Harry Shannon

Harry Shannon

actor, soundtrack

Harry Shannon was born on Jun 13, 1890 in USA. Harry Shannon's big-screen debut came with Faint Heart directed by Murray Roth in 1929, strarring Dynamite Dan. Harry Shannon is known for Touch of Evil directed by Orson Welles, Charlton Heston stars as Mike Vargas and Janet Leigh as Susan Vargas. The most recent award Harry Shannon achieved is Venice Film Festival. The upcoming new movie Harry Shannon plays is Gypsy which will be released on Nov 01, 1962.

Born and raised on a farm in Michigan in 1890, Irish-American character actor Harry Shannon had the credentials for becoming a staple player in westerns. He started off his career traveling around with repertory and stock companies and developed his musical abilities in tent shows, burlesque houses and such tuneful Broadway shows as "Oh, Kay!" (1926), "Hold Everything" (1928), "Simple Simon" (1931), and "Pardon My English" (1933). A company member of Joseph Schildkraut's Hollywood Theater Guild, Shannon broke into films at the advent of sound and started things off in comedy film shorts opposite such celebrated players as Bert Lahr, Shemp Howard, and Leon Errol. In the 1940s Shannon established himself in feature-length movies and although he remained a minor, second-string player, he proved himself a durable presence in westerns usually remaining on the good side of the law as sheriffs and bucolic dads. In lighthearted entertainment he could be found as a friendly Irish cop or bartender. He made a slight but memorable impression as Kane's alcoholic father in the classic Citizen Kane (1941), while his last role would be as the grandfather in the musical Gypsy, vénus de Broadway (1962). In between were small parts in such notable films as J'avais cinq fils (1944), Le roman d'Al Jolson (1946), Le train sifflera trois fois (1952), La soif du mal (1958), and Les boucaniers (1958). 1950s TV westerns such as Cheyenne (1955), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), and Gunsmoke (1955) made consistent use of his rustic demeanor. Shannon died in 1964 at age 74.

  • Birthday

    Jun 13, 1890
  • Place of Birth

    Saginaw, Michigan, USA

Known For

Awards

1 wins & 0 nominations

Venice Film Festival
1954
Executive Suite (1954)
Winner - Special Jury Prize
Executive Suite (1954)

Movies & TV Shows

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Movies
TV Shows