American actor (1911–1987)
Rusty Wescoatt
Born Norman Wescoatt
(1911-08-02 ) August 2, 1911Died September 3, 1987(1987-09-03) (aged 76) Alma mater University of Hawaii Occupation Actor Years active 1947–1965
Norman "Rusty" Wescoatt (August 2, 1911 – September 3, 1987) was an American supporting actor who appeared in over 80 films between 1947 and 1965.
Early life
The son of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Wescoatt,[ 1] he was born on August 2, 1911,[ 2] in Maui , Hawaii . [ 3] He played football at McKinley High School and at the University of Hawaii .[ 4]
Wescoatt spoke Hawaiian, Chinese, and Japanese.[ 5]
Athletics
On July 4, 1933, Wescoatt won his initial match as a professional wrestler, debuting in Honolulu, Hawaii.[ 6] He went on to wrestle in New York, Boston, and other eastern cities,[ 7] amassing a total of nearly 200 matches, 90 percent of which he won, by September 1936.[ 8] Also in September 1936, he signed a contract with a new manager to move up to "a tour of some of the larger wrestling centers."[ 9]
On Easter Sunday 1935, he set a record by swimming across the San Francisco Bay in two hours, 5 minutes.[ 8]
Acting
Wescoatt began his acting career with The Vigilante in 1947 as Garrity (uncredited ).[ 10] His next serial was The Sea Hound as Singapore Manson.[ 10] : 246 In 1948, Wescoatt was in Superman , a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial , based on the comic book character Superman as Elton in chapters 7–15.[ 10] : 247 In 1948, he was in Congo Bill as Ivan.[ 10] : 248 He played a number of henchmen roles in B-Westerns and serials .[citation needed ] Wescoatt's main studio for serial mayhem was Columbia . His screen persona was usually a bully who, often had more brawn than brains, did the physical labor according to the strict orders given by the brains heavy .[citation needed ]
In 1950, Wescoatt was uncredited as Maklee Native in Jungle Manhunt . In 1955, he was in Gang Busters as Mike Denike (archive footage). Also in 1955, he was in Tarantula , a science fiction film from Universal-International , produced by William Alland , directed by Jack Arnold , as a driver (uncredited).[ 11]
Wescoatt guest starred in a number of television shows including The Adventures of Kit Carson , The Lone Ranger , Death Valley Days , Hopalong Cassidy , Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok , Buffalo Bill, Jr. , Sergeant Preston of the Yukon , Sky King , Gunsmoke , Perry Mason , 77 Sunset Strip , Maverick , Bat Masterson , The Twilight Zone , Lawman , and The Legend of Jesse James .
Later years
In the 1960s, Wescoatt operated food markets in San Diego and Los Angeles.[ 4]
Death
Wescoatt died on September 3, 1987,[ 3] in Los Angeles , California , at the age of 76.[ 4]
Selected appearances
Films
The Sea Hound (1947, Serial) - Singapore Manson
Tex Granger: Midnight Rider of the Plains (1948) - Henchman Reno (Ch's 5,11) (uncredited)
Superman (1948, Serial) - Elton [Chs. 7-15]
Congo Bill (1948, Serial) - Ivan
Bruce Gentry (1949, Serial) - Henchman (uncredited)
The Mutineers (1949) - Tom Jenkins (uncredited)
Batman and Robin (1949, Serial) - Ives - Henchman [Chs. 3-13]
The Adventures of Sir Galahad (1949, Serial) - Bartog's Hefty Thug (uncredited)
Cody of the Pony Express (1950, Serial) - Denver - Hired Gunman [Ch.14]
Jungle Jim's Captive Girl (1950) - Silva
State Penitentiary (1950) - 'Flash' Russell - Convict (uncredited)
Atom Man vs. Superman (1950, Serial) - Carl
Sunset in the West (1950) - Henchman (uncredited)
Chain Gang (1950) - Guard Yates (uncredited)
Last of the Buccaneers (1950) - Col. Parnell (uncredited)
Pirates of the High Seas (1950, Serial) - Adams - Phantom Cruiser Henchman
Jungle Jim in Pygmy Island (1950) - Anders (uncredited)
A Yank in Korea (1951) - Sgt. Hutton
Fury of the Congo (1951) - Magruder
Roar of the Iron Horse (1951, Serial) - Scully - Lathrop's Foreman
When the Redskins Rode (1951) - Znueau (uncredited)
Hurricane Island (1951) - Crandall (uncredited)
Mysterious Island (1951, Serial) - Moley - Shard Henchman
Jungle Manhunt (1951) - Maklee Native (uncredited)
Captain Video (1951, Serial) - Henchman Beal [Chs. 1, 7, 11]
King of the Congo (1952, Serial) - Kor
Thief of Damascus (1952) - Soldier (uncredited)
Brave Warrior (1952) - Standish
The Golden Hawk (1952) - Pirate (uncredited)
Pack Train (1953) - Tall Burly Henchman (uncredited)
Riding with Buffalo Bill (1954) - Henchman (uncredited)
The Yellow Mountain (1954) - Miner (uncredited)
The Snow Creature (1954) - Guard in Warehouse
Sign of the Pagan (1954) - Tula
The Big Bluff (1955) - Frank
Gang Busters (1955) - Helmsman (uncredited)
Tarantula (1955) - Pickup Driver (uncredited)
Perils of the Wilderness (1956, Serial) - Henchman (uncredited)
Red Sundown (1956) - Bartender (uncredited)
The Big Caper (1957) - Plainclothesman Outside Bank (uncredited)
Snowfire (1957) - Link Stoner
Touch of Evil (1958) - Detective Casey (uncredited)
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1959) - Townsman (uncredited)
The Silent Call (1961) - Moose
20,000 Eyes (1961) - Policeman
The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) - Philo (uncredited)
The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962) - Cook (uncredited)
Black Gold (1962) - Wilkins
Gypsy (1962) - Stagehand (uncredited)
The Young Swingers (1963) - Policeman
Morituri (1965) - Merchant Marine (uncredited)
TV shows
References
^ "Leis Given To Leaders Of McKinley" . The Honolulu Advertiser . Hawaii, Honolulu. October 20, 1929. p. 10. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rusty Wescoatt" . Rotten Tomatoes . Flixster . Retrieved January 26, 2016 .
^ a b "Rusty Wescoat" . Three Stooges . Retrieved January 26, 2016 .
^ a b c "Football, swim star Norman Wescoatt dies" . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Hawaii, Honolulu. September 11, 1987. p. 13. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Parrott, Harold (November 5, 1935). "Rusty Is Rusty When It Comes to Snow" . The Brooklyn Daily Eagle . New York, Brooklyn. p. 19. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Anderson Defeats Joe Kirk on Mat: "Rusty" Wescoatt Makes His Debut by Winning In First Round" . The Honolulu Advertiser . Hawaii, Honolulu. July 5, 1933. p. 9. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rusty Wescoatt On Screen At The Princess" . The Honolulu Advertiser . Hawaii, Honolulu. March 22, 1936. p. 10. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b McQueen, Red (September 17, 1936). "Hoomalimali" . The Honolulu Advertiser . Hawaii, Honolulu. p. 8. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Rusty Wescoatt Signs Contract With Ed Lewis" . The Honolulu Advertiser . Hawaii, Honolulu. September 26, 1936. p. 6. Retrieved July 8, 2018 – via Newspapers.com .
^ a b c d Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time . McFarland & Company . p. 245 . ISBN 0-7864-0471-X .
^ Tarantula at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
External links