David Gainey Clarke (30 August 1908 – 18 April 2004) was an American

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 Stre ...

and

motion picture A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, since ...

actor.

Life and career

A native of

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 ...

and graduate of

Butler University Butler University is a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university has over 60 major academic fields of study within six colleges in the arts, business, communic ...

, Clarke started his career as a stage actor during the 1930s. He made his first film ''

Knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, ...

'' (1941). The actor remains perhaps best known for his

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

roles as a

character actor A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting character (arts), characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrie ...

during the 1940s and 1950s. He also played at the Biltmore Theatre in Los Angeles and was featured on Broadway in the original productions of ''

A View from the Bridge ''A View from the Bridge'' is a play by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was first staged on September 29, 1955, as a one-act verse drama with '' A Memory of Two Mondays'' at the Coronet Theatre on Broadway. The run was unsuccessful, ...

'', '' Orpheus Descending'', '' The Ballad of the Sad Cafe'', ''

Inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a cor ...

'', and '' The Visit''. On television, Clarke appeared as Abel Bingley on ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...

'' and as Tiso Novotny in the soap opera ''

Ryan's Hope ''Ryan's Hope'' is an American soap opera created by Claire Labine and Paul Avila Mayer, airing for 13 years on ABC from July 7, 1975, to January 13, 1989. It revolves around the trials and tribulations within a large Irish-American family in ...

''. David Clarke lived in Belmont, Ohio for several years until he sold his house and moved to

Arlington, Virginia Arlington County, or simply Arlington, is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Virginia. The county is located in Northern Virginia on the southwestern bank of the Potomac River directly across from Washington, D.C., the nati ...

to be with his daughters. He later died in Virginia from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an Inflammation, inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as Pulmonary alveolus, alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of Cough#Classification, productive or dry cough, ches ...

in 2004, aged 95 years. He was married to Nora Dunfee, with whom he had two daughters.

Filmography (selection)

* ''

'' (1941) - Peters, a Fighter (uncredited) * ''

Million Dollar Baby ''Million Dollar Baby'' is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by Paul Haggis. It is based on stories from the 2000 collection ''Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner' ...

'' (1941) - First Reporter (uncredited) * '' The Deadly Game'' (1941) - John Brandt * '' A Gentleman After Dark'' (1942) - Bellboy * '' Men of Texas'' (1942) - Sentry (uncredited) * '' Moonlight in Havana'' (1942) - Second Player (uncredited) * ''

Foreign Agent A foreign agent is any person or entity actively carrying out the interests of a foreign principal while located in another host country, generally outside the Diplomatic immunity, protections offered to those working in their official capacity fo ...

'' (1942) - Carl Beck * ''

Reunion in France ''Reunion in France'' is a 1942 American war film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Joan Crawford, John Wayne, and Philip Dorn in a story about a woman in occupied France who, learning her well-heeled lover has German connections, aids ...

'' (1942) - Soldier (uncredited) * '' Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'' (1946) - Trainer (uncredited) * ''

Swell Guy ''Swell Guy'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Sonny Tufts, Ann Blyth and Ruth Warwick. It was distributed by Universal Pictures. The film's screenplay by Richard Brooks is based on the 1921 play ''The Hero'' ...

'' (1946) - Frank (uncredited) * '' The Long Night'' (1947) - Bill Pulanski * '' Killer McCoy'' (1947) - Pete Mariola * ''

State of the Union The State of the Union Address (sometimes abbreviated to SOTU) is an annual message delivered by the president of the United States to a Joint session of the United States Congress, joint session of the United States Congress near the beginning ...

'' (1948) - Rusty Miller (uncredited) * ''

Homecoming Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada. United St ...

'' (1948) - Sergeant (uncredited) * ''

Berlin Express ''Berlin Express'' is a 1948 American drama film starring Robert Ryan, Merle Oberon and Paul Lukas and directed by Jacques Tourneur. Thrown together by chance, a group of people search a city for a kidnapped peace activist. Set in Allied-occu ...

'' (1948) - Army Technician (uncredited) * '' Raw Deal'' (1948) - Police Commanding Officer (uncredited) * ''

The Boy with Green Hair ''The Boy with Green Hair'' is a 1948 American fantasy-drama film in Technicolor directed by Joseph Losey in his feature film directorial debut. It stars Dean Stockwell as Peter, a young war orphan who is subject to ridicule after his hair my ...

'' (1948) - Barber * '' Wake of the Red Witch'' (1948) - Mullins (uncredited) * '' The Man from Colorado'' (1949) - Mutton McGuire (uncredited) * '' The Set-Up'' (1949) - Gunboat Johnson * '' Red Canyon'' (1949) - Sears * ''

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) - Dalton (uncredited) * ''

Illegal Entry Illegal entry is the act of foreign nationals arriving in or crossing the borders into a country in violation of its immigration law. Human smuggling is the practice of aiding people in crossing international borders for financial gain, often i ...

'' (1949) - Carl * '' Too Late for Tears'' (1949) - Jack Sharber (uncredited) * ''

Thieves' Highway ''Thieves' Highway'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Jules Dassin and starring Richard Conte, Valentina Cortese and Lee J. Cobb. The screenplay was written by A. I. Bezzerides, based on his novel ''Thieves' Market''. The film was ...

'' (1949) - Mitch - Thug in Hat (uncredited) * '' Abandoned'' (1949) - Harry * '' Intruder in the Dust'' (1949) - Vinson Gowrie * ''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' (1949) - Roy (uncredited) * ''

Sands of Iwo Jima ''Sands of Iwo Jima'' is a 1949 war film starring John Wayne that follows a group of United States Marine Corps, United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. The film, which also features John Agar, Adele M ...

'' (1949) - Wounded Marine (uncredited) * '' The Blonde Bandit'' (1950) - Police Lt. O'Connor * '' Woman in Hiding'' (1950) - Moyer - Photographer / Reporter (uncredited) * '' The Outriders'' (1950) - Ross (uncredited) * '' Wabash Avenue'' (1950) - Workman (uncredited) * '' The Gunfighter'' (1950) - Eddie's Brother (uncredited) * ''

The Asphalt Jungle ''The Asphalt Jungle'' is a 1950 American heist film noir directed and cowritten by John Huston and starring Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Jean Hagen, James Whitmore, Sam Jaffe, John McIntire and Marilyn Monroe in one of her earliest role ...

'' (1950) - Mr. Atkinson - Railroad Man (uncredited) * ''

The Lawless ''The Lawless'' is a 1950 American film noir directed by Joseph Losey and featuring Macdonald Carey, Gail Russell and Johnny Sands. A crusading newspaper editor in California becomes concerned about the plight of the state's fruit pickers, mostl ...

'' (1950) - Reporter in Office (uncredited) * ''

My Friend Irma Goes West ''My Friend Irma Goes West'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Hal Walker and based on the radio show ''My Friend Irma.'' It stars the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The film is a sequel to ''My Friend Irma'' (1949) and was ...

'' (1950) - Bill - Deputy Sheriff (uncredited) * '' A Lady Without Passport'' (1950) - Operator (uncredited) * '' Edge of Doom'' (1950) - Drunken Seaman (uncredited) * ''

A Life of Her Own ''A Life of Her Own'' is a 1950 American melodrama film directed by George Cukor and starring Lana Turner and Ray Milland. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart focuses on an aspiring model who leaves her small town in the Midwest to seek fame and fort ...

'' (1950) - Charlie, Taxicab Driver (uncredited) * '' The Company She Keeps'' (1951) - Detective Barkley (uncredited) * ''

Only the Valiant ''Only the Valiant'', also known as ''Fort Invincible'', is a 1951 American Western film produced by William Cagney (younger brother of James Cagney), directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Gregory Peck, Barbara Payton, and Ward Bond. The ...

'' (1951) - Guardhouse Sentry (uncredited) * ''

The House on Telegraph Hill ''The House on Telegraph Hill'' is a 1951 American film noir thriller directed by Robert Wise, starring Richard Basehart, Valentina Cortese, and William Lundigan. The film received an Academy Award nomination for its art direction. Telegrap ...

'' (1951) - Mechanic * ''

As Young as You Feel ''As Young as You Feel'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Harmon Jones and written by Lamar Trotti, based on a story by Paddy Chayefsky. It stars Monty Woolley, Thelma Ritter, David Wayne, and Jean Peters, and features Marilyn Mo ...

'' (1951) - Cleveland's Chauffeur (uncredited) * '' The Red Badge of Courage'' (1951) - Corporal by Campfire (uncredited) * ''

The Narrow Margin ''The Narrow Margin'' is a 1952 American film noir starring Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, and Jacqueline White. Directed by Richard Fleischer, the RKO picture was written by Earl Felton, based on an unpublished story by Martin Goldsmith ...

'' (1952) - Joseph Kemp * ''

Edge of the City ''Edge of the City'' is a 1957 American crime drama film directed by Martin Ritt in his directorial debut, and starring John Cassavetes and Sidney Poitier. Robert Alan Aurthur's screenplay was expanded from his original script, staged as the fin ...

'' (1957) - Wallace * '' The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery'' (1959) - Gino * '' Odds Against Tomorrow'' (1959) - (uncredited) * ''

'' (1962) * ''

'' (1975-1977, TV Series) - Able Bingley * '' The Front'' (1976) - Hubert Jackson * '' Matilda'' (1978) - Sheriff * ''

'' (1979-1980, TV Series) - Tiso Novotny * '' Cutting Class'' (1989) - Crusty Old Man (final film role)

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Clarke, David 1908 births 2004 deaths Male actors from Chicago American male film actors American male stage actors Actors from Arlington County, Virginia Butler University alumni 20th-century American male actors