Charles J. "Buddy" Gorman''Hollywood's Made-To-Order-Punks: The Complete Film History of the Dead End Kids, Little Tough Guys, East Side Kids, and Bowery Boys,'' Richard Roat, BearManor Media, 2010. (September 2, 1921 – April 1, 2010) was an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying a member of the comedy teams The East Side Kids and

The Bowery Boys The Bowery Boys are fictional New York City characters, portrayed by a company of New York actors, who were the subject of 48 feature films released by Monogram Pictures and its successor Allied Artists Pictures Corporation from 1946 through 19 ...

Career

Buddy was born and raised in the "Hell's Kitchen" area of New York. He left home after high school and hitchhiked to California in hopes of becoming an actor. He got a job in a studio mailroom and slept in a nearby used car lot until he was noticed and given small parts in movies. Although Gorman was then in his mid-twenties, his youthful appearance got him cast as streetwise teenagers. Producer

Sam Katzman Sam Katzman (July 7, 1901 – August 4, 1973) was an American film producer and director. Katzman produced low-budget genre films, including serials, which had disproportionately high returns for the studios and his financial backers. E ...

hired Gorman for

Monogram A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series ...

's East Side Kids comedies with

Leo Gorcey Leo Bernard Gorcey (June 3, 1917– June 2, 1969) was an American stage and film actor, famous for portraying the leader of a group of hooligans known variously as the Dead End Kids, the East Side Kids and, as adults, The Bowery Boys. Gorcey was ...

and

Huntz Hall Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall (August 15, 1920 – January 30, 1999) was an American radio, stage, and movie performer who appeared in the popular " Dead End Kids" movies, including ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' (1938), and in the later " Bowery ...

, where he was billed as Bud Gorman. Away from the Gorcey-Hall gang, Gorman played bits in major feature films, almost always without billing. He is most noticeable in two

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

productions, ''

The Jolson Story ''The Jolson Story'' is a 1946 American musical biography film which purports to tell the life story of singer Al Jolson. It stars Larry Parks as Jolson, Evelyn Keyes as Julie Benson (approximating Jolson's wife, Ruby Keeler), William Demares ...

'' (1946, as Jimmy, the backstage call boy) and '' The Perils of Pauline'' (1947, as a heckler in a

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

audience). When the East Side Kids series was reorganized as The Bowery Boys, Gorman was not part of the six-man gang but continued to participate, playing minor supporting roles. When

Bennie Bartlett Floyd B. Bartlett, known professionally as Benny Bartlett or Bennie Bartlett (August 16, 1924 – December 26, 1999), was an American child actor, musician, and later a member of the long-running feature-film series ''The Bowery Boys''. Biog ...

(playing "Butch") left the troupe, Gorman -- now billed as Buddy Gorman -- replaced him for the 1950 and 1951 seasons. Gorman bowed out of the series to get married, and Bartlett returned to replace him.

Personal life

Gorman was introduced to Rosemary (Rosa) Christoff, originally of Lima, Ohio, by a mutual friend. She was working as a secretary to the art department director at

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

studios. Gorman and Christoff were married on June 17, 1951. Gorman retired from acting and opened a magic shop in

North Hollywood North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...

. The Gormans had two daughters. Soon after the girls were born, the family moved to Riverside, California, and ran a novelty/magic shop called "Fun-N-Stuff" until they retired in 1991. They were married for 46 years, until her death in 1997. In 2005, Gorman moved to an independent living community in Webster, New York. Gorman died on April 1, 2010, in Webster, age 88.

Partial filmography

*''

Hi Diddle Diddle ''Hi Diddle Diddle'' is a 1943 American comedy film made in directed by Andrew L. Stone and starring Adolphe Menjou, Martha Scott, Dennis O'Keefe, June Havoc, Billie Burke, and Pola Negri. The title is a play on the nursery rhyme " Hey Diddle ...

'' (1943) - Brokerage Firm Office Boy (uncredited) *''

Mr. Muggs Steps Out ''Mr. Muggs Steps Out'' is a 1943 American film directed by William Beaudine and starring The East Side Kids. Plot Much to the despair of her husband John, wealthy New York socialite Margaret Morgan hires former criminals Masie O'Donnell and But ...

'' (1943) - Skinny *'' Whistling in Brooklyn'' (1943) - Newsboy (uncredited) *'' Higher and Higher'' (1943) - Page Boy (uncredited) *'' Million Dollar Kid'' (1944) - Stinkie *''

The Heavenly Body ''The Heavenly Body'' is a 1944 American romantic comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring William Powell and Hedy Lamarr. Based on a story by Jacques Théry, with a screenplay by Michael Arlen and Walter Reisch, the film is about th ...

'' (1944) - Newsboy (uncredited) *''

And the Angels Sing ''And the Angels Sing'' is a 1944 musical film directed by George Marshall and starring Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray, and Betty Hutton. Released by Paramount Pictures, it is a classic example of a film written to capitalize on the title of a p ...

'' (1944) - Messenger (uncredited) *''

Meet the People ''Meet the People'' (1944) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film, musical comedy film made, and set, during World War II, and starring Lucille Ball and Dick Powell and featuring Virginia O'Brien, Bert Lahr, Rags Ragland and June Allyson. The film ...

'' (1944) - Youth (uncredited) *'' Follow the Leader'' (1944) - James Aloysius 'Skinny' Bogerty *''

Since You Went Away ''Since You Went Away'' is a 1944 American epic drama film directed by John Cromwell for Selznick International Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It is an epic about the American home front during World War II that was adapted and p ...

'' (1944) - Short Private on Dance Floor (uncredited) *''

I Love a Soldier ''I Love a Soldier'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Mark Sandrich and written by Allan Scott. The film stars Paulette Goddard, Sonny Tufts, Beulah Bondi, Walter Sande, Mary Treen and Ann Doran. The film was released on August 15 ...

'' (1944) - Messenger (uncredited) *'' Till We Meet Again'' (1944) - Messenger (uncredited) *'' The Very Thought of You'' (1944) - Telegram Boy (uncredited) *''

Meet Me in St. Louis ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' is a 1944 American Christmas film, Christmas musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, it relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith famil ...

'' (1944) - Sidney Gorcey (uncredited) *''

Bowery Champs ''Bowery Champs'' is a 1944 American film directed by William Beaudine and starring the East Side Kids. Plot After she files for divorce from nightclub owner Tom Wilson, former Broadway star Gypsy Carmen demands that he return the securities that ...

'' (1944) - Shorty *''

Thoroughbreds The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are con ...

'' (1944) - Roberts *''

Roughly Speaking ''Roughly Speaking'' is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band April Wine, released in November 2006. The album was recorded without computerized modern digital recording techniques. Instead, the group employed the same type of a ...

'' (1945) - Florist's Boy (uncredited) *''

Docks of New York : ''See The Docks of New York for the 1928 George Bancroft film directed by Josef von Sternberg.'' ''Docks of New York'' is a 1945 film directed by Wallace Fox and starring the East Side Kids. Plot Late one night on New York's poor East Side, a ...

'' (1945) - Danny *'' It's a Pleasure'' (1945) - Nick (uncredited) *'' The Master Key'' (1945, Serial) - Lug (uncredited) *'' Mr. Muggs Rides Again'' (1945) - Danny *'' Come Out Fighting'' (1945) - Sammy *''Meet Me on Broadway'' (1946) - Caddy (uncredited) *''

Cinderella Jones ''Cinderella Jones'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Charles Hoffman. The film stars Joan Leslie, Robert Alda, Julie Bishop, William Prince, S. Z. Sakall, and Edward Everett Horton. The film wa ...

'' (1946) - Audience Member Wearing Glasses (uncredited) *'' The Walls Came Tumbling Down'' (1946) - Page Boy (uncredited) *'' Night and Day'' (1946) - English Pageboy (uncredited) *''

Bowery Bombshell ''Bowery Bombshell'' is a 1946 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the third film in the series. Plot Sweet Shop owner Louie needs to raise $300. The Boys try to sell their jalopy to raise the money, but are unable to becau ...

'' (1946) - Bud, Newsboy (uncredited) *''

Sing While You Dance ''Sing While You Dance'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Ellen Drew, Kirby Grant, and Andrew Tombes. Plot Cast *Ellen Drew as Susan Kent * Kirby Grant as Johnny Crane *Andrew Tombes as Gorman ...

'' (1946) - Ralph (uncredited) *''

'' (1946) - Jimmy, the Call Boy (uncredited) *'' Wife Wanted'' (1946) - Newsboy (uncredited) *'' The Perils of Pauline'' (1947) - Tomato-Thrower (uncredited) *''

News Hounds ''News Hounds'' is a 1947 film directed by William Beaudine and starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the seventh film in the series. Plot Slip is a copy boy for a newspaper, but dreams of having his own byline. Sach is an aspiring ...

'' (1947) - Copyboy *'' Key Witness'' (1947) - Johnny (uncredited) *''

Her Husband's Affairs ''Her Husband's Affairs'' is a 1947 American romantic comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lucille Ball and Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, produc ...

'' (1947) - Youth (uncredited) *''

Angels' Alley ''Angels' Alley'' is a 1948 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. It is the ninth film in the series and the first one without Bobby Jordan. Plot Slip's cousin Jimmy is released from prison for good behavior an ...

'' (1948) - Andrew T. 'Andy' Miller *''

The Babe Ruth Story ''The Babe Ruth Story'' is a 1948 biographical film of Babe Ruth, the famed New York Yankees slugger. It stars William Bendix (New York Yankee batboy in the 1920s) as the ballplayer and Claire Trevor as his wife Claire Merritt Hodgson. Critics ...

'' (1948) - Copy Boy (uncredited) *''

Smugglers' Cove ''Smuggler's Cove'' is a 1948 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on October 10, 1948 by Monogram Pictures and is the eleventh film in the series. Plot Young amateur sleuth Terence "Slip" Mahoney works cleaning offices in ...

'' (1948) - Messenger Boy *'' Trouble Makers'' (1948) - Sandy - the First Newsboy *''

Fighting Fools ''Fighting Fools'' is a 1949 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on April 17, 1949 by Monogram Pictures and is the thirteenth film in the series. Plot The Bowery Boys, led by the notorious Slip Mahoney, are helping out at ...

'' (1949) - Page at Boxing Arena (uncredited) *''

Hold That Baby! ''Hold That Baby!'' is a 1949 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 26, 1949 by Monogram Pictures and is the fourteenth film in the series. Plot The boys are running a laundromat in the back room of Louie's Sweet Sh ...

'' (1949) - Paper Boy (uncredited) *'' It's a Great Feeling'' (1949) - WB Messenger Boy (uncredited) *''

White Heat ''White Heat'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, ''White Heat'' is based on a story by ...

'' (1949) - Vendor at Drive-in (uncredited) *'' The Reckless Moment'' (1949) - Magazine Clerk (uncredited) *''

Blonde Dynamite ''Blonde Dynamite'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on February 12, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the seventeenth film in the series. Plot After Slip and Sach are ...

'' (1950) - Butch, aka Bartholomew *''

Lucky Losers ''Lucky Losers'' is a 1950 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on May 14, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the eighteenth film in the series. It had the working title of ''High Stakes''. Plot Slip and Sach's boss, David J ...

'' (1950) - Butch *''

A Modern Marriage ''A Modern Marriage'' is a 1950 American drama film directed by Paul Landres and written by Samuel Roeca and George Wallace Sayre. The film stars Reed Hadley, Margaret Field, Robert Clarke, Nana Bryant, Burt Wenland and Christine McIntyre. It was ...

'' (1950) - Messenger Boy *'' Triple Trouble'' (1950) - Butch *''

Blues Busters ''Blues Busters'' is a 1950 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on October 29, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the twentieth film in the series. Plot Sach develops an uncanny ability to ...

'' (1950) - Butch *''

Bowery Battalion ''Bowery Battalion'' is a 1951 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on January 24, 1951, by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-first film in the series. Plot The military is performing a p ...

'' (1951) - Butch *''

Ghost Chasers ''Ghost Chasers'' is a 1951 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys.''Variety'' film review; May 30, 1951, page 6.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; May 12, 1951, page 76. The film was released on April 29, 1951 by Monogram Pictures and is the twen ...

'' (1951) - Butch *''

Let's Go Navy! ''Let's Go Navy!'' is a 1951 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on July 29, 1951 by Monogram Pictures and is the twenty-third film in the series. Plot A local charity has raised sixteen hundred dollars and entrusted the ...

'' (1951) - Butch (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gorman, Buddy 1921 births 2010 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York City People from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan Male actors from Riverside, California People from Webster, New York