Horace McMahon (May 17, 1906 – August 17, 1971) was an American actor. He was one of

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

's favorite heavies. McMahon began his acting career on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

, then appeared in many films and television series. In 1962, he received a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

nomination for his performance in the series '' Naked City'' (1958–1963).

Early years

McMahon was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut. He became interested in acting when he was a student at

Fordham University School of Law Fordham University School of Law is the law school of Fordham University. The school is located in Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city. In 2013, 91% of the law school's first-time test take ...

Career

In his early career he mostly played thugs or jailbirds, but in 1949 he starred in his most acclaimed role, as

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

Monaghan in the drama play ''

Detective Story Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around the same time as specu ...

'' and in 1951 he reprised his character in

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

' film version ''

'', alongside

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch; December 9, 1916 – February 5, 2020) was an American actor and filmmaker. After an impoverished childhood, he made his film debut in '' The Strange Love of Martha Ivers'' (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck. D ...

and

Eleanor Parker Eleanor Jean Parker (June 26, 1922 – December 9, 2013) was an American actress. She was nominated for three Academy Awards for her roles in the films ''Caged'' (1950), ''Detective Story'' (1951), and ''Interrupted Melody'' (1955), the first ...

. 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 The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for this role. In 1964, McMahon played Hank McClure, a police contact in the CBS

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

series, '' Mr. Broadway''. In 1968 he played police Captain Tom Farrell in '' The Detective'' starring

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

. He also did

voice-over Voice-over (also known as off-camera or off-stage commentary) is a production technique where a voice—that is not part of the narrative (non- diegetic)—is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentation ...

s for commercials, including those for

Close-Up A close-up or closeup in filmmaking, television production, photography, still photography, and the comic strip medium is a type of shot (filmmaking), shot that tightly film frame, frames a person or object. Close-ups are one of the standard s ...

toothpaste and Armstrong tires.

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.

Personal life

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

Selected filmography

* ''

Bulldog Edition ''Bulldog Edition'' is a 1936 American film directed by Charles Lamont. The film is also known as ''Lady Reporter'' in the United Kingdom. Plot Newspaper editors Ken Dwyer (Ray Walker) and Evans ( Robert Warwick) compete for circulation, and t ...

'' (1936) – Horace Boyd (uncredited) * '' Navy Blues'' (1937) – Gateleg * ''

They Gave Him a Gun ''They Gave Him a Gun'' is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Spencer Tracy, Gladys George, and Franchot Tone. The picture bears a resemblance to later films noir in its dark theme regarding the struggles and ...

'' (1937) – Prison Inmate (uncredited) * '' Kid Galahad'' (1937) – Reporter at Press Conference (uncredited) * ''

Public Wedding ''Public Wedding'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Roy Chanslor and Houston Branch. The film stars Jane Wyman (in her first starring role), William Hopper, Dick Purcell, Marie Wilson, Berton Churchill and ...

'' (1937) – Reporter * '' Exclusive'' (1937) – Beak McArdle * ''

Bad Guy A bad guy or villain is a type of character in fiction and other narratives. Bad Guy or Bad Guys or ''variation'', may also refer to: Film * ''Bad Guy'' (1937 film), a film starring Virginia Grey * ''Bad Guys'', a 1986 film starring Adam Bal ...

'' (1937) – Malone the Informer (uncredited) * ''

The Wrong Road ''The Wrong Road'' is a 1937 American crime drama film directed by James Cruze and starring Richard Cromwell, Helen Mack, and Lionel Atwill. The film is now in the public domain. Plot A young unmarried couple (Cromwell and Mack), whose plans ...

'' (1937) – Blackie Clayton * '' A Girl with Ideas'' (1937) – Al * '' The Last Gangster'' (1937) – Limpy (uncredited) * ''

Paid to Dance ''Paid to Dance'' (also known as ''Hard to Hold'') is a 1937 drama film starring Don Terry, Jacqueline Wells and Rita Hayworth. Plot Government agents William Dennis and Joan Bradley are undercover, working to solve the disappearances of girls ...

'' (1937) – LaRue * ''

When G-Men Step In ''When G-Men Step In'' is a 1938 American action film, directed by Charles C. Coleman and starring Don Terry, Julie Bishop (billed as Jacqueline Wells), and Robert Paige. It released by Columbia Pictures. Cast * Don Terry as Frederick 'Fred' Gar ...

'' (1938) – Jennings * '' King of the Newsboys'' (1938) – Lockjaw * ''

Ladies in Distress ''Ladies in Distress'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Gus Meins and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Alison Skipworth, Polly Moran, Robert Livingston, Virginia Grey, Max Terhune and Berton Churchill. T ...

'' (1938) – 2nd Thug * ''

Fast Company ''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year. History ''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...

'' (1938) – Danny Scolado * ''

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Josèphe Jeanne (; ; née Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born an archduchess of Austria, and was the penultimate child a ...

'' (1938) – Rabblerouser (uncredited) * '' The Crowd Roars'' (1938) – Rocky Simpson (uncredited) * ''

Tenth Avenue Kid ''Tenth Avenue Kid'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and written by Gordon Kahn and Adele Buffington. The film stars Bruce Cabot, Beverly Roberts, Ben Welden, Horace McMahon, John Wray and Jay Novello. The film was r ...

'' (1938) – Max Hooker * '' I Am the Law'' (1938) – Prisoner (uncredited) * ''Wanted by the Police'' (1938) – Russo's Chief Henchman * ''

Broadway Musketeers ''Broadway Musketeers'' is a 1938 American musical drama film directed by John Farrow for Warner Bros. Starring Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan and Marie Wilson as three women who grew up in an orphanage and cross paths later in life, it is a rema ...

'' (1938) – Gurk, Vince's Henchman * ''

Secrets of a Nurse Secrecy is the practice of hiding information from certain individuals or groups who do not have the "need to know", perhaps while sharing it with other individuals. That which is kept hidden is known as the secret. Secrecy is often controvers ...

'' (1938) – Larry Carson * ''

Newsboys' Home ''Newsboys' Home'' is a 1938 crime film that starred Jackie Cooper and '' The Little Tough Guys''. Plot When his father, a small town sheriff, is slain by a big city gangster, "Rifle" Edwards becomes a homeless vagabond, drifting from town to tow ...

'' (1938) – Bartsch * ''

Federal Man-Hunt ''Federal Man-Hunt'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Maxwell Shane. The film stars Robert Livingston, June Travis, John Gallaudet, Charles Halton, Ben Welden and Horace McMahon. The film was released on Dece ...

'' (1938) – Snuffy Deegan * '' Pride of the Navy'' (1939) – Gloomey Kelly * ''

Pirates of the Skies ''Pirates of the Skies'' (aka ''Plane 66'') is a 1939 American action film directed by Joseph A. McDonough and written by Lester Cole and Ben Grauman Kohn. The film stars Kent Taylor, Rochelle Hudson, Regis Toomey, Marion Martin, Samuel S. Hin ...

'' (1939) – Henchman Artie (uncredited) * ''

I Was a Convict ''I Was a Convict'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Aubrey Scotto and written by Robert Hardy Andrews and Ben Markson. The film stars Barton MacLane, Beverly Roberts, Clarence Kolb, Janet Beecher, Horace McMahon and Ben Welden. The fi ...

'' (1939) – Missouri Smith * ''

Sergeant Madden ''Sergeant Madden'' is a 1939 film noir forerunner directed by Josef von Sternberg and starring Wallace Beery. The supporting cast in this dark police crime drama, noted for its imaginative and evocative cinematography, includes Tom Brown, Larain ...

'' (1939) – Philadelphia * '' For Love or Money'' (1939) – Dead Eyes * ''

Calling Dr. Kildare ''Calling Dr. Kildare'' is a 1939 film in the Dr. Kildare series. Directed by Harold S. Bucquet, it stars Lew Ayres as the young Dr. Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Dr. Gillespie, his mentor. The second of MGM's series of Kildare films, it introdu ...

'' (1939) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy – Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''

Big Town Czar ''Big Town Czar'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Barton MacLane and Tom Brown. Plot New York City newspaper columnist Ed Sullivan relates the story of crime boss Phil Daley's rise and fall. To the disappointm ...

'' (1939) – Punchy * '' Rose of Washington Square'' (1939) – Irving * '' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' (1939) – Gus (uncredited) * ''

6,000 Enemies ''6,000 Enemies'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Walter Pidgeon as a successful District Attorney who is framed on charge of bribery. Although innocent, he is sent to prison where he fights to clear his n ...

'' (1939) – Prisoner Boxcar (uncredited) * ''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...

'' (1939) – Dance Floor Official (uncredited) * '' She Married a Cop'' (1939) – Joe Nash * '' Quick Millions'' (1939) – Floyd 'Bat' Douglas * ''

Sabotage Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identitie ...

'' (1939) – Art Kruger * ''

Another Thin Man ''Another Thin Man'' is a 1939 American detective film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, the third of six in the ''Thin Man'' series. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and is based on Dashiell Hammett's Continen ...

'' (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 ''Oh Johnny, How You Can Love'' is a 1940 American film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Tom Brown and Peggy Moran. It was an early appearance of Laird Cregar. The film cost $100,000. Plot Kelly Archer, an heiress trying to escape her c ...

'' (1940) – 'Lefty' Hodges – Bank Robber * ''

The Marines Fly High ''The Marines Fly High'' is a 1940 action film, starring Richard Dix, Chester Morris and Lucille Ball and directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and Benjamin Stoloff from a story by A.C. Edington. Plot In 1940, the Central American cocoa plantation ow ...

'' (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 ''My Favorite Wife'' (released in the U.K. as ''My Favourite Wife'') is a 1940 screwball comedy produced by Leo McCarey and directed by Garson Kanin. The picture stars Irene Dunne as a woman who, after being shipwrecked on a tropical island for ...

'' (1940) – Truck Driver Giving Lift to Ellen (uncredited) * ''

Gangs of Chicago ''Gangs of Chicago'' is a 1940 crime film, starring Lloyd Nolan, Barton MacLane, Lola Lane, Ray Middleton, Astrid Allwyn, and Horace McMahon. Alan Ladd has a small uncredited role. Plot After the death of his corrupt father, young Matty Burns ...

'' (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 ''We Who Are Young'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, written by Dalton Trumbo and starring Lana Turner, John Shelton and Gene Lockhart. Plot Cast * Lana Turner as Margy Brooks * John Shelton as William Brooks * ...

'' (1940) – Foreman * ''

The Golden Fleecing "The Golden Fleecing" is a Scrooge McDuck comic book story from 1955, written and drawn by Carl Barks. It's about Scrooge who wants the Golden Fleece to make a jacket. Plot Seeing a catalog in men's fashion, Scrooge reflects that a man of his we ...

'' (1940) – Process Server (uncredited) * ''

Dr. Kildare Goes Home ''Dr. Kildare Goes Home'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore and Laraine Day. It is the fifth in the MGM series of nine films with Lew Ayres as Dr. Kildare made from 1938–1942. Plo ...

'' (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy (uncredited) * ''

The Leather Pushers ''The Leather Pushers'' is a 1922 American film serial starring Reginald Denny (and Billy Sullivan in the fourth series), and based on boxing stories by H. C. Witwer originally published in ''Collier's Weekly''. The screenplays were written by ...

'' (1940) – Slugger Mears * '' The Bride Wore Crutches'' (1940) – Brains * '' Margie'' (1940) – Detective * ''

Melody Ranch ''Melody Ranch'' is a 1940 Western musical film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Gene Autry, Jimmy Durante, and Ann Miller. Written by Jack Moffitt, F. Hugh Herbert, Bradford Ropes, and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a singing cowb ...

'' (1940) – Bud Wildhack * ''

Dr. Kildare's Crisis ''Dr. Kildare's Crisis'' is a 1940 drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore and Laraine Day. Mary Lamont's (Laraine Day) financier brother Douglas Lamont ( Robert Young) is subject to seizures, and it seems t ...

'' (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 ''Buy Me That Town'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Eugene Forde and written by Murray Boltinoff, Harry A. Gourfair, Gordon Kahn and Martin Rackin. The film stars Lloyd Nolan, Constance Moore, Albert Dekker, Sheldon Leonard, Barbar ...

'' (1941) – Fingers Flint * ''The Stork Pays Off'' (1941) – 'Ears-to-the-Ground' Hinkle * ''

Birth of the Blues ''Birth of the Blues'' is a 1941 American musical film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby, Mary Martin and Brian Donlevy. The plot loosely follows the origins and breakthrough success of the Original Dixieland Jass Band in ...

'' (1941) – Wolf * '' Jail House Blues'' (1942) – Swifty * '' Stage Door Canteen'' (1943) – Himself * ''Good Luck, Mr. Yates'' (1943) – Truck Driver (uncredited) * ''

Dangerous Blondes ''Dangerous Blondes'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Leigh Jason and written by Richard Flournoy and Jack Henley.The film stars Allyn Joslyn and Evelyn Keyes, and was released by Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries ...

'' (1943) – Hoodlum (uncredited) * '' Timber Queen'' (1944) – Rodney * ''

The Navy Way ''The Navy Way'' is a 1944 American war film directed by William Berke concentrating on US Navy recruit training with many sequences filmed at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. The film had its premiere at the Genesee Theatre in nearby Wauke ...

'' (1944) – Sailor Saxon (uncredited) * ''

Roger Touhy, Gangster ''Roger Touhy, Gangster'' is a 1944 American gangster film based on the life of Chicago mob figure Roger Touhy, directed by film noir specialist Robert Florey. Parts of the film were shot at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, Illinois, ...

'' (1944) – Maxie Sharkey (uncredited) * ''

13 Rue Madeleine ''13 Rue Madeleine'' is a 1947 American World War II spy film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring James Cagney, Annabella, Richard Conte and Frank Latimore. Allied volunteers are trained as spies in the leadup to the invasion of Europe, ...

'' (1946) – Burglary Instructor (scenes deleted) * ''

Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad ''Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Leon Errol, Joe Kirkwood, Jr. and Elyse Knox. It was part of the ''Joe Palooka'' series, produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures.Drew ...

'' (1948) – Looie * '' Smart Woman'' (1948) – Lefty (uncredited) * ''

Waterfront at Midnight ''Waterfront at Midnight'' is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by William Berke, written by Bernard Girard and starring William Gargan, Mary Beth Hughes, Richard Travis, Richard Crane, Cheryl Walker and Horace McMahon. It was ...

'' (1948) – Hank Bremmer * '' The Return of October'' (1948) – Big Louie (uncredited) * ''

'' (1951) – Lt. Monaghan * ''

Abbott and Costello Go to Mars ''Abbott and Costello Go to Mars'' is a 1953 American science fiction comedy film starring the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello and directed by Charles Lamont. It was produced by Howard Christie and made by Universal-International. D ...

'' (1953) – Mugsy * ''

Man in the Dark ''Man in the Dark'' is a 1953 film noir drama 3-D film directed by Lew Landers and starring Edmond O'Brien, Audrey Totter and Ted de Corsia. It is a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy film ''The Man Who Lived Twice''. It was the first Columbia Pi ...

'' (1953) – Arnie * ''

'' (1953) – 'Two Pair' Buford * ''

Champ for a Day ''Champ for a Day'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by William A. Seiter and written by Irving Shulman. The film stars Alex Nicol, Audrey Totter, Charles Winninger, Hope Emerson, Joseph Wiseman and Barry Kelley. The film was released on ...

'' (1953) – Sam Benton * ''

Duffy of San Quentin ''Duffy of San Quentin'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film directed by Walter Doniger and written by Walter Doniger and Berman Swarttz. The film stars Louis Hayward, Joanne Dru, Paul Kelly, Maureen O'Sullivan, George Macready and Horace M ...

'' (1954) – Pierson * ''

Susan Slept Here ''Susan Slept Here'' is a 1954 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin and starring Dick Powell (in his last film role) and Debbie Reynolds. Shot in Technicolor, the film is based on the play of the same name by Steve Fisher a ...

'' (1954) – Sergeant Monty Maizel * ''

Blackboard Jungle ''Blackboard Jungle'' is a 1955 American social drama film about an English teacher in an interracial inner-city school, based on the 1954 novel ''The Blackboard Jungle'' by Evan Hunter and adapted for the screen and directed by Richard Brooks. I ...

'' (1955) – Detective * ''

My Sister Eileen ''My Sister Eileen'' is a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney, originally published in ''The New Yorker'', which eventually inspired many other works: her 1938 book ''My Sister Eileen'', a play, a musical, a radio play (an ...

'' (1955) – Police Officer Lonigan * ''

Texas Lady ''Texas Lady'' is a 1955 color American Western film directed by Tim Whelan in his final film before his death in 1957, and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It stars Claudette Colbert, Barry Sullivan and Ray Collins. The film tells the stor ...

'' (1955) – Stringer Winfield * '' The Delicate Delinquent'' (1957) – Police Captain Riley * '' Beau James'' (1957) – Prosecutor * ''

Never Steal Anything Small ''Never Steal Anything Small'' is a 1959 American CinemaScope comedy-drama musical film directed by Charles Lederer and starring James Cagney and Shirley Jones. It is based on the play ''The Devil's Hornpipe'' by Maxwell Anderson and Rouben Mamoul ...

'' (1959) – O. K. Merritt * ''

The Swinger ''The Swinger'' is a 1966 American sex comedy film directed by George Sidney and starring Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as ...

'' (1966) – Detective Sergeant Hooker * '' The Detective'' (1968) – Farrell

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McMahon, Horace 1906 births 1971 deaths Male actors from Connecticut American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Actors from Norwalk, Connecticut Fordham University School of Law alumni 20th-century American male actors