Jacques Joseph O'Mahoney (February 7, 1919 – December 14, 1989), known professionally as Jock Mahoney, was an American actor and

stuntman A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...

. He starred in two

Action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

television series A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming plat ...

, '' The Range Rider'' and '' Yancy Derringer''. He played

Tarzan Tarzan (John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke) is a fictional character, a feral child raised in the African jungle by the Mangani great apes; he later experiences civilization, only to reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer. Creat ...

in two feature films and was associated in various capacities with several other Tarzan productions. He was credited variously as Jacques O'Mahoney, Jock O'Mahoney, Jack Mahoney, and finally Jock Mahoney.

Early life, education, and military service

Mahoney was born February 7, 1919, in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

and reared in

Davenport, Iowa Davenport ( ) is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. It is situated along the Mississippi River on the eastern border of the state. Davenport had a population of 101,724 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 cen ...

. He was of French and Irish descent, the only child of Ruth and Charles O'Mahoney. He entered the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...

Iowa City Iowa City is the largest city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. At the time of the 2020 census the population was 74,828, making it the state's fifth-most populous city. The Iowa City metropolitan area, which enc ...

and excelled at swimming and diving, but dropped out to enlist in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

when

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

began. He served as a pilot and flight instructor.

Career

After his discharge from the Marine Corps, Mahoney moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, and for a time was a horse breeder. However, he soon became a movie stuntman, doubling for

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian and American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Oliv ...

, and

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

. Director Vincent Sherman recalled staging the climactic fight scene in his 1948 film '' Adventures of Don Juan'' and could find only one stuntman who was willing to leap from a high staircase in the scene. That man was Mahoney, who demanded and received $1,000 for the dangerous stunt. Most of Mahoney's films of the late 1940s and early 1950s were produced by

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...

. Like many Columbia contract players, Mahoney worked in the studio's two-reel comedies. Beginning in 1947, writer-director

Edward Bernds Edward Bernds (July 12, 1905May 20, 2000) was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois. Career While in his junior year in Lake View High School, he and several friends formed a small radio clique and obtained amateur li ...

cast Mahoney in slapstick comedies starring

the Three Stooges The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy team active from 1922 until 1970, best remembered for their 190 short-subject films by Columbia Pictures. Their hallmark styles were physical, farce, and slapstick comedy. Six total ...

. Mahoney had large speaking roles in these films, and often played his scenes for laughs. Often cast alongside heroine Christine McIntyre, he appeared in the Stooge films '' Out West'' (1947), ''

Squareheads of the Round Table ''Squareheads of the Round Table'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 106th entry in the series released by Columbia Pi ...

'' (1948) (and its 1954 remake, '' Knutzy Knights''), '' Fuelin' Around'' (1949), and '' Punchy Cowpunchers'' (1950). In the Stooge films, Mahoney—striking a heroic pose—would suddenly get clumsy, tripping over something or taking sprawling pratfalls. Beginning in 1950, Columbia management noticed Mahoney's acting skills and gave him starring roles in two adventure serials, '' Cody of the Pony Express'' (1950) and '' Roar of the Iron Horse'' (1951). Mahoney succeeded stuntman

Ted Mapes John Tylor Mapes (November 25, 1901 – September 9, 1984) was an American character actor, who was also a prolific stuntman and body double. Born on November 25, 1901, in St. Edward, Nebraska, he moved to Los Angeles in his mid-20s, and entere ...

as the double for Charles Starrett in Columbia's The Durango Kid Western series. The Durango Kid wore a mask covering much of his face, enabling Mahoney to replace Starrett in the action scenes. Mahoney's daring stunts made it seem that the older Starrett grew, the more athletic he became. Mahoney contributed so much to this series that he was awarded featured billing and major supporting roles as well, first as villains and then as sympathetic characters. By 1952 Columbia was billing him as Jack Mahoney. When Charles Starrett's contract ran out in the spring of 1952, Columbia decided to replace him with Mahoney, opposite Starrett's sidekick Smiley Burnette. The first film was completed but never released; Columbia abandoned the series in June 1952, bringing an end to its long history of B-Western production. Cowboy star

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner, who largely gained fame by singing in a Crooner ...

, then working at Columbia, hired Mahoney to star in a television series. Autry's Flying A Productions filmed 79 half-hour episodes of the syndicated ''The Range Rider'' from 1951 to 1953. In 1959, a lost episode was shown six years after the series ended. He was billed as Jack Mahoney. The character had no name other than Range Rider. His series co-star was Dick Jones, playing the role of Dick West. In the 1958 Western film '' Money, Women and Guns'', Mahoney played the starring role. The film also starred

Kim Hunter Kim Hunter (born Janet Cole; November 12, 1922 – September 11, 2002) was an American theatre, film, and television actress. She achieved prominence for portraying Stella Kowalski in the original production of Tennessee Williams' ''A Streetcar ...

. For the 1958 television season, he starred in the outdoor-adventure series '' Yancy Derringer'' for 34 episodes, which aired on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

. Yancy Derringer was a gentleman adventurer living in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

, after the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He had a

Pawnee Pawnee initially refers to a Native American people and its language: * Pawnee people * Pawnee language Pawnee is also the name of several places in the United States: * Pawnee, Illinois * Pawnee, Kansas * Pawnee, Missouri * Pawnee City, Nebraska * ...

companion named Pahoo Katchewa ("Wolf Who Stands in Water"), played by actor

X Brands X Brands (July 24, 1927 – May 8, 2000), sometimes credited as "Jay X. Brands", was an American actor of German ancestry known for his roles on various television series and in some films between 1956 and the late 1970s. His best-known recurring ...

. In his role as Pahoo, he did not speak and used only sign language to communicate. Pahoo had saved Derringer's life, and therefore, due to his convictions, became responsible for Derringer. In all, he starred in 64 feature films.

Tarzan films and television series

In 1948, Mahoney auditioned to play

after the departure of Johnny Weissmuller, but the role went to Lex Barker. In 1960, he appeared as Coy Banton, a villain, in '' Tarzan the Magnificent'', starring Gordon Scott. Mahoney's strong presence, work ethic, and lean (6 foot, 4 inch, 220 pounds) frame impressed producer Sy Weintraub, who wanted a "new look" for the fabled apeman. In 1962, Mahoney became the 13th actor to portray Tarzan when he appeared in '' Tarzan Goes to India'', shot on location in India. A year later, he again played the role in '' Tarzan's Three Challenges'', shot in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. When this film was released, Mahoney, at 44, became the oldest actor to play the jungle king, surpassing Weissmuller and P. Dempsey Tabler, a record that still stands.

Dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...

and

dengue fever Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue virus, prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Asymptomatic infections are uncommon, mild cases happen frequently; if symptoms appear, they typically begin 3 to 14 days after i ...

plagued Mahoney during the shoot in the Thai jungles, and his weight plummeted to 175 pounds. He needed a year and a half to regain his health. Owing to his health problems and the fact that producer Weintraub had decided to go for a "younger look" for the apeman, his contract was mutually dissolved. Mahoney made three appearances on the Ron Ely ''

'' series--''The Ultimate Weapon'' (1966), ''The Deadly Silence'' (1966) (a two-part episode, later edited into a ''

feature film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole present ...

''), and ''Mask of Rona'' (1967). In 1981, Mahoney returned to the Tarzan film series as the stunt coordinator on the John Derek-directed remake of '' Tarzan, the Ape Man''. He was billed as Jack O'Mahoney.

Television guest roles

Mahoney was cast as an engineer, Andy Prentis, in the 1954 episode, "Husband Pro-Tem," on the syndicated

anthology series An anthology series is a written series, radio, television, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a different ca ...

, ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American Western (genre), Western anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program was ...

'', hosted by

Stanley Andrews Stanley Martin Andrews (born Andrzejewski; August 28, 1891 – June 23, 1969) was an American actor perhaps best known as the voice of Daddy Warbucks on the radio program ''Little Orphan Annie'' and later as "The Old Ranger", the first host of ...

. In the storyline, Prentis is hired by a railroad executive, Alonzo Phelps (Howard Negley) (1898–1983) to negotiate a private agreement with the Indian Chief Black Hawk (

Lane Bradford Lane Bradford (born ''John Myrtland Le Varre, Jr.''; August 29, 1922 – June 6, 1973) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 250 films and television series between 1940 and 1973, specializing in supporting "tough-guy" roles predominan ...

) so that a railroad can be constructed across Indian lands. In his assignment, Prentis soon romantically tangles with Phelps' daughter, Evelyn ( Gloria Marshall). In February 1953, Mahoney co-starred with his wife Margaret Field in the ''

'' episode "Swamper Ike". In 1960, Mahoney guest-starred in the '' Rawhide'' episode "Incident of the Sharpshooter". He also appeared in television guest-starring roles on such series as ''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

'', the Ron Ely ''Tarzan'' series, '' Hawaii Five-O'', '' Laramie'', and ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is an American television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ow ...

''. In 1973, he suffered a

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

at age 54 while filming an episode of ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, commonly referred to with umbrella terms Kung fu (term), kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (sport), wushu (), are Styles of Chinese martial arts, multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater Ch ...

''.

Later career and death

In the 1980s, Mahoney made guest appearances on the television series '' B. J. and the Bear'' and '' The Fall Guy''. During the final years of his life, he was a popular guest at film conventions and autograph shows. Mahoney died of a second stroke at age 70 on December 14, 1989, two days after being involved in an automobile accident in

Bremerton, Washington Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, Kitsap County, Washington (state), Washington, United States. The population was 43,505 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and an estimated 44,122 in 2021, making it the largest city ...

. His ashes were scattered into the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five Borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is ...

Personal life

Mahoney was married three times, with three children and five stepchildren. His first wife was Lorraine O'Donnell, with whom he had two children, Kathleen O'Mahoney and Jim O'Mahoney, before their divorce. He next married actress Margaret Field in 1952. Their daughter, Princess O'Mahoney, was born six months later. Margaret Field already had two young children, Richard D. Field and

Sally Field Sally Margaret Field (born November 6, 1946) is an American actress. She has performed in movies, Broadway theater, television, and made records of popular music. Known for her extensive work on screen and stage, she has received many accola ...

, from her first marriage. Mahoney and Field divorced in June 1968. In her 2018 memoir, ''In Pieces'', Sally Field wrote that Mahoney subjected her to sexual abuse throughout her childhood, up to the age 14. Mahoney's daughter, Princess O'Mahoney, later became a television and film assistant director.

Partial filmography

* '' Son of the Guardsman'' (1946, Serial) – Captain Kenley (uncredited) * '' The Fighting Frontiersman'' (1946) – Henchman Waco (uncredited) * '' South of the Chisholm Trail'' (1947) – Henchman (uncredited) * '' Over the Santa Fe Trail'' (1947) – Sheriff (uncredited) * '' Swing the Western Way'' (1947) – Chief Iron Stomach (uncredited) * '' The Stranger from Ponca City'' (1947) – Henchman Tensleep (uncredited) * '' The Swordsman'' (1948) – Clansman Messenger (uncredited) * '' Blazing Across the Pecos'' (1948) – Reports Indian Raid (uncredited) * '' Triple Threat'' (1948) – Football Player (uncredited) * '' Smoky Mountain Melody'' (1948) – Buckeye * ''

The Doolins of Oklahoma ''The Doolins of Oklahoma'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Randolph Scott, George Macready and Louise Allbritton. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot Cast * Randolph Scott as Bill Doolin ...

'' (1949) – Tulsa Jack Blake * '' The Blazing Trail'' (1949) – Full-House Patterson * '' Rim of the Canyon'' (1949) – Pete Reagan * ''

Jolson Sings Again ''Jolson Sings Again'' is a 1949 American musical biographical film directed by Henry Levin, and the sequel to '' The Jolson Story'' (1946), both of which cover the life of singer Al Jolson. It was the highest-grossing film of 1949 and receiv ...

'' (1949) – (uncredited) * '' Bandits of El Dorado'' (1949) – Tim Starling (uncredited) * '' Horsemen of the Sierras'' (1949) – Bill Grant * '' Renegades of the Sage'' (1949) – Lt. Hunter * '' The Nevadan'' (1950) – Sandy * '' Cody of the Pony Express'' (1950, serial) – Lt. Jim Archer * '' Cow Town'' (1950) – Tod Jeffreys * '' Texas Dynamo'' (1950) – Bill Beck * '' Hoedown'' (1950) – Stoney Rhodes * '' David Harding, Counterspy'' (1950) – Brown (uncredited) * '' The Kangaroo Kid'' (1950) – Tex Kinnane * '' Frontier Outpost'' (1950) – Lt. Peck (uncredited) * '' Lightning Guns'' (1950) – Sheriff Rob Saunders * '' Santa Fe'' (1951) – Crake * '' Roar of the Iron Horse – Rail-Blazer of the Apache Trail'' (1951, serial) – Jim Grant * '' The Texas Rangers'' (1951) – Duke Fisher * ''

The Lady and the Bandit ''Dick Turpin's Ride'' (reissued as ''The Lady and the Bandit'') is a 1951 American adventure film directed by Ralph Murphy and starring Louis Hayward. It follows the career of the eighteenth century highwayman Dick Turpin. It is based on the poe ...

'' (1951) – Tavern Troublemaker (uncredited) * ''

Pecos River The Pecos River ( ; ) originates in north-central New Mexico and flows into Texas, emptying into the Rio Grande. Its headwaters are on the eastern slope of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Mora County north of Pecos, New Mexico, at an elev ...

'' (1951) – Himself * '' Smoky Canyon'' (1952) – Himself * '' The Hawk of Wild River'' (1952) – Himself * '' Laramie Mountains'' (1952) – Swift Eagle * '' The Rough, Tough West'' (1952) – Himself * '' Junction City'' (1952) – Himself * '' The Kid from Broken Gun'' (1952) – Himself * '' Overland Pacific'' (1954) – Ross Granger * '' Gunfighters of the Northwest'' (1954, serial) – Sgt. Joe Ward * '' A Day of Fury'' (1956) – Marshal Allan Burnett * '' I've Lived Before'' (1956) – John Bolan / Lt. Peter Stevens * '' Away All Boats'' (1956) – Alvick * '' Showdown at Abilene'' (1956) – Jim Trask * '' Battle Hymn'' (1957) – Maj. Frank Moore * '' The Land Unknown'' (1957) – Commander Harold Roberts * '' Joe Dakota'' (1957) – Joe Dakota * ''

Slim Carter ''Slim Carter'' is a 1957 American comedy film directed by Richard Bartlett and written by Montgomery Pittman. The film stars Jock Mahoney, Julie Adams, Tim Hovey, William Hopper, Ben Johnson (actor), Ben Johnson and Joanna Moore. The film was re ...

'' (1957) – Slim Carter aka Hugh Mack * '' A Time to Love and a Time to Die'' (1958) – Immerman * '' The Last of the Fast Guns'' (1958) – Brad Ellison * '' Money, Women and Guns'' (1958) – 'Silver' Ward Hogan * '' Tarzan the Magnificent'' (1960) – Coy Banton * '' Three Blondes in His Life'' (1961) – Duke Wallace * '' Tarzan Goes to India'' (1962) – Tarzan * '' Tarzan's Three Challenges'' (1963) – Tarzan * ''

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

'' (1963) – Don Michael O'Casey * '' The Marines Who Never Returned'' (1963) – Nick Rawlins * '' The Walls of Hell'' (1964) – Lt. Jim Sorenson * ''Cimarron'' (1964) * '' Moro Witch Doctor'' (1964) – CIA Agent Jefferson Stark * '' Runaway Girl'' (1965) – Randy Minola * '' Once Before I Die'' (1966) – Major (uncredited) * '' The Glory Stompers'' (1967) – Smiley * '' Bandolero!'' (1968) – Stoner * ''

The Love Bug ''The Love Bug'' (also known as Herbie the Love Bug) is a 1968 American sports film, sports adventure film, adventure comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson (director), Robert Stevenson from a screenplay by Bill Walsh (producer), Bill Walsh a ...

'' (1968) – Driver #21 * ''Portrait of Violence'' (1968) * ''Tom'' (1973) – Sgt. Berry * ''Their Only Chance'' (1975) – Grizzly Bill, Marvin Latham * ''

The End The End may refer to: Film * The End (1953 film), ''The End'' (1953 film), a film by Christopher Maclaine * The End (1978 film), ''The End'' (1978 film), a comedy by Burt Reynolds * ''The End'' (1995 film), a List of Canadian films of 1995, Cana ...

'' (1978) – Old Man

Selected Television

References

Sources

* Essoe, Gabe (1968). ''Tarzan of The Movies A Pictorial History of More Than Fifty Years of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Legendary Hero''. New York City:

Citadel Press Kensington Publishing Corp. is an American, New Yorkbased publishing house founded in 1974 by Walter Zacharius (1923–2011)Grimes, William''New York Times'' (MARCH 7, 2011). and Roberta Bender Grossman (1946–1992). Kensington is known as "Am ...

. . * Field, Sally (2018). ''In Pieces''. New York City: Grand Central Publishing. .

External links

*
Jock Mahoney's cement boot-prints at Apacheland 1967
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mahoney, Jock 1919 births 1989 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male comedians American male film actors American male television actors American stunt performers American people of French descent American people of Irish descent Columbia Pictures people Comedians from Chicago Comedians from Iowa Comedians from Los Angeles Male actors from Chicago Male actors from Davenport, Iowa Male actors from Los Angeles Neurological disease deaths in Washington (state) Tarzan United States Marine Corps pilots of World War II University of Iowa alumni Western (genre) television actors California Republicans 20th-century American comedians Male Western (genre) film actors