Douglas Fowley

Douglas Fowley (born Daniel Vincent Fowley, May 30, 1911 – May 21, 1998) was an American movie and television actor in more than 240 films and dozens of television programs, He is probably best remembered for his role as the frustrated movie director Roscoe Dexter in Singin' in the Rain (1952), and for his regular supporting role as Doc Holliday in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. He was the father of rock and roll musician and record producer Kim Fowley.
Early years
Fowley was born in the Bronx in New York City. He attended Los Angeles City College.
Fowley began as a singing waiter and then worked as a copy boy for The New York Times, a runner for a Wall Street broker, a United States Postal Service employee, a barker, a salesman, a professional football player, and finally a professional actor.
Military service
Fowley enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, where he served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. An explosion aboard knocked out his upper front teeth. Later he ended up portraying one of the best-known dentists in American history. "I started playing old character roles by removing my false upper plate, adding a beard, voice and gait to match my interpretation," he explained to Western Clippings in 1994.
Film
After nightclub performing and stage work, Fowley appeared in 1933 in his first film, The Mad Game, alongside Spencer Tracy. Early in his acting career, he was usually cast as a movie heavy or gangster in B-movies, including Charlie Chan and Laurel and Hardy features.
Fowley's films include Twenty Mule Team, Fall Guy, Mighty Joe Young, Angels in the Outfield, Battleground, Armored Car Robbery, Chick Carter, Detective, The Naked Jungle, The High and the Mighty, and Walking Tall.
Television
Regular cast
For several seasons, Fowley played the key supporting role of John H. "Doc" Holliday in the 1955-1961 western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp after having appeared as Doc Fabrique in the show's premiere season. This role allowed Fowley to demonstrate his flair for comedy and other acting skills as a clever, sharp-witted, sardonic, cynical, alcoholic, poker-playing foil to the square-jawed, milk-drinking, church-going Wyatt Earp (Hugh O'Brian), whom Holiday nicknamed "Deacon" due to his rigid sense of morality. Not at all so encumbered Doc would occasionally take the law into his own hands behind Earp's back to protect his friend from legal action or even death when the marshal was legally or morally ham-strung. Holliday, as played by Fowley, having no problem working around morals or the law, could be either hilarious or cold-blooded.
From 1966 to 1967, Fowley portrayed Andrew Hanks in Pistols 'n' Petticoats, a CBS sitcom. Hanks was the patriarch in a family of gun-toting women who seemed to have little need for male assistance.
Fowley portrayed retired businessman Robert Redford in Detective School (1979).
Guest appearances
In the 1950s, he appeared as himself on NBC's The Donald O'Connor Show. In 1954, he demonstrated his comic appeal when he appeared alongside Gracie Allen in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. He was cast in 1956 as Bob Egan in the "Two-Fisted Saint" episode of the religious anthology series Crossroads. He portrayed a con man in two episodes of the NBC sitcom It's a Great Life. He also guest-starred on Reed Hadley's CBS legal drama The Public Defender. He appeared, too, on the ABC situation comedy The Pride of the Family and on the NBC Western series The Californians and Jefferson Drum. He was cast on two Rod Cameron series, the syndicated City Detective and the Western-themed State Trooper, and in John Bromfield's series, U.S. Marshal. He guest-starred in the David Janssen crime drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective and guest-starred in season two, episode four of the Robert Culp Western Trackdown.
In 1959, Fowley appeared with Frank Ferguson in the episode "A Race for Life" of the CBS Western series The Texan, starring Rory Calhoun.
On December 30, 1963, Fowley guest-starred in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show, “Opie and his Merry Men”, as a hobo. Opie and his friends stole food from the “rich” and gave to the hobo, who quickly refused Andy’s help in finding a job.
In 1964, Fowley made a guest appearance on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason playing agent Rubin Cason in "The Case of the Bountiful Beauty". In 1965, he was cast as Sorrowful in episode 83 of the series The Virginian.
In 1966, he appeared as "Rufus C. Hoops" in "The Search" season 2, episode 24, of the series "Daniel Boone". Original air date for this episode was March 3, 1966. In 1967, Fowley guest-starred on the short-lived CBS Western Dundee and the Culhane with John Mills.
In 1968, he appeared in episode 273 of My Three Sons as an old pal of Uncle Charley's. He had a role in the syndicated 1959-1960 Western Pony Express in the episode "Showdown at Thirty Mile Ridge". He was cast in 1963 in Miracle of the White Stallions.
In 1977, Fowley portrayed Dr. O. B. Mudd in the pilot episode of the NBC situation comedy Quark.
Fowley was usually typecast as a villain; when not playing an actual criminal, he often portrayed an argumentative troublemaker. Portraying a member of Tyrone Power's orchestra in Alexander's Ragtime Band, in the early scenes of the film, Fowley's character quarrels with his bandmates, but this is not developed in the film's later scenes.
Fowley continued to act into the 1970s and was frequently billed as "Douglas V. Fowley". One of his last roles was as Delaney Rafferty in Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars, in which he dressed in drag.
Personal life
Fowley's wife at the time of his death was named Jean. His children were Douglas Jr., Kim, Daniel, Gretchen and Kip.
Death
Fowley died on May 21, 1998, at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, aged 86. He was buried at the Murrieta, California, Laurel Cemetery.
Selected filmography
The Woman Who Dared (1933) as Kay's Boyfriend
The Mad Game (1933) as Gangster (uncredited)
Sleepers East (1934) as Gangster (uncredited)
I Hate Women (1934) as Nelson
The Thin Man (1934) as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Let's Talk It Over (1934) as Sailor Jones
Operator 13 (1934) as Union Officer (uncredited)
Money Means Nothing (1934) as Red Miller (uncredited)
The Girl from Missouri (1934) as New Bellboy with Vase (uncredited)
Gift of Gab (1934) as Mac
Student Tour (1934) as Mushy
Night Life of the Gods (1935) as Cyril Sparks
Transient Lady (1935) as Matt Baxter
Straight from the Heart (1935) as Speed Spelvin
Princess O'Hara (1935) as Emcee (uncredited)
Old Man Rhythm (1935) as Oyster (uncredited)
Two for Tonight (1935) as Pooch Donahue
Miss Pacific Fleet (1935) as Second (scenes deleted)
Ring Around the Moon (1936) as Ted Curlew
Big Brown Eyes (1936) as Benny Battle
Small Town Girl (1936) as Chick Page (uncredited)
Mariners of the Sky (1936) as Lt. Steve Bassett
Private Number (1936) as Sheik - Man Causing Brawl (uncredited)
36 Hours to Kill (1936) as Duke Benson
Crash Donovan (1936) as Harris
Sing, Baby, Sing (1936) as Mac
Dimples (1936) as Stranger (uncredited)
15 Maiden Lane (1936) as Nick Shelby
Woman-Wise (1937) as Stevens
On the Avenue (1937) as Eddie Eads
Time Out for Romance (1937) as Roy Webster
This Is My Affair (1937) as Alec
Fifty Roads to Town (1937) as Dutch Nelson
She Had to Eat (1937) as Duke Stacey
Wake Up and Live (1937) as Herman
Wild and Woolly (1937) as Blackie Morgan
One Mile from Heaven (1937) as Jim Tabor
Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937) as Johnny Burke
Love and Hisses (1937) as Mobster Webster
City Girl (1938) as Ritchie
Walking Down Broadway (1938) as Ace Wagner
Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938) as Nick Crowder
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) as Snapper
Passport Husband (1938) as Tiger Martin
Keep Smiling (1938) as Cedric Hunt
Time Out for Murder (1938) as J.E. 'Dutch' Moran
Submarine Patrol (1938) as Seaman Pinky Brett
The Arizona Wildcat (1939) as Rufe Galloway
Inside Story (1939) as Gus Brawley
Dodge City (1939) as Munger
Lucky Night (1939) as George
Boy Friend (1939) as Ed Boyd
It Could Happen to You (1939) as Freddie Barlow
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939) as Pete Lewis
Henry Goes Arizona (1939) as Ricky Dole
Slightly Honorable (1939) as Madder
Cafe Hostess (1940) as Eddie Morgan
20 Mule Team (1940) as Stag Roper
Wagons Westward (1940) as Bill Marsden
Pier 13 (1940) as Johnnie Hale
The Leather Pushers (1940) as Slick Connolly
Cherokee Strip (1940) as Alf Barrett
East of the River (1940) as Cy Turner
Ellery Queen, Master Detective (1940) as Rocky Taylor
The Great Swindle (1941) as Rocky Andrews
The Parson of Panamint (1941) as Chappie Ellerton
Tanks a Million (1941) as Capt. Rossmead
Dangerous Lady (1941) as Police Sgt. Brent
Doctors Don't Tell (1941) as Joe Grant
Secret of the Wastelands (1941) as Slade Salters
Mr. District Attorney (1941) as Vincent Mackay
Hay Foot (1942) as Captain Rossmead
Mr. Wise Guy (1942) as Bill Collins
Sunset on the Desert (1942) as Ramsay McCall
So's Your Aunt Emma (1942) as Gus Hammond
Mississippi Gambler (1942) as Chet Matthews
I Live on Danger (1942) as Joey Farr
Somewhere I'll Find You (1942) as Army Captain (uncredited)
The Man in the Trunk (1942) as Ed Mygatt
Pittsburgh (1942) as Mort Frawley (uncredited)
Lost Canyon (1942) as Jeff Burton
Stand by for Action (1942) as Ensign Martin
Gildersleeve's Bad Day (1943) as Louie Barton
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case (1943) as Wallace (uncredited)
Jitterbugs (1943) as Malcolm Bennett
Colt Comrades (1943) as Joe Brass
Sleepy Lagoon (1943) as J. 'The Brain' Lucarno
Swing Shift Maisie (1943) as Investigator (uncredited)
The Kansan (1943) as Ben Nash
Bar 20 (1943) as Henchman Slash
The Chance of a Lifetime (1943) as Nails Blanton (uncredited)
Minesweeper (1943) as Cutter Lt. Wells
Riding High (1943) as Brown (uncredited)
The Racket Man (1944) as Toby Sykes
Lady in the Death House (1944) as Dr. Dwight 'Brad' Bradford
See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) as Capt. R.S. Manville
Rationing (1944) as Dixie Samson
Shake Hands with Murder (1944) as Steve Morgan
And the Angels Sing (1944) as N.Y. Cafe Manager (uncredited)
Detective Kitty O'Day (1944) as Harry Downs
Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1944) as Rudy (uncredited)
One Body Too Many (1944) as Henry Rutherford
Behind City Lights (1945) as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Along the Navajo Trail (1945) as J. Richard Bentley
Don't Fence Me In (1945) as Jack Gordon
What Next, Corporal Hargrove? (1945) as Colonel (uncredited)
Life with Blondie (1945) as Blackie Leonard (uncredited)
Drifting Along (1946) as Jack Dailey
Blonde Alibi (1946) as Henchman Willie (uncredited)
The Glass Alibi (1946) as Joe Eykner
Rendezvous 24 (1946) as Chief Agent Hanover (uncredited)
Larceny in Her Heart (1946) as Doc H. C. Patterson
In Fast Company (1946) as Steve Trent
Freddie Steps Out (1946) as Coach Carter
Chick Carter, Detective (1946, Serial) as Rusty Farrell
High School Hero (1946) as Coach Carter
Her Sister's Secret (1946) as Navy Officer (uncredited)
Wild Country (1947) as Clark Varney
Scared to Death (1947) as Terry Lee
The Sea of Grass (1947) as Joe Horton (uncredited)
Backlash (1947) as Red Bailey
Undercover Maisie (1947) as Daniels
Fall Guy (1947) as Inspector Shannon
Yankee Fakir (1947) as Yankee Davis
Three on a Ticket (1947) as Mace Morgan
Fun on a Weekend (1947) as Gambling House Owner (uncredited)
Jungle Flight (1947) as Tom Hammond
Desperate (1947) as Pete Lavitch
The Trespasser (1947) as Bill Monroe
The Hucksters (1947) as Georgie Gaver
Gas House Kids in Hollywood (1947) as Mitch Gordon
Ridin' Down the Trail (1947) as Mark Butler
Key Witness (1947) as Jim Guthrie (uncredited)
Merton of the Movies (1947) as Phil
Roses Are Red (1947) as Ace Oliver
Rose of Santa Rosa (1947) as Larry Fish
If You Knew Susie (1948) as Marty
Black Bart (1948) as Sheriff Mix (uncredited)
Docks of New Orleans (1948) as Grock
The Dude Goes West (1948) as Beetle
Waterfront at Midnight (1948) as Joe Sargus
Coroner Creek (1948) as Stew Shallis
The Arkansas Swing (1948) as Howard, the Horse Trainer
Behind Locked Doors (1948) as Larson
Joe Palooka in Winner Take All (1948) as Reporter #1
The Denver Kid (1948) as Henchman Slip
Gun Smugglers (1948) as Steve Reeves
Bad Men of Tombstone (1949) as Gambler (uncredited)
Flaxy Martin (1949) as Max, Detective
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) as Karl (uncredited)
Manhattan Angel (1949) as Mr. Fowley - Press Photographer (uncredited)
Search for Danger (1949) as Inspector
Susanna Pass (1949) as Roberts aka Walter P. Johnson
Arson, Inc. (1949) as Frederick P. Fender
Massacre River (1949) as Simms
Any Number Can Play (1949) as Smitty (uncredited)
Mighty Joe Young (1949) as Jones
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949) as Thurston
Satan's Cradle (1949) as Steve Gentry
Battleground (1949) as "Kipp" Kippton
Renegades of the Sage (1949) as Sloper
Killer Shark (1950) as Louie Bracado
Beware of Blondie (1950) as Adolph
Hoedown (1950) as Gang Leader (uncredited)
Rider from Tucson (1950) as Bob Rankin
Armored Car Robbery (1950) as Benny McBride
Edge of Doom (1950) as 2nd Detective
Bunco Squad (1950) as Det. Sgt. Mack McManus
Rio Grande Patrol (1950) as Bragg Orket
He's a Cockeyed Wonder (1950) as 'Crabs' Freeley
Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone (1950) as Steve Kepplar
Stage to Tucson (1950) as Ira Prentiss
Tarzan's Peril (1951) as Herbert Trask
Criminal Lawyer (1951) as Harry Cheney
Chain of Circumstance (1951) as Lt. Fenning
Angels in the Outfield (1951) as Cab Driver (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri (1951) as Tin Cup Owens (uncredited)
South of Caliente (1951) as Dave Norris
Callaway Went Thataway (1951) as Gaffer (uncredited)
Room for One More (1952) as Ice Man (scenes deleted)
Finders Keepers (1952) as Frankie Simmons
This Woman Is Dangerous (1952) as Saunders - Gambling House Prorietor (uncredited)
Just This Once (1952) as Frank Pirosh
Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Roscoe Dexter
Horizons West (1952) as Ed Tompkins
The Man Behind the Gun (1953) as Buckley
Kansas Pacific (1953) as Max Janus
A Slight Case of Larceny (1953) as Mr. White - Circle Star Gas Stations
The Band Wagon (1953) as Auctioneer (uncredited)
Cruisin' Down the River (1953) as Humphrey Hepburn
Cat-Women of the Moon (1953) as Walter 'Walt' Walters
Red River Shore (1953) as Case Lockwood
The Naked Jungle (1954) as Medicine Man
Untamed Heiress (1954) as Pal
Southwest Passage (1954) as Toad Ellis
Casanova's Big Night (1954) as Second Prisoner
The Lone Gun (1954) as Bartender
The High and the Mighty (1954) as Alsop
Deep in My Heart (1954) as Harold Butterfield
3 Ring Circus (1954) as Army Payroll Officer (uncredited)
The Lonesome Trail (1955) as Crazy Charley Bonesteel
The Girl Rush (1955) as Charlie - Stickman
Texas Lady (1955) as Clay Ballard
The Broken Star (1956) as Hiram Charleton
Bandido (1956) as McGhee
Man from Del Rio (1956) as Doc Adams
Rock, Pretty Baby (1956) as 'Pop' Wright
Kelly and Me (1957) as Dave Gans
The Badge of Marshal Brennan (1957) as Marshal Matt Brennan
Bayou (1957) as Emil Hebert
Raiders of Old California (1957) as Sheriff
The Geisha Boy (1958) as GI in Korea (uncredited)
A Gift for Heidi (1958) as Alm Uncle
These Thousand Hills (1959) as Whitey (uncredited)
Desire in the Dust (1960) as Zuba Wilson
Buffalo Gun (1961) as Sheriff
Barabbas (1961) as Vasasio
The Andy Griffith Show (1963) season 4 episode 12 "Opie and His Merry Men" as Hobo
Miracle of the White Stallions (1963) as Lt. General Walton H. Walker
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963) as Photographer (uncredited)
7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) as Toothless Cowboy
Guns of Diablo (1965) as Mr. Knudsen
Nightmare in the Sun (1965)
Daniel Boone (1964 TV series) - Rufus C. Hoops - S2/E24 "The Search" (1966)
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969) as Grundy
Run, Cougar, Run (1972) as Joe Bickley
Walking Tall (1973) as Judge Clarke
Homebodies (1974) as Mr. Crawford
The Moneychangers (1976) as Danny Kerrigan
Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Second Drunk (uncredited)
From Noon till Three (1976) as Buck Bowers
Black Oak Conspiracy (1977) as Bryan Hancock
The White Buffalo (1977) as Amos Bixby (Train Conductor / narrator)
The North Avenue Irregulars (1979) as Delaney
References
External links
1911 births
1998 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
United States Navy personnel of World War II
Burials in Riverside County, California
Male actors from Los Angeles
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players
Male actors from the Bronx
Western (genre) television actors