Stuart Erwin (February 14, 1903 – December 21, 1967) was an American actor of stage, film, and television.

Early years

Erwin was born in Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California. He attended Porterville High School and the

University of California The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...

Career

Erwin began acting in college in the 1920s, having first appeared on stage. From there, he acted in stock theater in Los Angeles.

Film career

He broke into films in 1928 in ''Mother Knows Best''. In 1934, he was cast as

Joe Palooka ''Joe Palooka'' is an American comic strip about a heavyweight boxing champion, created by cartoonist Ham Fisher. The strip debuted on April 19, 1930 and was carried at its peak by 900 newspapers. It was cancelled in 1984. The strip was adapt ...

in the film '' Palooka''. In 1932, he co-starred with

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

in the comedy ''

The Big Broadcast ''The Big Broadcast'' is a 1932 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Stuart Erwin, and Leila Hyams. Based on the play ''Wild Waves'' by William Ford Manley, the film is about a radio-singer ...

'', where he played Texas oil tycoon Leslie McWhinney. In 1936, he was cast in '' Pigskin Parade'', for which he was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 9th Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in ...

. In 1940, he played Howie Newsome, the dairy delivery vendor, in the film adaptation of ''

Our Town ''Our Town'' is a three-act play written by American playwright Thornton Wilder in 1938. Described by Edward Albee as "the greatest American play ever written", it presents the fictional American town of Grover's Corners between 1901 and 1913 ...

'', based on the

Thornton Wilder Thornton Niven Wilder (April 17, 1897 – December 7, 1975) was an American playwright and novelist. He won three Pulitzer Prizes, for the novel ''The Bridge of San Luis Rey'' and for the plays ''Our Town'' and ''The Skin of Our Teeth'', and a U. ...

play. In Walt Disney's ''

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American Animated film, animated Coming of age, coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Loosely based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', the ...

'', Erwin performed the voice of a tree squirrel. Later, Erwin appeared in the

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

films ''

Son of Flubber ''Son of Flubber'' is a 1963 American science fiction comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is the sequel to ''The Absent-Minded Professor'' (1961) and the first sequel to a Disney film. Fred MacMu ...

'' and '' The Misadventures of Merlin Jones''.

Radio career

In 1946, Erwin starred in ''Phone Again Finnegan'' on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

. He played an apartment house manager in the comedy-drama. He also played various roles on '' Theater Guild on the Air'', ''

Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a old-time radio, classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the Blue Network, NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of A ...

'', ''The Old Gold Radio Theatre'' and ''

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 ...

''.

Television career

In 1950, Erwin made the transition to television, in which he starred in ''Trouble with Father'', which was retitled ''

The Stu Erwin Show ''The Stu Erwin Show'' (also known as ''Trouble with Father'') is an American sitcom which aired on ABC from 1950 to 1955. Only four of the series’ five seasons on the network included new episodes; the 1953–54 season consisted entirely of ...

'', with his co-star and real-life wife

June Collyer June Collyer (born Dorothea Heermance; August 19, 1906 – March 16, 1968) was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s. Early life Born in New York City, Collyer chose to use her mother's maiden name when she decided to pursue acting. ...

. In 1963–1964, he played Otto King on '' The Greatest Show on Earth''. Erwin guest-starred on '' Crossroads'', ''

Angel An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in variou ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Straightaway'', ''

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 ...

'' and '' Our Man Higgins''. Erwin made four guest appearances on '' Perry Mason'', including the role of Clem P. "Sandy" Sandover in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Double-Entry Mind" and Everett Stanton in the 1964 episode "The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor". Erwin guest-starred on ''

Father Knows Best ''Father Knows Best'' is an American sitcom starring Robert Young (actor), Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray (actor), Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The series, which began on radio in 1949, aired as a television show for six ...

'' in the episode titled "Family Contest" in the role of Mr. Hensley and on ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom television series that was aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The series ...

'', season 1, episode 8, portraying Tom Silby who was presumed dead, but returned to town after a two-year absence.

Personal life

Erwin married actress

on July 22, 1931, in

Yuma, Arizona Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 95,548 at the 2020 census, up from the 2010 census population of 93,064. Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, Metropolitan ...

. Together they had two children, including producer Stuart Erwin Jr. (1932–2014).

Death

Erwin died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

on December 21, 1967, in Beverly Hills, California, at age 64. He was interred at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.

Recognition

Erwin has a star at 6270 Hollywood Boulevard in the Television section of the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

. It was dedicated February 8, 1960.

Partial filmography

* '' Mother Knows Best'' (1928) as Ben * ''

New Year's Eve In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve refers to the evening, or commonly the entire day, of the last day of the year, 31 December, also known as Old Year's Day. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinkin ...

'' (1929) as Landlady's Son * ''

Speakeasy A speakeasy, also called a beer flat or blind pig or blind tiger, was an illicit establishment that sold alcoholic beverages. The term may also refer to a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies. In the United State ...

'' (1929) as Cy Williams * '' Thru Different Eyes'' (1929) as Reporter * '' The Exalted Flapper'' (1929) as Bimbo Mehaffey * '' Dangerous Curves'' (1929) as Rotarian * '' The Sophomore'' (1929) as Radio Broadcast Technician (uncredited) * ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'' (1929) as Jig * ''

The Cock-Eyed World ''The Cock-Eyed World'' is a 1929 American sound ( All-Talking) pre-Code musical comedy feature film. One of the earliest "talkies", it was a sequel to '' What Price Glory?'' (1926), it was directed and written by Raoul Walsh and based on the Fl ...

'' (1929) as Buckley * '' Sweetie'' (1929) as Axel Bronstrup * ''

The Trespasser Trespasser is, in the law of tort, property law and criminal law, a person who commits the crime of trespassing on a property. Trespasser or ''variant'' may refer to: * Trespasser (video game), ''Trespasser'' (video game), a 1998 computer game ma ...

'' (1929) as Reporter (uncredited) * '' This Thing Called Love'' (1929) as Fred * '' Men Without Women'' (1930) as Radioman Jenkins * '' Young Eagles'' (1930) as Pudge Higgins * '' Paramount on Parade'' (1930) as Marine (The Montmartre Girl) * '' Dangerous Nan McGrew'' (1930) as Eustace Macy * '' Love Among the Millionaires'' (1930) as Clicker Watson * '' Playboy of Paris'' (1930) as Paul Michel * '' Only Saps Work'' (1930) as Oscar * '' Along Came Youth'' (1930) as Ambrose * '' No Limit'' (1931) as Ole Olson * ''

Dude Ranch A guest ranch, also known as a dude ranch, is a type of ranch oriented towards visitors or tourism. It is considered a form of agrotourism. History Guest ranches arose in response to the romanticization of the American West that began to occur ...

'' (1931) as Chester Carr * '' Up Pops the Devil'' (1931) as Stranger * '' The Magnificent Lie'' (1931) as Elmer Graham * '' Working Girls'' (1931) as Pat Kelly * '' Two Kinds of Women'' (1932) as Hauser * ''

Strangers in Love ''Strangers in Love'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Lothar Mendes, written by Grover Jones, William J. Locke and William Slavens McNutt, and starring Fredric March, Kay Francis, Stuart Erwin, Juliette Compton, Geor ...

'' (1932) as Stan Kenney * ''

Misleading Lady ''The Misleading Lady'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Stuart Walker, and starring Claudette Colbert and Edmund Lowe. The film is based on the 1913 Broadway play by Charles W. Goddard and Paul Dickey. It is also a re ...

'' (1932) as Boney * '' Make Me a Star'' (1932) as Merton Gill * ''

'' (1932) as Leslie McWhinney * ''

Face in the Sky ''Face in the Sky'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Spencer Tracy and Stuart Erwin. The film was directed by Harry Lachman and released by Fox Film. Plot Two sign painters find themselves blackmailed by a beautiful woman dete ...

'' (1933) as Lucky * '' The Crime of the Century'' (1933) as Dan McKee * '' He Learned About Women'' (1933) as Peter Potter Kendall II * '' Under the Tonto Rim'' (1933) as 'Tonto' Daily * '' International House'' (1933) as Tommy Nash * '' Hold Your Man'' (1933) as Al Simpson * '' The Stranger's Return'' (1933) as Simon Bates * '' Before Dawn'' (1933) as Dwight Wilson * '' Day of Reckoning'' (1933) as Jerry * '' Going Hollywood'' (1933) as Ernest P. Baker * '' Palooka'' (1934) as Joe Palooka * '' Viva Villa!'' (1934) as Jonny Sykes * '' Bachelor Bait'' (1934) as Mr. William Watts * '' The Party's Over'' (1934) * '' Chained'' (1934) as John L. 'Johnnie' Smith * '' Have a Heart'' (1934) as Gus Anderson * '' The Band Plays On'' (1934) as Stuffy Wilson * '' After Office Hours'' (1935) as Hank Parr * '' Ceiling Zero'' (1936) as Texas Clarke * '' Exclusive Story'' (1936) as Timothy Aloysius Higgins * ''

Absolute Quiet ''Absolute Quiet'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by George B. Seitz and written by Harry Clork. The film stars Lionel Atwill, Irene Hervey, Raymond Walburn, Stuart Erwin, Ann Loring and Louis Hayward. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, it was ...

'' (1936) as 'Chubby' Rudd * ''

Women Are Trouble ''Women Are Trouble'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by Errol Taggart and written by Michael Fessier. The film stars Stuart Erwin, Paul Kelly, Florence Rice, Margaret Irving, Cy Kendall and John Harrington. The film was released on J ...

'' (1936) as Matt Casey * '' All American Chump'' (1936) as Elmer Lamb * '' Pigskin Parade'' (1936) as Amos Dodd * '' Slim'' (1937) as Stumpy * '' Dance Charlie Dance'' (1937) as Andrew 'Andy' Tucker * '' Small Town Boy'' (1937) as Henry Armstrong * ''

Sunday Night at the Trocadero ''Sunday Night at the Trocadero'' is a 1937 short film directed by George Sidney. It appears as a special feature on the DVD version of the Marx Brothers' '' A Night at the Opera''. Plot Cast * Reginald Denny - Master of Ceremonies * Con ...

'' (1937) * '' Second Honeymoon'' (1937) as Leo MacTavish * '' I'll Take Romance'' (1937) as 'Pancho' Brown * ''

Checkers Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), is a group of Abstract strategy game, strategy board games for two players which involve forward movements of uniform game ...

'' (1937) as Edgar Connell * '' Mr. Boggs Steps Out'' (1938) as Oliver Boggs * ''

Three Blind Mice "Three Blind Mice" is an English nursery rhyme and musical round.I. Opie and P. Opie, ''The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1951, 2nd edn., 1997), p. 306. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 3753. ...

'' (1938) as Mike Brophy * '' Passport Husband'' (1938) as Henry Cabot * '' Back Door to Heaven'' (1939) as Jud Mason * '' It Could Happen to You'' (1939) as Mackinley Winslow * '' Hollywood Cavalcade'' (1939) as Pete Tinney * '' The Honeymoon's Over'' (1939) as Donald Todd * ''

'' (1940) as Howie Newsome * ''

When the Daltons Rode ''When the Daltons Rode'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by George Marshall and starring Randolph Scott, Kay Francis and Brian Donlevy. Based on the 1931 book of the same name by Emmett Dalton, a member of the Dalton Gang, and Jack J ...

'' (1940) as Ben Dalton * '' A Little Bit of Heaven'' (1940) as Cotton * '' Sandy Gets Her Man'' (1940) as Bill Kerry * '' Cracked Nuts'' (1941) as Lawrence Trent * '' The Bride Came C.O.D.'' (1941) as Tommy Keenan * '' The Adventures of Martin Eden'' (1942) as Joe Dawson * '' Drums of the Congo'' (1942) as Congo Jack * '' Blondie for Victory'' (1942) as Pvt. Herschel Smith * '' He Hired the Boss'' (1943) as Hubert Wilkins * '' The Great Mike'' (1944) as Jay Spencer * '' Pillow to Post'' (1945) as Captain Jack Ross * '' Killer Dill'' (1947) as Johnny 'Killer' Dill * '' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947) as Sheriff Matt Bodine * '' Heading for Heaven'' (1947) as Henry Elkins * '' Doctor Jim'' (1947) as Dr. James (Jim) Gateson * '' Strike It Rich'' (1948) as Delbart Lane * '' Father Is a Bachelor'' (1950) as Constable Pudge Barnham * '' Main Street to Broadway'' (1953) as Stuart Erwin, First Nighter (uncredited) * '' For the Love of Mike'' (1960) as Dr. Mills * ''

'' (1963) as Coach Wilson * '' The Misadventures of Merlin Jones'' (1964) as Police Captain Loomis

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Erwin, Stuart 1903 births 1967 deaths American male film actors American male stage actors American male radio actors American male television actors Burials at Chapel of the Pines Crematory People from Fresno County, California Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors Porterville High School alumni 20th Century Studios contract players Warner Bros. contract players Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players