John Archer (born Ralph Bowman; May 8, 1915 – December 3, 1999) was an American actor.

Early life

Archer was born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, the son of Eunice Melba (née Crawford) and Joseph Emmett Bowman. Archer moved to

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 ...

at the age of five. He attended

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. His ...

and the

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...

, where he studied

cinematography Cinematography () is the art of motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens (optics), lens to focus reflected light from objects into a real image that is transferred to some image sen ...

, expecting to work behind the camera.

Radio

When finding work in the field of cinematography proved difficult Archer drifted into acting, working as a radio announcer and actor, including one year (beginning in 1944DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 14) in the starring role of Lamont Cranston in ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by American magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by Gibs ...

'', a role originally played by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

Stage

Archer honed his acting skills in plays at the Ben Bard Playhouse. He appeared on Broadway in ''The Odds on Mrs. Oakley'' (1944), a farce; ''One-Man Show'' (1945); ''A Place of Our Own'' (1945), the musical '' The Day Before Spring'' (1945-1946); ''This Time Tomorrow'' (1947); and the comedies ''Strange Bedfellows'' (1948); and ''Captain Brassbound's Conversion'' (1950-1951).

Film

Archer made his film debut in 1938. He acted in films for Universal and

Republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...

under his birth name. In a radio contest sponsored by Jesse L. Lasky on the program '' Gateway to Hollywood'', he won the top prize, an RKO contract in the name of "John Archer." He appeared in the films '' Hello, Frisco, Hello''; '' Guadalcanal Diary''; '' White Heat''; '' Destination Moon''; ''

Rock Around the Clock "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful rendition was reco ...

''; '' She Devil''; '' Ten Thousand Bedrooms''; '' Decision at Sundown''; ''

Blue Hawaii ''Blue Hawaii'' is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written Amer ...

''; and '' How to Frame a Figg''.

Television

Archer appeared in television series such as ''

Rescue 8 ''Rescue 8'' is a syndicated American action adventure drama series about Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) Rescue Squad 8. It premiered in 1958 and originally ran for two seasons with syndicated reruns continuing for almost a deca ...

'', ''

Science Fiction Theatre ''Science Fiction Theatre'' is an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955, and ended on February 9, 1957, with a to ...

'', ''

Armstrong Circle Theatre ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The United States Steel Ho ...

'', '' Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', and '' The Millionaire'', ''

The Loretta Young Show ''The Loretta Young Show'' (originally known as ''Letter to Loretta'') is an American anthology drama television series broadcast on Sunday nights from September 2, 1953, to June 4, 1961, on NBC for a total of 165 episodes. The series was hoste ...

'', '' Private Secretary'', ''

The Bob Cummings Show ''The Bob Cummings Show'' (also known in reruns as ''Love That Bob'') is an American sitcom starring Bob Cummings, which was broadcast from January 2, 1955, to September 15, 1959. The program began with a half-season run on NBC, then ran for ...

'', '' Mackenzie's Raiders'', '' This Man Dawson'', ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was b ...

'', '' The Californians'', '' Sea Hunt'', '' Maverick'' (in the series' only 2-part episode, titled " The Devil's Necklace"), ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'', '' The Tall Man'', '' Surfside 6'' with

Van Williams Van Zandt Jarvis Williams (February 27, 1934 – November 28, 2016) was an American actor best known for his leading role as Kenny Madison in both Warner Bros. television detective series '' Bourbon Street Beat'' (1959–1960) and its sequ ...

, ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American private detective crime drama television series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each epis ...

'', ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western television series that aired for eight seasons, first on the NBC television network (1957–1962) and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and reached the top of the ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'', ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian ...

'', ''

McHale's Navy ''McHale's Navy'' is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, 1962, to April 12, 1966, on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network. The series was filmed i ...

'', ''

The Silent Service is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was published in Kodansha's '' Weekly Morning'' manga magazine from 1988 to 1996 and collected in 32 volumes. The series was adapted into an anime television spe ...

'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', ''

Hazel Hazels are plants of the genus ''Corylus'' of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family, Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K ...

'', ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that originally aired for eight seasons on CBS from September 16, 1967, to March 13, 1975. The show was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer ...

'', and '' The Name of the Game''. In 1960 Archer was cast as Joe Holman in the episode "Phantom Trail" of the western series '' Colt .45''. He made five guest appearances on '' Perry Mason''. He played Frank Maddox in the show's second episode in 1957, "The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece". In 1958 he played murder victim Maj. Frank Lessing in the episode "The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant", and in 1959 he played murderer J. R. Bradbury in the episode "The Case of the Lucky Legs". He also played murder victim Harry Arnold in the 1965 episode "The Case of Candy Queen". He also made seven guest appearances on '' Lassie'' and six on ''

''. He played the outlaw Matt Grundy in a 1962 episode of '' Laramie'', entitled "The Confederate Express".

Personal life

Archer was married twice. From 1941 to 1955, he was married to actress

Marjorie Lord Marjorie Lord (née Wollenberg; July 26, 1918 – November 28, 2015) was an American television and film actress. She played Kathy "Clancy" O'Hara Williams, opposite Danny Thomas's character on ''The Danny Thomas Show'' (''Make Room for Dadd ...

. They had two children, including daughter actress

Anne Archer Anne Archer (born August 24, 1947) is an American actress. Archer was named Miss Golden Globe in 1971, and in the year following, appeared in her feature-film debut '' The Honkers'' (1972). She had supporting roles in '' Cancel My Reservation'' ...

. Archer had two children with his second wife, Ann Leddy, to whom he was married from 1956 until his death. Archer was a grandfather of Tommy Davis, son of his daughter Anne, both of whom are noted members of the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religiou ...

. On December 3, 1999, Archer died from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

Redmond, Washington Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 73,256 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Redmond is best known as the home of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. The city h ...

, at age 84.

Selected filmography

* ''

Flaming Frontiers ''Flaming Frontiers'' (1938) is a Universal movie serial starring Johnny Mack Brown. It was a remake of '' Heroes of the West'' (1932). It was re-edited into a TV series in 1966. Much of the material was reused in Lon Chaney Jr.'s 1942 seri ...

'' (1938) - Tom Grant * ''

Letter of Introduction The letter of introduction, along with the visiting card, was an important part of polite social interaction in the 18th and 19th centuries. It remains important in formal situations, such as an ambassador presenting his or her credentials (a ...

'' (1938) - Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Dick Tracy Returns ''Dick Tracy Returns'' (1938) is a Republic Movie serial based on the Dick Tracy comic strip. It was the eleventh of the sixty-six serials Republic produced and a sequel to the 1937 serial ''Dick Tracy'', with Ralph Byrd reprising his role as t ...

'' (1938) - Mr. Clark (uncredited) * ''

Overland Stage Raiders ''Overland Stage Raiders'' is a 1938 " Three Mesquiteers" Western film starring John Wayne and directed by George Sherman. The film is notable for being the final film in which silent film icon Louise Brooks performed. Wayne played the lead in ...

'' (1938) - Bob Whitney * ''

Spring Madness ''Spring Madness'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film based on the play of the same title by Philip Barry. It was directed by S. Sylvan Simon for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and stars Maureen O'Sullivan, Lew Ayres, Ruth Hussey and Burgess Meredith ...

'' (1938) - Dartmouth College Student (uncredited) * ''

Career A career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work (human activity), work and other aspects of personal life, life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ...

'' (1939) - Ray Cruthers * ''

Curtain Call A curtain call (often known as a walkdown or a final Bowing, bow) occurs at the end of a performance when one or more performers return to the stage to be recognized by the audience for the performance. In musical theatre, the performers typi ...

'' (1940) - Ted Palmer * '' Barnyard Follies'' (1940) - Jeff Hill * ''

Cheers for Miss Bishop ''Cheers for Miss Bishop'' is a 1941 American drama film based on the novel ''Miss Bishop'' by Bess Streeter Aldrich. It was directed by Tay Garnett, produced by Richard A. Rowland and released through United Artists. Martha Scott stars in the ...

'' (1941) - Richard Clark * ''

Scattergood Baines ''Scattergood Baines'' is a 1941 American comedy drama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Guy Kibbee, Carol Hughes and John Archer. It is based on a novel by Clarence Budington Kelland. The character of Scattergood was also popular d ...

'' (1941) - Johnny Bones * ''

City of Missing Girls A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

'' (1941) - James Horton * ''

The People vs. Dr. Kildare ''The People vs. Dr. Kildare'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet and starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, Bonita Granville, and Laraine Day. It was part of the series of Doctor Kildare films produced by Metro-Goldwyn- ...

'' (1941) - Interne (uncredited) * ''

King of the Zombies ''King of the Zombies'' is a 1941 American zombie comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, and Mantan Moreland. The film was produced by Monogram Pictures, and was typical of its B films produced by the Pi ...

'' (1941) - Bill Summers * ''

Paper Bullets ''Paper Bullets'' is a 1941 American crime thriller film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Joan Woodbury, Jack La Rue and Linda Ware. It was the first film produced by the King Brothers, launching their career. The film was re-released by E ...

'' (1941) - Bob Elliott * '' Mountain Moonlight'' (1941) - Dr. Ed * '' Always Tomorrow: The Portrait of an American Business'' (1941) - Jim Westlake * '' Hi, Neighbor'' (1942) - Dr. Hall * ''

Police Bullets ''Police Bullets'' is a 1942 American crime film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Edmond Kelso and Ande Lamb. The film stars Joan Marsh, John Archer (actor), John Archer, Milburn Stone, Warren Hymer, Tris Coffin and Fern Emmett. The film ...

'' (1942) - Prof. J. Thomas Quincy * ''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p ...

'' (1942) - Dr. Robert Redmond (uncredited) * '' Scattergood Survives a Murder'' (1942) - Dunker Gilson * ''

Bowery at Midnight The Bowery () is a street and neighbourhood, neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row (Manhattan), Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th ...

'' (1942) - Richard Dennison * '' Hello, Frisco, Hello'' (1943) - Ned Clark * ''

The Purple V ''The Purple V'' is a 1943 American war film directed by George Sherman and starring John Archer (actor), John Archer, Mary McLeod and Fritz Kortner. The ''Purple V'' marked German stage star Fritz Kortner's American film debut. Actors John Archer ...

'' (1943) - Jimmy Thorne * '' Sherlock Holmes in Washington'' (1943) - Lt. Pete Merriam * ''

Shantytown A shanty town, squatter area, squatter settlement, or squatter camp is a settlement of improvised buildings known as shanties or shacks, typically made of materials such as mud and wood, or from cheap building materials such as corrugated iron s ...

'' (1943) - Bill Allen * ''

Crash Dive A crash dive is a maneuver by a submarine in which the vessel submerges as quickly as possible to avoid attack. Crash diving from the surface to avoid attack has been largely rendered obsolete with the advent of nuclear-powered submarines, as th ...

'' (1943) - Curly Bowman (uncredited) * '' Guadalcanal Diary'' (1943) - Lt. Thurmond * '' The Eve of St. Mark'' (1944) - Pvt. Carter * ''

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, Illinoi ...

'' (1944) - FBI Agent Kerrigan * ''

The Lost Moment ''The Lost Moment'' is a 1947 American melodramatic psychological thriller, psychological thriller film with elements of horror film, horror directed by Martin Gabel and starring Robert Cummings, Susan Hayward and Agnes Moorehead. The film was n ...

'' (1947) - Charles * ''After Nightfall'' (1949) * ''

Colorado Territory The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the 38th State of Colorado. The territory was organized ...

'' (1949) - Reno Blake * '' White Heat'' (1949) - Philip Evans * '' Destination Moon'' (1950) - Jim Barnes * ''

The Great Jewel Robber ''The Great Jewel Robber'' is a 1950 American drama film directed by Peter Godfrey and written by Borden Chase. The film stars David Brian, Marjorie Reynolds, John Archer, Jacqueline deWit, Perdita Chandler and Stanley Church. The film was rele ...

'' (1950) - Police Detective Lou Sampter * '' High Lonesome'' (1950) - Pat Farrell * '' Santa Fe'' (1951) - Clint Canfield * ''

Home Town Story ''Home Town Story'' is a 1951 American drama film written and directed by Arthur Pierson, starring Jeffrey Lynn, Donald Crisp, and Marjorie Reynolds, with Marilyn Monroe and Alan Hale Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; March 8, 1 ...

'' (1951) - Don (uncredited) * ''

Best of the Badmen ''Best of the Badmen'' is a 1951 Western film directed by William D. Russell that is set in Breckenridge Missouri during the post-American Civil War period. It stars Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor and Robert Preston. It was a loose follow-up to ...

'' (1951) - Curley Ringo * '' My Favorite Spy'' (1951) - Henderson * ''

The Big Trees ''The Big Trees'' is a 1952 American lumberjack Western film starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Felix E. Feist. It was Kirk Douglas's final film for Warner Brothers, a film he did for free in exchange for the studio agreeing to release him ...

'' (1952) - Frenchy LeCroix * ''

Rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaqu ...

'' (1952) - Slim Martin * ''

A Yank in Indo-China ''A Yank in Indo-China'' is a 1952 American war film directed by Wallace Grissell and starring John Archer, Douglas Dick and Jean Willes. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution by Columbia Pictures. The film's sets were designed by the a ...

'' (1952) - Mulvaney * '' Sound Off'' (1952) - Maj. Paul Whiteside * '' The Sea Tiger'' (1952) - Ben McGrun * ''

The Stars Are Singing ''The Stars Are Singing'' is a 1953 Paramount Pictures musical directed by Norman Taurog and starring Rosemary Clooney, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and Lauritz Melchior. Clooney performs her hit song "Come On-a My House" and Danish tenor Lauritz Melch ...

'' (1953) - Dave Parish * '' Dragon's Gold'' (1954) - Mack Rossiter * '' No Man's Woman'' (1955) - Harlow Grant * ''

'' (1956) - Mike Dodd * '' Emergency Hospital'' (1956) - Dr. Herb Ellis * ''

Affair in Reno ''Affair in Reno'' is a 1957 American comedic crime adventure film directed by R. G. Springsteen from a screenplay by John K. Butler. The film stars John Lund, Doris Singleton, John Archer, Angela Greene and Alan Hale. The film was released on ...

'' (1957) - Tony Lamarr * '' She Devil'' (1957) - Barton Kendall * '' 10,000 Bedrooms'' (1957) - Bob Dudley * '' Decision at Sundown'' (1957) - Dr. John Storrow * '' City of Fear'' (1959) - Lt. Mark Richards * ''

'' (1961) - Jack Kelman * ''

Apache Rifles ''Apache Rifles'' is a 1964 American Western film directed by William Witney and starring Audie Murphy. The film was shot at Bronson Canyon and Red Rock Canyon State Park, California. It was the first of four Audie Murphy films for producer Gr ...

'' (1964) - Col. Perry * ''

I Saw What You Did ''I Saw What You Did'' is a 1965 American horror thriller film released by Universal Pictures and starring Joan Crawford and John Ireland. The plot follows two teenage girls who find themselves in serious danger after making a prank phone cal ...

'' (1965) - John Austin * '' How to Frame a Figg'' (1971) - Gerard * ''The Little Sister'' (1986) - Warehouse Cop

References

External links

*
John Archer
at

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie channel, movie-oriented pay television, pay-TV television network, network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcas ...

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, John 1915 births 1999 deaths Male actors from Nebraska People from Osceola, Nebraska American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors People from Redmond, Washington USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni 20th-century American male actors RKO Pictures contract players Deaths from lung cancer in Washington (state)