Cavalry during World War I,[2] he became a vaudeville stage actor in an American stock company. In 1919, he performed in an adaptation of Booth Tarkington's Seventeen, which played to full houses in Chicago for several months, before transferring to a successful run on Broadway in New York City.[4] Ford became a successful Broadway performer through the Roaring Twenties, appearing in multiple productions, including the lead role in the Broadway smash hit Abie's Irish Rose.[2][5]

In motion pictures, Ford made his credited debut with Possessed in 1931, appearing with Clark Gable and Joan Crawford, and the next year he was given the lead in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Freaks, directed by Tod Browning. Ford went on to have an extensive career over 30 years, appearing in more than 150 films, with lead roles in the 1930s and '40s in Hollywood B movies such as The Rogues' Tavern (1936), Murder by Invitation (1941), and Roar of the Press (1941) and supporting roles in larger feature films such as The Lost Patrol (1934), The Informer (1935), Shadow of a Doubt (1943), Spellbound (1945), and Dead Reckoning (1947).

In 1938, Ford returned to the Broadway stage to play the role of George in the original production of Of Mice and Men.[5] In 1945, Ford appeared in the film Blood on the Sun alongside Jimmy Cagney, whose physique and acting style resembled his own. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, he transitioned into a character actor, appearing as a regular performer in the newly fashionable Western genre, and in multiple John Ford productions as one of his preferred support players.

In the latter stage of his career, during the 1950s and early 1960s, Ford performed increasingly on television. He had a recurring role in the Western series The Deputy starring Henry Fonda and his final appearance on the "small screen" was on The Andy Griffith Show in 1964, playing Roger Hanover, Aunt Bee's old flame, who unsuccessfully attempts to obtain a payoff from Andy by implying an engagement to Bee if Andy refuses. The next year, he appeared in A Patch of Blue, for which he received a Golden Laurel nomination. Ford's performance as Ole Pa in A Patch of Blue proved to be the final role of his extensive acting career. He died just six months after the film’s release.

Personal life

Ford became a naturalized United States citizen on 8 May 1942; by this act, he also legally changed his name from Samuel Grundy to Wallace Ford. He met his future wife, Martha Haworth, in 1922 while they were performing together on Broadway in Abie's Irish Rose, she being a chorus girl at the time. They had one child, a daughter named Patricia (1927–2005).[2]

After the death of his wife in February 1966, Ford moved into the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital at Woodland Hills, California, and died in the hospital there of heart failure four months later.[2] His body was buried in an unmarked grave at Culver City's Holy Cross Cemetery.[6]

Broadway credits

Date Title Role Notes
29 August – September 1921 The Poppy God Higgins Hudson Theatre, New York[7]
6 March–?, 1922 Broken Branches Arthur Weldon 39th Street Theatre, New York[8]
22 October – November 1923 Nobody's Business Oliver Pratt Klaw Theatre, New York[9]
14 January – February 1924 Gypsy Jim Tom Blake 49th Street Theatre, New York[10]
31 March – May 1924 Nancy Ann Dan Dennis 49th Street Theatre, New York[11]
1 September 1924 – June 1925 Pigs Thomas Atkins Jr. Little Theatre, New York[12]
14 January – March 1929 Gypsy Mac Klaw Theatre, New York[13]
14 October – November 1929 The Nut Farm Willie Barton Klaw Theatre, New York[14]
23 November 1937 – May 1938 Of Mice and Men George Music Box Theatre, New York[15]
26 December 1939 – 6 January 1940 Kindred Dermot O'Regan (Prologue) Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York[16]

Filmography

Lobby card for The Beast of the City (1932) featuring Walter Huston, Jean Harlow and Wallace Ford
Lobby card for Employees' Entrance (1933) featuring Wallace Ford and Loretta Young
Ford recreated his 1929 Broadway role in the 1935 film The Nut Farm
Wallace Ford in The Informer (1935)
Poster for The Rogue's Tavern (1936)
Poster for Murder by Invitation (1941)
Poster for The Ape Man (1943)
Poster for Thunder Over Arizona (1956)
Poster for The Last Hurrah (1958)
Year Title Role Notes
1929 Married in Hollywood Mitzi's Fan Uncredited
1931 Possessed Al Manning [17]
X Marks the Spot Ted Lloyd [17]
1932 Freaks Phroso [17]
The Beast of the City Ed Fitzpatrick [17]
The Wet Parade Jerry Tyler [17]
Are You Listening? Larry Barnes [17]
Skyscraper Souls Slim [17]
Central Park Rick [17]
Hypnotized Bill Bogard [17]
1933 Employees' Entrance Martin West [17]
Night of Terror Tom Hartley [17]
The Big Cage Russ Penny [17]
Headline Shooter Mike [17]
Three-Cornered Moon Kenneth Rimplegar [17]
Goodbye Again Arthur Westlake [17]
My Woman Chick Rollins [17]
East of Fifth Avenue Vic Howard [17]
1934 Money Means Nothing Joe Flynn [17]
The Lost Patrol Morelli [17]
Men in White Shorty [17]
I Hate Women Scoop McGuire [17]
Money Means Nothing Kenneth 'Kenny' McKay [18]
The Mysterious Mr. Wong Jason H. Barton [17]
The Man Who Reclaimed His Head Curly [17]
1935 The Whole Town's Talking Healy [17]
In Spite of Danger Bob Crane [17]
The Nut Farm Willie Barton [17]
One Frightened Night Joe Luvalie [17]
Swell-Head Terry McCall [17]
Men of the Hour Andy Blane [17]
The Informer Frankie McPhillip [17]
Get That Man Jack Kirkland / John Prescott [17]
She Couldn't Take It Fingers Boston [17]
Mary Burns, Fugitive Harper [17]
Another Face Joe Haynes [17]
1936 Two in the Dark Harry Hillyer [17]
Absolute Quiet Jack [17]
The Rogues' Tavern Jimmy Kelly [17]
A Son Comes Home Steve [17]
1937 You're in the Army Now Jimmy Tracy [17]
Jericho Mike Clancy [19][20]
Exiled to Shanghai Ted Young [17]
1938 Swing It, Sailor! Pete Kelly [17]
Stardust Peter Jackson
The Marines Come Thru Pvt. 'Singapore' Stebbins re-released in 1943 as Fight On, Marines[21]
1939 Back Door to Heaven Frankie Rogers [17]
1940 Isle of Destiny Millard Barnes [17]
Two Girls on Broadway Jed Marlowe [17]
Love, Honor, and Oh Baby! Joe Redmond [17]
Scatterbrain Sam Maxwell [17]
The Mummy's Hand Babe Jenson [17]
Give Us Wings Mr. York [22]
1941 A Man Betrayed Casey [17]
Roar of the Press Wally Williams [17]
Murder by Invitation Bob White [17]
Blues in the Night Brad Ames [17]
1942 All Through the Night Spats Hunter [17]
Inside the Law Billy [17]
Scattergood Survives a Murder Wally Collins [17]
The Mummy's Tomb Babe Hanson [17]
Seven Days' Leave Sergeant Mead [17]
1943 Shadow of a Doubt Fred Saunders [17]
The Ape Man Jeff Carter [17]
The Cross of Lorraine Pierre Flandeau [17]
1944 Secret Command Miller [17]
Machine Gun Mama Johnny O'Reilly [17]
1945 Blood on the Sun Ollie Miller [17]
The Great John L. McManus [17]
On Stage Everybody Emmett Rogers [17]
Spellbound Stranger in hotel lobby [17]
1946 A Guy Could Change Bill Conley [17]
The Green Years Jamie Nigg [17]
Lover Come Back Tubbs [17]
Rendezvous with Annie Al Morgan [17]
Black Angel Joe [17]
Crack-Up Lieutenant Cochrane [17]
1947 Dead Reckoning McGee [17]
Magic Town Lou Dicketts [17]
T-Men The schemer [17]
1948 The Man from Texas Jed [17]
Shed No Tears Sam Grover [17]
Embraceable You Police Lt. Ferria [17]
Coroner Creek Andy West [17]
Belle Starr's Daughter Lafe Bailey [17]
1949 The Set-Up Gus [17]
Red Stallion in the Rockies Talky Carson [17]
1950 Dakota Lil Carter [17]
The Furies Scotty Hyslip [17]
The Breaking Point F.R. Duncan [17]
Harvey Ellis Logfren [17]
1951 He Ran All the Way Mr. Dobbs [17]
Warpath Private Potts [17]
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine Sam Parks [17]
1952 She Couldn't Say No Joe Wheelen [17]
Rodeo Barbecue Jones [17]
Flesh and Fury Jack "Pop" Richardson [17]
1953 The Great Jesse James Raid Elias Hobbs [17]
The Nebraskan Mac McBride [17]
1954 The Boy from Oklahoma Wally Higgins [17]
Destry Doc Curtis [17]
3 Ring Circus Sam Morley [17]
1955 The Man from Laramie Charley O'Leary [17]
Wichita Arthur Whiteside [17]
Lucy Gallant Gus Basserman [17]
A Lawless Street Dr. Amos Wynn [17]
The Spoilers Flapjack Simms [17]
1956 The Maverick Queen Jamie [17]
The First Texan Henry Delaney [17]
Johnny Concho Albert Dark [17]
Thunder Over Arizona Hal Stiles [17]
Stagecoach to Fury Judge Lester Farrell [17]
The Rainmaker Sheriff Howard Thomas [17]
1958 Twilight for the Gods Old Brown [17]
The Matchmaker Malachi Stack [17]
The Last Hurrah Charles J. Hennessey [17]
1959 Warlock Judge Holloway [17]
1960 Tess of the Storm Country Fred Thorson [17]
1965 A Patch of Blue Ole Pa [17]

Select television credits

Wallace Ford with Betty Lou Keim in NBC-TV's The Deputy (1959–61)
Year Title Role Notes
1953 The Motorola Television Hour "Outlaw's Reckoning" (series debut)
Goodyear Television Playhouse "The Happy Rest"
Armstrong Circle Theatre "The Marshal of Misery Gulch"
1954 Father Knows Best Nick "The Christmas Story”
Inner Sanctum Photographer "Dark of the Night"
1955 Ford Theatre Talker "Sunday Mourn"
Damon Runyon Theatre Lt. Harrigan "Tobias the Terrible"
1957 The Court of Last Resort William Markham "The Jim Thompson Case"
1958 Playhouse 90 Mule Rogers "The Last Man"
1959–1961 The Deputy Marshal Herk Lamson
1960 Tales of Wells Fargo Marshal F.X. Murphy "Dead Man's Street"
1964 The Andy Griffith Show Roger Hanover

References

  1. ^ England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index, January to March 1898, Bolton, Lancashire
  2. ^ a b c d e Boyd Magers. "Characters and Heavies: Wallace Ford". Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  3. ^ Lest We Forget
  4. ^ Hal Erickson, Allmovie biography on Wallace Ford
  5. ^ a b Wallace Ford at the Internet Broadway Database
  6. ^ Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries
  7. ^ "The Poppy God". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Broken Branches". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Nobody's Business". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Gypsy Jim". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Nancy Ann". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Pigs". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  13. ^ "Gypsy". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  14. ^ "The Nut Farm". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Of Mice and Men". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Kindred". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di "Wallace Ford". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  18. ^ Goble, Alan (8 September 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. p. 319. ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3.
  19. ^ Lubasch, Arnold H. (18 October 2012). Robeson: An American Ballad. Scarecrow Press. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-8108-8523-3.
  20. ^ Nollen, Scott Allen (10 January 2014). Paul Robeson: Film Pioneer. McFarland. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7864-5747-2.
  21. ^ Pitts, Michael R. (19 April 2019). Astor Pictures: A Filmography and History of the Reissue King, 1933-1965. McFarland. p. 229. ISBN 978-1-4766-3628-3.
  22. ^ Getz, Leonard (7 May 2015). From Broadway to the Bowery: A History and Filmography of the Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids and Bowery Boys Films, with Cast Biographies. McFarland. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7864-8742-4.
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