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Tom London
Actor

Tom London

23 Aug 1889Born
5 Dec 1963Died
74Age at death
406Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tom London (August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American veteran actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to The Guinness Book of Movie Records, London is credited with appearing in the most films in the history of Hollywood, this according to the 2001 book Film Facts, where it states that the performer who played in the most films was "Tom London, who made his first of over 2000 appearances in The Great Train Robbery, 1903.

Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois. His debut was in 1915 in the Western Lone Larry, performing under his own name.

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In 1925, after having appeared in many silent films, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock". London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. In the silent film era he often played villainous roles, while in later years he often appeared as the sidekick to Western stars like Sunset Carson in several films.

One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films. London made many guest appearances in television shows through the 1950s, such as The Range Rider, with Jock Mahoney and Dick Jones. He also played Sam, the attendant of Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) in High Noon. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A. in 1961, and his final roles on TV were in Lawman and The Dakotas.

London died at his home in North Hollywood at age 81 and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 406 credits.

  1. 1978Western von gesternSeries: O'Shea (1 episode)
  2. 1966Spy Smasher ReturnsFilm: Crane
  3. 196213 West StreetFilm: Prisoner (uncredited)
  4. 1960Let No Man Write My EpitaphFilm: Bum at Bar (uncredited)
  5. 1959Law of the PlainsmanSeries: Stagecoach Driver (1 episode)
  6. 1959Lock-UpSeries: Carrey - Watchman (1 episode)
  7. 1959Lone TexanFilm: Old Dan (uncredited)
  8. 1958Bat MastersonSeries: Prisoner (uncredited) (1 episode)
  9. 1958LawmanSeries: Pete (2 episodes)
  10. 1958Money, Women and GunsFilm: Old Prospector (uncredited)
  11. 1958Man of the WestFilm: Tom (uncredited)
  12. 1958BroncoSeries: Rowdy O'Brien (1 episode)
  13. 1958The SheepmanFilm: Shopkeeper (uncredited)
  14. 1957The Tall StrangerFilm
  15. 1957Domino KidFilm
  16. 1957MaverickSeries: Farmer (1 episode)
  17. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Cabbie (1 episode)
  18. 1957Wagon TrainSeries: Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited) (1 episode)
  19. 1956Friendly PersuasionFilm: Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
  20. 1956Broken ArrowSeries: (uncredited) (1 episode)
  21. 1956Quincannon, Frontier ScoutFilm: Livery Stableman (uncredited)
  22. 1955Top GunFilm: Casey (uncredited)
  23. 1955CheyenneSeries: Old-Timer (uncredited) (1 episode)
  24. 1955The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpSeries: Old Man Craig (uncredited), Jigger (uncredited), Stableman (uncredited), Moss Grimmick (uncredited) (1 episode)
  25. 1954The Wonderful World of DisneySeries: Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited) (1 episode)
  26. 1954Annie OakleySeries: Ranch Hand, Buckhorn, Pop Leeds, Ike Simmons (1 episode)
  27. 1953The Pepsi-Cola PlayhouseSeries (1 episode)
  28. 1953Pack TrainFilm: Dan Coleman
  29. 1952Blue Canadian RockiesFilm: Pop Phillips
  30. 1952The Ford Television TheatreSeries: Ranson (1 episode)
  31. 1952The Old WestFilm: Chadwick (uncredited)
  32. 1952Adventures of SupermanSeries: Peter Thomas (1 episode)
  33. 1952High NoonFilm: Sam (uncredited)
  34. 1952Apache CountryFilm: Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
  35. 1952Rancho NotoriousFilm: Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
  36. 1952Trail GuideFilm: Old Timer
  37. 1951The Secret of Convict LakeFilm: Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
  38. 1951Rough Riders of DurangoFilm: Rancher Evans
  39. 1950The Blazing SunFilm: Tom Ellis
  40. 1950The Gene Autry ShowSeries: The Sheriff (1 episode)
  41. 1950The Old FrontierFilm: Banker
  42. 1950Cody of the Pony ExpressFilm: Doc Laramie
  43. 1949Red DesertFilm: Colonel
  44. 1949Riders in the SkyFilm: Old Man Robert
  45. 1949San Antone AmbushFilm: Bartender Tim
  46. 1949The Lone RangerSeries: Sheriff Allbright, Sheriff Dexter (1 episode)
  47. 1949South of RioFilm: Jim Weston
  48. 1949Brand of FearFilm: Marshal Blackjack Flint
  49. 1949Frontier InvestigatorFilm: Jed
  50. 1948Mark of the LashFilm: Lem Kimmerly
  51. 1948Marshal of AmarilloFilm: Mr. Snodgrass
  52. 1947Under Colorado SkiesFilm: Sheriff Blanchard
  53. 1947The Wild FrontierFilm: Patrick MacSween
  54. 1947Along the Oregon TrailFilm: Wagon Boss
  55. 1947Marshal of Cripple CreekFilm: Baker
  56. 1947Jesse James Rides AgainFilm: Sam Bolton
  57. 1947BlackmailFilm: Tom - Cashier
  58. 1947Rustlers of Devil's CanyonFilm: The Sheriff
  59. 1947Saddle PalsFilm: Dad Gardner
  60. 1947Dick Tracy's DilemmaFilm: Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
  61. 1947Homesteaders of Paradise ValleyFilm: Rancher
  62. 1947Twilight on the Rio GrandeFilm: U.S. Customs Agent Tom
  63. 1947Last Frontier UprisingFilm: Skillet (Ranch Hand)
  64. 1946Out California WayFilm: Johnny
  65. 1946Santa Fe UprisingFilm: Lafe Dibble
  66. 1946Roll on Texas MoonFilm: Sheriff Bert Morris
  67. 1946Rio Grande RaidersFilm: Sheriff Tom Hammon
  68. 1946The Invisible InformerFilm: Eph Shroud
  69. 1946Conquest of CheyenneFilm: Sheriff Dan Perkins
  70. 1946Red River RenegadesFilm: Pop Underwood
  71. 1946Night Train to MemphisFilm: Train Conductor
  72. 1946Man from Rainbow ValleyFilm: Healey
  73. 1946Passkey to DangerFilm: Gerald Bates
  74. 1946Sun Valley CycloneFilm: Sheriff
  75. 1946King of the Forest RangersFilm: Tom Judson
  76. 1946Alias Billy the KidFilm: Dakota
  77. 1946Sheriff of Redwood ValleyFilm: Sheriff
  78. 1946Crime of the CenturyFilm: Dr. Jackson
  79. 1946California Gold RushFilm: Sheriff Peabody
  80. 1946Days of Buffalo BillFilm: Banty McCabe

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.