Charles McGraw

Charles McGraw

Promotional portrait
Born Charles Butters
(1914-05-10)May 10, 1914
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died July 30, 1980(1980-07-30) (aged 66)
Studio City, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1942–1977
Spouse(s) Freda Choy Kitt
(married 1938–1967)
Children 1

Charles Butters (May 10, 1914 – July 30, 1980), best known by his stage name Charles McGraw, was an American actor.

Early life

The son of Francis Butters and Beatrice Crisp Butters, McGraw was born in Des Moines, Iowa.[1] (A newspaper article published in 1951 says of McGraw, "He was born in New York City, but his parents moved to Akron, O., when he was five years old.")[2] In January 1932, he graduated from high school, later attending college for one semester.[1]

His early jobs included working on a freighter and dancing in night clubs.[2]

Before becoming an actor, he served a tour of duty in the United States Army during World War II.

Career

The killers (Charles McGraw, William Conrad) in The Killers

Stage

Before getting into film, McGraw was active in theatrical road companies.[2] He also appeared in "dozens of off-Broadway productions."[3]

Film

McGraw made his first film in 1942 with a small, uncredited role in The Undying Monster. He developed into a leading man, especially in the film noir genre during the late 1940s and early 1950s. His gravelly voice and rugged looks enhanced his appeal in that very stylistic genre.[4]

His first notable role was in The Killers (1946), which opens with McGraw and fellow heavy William Conrad as the two hitmen who terrorize a small-town diner in their search for Burt Lancaster. McGraw's other notable roles include "Honest Joe", the insurance investigator turned thief by love in the noir classic Roadblock (1951); the gruff detective assigned to protect Marie Windsor in The Narrow Margin (1952); righteous cop Lt. Jim Cordell in Armored Car Robbery (1952); Kirk Douglas' gladiator trainer in the epic Spartacus (1960); and "The Preacher" in the science-fiction cult classic A Boy and His Dog.

Television

McGraw starred as Mike Waring, the title character, in the 39-episode 1954–55 syndicated television series Adventures of the Falcon.[5][6] The series updated the original Falcon premise to have Michael Waring as a secret agent in the Cold War.[7] He also starred in the first television version of Casablanca (1955), taking Humphrey Bogart's role as Rick Blaine.[8]:165 Additionally, he had the role of Captain Hughes in The Smith Family.[8] In 1963, McGraw played Dr. Simon Oliver on the pilot of Diagnosis: Danger, a medical drama.[8]:257

He later played various one-shot roles in television episodes such as the gruff and menacing sheriff in "The Gamble", an installment of the NBC western series Bonanza.

In 1960, McGraw played United States Army scout Tom Barrows in the episode "The Scout" on the ABC/Desilu western television series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian. Though he has an Apache wife, Barrows is known for his attacks on Apache warriors. He is called "The Listener" because he cuts off and wears the ears of the Indians he has killed. The Indians retaliate by killing Barrows' wife. McGraw also appeared in an episode of The Untouchables titled "The Jake Lingle Killing". This was notable as a pre-Hawaii Five-O Jack Lord was the lead hero in the show instead of Ness. He also portrayed an unbalanced rear admiral in an episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea titled "The Sky is Falling."[9]

Personal life

McGraw married Freda Choy Kitt in 1938.[1] They had a daughter.[2]

Death

Charles McGraw died after slipping and falling through a glass shower door in his Studio City, California home on July 30, 1980 and severing an artery in his arm.[1] (A newspaper article published in 1981 gave August 2 as the date of McGraw's death.)[10] His ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.

Accolades

McGraw is recognized with a star in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6927 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.[11] It was dedicated February 8, 1960.[12]

Filmography

Cultural references

In late 2007 Alan K. Rode wrote a biography of McGraw, Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy. The book provides a behind-the-scenes look and anecdotes about his life, including: his long marriage to a Eurasian woman, his World War II Army service, his film career, and the story of his death.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Longden, Tom. "Charles McGraw". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 West, Alice Pardoe (May 20, 1951). "Behind the Scenes". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Utah, Ogden. p. 23. Retrieved June 4, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Charles McGraw Of 'Toki-Ri' Cast Has Lived Drama". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. January 23, 1955. p. 29. Retrieved June 4, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Baxter, John. The Gangster Film, p. 80.; A.S. Barnes & Co: New York (1970)
  5. ↑ http://ctva.biz/US/Adventure/Falcon.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.thrillingdetective.com/falcon.html
  7. ↑ Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8. P. 18.
  8. 1 2 3 Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 984.
  9. ↑ ""The Scout" (March 1, 1960)". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  10. ↑ "World mourns losses of giants of the entertainment world". The Kokomo Tribune. Indiana, Kokomo. January 2, 1981. p. 3. Retrieved June 4, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Hollywood Walk of Fame web site. Last accessed: December 11, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Charles McGraw". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Smith, Richard Harland. "Movie Morlocks", a Turner Classic Movies website, February 23, 2007. Last accessed: December 10, 2007.

External links

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