Marshall Jewel Reed (May 28, 1917 – April 15, 1980) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1943 and 1978. He was born in

Englewood, Colorado The City of Englewood is a home rule municipality located in Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 33,659 at the 2020 United States census. Englewood is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan S ...

Early years

Reed's parents were Walter George Reed and Ruth Dustin. By age 10, he was acting in children's theater, and he managed two drama groups while he was in high school. Before becoming a professional actor, "he held various odd jobs such as horse trainer, meter reader, bookkeeper, and mail clerk."Aaker, Everett (2006). ''Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 465–467.

Stage

Summer stock theatre In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock t ...

at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, provided Reed's first professional experience with acting. Besides appearing in plays there, he made costumes and constructed scenery. Later he worked with other theatrical groups in the Denver area, writing and producing as well as acting. Still later, he had his own stock company on the West Coast and acted in summer stock in New York and Los Angeles.

Film

Reed started his cinema career in ''Bordertown Gun Fighters'', a 1943

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

starring

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born G ...

. (Another source says, "He made his screen debut in '' Silver Spurs'' (1943).") An athletic

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 ...

, Reed handled much of his own fighting and riding. Over the years, he did dozens of westerns and cliffhanger serials for Columbia 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 ...

studios, in which he was usually cast as action heavies. He appeared in a rare sympathetic role as

Buffalo Bill Cody William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), better known as Buffalo Bill, was an American soldier, bison hunter, and showman. One of the most famous figures of the American Old West, Cody started his legend at the young age o ...

in the 1954 serial '' Riding with Buffalo Bill''.

Television

Between the 1950s and 1970s, Reed was a familiar face in popular TV series, particularly in the action and drama genres. In 1960, he appeared twice on Gene Barry's TV Western series ''

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 ...

'', once playing the "good guy" as stage coach driver and posse member "Alf Hayman" in S2E22's "The Snare", and another time playing the "bad guy" as a murdering outlaw named "Romer" in S3E7's "High Card Loses". He also played Inspector Fred Asher in '' The Lineup''.Terrace, Vincent (2011). ''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 608. In 1978 he costarred in ''Till Death'', his last film appearance.

Death

Reed "died of a massive hemorrhage following a brain tumor" April 15, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 62. Survivors included his fifth wife, Carlyn Miller, and a daughter.

Selected appearances

Films

* '' Law Men'' (1944) * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1944, Serial) * '' Haunted Harbor'' (1944, Serial) * '' Zorro's Black Whip'' (1944, Serial) * '' Gun Smoke'' (1945) * '' Gentleman Joe Palooka'' (1946) *'' Drifting Along'' (1946) * ''

Angel and the Badman ''Angel and the Badman'' is a 1947 American Western film written and directed by James Edward Grant and starring John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey, and Bruce Cabot. The film is about an injured gunfighter who is nursed back to health by a ...

'' (1947) * '' Prairie Express'' (1947) * '' Raiders of the South'' (1947) * '' Song of the Wasteland'' (1947) * ''

Stage to Mesa City ''Stage to Mesa City'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and starring Lash La Rue, Al St. John, Jennifer Holt, George Chesebro, Buster Slaven, and Marshall Reed. The film was released by Producers Releasing Corporation ...

'' (1947) * '' Trailing Danger'' (1947) * '' West of Dodge City'' (1947) * ''

Back Trail ''Back Trail'' is a 1948 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, and Mildred Coles, and was released on July 18, 1948. Plot Bob Frazer is a businessman in Brentwood. When he was younger a ...

'' (1948) * '' The Fighting Ranger'' (1948) * '' The Bold Frontiersman'' (1948) * '' Courtin' Trouble'' (1948) * '' Dead Man's Gold'' (1948) * '' Mark of the Lash'' (1948) * ''

Hidden Danger ''The Sensorites'' is the seventh serial in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Written by Peter R. Newman and directed by Mervyn Pinfield and Frank Cox, the serial was first broadcast on BBC1 in six weekly parts fr ...

'' (1948) * '' Renegades of Sonora'' (1948) * '' Triggerman'' (1948) * '' Brand of Fear'' (1949) * ''

Stampede A stampede () is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened. Although the term is most often applied to animals, there are cases of humans stamped ...

'' (1949) * '' Gun Runner'' (1949) * '' Ghost of Zorro'' (1949, Serial) * '' Law of the West'' (1949) * '' Pirates of the High Seas'' (1950, Serial) * ''

Hot Rod Hot rods are typically American cars that might be old, classic, or modern and that have been rebuilt or modified with large engines optimized for speed and acceleration. One definition is: "a car that's been stripped down, souped up and ma ...

'' (1950) * ''

Stagecoach Driver ''Stagecoach Driver'' is a 1951 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Whip Wilson, Fuzzy Knight and Gloria Winters. The film's sets were designed by the art director Harry Reif. Plot Cast *Whip Wils ...

'' (1951) * '' Canyon Raiders'' (1951) * '' The Longhorn'' (1951) * '' Dead or Alive'' (1951) * '' Mysterious Island'' (1951, Serial) * '' Night Raiders'' (1952) * ''

Montana Incident ''Montana Incident'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Whip Wilson, Rand Brooks and Noel Neill.Martin p.170 The film's sets were designed by the art director Dave Milton. Plot Whip and Dave are surveyi ...

'' (1952) * ''

Kansas Territory The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the Slave and ...

'' (1952) *'' Laramie Mountains'' (1952) * '' Son of Geronimo'' (1952, Serial) * '' Blackhawk'' (1952, Serial) * '' The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd'' (1953, Serial) * '' Gunfighters of the Northwest'' (1954, Serial) * '' Riding with Buffalo Bill'' (1954, Serial) * '' The Night the World Exploded'' (1957) * ''

Fate Is the Hunter ''Fate Is the Hunter'' is a 1961 memoir by aviation writer Ernest K. Gann. It describes his years working as a pilot from the 1930s to 1950s, starting at American Airlines in Douglas DC-2s and DC-3s when civilian air transport was in its inf ...

'' (1964) * '' The Hallelujah Trail'' (1965) * '' Till Death'' (1978)

TV shows

* '' The Marshal of Gunsight Pass'' (1950) – Larry Thomas * ''

The Gene Autry Show ''The Gene Autry Show'' is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum. Overview Series star Gene Autry h ...

'' (1950–1954) – Tom Jenkins / Henchman Coley / First Miller Ranch Hand / Henchman in Denim Jacket / Tom Maraday / Ed, Henchman * ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Maga ...

'' (1950–1955) – Dobie / Dick / Whit Jameson / Uncle Wilson Ford / Todd Wheeler / Fred / John Sterns / Henchman / Slade / Blade Meddick / Slick / Frank Tracy / Tom Tracy / Jim Tracy * ''

The Range Rider ''The Range Rider'' is an American Western television series that was first broadcast in syndication from 1951 to 1952. A single lost episode surfaced and was broadcast in 1959. In 1954, the BBC purchased rights to show the program in the UK . ...

'' (1951–1953) – Hurley / Jud / Red / Ringo Massey aka Chad Walker / Blaze Barnett / Bank Robber / Deputy Charley * ''

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok ''The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'' is an American Western television series that ran for eight seasons from April 15, 1951, through September 24, 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from June 5, 1955, throug ...

'' (1951–1954) – Henchman Jim / DuBois / Targ * ''

Boston Blackie Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle (1881–1928). Blackie was originally depicted as a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's stories, and became a private detective in adaptations for films, radio and televisi ...

'' (1951–1953) – Slick – Henchman * ''

Hopalong Cassidy Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He wa ...

'' (1952–1953) – Rawhide Carney – Henchman / Bob Hayes * ''

The Adventures of Kit Carson ''The Adventures of Kit Carson'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series that aired from 1951 to 1955 and consisted of 104 episodes. While airing, the show was shown in over 130 markets and was sold to the Coca-Cola Bott ...

'' (1952–1954) – Henchman Joe / Taggart Henchman / Henchman * ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in a ...

'' (1952–1955) – Deputy / Grenville aka Vail / Dix Manson * '' Adventures of Superman'' (1953–1954) – Security Agent / Inspector Hill * ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American marksman, sharpshooter and folk heroine who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoveris ...

'' (1954) – Ward / Al / Hired Killer * '' The Lineup'' (1954–1959) – Inspector. Fred Asher * '' Captain Midnight'' (1955) – Portman * '' Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe'' (1955) – Bill * ''

Tightrope Tightrope walking, also called funambulism, is the skill of walking along a thin wire or rope. It has a long tradition in various countries and is commonly associated with the circus. Other skills similar to tightrope walking include slack rope ...

'' (1960) – Atkins * ''

'' (1960) – (two appearances) as Alf Hayman /and as Romer * ''

Shirley Temple's Storybook ''Shirley Temple's Storybook'' is a 1958–61 American children's anthology series hosted and narrated by actress Shirley Temple. The series features adaptations of fairy tales like Mother Goose and other family-oriented stories performed by we ...

'' (1960) – Black Arrow * ''

Lassie Lassie is a fictional female Rough Collie dog and is featured in a 1938 short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a 1940 full-length novel, '' Lassie Come-Home''. Knight's portrayal of Lassie bears some features in common with anot ...

'' (1961) – Ranger Wes Wade * '' Ripcord'' (1961) – Harvey * ''

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 ...

'' (1961–1962) – Party Guest / Hammond * '' Lawman'' (1962) – Jake – Henchman * ''

Bronco A bucking horse is any breed of horse, male or female, with a propensity to buck. They have been, and still are, referred to by various names, including bronco, broncho, and roughstock. The harder they buck, the more desirable they are for ro ...

'' (1962) – Marshal Hank Barton / Harrison * ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' (1962) – Neighbor * '' Maverick'' (1962) – Hatfield * ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' (1962) – Sam Vestal * ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'' (1962–1963) – Policeman / Fisherman / First Officer * '' Laramie'' (1963) – Sgt. Nolan * ''

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 ...

'' (1969–1970) – Harold Graves III / Cal Hinshaw * '' Marcus Welby, M.D.'' (1969–1973) – Matt Callan / Carter * '' Dragnet'' (1969–1970) – Sgt. Norman Bivins / Sgt. Hughes / Fred Deemer / Officer Whitney / Lt. Phil Johnson * ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pe ...

'' (1970–1971) – Capt. Edwards / John Russell * '' The Virginian'' (1971) – Doctor * ''

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 ...

'' (1975) – Doorman

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reed, Marshall 1917 births 1980 deaths American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors Deaths from brain cancer in California