BM
Barton MacLane
Actor, Writer
Born December 25, 1902Died January 1, 1969 (66 years)
Barton MacLane graduated from Wesleyan University, where he displayed a notable aptitude for sports, in particular football and basketball. Not surprisingly, his physical prowess led to an early role in The Quarterback (1926) with Richard Dix. MacLane once commented that, as an actor, he needed to have the physical strength to tear the bad guys "from limb to limb", if necessary. Ironically, it was usually Barton himself who was destined to be at the end of a hiding (when not getting shot, instead), typically as snarling henchmen, outlaws and other assorted dubious or abrasive types throughout most of his 40-year acting career. In fact, Barton became so typecast that his name was for a time used proverbially, to generally describe a shouting, hard-nosed ruffian.
After training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, MacLane joined a stock company in Brooklyn. In 1927 he had his first part on Broadway, a brief moment as an assistant district attorney, in the melodrama "The Trial of Mary Dugan". He then played a small featured role as a police officer in "Subway Express" (1929-30), a drama enacted in the interior of a subway car. In mid-1932 MacLane tried his hand at writing his own starring vehicle for the stage, entitled "Rendezvous". While the play closed after just 21 performances, it led to a contract with Warner Brothers.
Barton had already appeared in bit roles for Paramount at their Astoria Studios, including The Marx Brothers' debut film The Cocoanuts (1929). He portrayed mobster Brad Collins in 'G' Men (1935) (with James Cagney), which set the tone for most of his future assignments. Brawny, with squinty eyes and a rasping voice, MacLane was the ideal surly tough guy, particularly suitable for westerns and the type of films noir Warner Brothers excelled at. He was often cast as cops, be they bent or honest. Some of his most representative performances include gangster Al Kruger in Bullets or Ballots (1936), which won him some of the best critical notices of his career; outlaw Jack Slade in Western Union (1941); crooked construction boss Pat McCormick, who gets beaten up by Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt over past-due wages in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); hard-nosed cops Detective Dundy in The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Lt. Reece in Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). MacLane, on loan to Universal, also had a starring role in Prison Break (1938) as an innocent tuna fisherman who is framed for murder. He was prominent as a tough but sympathetic cop, foil to sleuthing girl reporter Glenda Farrell in the "Torchy Blaine" series of the mid- to late 1930s. In the 1960s Barton began to cultivate a good-guy image as Marshal Frank Caine in the NBC western series Outlaws (1960) as well as showing up in a small recurring role as Air Force Gen. Martin Peterson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
Barton was married to the actress Charlotte Wynters, who appeared with him in six of his films. When not on the set, the couple spent time on their 2000-acre cattle ranch in Madera County, California.
For his work in television, Barton has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
After training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, MacLane joined a stock company in Brooklyn. In 1927 he had his first part on Broadway, a brief moment as an assistant district attorney, in the melodrama "The Trial of Mary Dugan". He then played a small featured role as a police officer in "Subway Express" (1929-30), a drama enacted in the interior of a subway car. In mid-1932 MacLane tried his hand at writing his own starring vehicle for the stage, entitled "Rendezvous". While the play closed after just 21 performances, it led to a contract with Warner Brothers.
Barton had already appeared in bit roles for Paramount at their Astoria Studios, including The Marx Brothers' debut film The Cocoanuts (1929). He portrayed mobster Brad Collins in 'G' Men (1935) (with James Cagney), which set the tone for most of his future assignments. Brawny, with squinty eyes and a rasping voice, MacLane was the ideal surly tough guy, particularly suitable for westerns and the type of films noir Warner Brothers excelled at. He was often cast as cops, be they bent or honest. Some of his most representative performances include gangster Al Kruger in Bullets or Ballots (1936), which won him some of the best critical notices of his career; outlaw Jack Slade in Western Union (1941); crooked construction boss Pat McCormick, who gets beaten up by Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt over past-due wages in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); hard-nosed cops Detective Dundy in The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Lt. Reece in Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). MacLane, on loan to Universal, also had a starring role in Prison Break (1938) as an innocent tuna fisherman who is framed for murder. He was prominent as a tough but sympathetic cop, foil to sleuthing girl reporter Glenda Farrell in the "Torchy Blaine" series of the mid- to late 1930s. In the 1960s Barton began to cultivate a good-guy image as Marshal Frank Caine in the NBC western series Outlaws (1960) as well as showing up in a small recurring role as Air Force Gen. Martin Peterson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965).
Barton was married to the actress Charlotte Wynters, who appeared with him in six of his films. When not on the set, the couple spent time on their 2000-acre cattle ranch in Madera County, California.
For his work in television, Barton has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Known For
Filmography
| 1987 | Bloopermania · as Cast |
| 1986 | Classic Comedy Teams · as Captain Jenkins (segment "east Side Kids") |
| 1968 | Buckskin · as Dr. H. 'doc' Raymond |
| 1968 | Arizona Bushwhackers · as Sheriff Grover |
| 1967 | Hondo (TV Series) |
| 1965 | The Monkees (TV Series) |
| 1965 | Town Tamer · as James Fell |
| 1965 | I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series) · as General Peterson |
| 1965 | The Rounders · as Tanner |
| 1964 | Law of the Lawless · as Big Tom Stone |
| 1964 | The Munsters (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Pocketful of Miracles · as Police Commissioner |
| 1960 | Outlaws (TV Series) · as Marshal Frank Caine |
| 1960 | Noose for a Gunman · as Carl Avery |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) · as Big Jed Braddock |
| 1959 | Gunfighters of Abilene · as Seth |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) · as Cameron Gault |
| 1959 | Tightrope (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Black Saddle (TV Series) · as General Fowler |
| 1958 | The Geisha Boy · as Major Ridgley |
| 1958 | Frontier Gun · as Simon Crayle |
| 1958 | Girl on the Run · as Francis J. Brannigan |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) |
| 1958 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 1957 | Perry Mason (TV Series) · as Sheriff Eugene Norris |
| 1957 | Naked in the Sun · as Wilson |
| 1957 | Sierra Stranger · as Lem Gotch |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) · as Old Man Clanton |
| 1957 | Hell's Crossroads · as Clyde O'connell |
| 1956 | Three Violent People · as Yates |
| 1956 | Naked Gun · as Joe Barnum |
| 1956 | The Man Is Armed · as Det. Lt. Dan Coster |
| 1956 | Circus Boy (TV Series) · as Pinkerton Detective Nolan |
| 1956 | Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) · as Dan Royal |
| 1956 | Wetbacks · as Karl Shanks |
| 1956 | Telephone Time (TV Series) |
| 1956 | Backlash · as Sergeant George Lake |
| 1956 | Jaguar · as Steve Bailey |
| 1955 | Crossroads (1955) (TV Series) · as Truck Adams |
| 1955 | |
| 1955 | Jail Busters · as Captain Jenkins |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Willard Kerner |
| 1955 | Foxfire · as Jim Mablett |
| 1955 | The Silver Star · as Henry 'tiny' Longtree |
| 1955 | Treasure of Ruby Hills · as Chalk Reynolds |
| 1954 | Hell's Outpost · as Sheriff Olson |
| 1954 | Disneyland (TV Series) · as Rawls Kettrick |
| 1954 | Rails Into Laramie · as Lee Graham |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1954 | Studio 57 (TV Series) |
| 1954 | The Whistler (TV Series) · as Mckay |
| 1954 | Waterfront (TV Series) · as Mcclurg |
| 1954 | Jubilee Trail · as Deacon Bartlett |
| 1954 | The Glenn Miller Story · as General Arnold |
| 1953 | Jack Slade · as Jules Reni |
| 1953 | Sea of Lost Ships · as Capt. Jack Matthews |
| 1953 | Captain Scarface · as Captain Scarface |
| 1953 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) · as Capt. Hansen |
| 1953 | Cow Country · as Marvin Parker |
| 1953 | Kansas Pacific · as Cal Bruce |
| 1952 | Thunderbirds · as Sgt. Durkee |
| 1952 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) · as Capt. Webber |
| 1952 | Bugles in the Afternoon · as Capt. Myles Moylan |
| 1952 | The Half-Breed · as Marshal Cassidy |
| 1951 | Drums in the Deep South · as Sgt. Mac Mccardle |
| 1951 | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (TV Series) · as Chief Brooks |
| 1951 | Best of the Badmen · as Joad |
| 1950 | Bandit Queen · as Sheriff Jim Harden |
| 1950 | Let's Dance · as Larry Channock |
| 1950 | The Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) · as Marvin Platt |
| 1950 | Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye · as Lieutenant John Reece |
| 1949 | Red Light · as Detective Strecker |
| 1949 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) · as Big Red |
| 1948 | The Walls of Jericho · as Rufus J. "gotch" Mccurdy |
| 1948 | Unknown Island · as Capt. Tarnowski |
| 1948 | Angel in Exile · as Max Giorgio |
| 1948 | The Dude Goes West · as Texas Jack Barton |
| 1948 | Silver River · as 'banjo' Sweeney |
| 1948 | Relentless · as Tex Brandow |
| 1948 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre · as Pat Mccormick |
| 1947 | Jungle Flight · as Case Hagin |
| 1947 | Cheyenne · as Webb Yancey |
| 1947 | Kraft Television Theatre (TV Series) · as Potter |
| 1947 | Tarzan and the Huntress · as Paul Weir |
| 1946 | San Quentin · as Nick Taylor |
| 1946 | Santa Fe Uprising · as Crawford |
| 1946 | Mysterious Intruder · as Detective Taggart |
| 1945 | The Spanish Main · as Capt. Benjamin Black |
| 1945 | Scared Stiff · as George 'deacon' Markham |
| 1945 | Tarzan and the Amazons · as Ballister |
| 1944 | Gentle Annie · as Sheriff Tatum |
| 1944 | Cry of the Werewolf · as Lt. Barry Lane |
| 1944 | Secret Command · as Red Kelly |
| 1944 | Marine Raiders · as Sgt. Maguire |
| 1944 | The Mummy's Ghost · as Inspector Walgreen |
| 1944 | |
| 1943 | The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case · as Detective Rief |
| 1943 | The Underdog · as John Tate |
| 1943 | Song of Texas · as Jim Calvert |
| 1943 | Bombardier · as Archie Dixon |
| 1943 | Man of Courage · as John Wallace |
| 1942 | Highways by Night · as Leo Bronson |
| 1942 | The Big Street · as Case Ables |
| 1942 | All Through the Night · as Marty Callahan |
| 1941 | The Maltese Falcon · as Lt. Of Detectives Dundy |
| 1941 | Wild Geese Calling · as Pirate Kelly |
| 1941 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde · as Sam Higgins |
| 1941 | Manpower · as Smiley Quinn |
| 1941 | Hit the Road · as James J. Ryan |
| 1941 | Barnacle Bill · as John Kelly |
| 1941 | Western Union · as Jack Slade |
| 1941 | Come Live with Me · as Barney Grogan |
| 1941 | High Sierra · as Jake Kranmer |
| 1940 | Melody Ranch · as Mark Wildhack |
| 1940 | Men Without Souls · as Blackie Drew |
| 1940 | Gangs of Chicago · as Jim Ramsey |
| 1939 | Mutiny in the Big House · as Red Manson |
| 1939 | Torchy Runs for Mayor · as Steve Mcbride |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane in Chinatown · as Det. Lt. Steve 'mac' Mcbride |
| 1939 | Stand Up and Fight · as Crowder |
| 1938 | Torchy Gets Her Man · as Detective Steve Mcbride |
| 1938 | Prison Break · as Joaquin Shannon |
| 1938 | You and Me · as Mickey |
| 1938 | Gold Is Where You Find It · as Slag Martin |
| 1938 | Blondes at Work · as Lt. Steve Mcbride |
| 1937 | The Adventurous Blonde · as Det. Lt. Steve Mcbride |
| 1937 | The Kid Comes Back · as Gunner Malone |
| 1937 | Wine, Women and Horses · as Jim Turner |
| 1937 | San Quentin · as Lt. Druggin |
| 1937 | Ever Since Eve · as Al Mccoy |
| 1937 | Born Reckless · as Jim Barnes |
| 1937 | Fly Away Baby · as Steve Mcbride |
| 1937 | Draegerman Courage · as Andrew Beaupre |
| 1937 | The Prince and the Pauper · as John Canty |
| 1937 | You Only Live Once · as Stephen Whitney |
| 1937 | God's Country and the Woman · as Bullhead |
| 1936 | Smart Blonde · as Steve Mcbride |
| 1936 | Jailbreak · as Detective Captain Rourke |
| 1936 | Bengal Tiger · as Cliff Ballenger |
| 1936 | Bullets or Ballots · as Al Kruger |
| 1936 | Times Square Playboy · as Casey (vic's Butler/trainer) |
| 1936 | The Walking Dead · as Loder |
| 1936 | Ceiling Zero · as Al Stone |
| 1935 | Man of Iron · as Chris Bennett |
| 1935 | Frisco Kid · as Spider Burke |
| 1935 | I Found Stella Parish · as Clifton Jeffords |
| 1935 | Dr. Socrates · as Red Bastian |
| 1935 | The Case of the Lucky Legs · as Bisonette |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory · as Blackie |
| 1935 | Stranded · as Sharkey |
| 1935 | 'G' Men · as Collins |
| 1935 | Black Fury · as Mcgee |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance · as Duke Hutchinson |
| 1935 | The Case of the Curious Bride · as Detective Lucas |
| 1934 | The Last Round-Up · as Charley Benson |
| 1934 | All of Me · as First Cop (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Tillie and Gus · as Commissioner Mclennan |
| 1933 | To the Last Man · as Neil Stanley |
| 1933 | Man of the Forest · as Mulvey |
| 1933 | The Thundering Herd · as Henchman Pruitt |
| 1932 | |
| 1932 | The Naggers in Four Wheels - No Brakes · as Cast |
| 1932 | State's Attorney · as Court Reporter |
| 1931 | His Woman · as Crewman |
| 1929 | The Cocoanuts · as Bather |