Richard Houston Gaines (July 23, 1904 – July 20, 1975) was an American actor. He appeared in over 75 film and television productions between 1940 and 1962.

Early years

Gaines was born in

Indian Territory Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United States, ...

and grew up in Texas, learning "to handle the ax, the plough, and the lariat". He enrolled at

Texas Christian University Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private university, private research university in Fort Worth, Texas, United States. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison Clark, Addison and Randolph Clark as the AddRan Male & Female College. It i ...

when he was 16 and studied drama there. While a student there he acted in productions of little theaters in Dallas and Fort Worth. He worked at a variety of jobs in the United States and in France before winning a scholarship to study at the

American Laboratory Theatre The American Laboratory Theatre was an American drama school and theatrical company located in New York City that existed during the 1920s and 1930s. It was a publicly subsidized, student-subscription organization that held fund-raising campaigns ...

Career

Gaines appeared in five

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 ...

productions between 1929 and 1942. He served as

Raymond Massey Raymond Hart Massey (August 30, 1896 – July 29, 1983) was a Canadian actor known for his commanding stage-trained voice. For his lead role in '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940), Massey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He r ...

's replacement as

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

in the original production of Robert E. Sherwood's '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1938–1939). In Hollywood, Gaines frequently played professional or officious types in supporting roles. He was often seen in authoritarian roles as a lawyer, doctor, supervisor or father. Gaines made his film debut as

Patrick Henry Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 ld Style and New Style dates, O.S. May 18, 1736une 6, 1799) was an American politician, planter and orator who declared to the Virginia Conventions, Second Virginia Convention (1775): "Give me liberty or give m ...

in the historical drama '' The Howards of Virginia'' with

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English and American actor. Known for his blended British and American accent, debonair demeanor, lighthearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing, he ...

. One of his best-known roles was as

Jean Arthur Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American film and theater actress whose career began in silent films in the early 1920s and lasted until the early 1950s. Arthur had feature roles in three F ...

's stuffy suitor Charles J. Pendergast in '' The More the Merrier'' (1943), directed by

George Stevens George Cooper Stevens (December 18, 1904 – March 8, 1975) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ''A Place in the Sun (1951 film), A Place in the Sun'' (1951) ...

. He also appeared as the insurance company boss of

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

and Edward G. Robinson in the

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 ...

classic ''

Double Indemnity ''Double Indemnity'' is a 1944 American film noir directed by Billy Wilder and produced by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Sistrom. Wilder and Raymond Chandler adapted the screenplay from James M. Cain's Double Indemnity (novel), novel of the same na ...

'' (1944). In

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American filmmaker and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of American cinema and the most co ...

's ''

Unconquered Unconquered or The Unconquered may refer to: Films * ''Unconquered'' (1917 film), a drama film by Frank Reicher * ''Unconquered'' (1947 film), an adventure film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''The Unconquered'' (documentary) or ''Helen Keller in Her Sto ...

'' (1947), Gaines portrayed the historical role of

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

. He worked frequently on television during the 1950s. Between 1958 and 1961, he had a recurring role as a judge in 14 episodes of ''

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 ...

''.

Personal life

On September 30, 1936, Gaines married actress Brenda Marshall; the couple divorced in 1940. They had one daughter, Virginia, who later grew up with Marshall and her second husband

William Holden William Franklin Holden (né Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film '' Stalag 17'' (1953) and the Pri ...

after Holden subsequently adopted Virginia Gaines when the couple married in 1941. Gaines retired from Hollywood business in 1962 after a guest appearance on ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'', and he died in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, on July 20, 1975, three days before his 71st birthday.

Selected filmography

* '' The Howards of Virginia'' (1940) – Patrick Henry * '' A Night to Remember'' (1942) – Lingle * '' The More the Merrier'' (1943) – Charles J. Pendergast * '' Tender Comrade'' (1943) – Waldo Pierson (uncredited) * ''

'' (1944) – Edward S. Norton Jr. * '' Mr. Winkle Goes to War'' (1944) – Ralph Westcott * ''

Double Exposure In photography and cinematography, a multiple exposure is the superimposition of two or more exposures to create a single image, and double exposure has a corresponding meaning in respect of two images. The exposure values may or may not be id ...

'' (1944) – James R. Turlock * '' The Enchanted Cottage'' (1945) – Frederick 'Freddy' Price * '' Twice Blessed'' (1945) – Senator John Pringle * '' Don Juan Quilligan'' (1945) – Defense Attorney * ''

So Goes My Love ''So Goes My Love'' (released as ''A Genius in the Family'' in the UK) is an American 1946 comedy-drama film, produced by Universal Pictures. It is based on a true story, ''A Genius in the Family'', the memoir of Hiram Percy Maxim, which focuses ...

'' (1946) – Mr. Josephus Ford * '' The Bride Wore Boots'' (1946) – Jeff's Attorney (uncredited) * ''

Do You Love Me "Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown, Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three ...

'' (1946) – Ralph Wainwright * ''

White Tie and Tails ''White Tie and Tails'' is a 1946 American comedy drama film directed by Charles Barton (director), Charles Barton and starring Dan Duryea, Ella Raines, William Bendix, and Frank Jenks. The film tagline is "Clothes Don't Make the Man ... a Gentl ...

'' (1946) – Archer * '' Nobody Lives Forever'' (1946) – Charles Manning * '' Humoresque'' (1946) – Bauer * '' Brute Force'' (1947) – McCallum * ''

The Hucksters ''The Hucksters'' is a 1947 American comedy drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Clark Gable and Deborah Kerr, her debut in an American film. The supporting cast includes Sydney Greenstreet, Adolphe Menjou, Ava Gardner, Keenan Wynn, ...

'' (1947) – Cooke * ''

'' (1947) – Colonel

* ''

Ride the Pink Horse ''Ride the Pink Horse'' is a 1947 film noir crime film produced by Universal Studios. It was directed by Robert Montgomery, who also stars in it, from a screenplay by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, which was based on the 1946 novel of the sam ...

'' (1947) – Jonathan * '' The Invisible Wall'' (1947) – Richard Elsworth * '' Cass Timberlane'' (1947) – Dennis Thane * '' Dangerous Years'' (1947) – Edgar Burns * ''

That Wonderful Urge ''That Wonderful Urge'' is a 1948 American screwball comedy film directed by Robert B. Sinclair and starring Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney and Reginald Gardiner.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; November 27, 1948, page 190. Produced by 20th Centur ...

'' (1948) – Whitson, Farley's Executive * ''

Every Girl Should Be Married ''Every Girl Should Be Married'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Don Hartman and starring Cary Grant, Betsy Drake and Franchot Tone. Grant and Drake married a year after the film's release. Plot Department store sales ...

'' (1948) – Sam McNutt * ''

The Lucky Stiff ''The Lucky Stiff'' is a 1949 American comedy crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster, starring Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy, and Claire Trevor. The film is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Craig Rice. ''The Lucky Stiff'' was produc ...

'' (1949) – District Attorney John Logan * '' Strange Bargain'' (1949) – Malcolm Jarvis * ''

A Kiss for Corliss ''A Kiss for Corliss'' (retitled ''Almost a Bride'' before its release) is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, written by Howard Dimsdale, and starring David Niven and Shirley Temple. The film, which was the last for both Wa ...

'' (1949) – Taylor * '' Key to the City'' (1950) – Speaker on TV Broadcast (uncredited) * '' Ace in the Hole'' (1951) – Nagel * '' Flight to Mars'' (1951) – Professor Jackson * ''

Cavalcade of America ''Cavalcade of America'' is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of ''Show Boat'', and condensed biographies of popular Composer, composers. It was ...

'' (1952–1954, TV Series) – George Washington / Dr. Hayes * ''

Marry Me Again ''Marry Me Again'' is a 1953 American comedy film written and directed by Frank Tashlin. It stars Robert Cummings and Marie Wilson. Plot Bill has an unusual dilemma when he returns home from the war in Korea, where he had been a pilot. Out of pr ...

'' (1953) – Dr. Pepperdine * ''

Drum Beat A drum beat or drum pattern is a rhythmic pattern, or repeated rhythm establishing the meter and groove through the pulse and subdivision, played on drum kits and other percussion instruments. As such a "beat" consists of multiple drum strokes ...

'' (1954) – Dr. Thomas * '' Love Me or Leave Me'' (1955) – Paul Hunter * ''

The Petrified Forest ''The Petrified Forest'' is a 1936 American crime drama film directed by Archie Mayo and based on Robert E. Sherwood's 1934 drama of the same name. The motion picture stars Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. The screenplay was ...

'' (1955, live televised version) * ''

Trial In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribunal, w ...

'' (1955) – Dr. Johannes Albert Schacter * '' Ransom!'' (1956) – Langly * '' Francis in the Haunted House'' (1956) – D.A. Reynolds * ''

5 Steps to Danger ''5 Steps to Danger'' is a 1957 American film noir crime film directed, produced, and co–written by Henry S. Kesler. It stars Ruth Roman and Sterling Hayden, with a cast that also included Werner Klemperer, Richard Gaines, Charles Davis, J ...

'' (1957) – Dean Brant * ''

Jeanne Eagels Jeanne Eagels (born Eugenia Eagles; June 26, 1890 – October 3, 1929) was an American stage and film actress. Eagels appeared in many Broadway productions, and in the emerging medium of sound films. She was posthumously nominated for the Acad ...

'' (1957) – Judge (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958–1961, TV Series) – Judge / Judge Carwell / Judge Treadwell * ''

The Big Fisherman ''The Big Fisherman'' is a 1959 American historical drama film directed by Frank Borzage about the life of Simon Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus. Starring Howard Keel, Susan Kohner and John Saxon, the production is adapted from the 194 ...

'' (1959) – Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Donna Reed Show ''The Donna Reed Show'' is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the middle-class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her Pediatrics, pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage childr ...

'' (1959, TV Series) – Dr. Elias Spaulding * ''

'' (1960, TV Series) (Season 6 Episode 12: "The Baby-Blue Expression") – James Barrett * ''

The Great Impostor ''The Great Impostor'' is a 1961 American comedy-drama film based on the story of an impostor named Ferdinand Waldo Demara. Loosely based on Robert Crichton's 1959 biography of the same name, it stars Tony Curtis in the title role and was dir ...

'' (1961) – Chairman (uncredited) * '' The Outsider'' (1961) – Chairman (uncredited) * ''

'' (1962, TV Series) (Season 7 Episode 16: "The Case of M.J.H.") – M.J. Harrison (final appearance)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Richard 1904 births 1975 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors