John CRAWFORD 21 September 2010 R.I.P.

[seeall]

John Crawford, who appeared in more than 200 titles in his over 40-

year career, died of a stroke on Sept. 21 in Newbury Park, Calif. He

was 90.



Crawford was spotted by a Warner Bros. scout while attending the U. of

Washington's School of Drama and though he failed a screen test he

joined RKO as a laborer.



He followed that up by working at Circle Theater in Los Angeles

building sets and persuaded the producers to cast him in some of its

plays. Soon Columbia signed him to act in its westerns.



He moved to bigger roles in such films as 1958's "Orders to Kill" and

"The Key" in the U.K. On his return to the U.S. he was



cast in 1970s action pics including "The Enforcer," "Towering Inferno"

and "The Poseidon Adventure."



Crawford had recurring arcs in iconic TV shows of the era from "The

Waltons" to "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Gunsmoke." He last appeared

on TV in 1986's "Hardcastle and McCormick."



In 2009, "My Rodeo Years: Memoir of a Bronc Rider's Path to Hollywood

Fame" was published, with Crawford sharing writing credits with

stuntman Yakima Canutt.



Survivors include his longtime companion, Ann Wakefield; four

daughters; and two grandchildren.

[batman]

A solid character actor whose best performance IMHO was as 'Don Starling' in Hell is a City. He appeared in some great British films and in some of my favourite US TV series and was always a welcome face. RIP sir.

[philip hindley]

Ahh...another one gone...off the top of my head HELL IS A CITY,a cracking film, a right old villain he was...goodnight

[drumbeg]

How sad to learn of the recent deaths of American actors James MacArthur and John Crawford,aged 72 and 90 respectively. I certainly agree with batman and philip hindley about the film Hell is a City and the standout performance of John Crawford.

[smudge]

Another mark of respect from me - particularly for HELL IS A CITY. Glad to know that John Crawford got a decent innings.



Smudge

[Rangebuster]

As a fan of the old Saturday Matinee serials I have seen John Crawford in over a dozen of them including Dangers of the Canadian Mounted, Ghost of Zorro, Son of Geronimo and The Invisible Monster.

Just recently finished watching a surpringly entertaining Columbia serial The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd in which he had the lead role.

[dicky2006]

He had a good role opposite Hazel Court in "The Man Who Was Nobody" directed by Montgomery Tully at Merton Park.

[Gerald Lovell]

Just recently finished watching a surpringly entertaining Columbia serial The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd in which he had the lead role.

I watched that serial not long ago too, and John Crawford played the part well, certainly less flamboyantly than Charles Laughton in his two stabs at the role!

[Merton Park]

Excellent in Hell is a City, never to be forgotten as a real nasty villain. One of my favourite films.

RIP

[Toscana]

I did not know he was in his 90's. Fine reliable actor who seems to have been in a few things with James Garner.

[Windthrop]

RIP John - great in The Big Heat