Ralph Dayton Sanford (May 21, 1899 – June 20, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films and in at least 200 episodes on television between 1930 and 1960, mostly bit parts or supporting roles. Sanford frequently appeared in Westerns and often portrayed "tough guys". Sanford also served in the infantry during World War I.
Career
Sanford's began his professional career in 1924 as the dancing partner of
Ray Bolger
Raymond Wallace Bolger (January 10, 1904 – January 15, 1987) was an American actor, dancer, singer, vaudevillian and stage performer (particularly musical theatre) who started in the silent-film era.
Bolger was a major Broadway performer in ...
.
He moved to California in 1928 and gained his first movie credit in 1933. He began appearing on television in 1951, playing various roles. He is probably best-remembered on
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, appearing in 21 episodes, including 16 as Mayor Jim Kelly during the 1958-1959 season.
On Broadway, Sanford performed in ''Between Two Worlds'' (1934), ''Saluta'' (1934), ''They Shall Not Die'' (1934), ''Twenty-five Dollars an Hour'' (1933), ''Ballyhoo of 1932'' (1932), ''Hey Nonny Nonny!'' (1932), ''Child of Manhattan'' (1932), ''The Constant Sinner'' (1931), ''The Great Man'' (1931), ''Mendel, Inc.'' (1929), and ''Half a Widow'' (1927).
Death
Sanford died in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...
on June 20, 1963. Upon death, his body was transported to his birthplace of Springfield Massachusetts for burial.
Selected filmography
* ''
In the Dough
''In the Dough'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle and featuring Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges. It was the last film made by Arbuckle, although the last to be released was ''Tomalio''. He died of a heart attack ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Sea Racketeers'' (1937)
* ''
Prescription for Romance'' (1937)
* ''
Undercover Agent
To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an indi ...
'' (1939)
* ''
Dance, Girl, Dance'' (1940)
* ''