Horace McMahon

Horace McMahon
Horace McMahon
	McMahon in Detective Story (1951)
Born	May 17, 1906; South Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	August 17, 1971 (aged 65); Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Fordham University School of Law
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1931–1969
Spouse	Louise Campbell (m. 1937; died 1971)
Children	3

Horace McMahon (May 17, 1906 – August 17, 1971) was an American actor. He was one of Hollywood's favorite heavies.

McMahon began his acting career on Broadway, then appeared in many films and television series. In 1962, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the series Naked City (1958–1963).

Early years

McMahon was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut.^[1] He became interested in acting when he was a student at Fordham University School of Law.^{[citation needed]}

Career

In his early career he mostly played thugs or jailbirds, but in 1949 he starred in his most acclaimed role, as Lieutenant Monaghan in the drama play Detective Story and in 1951 he reprised his character in Paramount Pictures' film version Detective Story, alongside Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker.

McMahon also starred on television, in the ABC police series Naked City as Lt. Mike Parker, a gruff, no-nonsense, but warmhearted cop's cop, interested only in justice and doing the job according to the proper rules of the game. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role.^[2]

In 1964, McMahon played Hank McClure, a police contact in the CBS drama series, Mr. Broadway.^[3]

On 5 October 1967 McMahon played the character "Glu Gluten" in Season 3, Episode 4's "The Sport of Penguins" on ABC's Batman television series.

In 1968 he played police Captain Tom Farrell in The Detective starring Frank Sinatra.

He also did voice-overs for commercials, including those for Close-Up toothpaste and Armstrong tires.^[4]

Legacy

In 1972, a 375-seat theater named in honor of McMahon was created in the McCrory Building on Washington Street in South Norwalk, Connecticut.^[4]

Personal life

McMahon was married to actress Louise Campbell from 1938 until his death in 1971.^[5] Their daughter, Martha McMahon, also became an actress.^[4]

Selected filmography

Bulldog Edition (1936) – Horace Boyd (uncredited)
Navy Blues (1937) – Gateleg
They Gave Him a Gun (1937) – Prison Inmate (uncredited)
Kid Galahad (1937) – Reporter at Press Conference (uncredited)
Public Wedding (1937) – Reporter
Exclusive (1937) – Beak McArdle
Bad Guy (1937) – Malone the Informer (uncredited)
The Wrong Road (1937) – Blackie Clayton
A Girl with Ideas (1937) – Al
The Last Gangster (1937) – Limpy (uncredited)
Paid to Dance (1937) – LaRue
When G-Men Step In (1938) – Jennings
King of the Newsboys (1938) – Lockjaw
Ladies in Distress (1938) – 2nd Thug
Fast Company (1938) – Danny Scolado
Marie Antoinette (1938) – Rabblerouser (uncredited)
The Crowd Roars (1938) – Rocky Simpson (uncredited)
Tenth Avenue Kid (1938) – Max Hooker
I Am the Law (1938) – Prisoner (uncredited)
Wanted by the Police (1938) – Russo's Chief Henchman
Broadway Musketeers (1938) – Gurk, Vince's Henchman
Secrets of a Nurse (1938) – Larry Carson
Newsboys' Home (1938) – Bartsch
Federal Man-Hunt (1938) – Snuffy Deegan
Pride of the Navy (1939) – Gloomey Kelly
Pirates of the Skies (1939) – Henchman Artie (uncredited)
I Was a Convict (1939) – Missouri Smith
Sergeant Madden (1939) – Philadelphia
For Love or Money (1939) – Dead Eyes
Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy – Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Big Town Czar (1939) – Punchy
Rose of Washington Square (1939) – Irving
The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) – Gus (uncredited)
6,000 Enemies (1939) – Prisoner Boxcar (uncredited)
Bachelor Mother (1939) – Dance Floor Official (uncredited)
She Married a Cop (1939) – Joe Nash
Quick Millions (1939) – Floyd 'Bat' Douglas
Sabotage (1939) – Art Kruger
Another Thin Man (1939) – MacFay's Chauffeur (uncredited)
That's Right—You're Wrong (1939) – Hood (uncredited)
Laugh It Off (1939) – Phil Ferrranti
Oh Johnny, How You Can Love (1940) – 'Lefty' Hodges – Bank Robber
The Marines Fly High (1940) – Sgt. Monk O'Hara
The Ghost Comes Home (1940) – Dave – the Nightclub Manager (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy
My Favorite Wife (1940) – Truck Driver Giving Lift to Ellen (uncredited)
Gangs of Chicago (1940) – Cry-Baby
I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (1940) – Bugs
Millionaires in Prison (1940) – Sylvester Odgen 'SOS' Schofield
We Who Are Young (1940) – Foreman
The Golden Fleecing (1940) – Process Server (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy (uncredited)
The Leather Pushers (1940) – Slugger Mears
The Bride Wore Crutches (1940) – Brains
Margie (1940) – Detective
Melody Ranch (1940) – Bud Wildhack
Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy
Come Live with Me (1941) – Taxi Driver
Rookies on Parade (1941) – Tiger Brannigan
Lady Scarface (1941) – Mullen
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy (uncredited)
Buy Me That Town (1941) – Fingers Flint
The Stork Pays Off (1941) – 'Ears-to-the-Ground' Hinkle
Birth of the Blues (1941) – Wolf
Jail House Blues (1942) – Swifty
Stage Door Canteen (1943) – Himself
Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) – Truck Driver (uncredited)
Dangerous Blondes (1943) – Hoodlum (uncredited)
Timber Queen (1944) – Rodney
The Navy Way (1944) – Sailor Saxon (uncredited)
Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944) – Maxie Sharkey (uncredited)
13 Rue Madeleine (1946) – Burglary Instructor (scenes deleted)
Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad (1948) – Looie
Smart Woman (1948) – Lefty (uncredited)
Waterfront at Midnight (1948) – Hank Bremmer
The Return of October (1948) – Big Louie (uncredited)
Detective Story (1951) – Lt. Monaghan
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) – Mugsy
Man in the Dark (1953) – Arnie
Fast Company (1953) – 'Two Pair' Buford
Champ for a Day (1953) – Sam Benton
Duffy of San Quentin (1954) – Pierson
Susan Slept Here (1954) – Sergeant Monty Maizel
Blackboard Jungle (1955) – Detective
My Sister Eileen (1955) – Police Officer Lonigan
Texas Lady (1955) – Stringer Winfield
The Delicate Delinquent (1957) – Police Captain Riley
Beau James (1957) – Prosecutor
Never Steal Anything Small (1959) – O. K. Merritt
The Swinger (1966) – Detective Sergeant Hooker
The Detective (1968) – Farrell

References

^ "New Norwalk Theatre Will Honor McMahon". The Bridgeport Post. Connecticut, Bridgeport. April 16, 1972. p. 109. Retrieved January 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Outstanding performance in a supporting role by an actor - 1962". Emmys.com. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
^ Adams, Val (June 14, 1964). "Televising Baldwin Drama". The New York Times. p. X 17. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c McCarthy, Margaret (August 13, 1970). "McMahons of Rowayton Are Finding Theatrical Work Keeps Family Busy". The Bridgeport Post. Connecticut, Bridgeport. p. 16. Retrieved January 9, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Sutton, Larry (November 6, 1997). "Actress McMahon Dead at 86". New York Daily News. Retrieved 26 October 2016.