Joseph Patrick Cranshaw (June 17, 1919 – December 28, 2005) was an American character actor known for his distinctive look and deadpan humor. He is best known for one of his last roles, that of Joseph "Blue" Pulaski, a

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

brother, in the 2003 hit comedy ''

Old School Old school, Old School, or Old Skool may refer to: Computers and gaming *Old school gaming or retrogaming, playing and collecting obsolete computer, video, and arcade games * Old School Renaissance, a trend in tabletop gaming *''Old School RuneS ...

''. Some sources state that this role gave him "pop-culture status".December 31, 2005 LA Times Obituary of Cranshaw
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Early life

Cranshaw was born in

Bartlesville, Oklahoma Bartlesville is a city mostly in Washington County and Osage County, Oklahoma. The population was 37,290 at the 2020 census. Bartlesville is north of Tulsa and south of the Kansas border. It is the county seat of Washington County. The Cane ...

, and became interested in acting while entertaining American troops as a member of the

Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

before

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Career

Cranshaw began his screen acting career in 1955 when he was 36 in the uncredited role of a bar tender at a dance in the western '' Texas Lady''. Despite an acting span of more than 40 years and some 102 appearances, Cranshaw's first credited film role came at the age of 41, in '' The Amazing Transparent Man'' (1960). Cranshaw's mild-mannered and gentlemanly demeanor led him to a number of roles as bank tellers, store managers, and grandfathers. His major credits include ''

Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (October 1, 1910May 23, 1934) and Clyde Chestnut "Champion" Barrow (March 24, 1909May 23, 1934) were American outlaws who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression, committing a ser ...

'' (1967), ''Bandelero!'' (1968) ''

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' (often referred to simply as ''Sgt. Pepper'') is the eighth studio album by the English rock band the Beatles. Released on 26May 1967, ''Sgt. Pepper'' is regarded by musicologists as an early concept ...

'' (1978), ''

Pee-wee's Big Adventure ''Pee-wee's Big Adventure'' is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Tim Burton in his feature-film directing debut. The film stars Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, along with Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton, Diane Salinger and Judd O ...

'' (1985), ''Moving'' (1988), ''

The Hudsucker Proxy ''The Hudsucker Proxy'' is a 1994 screwball comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by the Coen brothers. Sam Raimi co-wrote the script and served as second unit director. The film stars Tim Robbins as a naïve but ambitious business sch ...

'' (1994), ''

Everyone Says I Love You ''Everyone Says I Love You'' is a 1996 American musical romantic comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Alan Alda, Allen, Drew Barrymore, Lukas Haas, Goldie Hawn, Gaby Hoffmann, Natasha Lyonne, Edward Norton, Natalie P ...

'' (1996), '' Nothing to Lose'' (1997), '' Almost Heroes'' (1998), ''

Broken Vessels ''Broken Vessels'' is a 1999 medical drama film directed by Scott Ziehl and written by Ziehl along with David Baer and John McMahon. The film debuted at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and marked Ziehl's dire ...

'' (1998), '' Best in Show'' (2000), '' Bubble Boy'' (2001), ''

'' (2003), ''

My Boss's Daughter ''My Boss's Daughter'' is a 2003 American comedy film directed by David Zucker. It stars Ashton Kutcher, Tara Reid, Jeffrey Tambor, Andy Richter, Terence Stamp, and Molly Shannon. The film revolves around a man housesitting for his boss and g ...

'' (2003), and '' Herbie: Fully Loaded'' (2005). He also appeared in more than 50 television series, including ''

Sanford and Son ''Sanford and Son'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977. It was based on the British sitcom '' Steptoe and Son'', which initially aired on BBC1 in the United Kingdom from 1962 to ...

'', ''

Alice Alice may refer to: * Alice (name), most often a feminine given name, but also used as a surname Literature * Alice (''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''), a character in books by Lewis Carroll * ''Alice'' series, children's and teen books by ...

'', '' After MASH'', ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books comprise a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adulthood in the Midwestern United States, Americ ...

'', ''

Mork & Mindy ''Mork & Mindy'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 14, 1978, to May 27, 1982. A spin-off after a highly successful episode of ''Happy Days'', " My Favorite Orkan", it starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extrater ...

'', ''

The Dukes of Hazzard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy television series created by Gy Waldron that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985, with a total of seven seasons consisting of List of The Dukes of Hazzard episodes, 147 ...

'', ''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that premiered on NBC on January 4, 1984, and ended on May 31, 1992, after nine seasons consisting of List of Night Court episodes, 193 episodes. The show is set in the night shift of a Manhattan ...

'', ''

Growing Pains ''Growing Pains'' is an American television sitcom created by Neal Marlens that ran on ABC for seven seasons from September 24, 1985, to April 25, 1992. The series follows the misadventures of the Seaver family, including psychiatrist and fathe ...

'', '' Married... with Children'', ''

Coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

'', ''

The Drew Carey Show ''The Drew Carey Show'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995, to September 8, 2004. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionaliz ...

'', and ''

Just Shoot Me! ''Just Shoot Me!'' is an American sitcom television series originally aired on NBC from March 4, 1997, to November 26, 2003, with a total of 145 half-hour episodes spanning seven seasons, including 3 episodes aired on syndication. The show, cre ...

''.

Death

Cranshaw died of

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 ...

at his

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...

home, aged 86. He is interred at Restland Memorial Park in

Dallas County, Texas Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 2,613,539, and was estimated to be 2,656,028 in 2024, making it the List of counties in Texas, second-most populo ...

.Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Selected filmography

*'' The Amazing Transparent Man'' (1960) – Security Guard *'' The Yesterday Machine'' (1963) – Confederate Soldier *'' Under Age'' (1964) – W.J. Earnhardt *''

'' (1967) – Bank Teller (uncredited) *''

Bandolero! ''Bandolero!'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch, George Kennedy, Andrew Prine, Will Geer, and Clint Ritchie. The story centers on two brothers on the ...

'' (1968) – Bank Clerk *''

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 ...

'' (1974) – Mr. Ferguson *'' Nightmare Honeymoon'' (1974) – Old Bail Boy *''

'' (1976) – Bank Guard *'' Slumber Party '57'' (1976) – Store Owner *''

'' (1976–78) – Andy *'' Thunder and Lightning'' (1977) – Taylor *''

'' (1978) – Western Union Messenger *''

'' (1978–80) – Manuel Barton, Spokes *''

'' (1978–82) – The Man in the Store, The Old Man, Jake Loomis *''

The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' (1979) – Codger *''

'' (1979–80) – Doctor, Doc Petticord *'' The Private Eyes'' (1980) – Roy *''

The Gong Show Movie ''The Gong Show Movie'' is a 1980 American slapstick film starring, co-written and directed by Chuck Barris, host of the game show of the same name. Plot The film shows a fictional week in the life of Chuck Barris as the host and creator of ' ...

'' (1980) – Man Dying in Elevator *''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. After the final first-run telecast on NBC in May 1983, the series went into reruns on Sundays fr ...

'' (1980) – Carpenter *''

Yes, Giorgio ''Yes, Giorgio'' is a 1982 American musical–comedy film starring Luciano Pavarotti. The film is based on the 1961 novel by Anne Piper. ''Yes, Giorgio'' also stars Kathryn Harrold, Eddie Albert, Paola Borboni, James Hong, Joseph Mascolo, ...

'' (1982) – Man on Gurney *''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which originally aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and ...

'' (1983–84) – Mr. Clemens, Old Man *'' After M*A*S*H'' (1983) – Bob Scannell *''

Highway to Heaven ''Highway to Heaven'' is an American fantasy drama television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 1984, to August 4, 1989. The series starred its creator and co-director Michael Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent to Earth to help peo ...

'' (1984) – Clark *''

'' (1984–85) – Mr. MacNulty, Mr. Shelton *''

'' (1985) – Hobo *'' Perfect Strangers'' (1986) – Street Person *''

'' (1989) – Reverend Chuck MacGregor *'' Married... with Children'' (1991) – Young Kit *''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor backwoods family ...

'' (1993) – Reverend Mason *''

'' (1994) – Ancient Sorter *''

'' (1994) – Mr. Knickerbocker *''

'' (1996) – Grandpa *''

'' (1997) – Gerald Thompson *'' Nothing to Lose'' (1997) – Henry *''

'' (1998) – Gramps *'' Almost Heroes'' (1998) – Jackson *''

'' (1998) – Cowboy Pete *'' MVP: Most Valuable Primate'' (2000) – Ron *'' Best in Show'' (2000) – Leslie Ward Cabot *'' Bubble Boy'' (2001) – Pappy / Pippy *'' MVP: Most Vertical Primate'' (2001) – Ron *'' Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch'' (2002) – Sheriff Bob *'' Frank McKlusky, C.I.'' (2002) – The Old Man *''

'' (2003) – Blue *'' Air Bud: Spikes Back'' (2003) – Sheriff Bob *''

'' (2003) – Old Man *''

Breakin' All the Rules ''Breakin' All the Rules'' is a 2004 American comedy film. It was directed and written by Daniel Taplitz. It stars Jamie Foxx, Morris Chestnut, Jennifer Esposito, Peter MacNicol and Gabrielle Union. Plot Quincy Watson (Jamie Foxx) is unceremonio ...

'' (2004) – Mr. Lynch *'' Herbie: Fully Loaded'' (2005) – Jimmy D. *''

Air Buddies ''Air Buddies'' is a 2006 American sports comedy film directed by Robert Vince. It is the sixth film in the ''Air Bud'' series and the first in the direct-to-video spin-off series ''Air Buddies'', which follows the life of a lonely teenager an ...

'' (2006) – Sheriff Bob (final film role, posthumous release)

References

External links

* 1919 births 2005 deaths American male film actors American male television actors People from Bartlesville, Oklahoma Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas Male actors from Oklahoma Deaths from pneumonia in Texas 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors {{Oklahoma-stub