Harry Shannon
Acting
🎂 1890-06-12
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 (1962). In between were small parts in such notable films as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), The Jolson Story (1946), High Noon (1952), Touch of Evil (1958), and The Buccaneer (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.
Cast credits(149)
1954
Jesse
1957
Uncle Josh
1962
Claggert
1959
Kilo
1959
Sheriff Blanton
1959
1955
Bowers
1955
Judge William Jennings Westholme
1955
Jobe Crail
1958
Henry Shipman
1957
Dr. Harner
1955
1958
1957
1959
1956
Judge Varney
1952
1955
1957
1957
1952
Samuel Morse
1952
1963
Jim Kane
1941
Cooper
1952
Chief Gould
1958
Tom
1953
Purdue
1955
John 'Pop' Ormsby
1943
George Parker
1950
Harris Ellerby
1956
Grandpa
1962
1953
Chuck (uncredited)
1950
Vice Admiral Williams
1950
1960
Mr. Tim Wiggs
1942
Captain of the Far West (uncredited)
1959
Thomas Lee
1948
Sam Tyler (uncredited)
1961
Wayne Shattuck
1957
Marshal Pete MacKay
1955
Charlie
1950
Ed Benedeck
1954
Cab Driver
1947
Asylum Warden Anderson
1951
Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian
1958
Sam
1955
Steve Finnerty
1942
Tesander
1948
Clanahan
1950
Shannon
1946
Henry McLane (uncredited)
1946
Dr. Maynard
1950
Dr. Fisher
1957
Lew
1949
Wallace Bennett
1950
Mr. Casey
1940
Captain Donnelly
1954
Hoak Wayne
1956
Big Jim Heywood
1951
Detective Grimes (Uncredited)
1942
Mike Callan
1952
Cop (Uncredited)
1946
Dr. Burke (uncredited)
1961
Judge Raymond
1947
Sheriff Harmon
1949
Police Sergeant Garrett
1949
Chauncey
1948
Sam Bennett
1943
John (Policeman)
1951
Charlie Witherspoon
1943
Nelse Lansing
1949
Army Captain Brackett
1940
Smokestack the Train Engineer
1953
Bartender
1933
Mr. Carlin
1942
Sawyer
1949
Pat McGowan
1952
Judge Waller
1950
Passline
1940
Sam Weston
1944
Severance
1947
Sandy Reeves
1950
Ed, Chief of Police
1940
Father McGann
1940
Police Lieutenant
1947
Florida Doctor (Uncredited)
1942
Dr. Jonathan Byrne
1947
Tom Carter
1953
Police Commissioner Collins
1945
Judge John Grey
1943
Ed Cumberland
1942
Simmons
1945
Warden Kelly
1946
Mr. Holstrom
1947
Detective Owens, San Diego Police
1947
Drunken Cowpuncher
1956
Justin Corley
1958
Police Officer Houlihan
1950
Sam 'Pop' Tracy
1953
Policeman
1942
Judge Pierce
1954
Uncle Ralph
1945
Pinky Dolan
1942
Chief R.L. Graves
1941
Harry Wart
1933
Sheriff Brown
1953
Sheriff Elwood
1944
Albert Ness
1943
Mr. Yaeger
1950
Randall
1940
Barnes
1942
Police Lieutenant Blake
1946
Lieutenant Sullivan
1940
Timson
1940
McDermott
1940
Police Captain Henry (uncredited)
1948
1934
Michael Reilly
1954
Mr. Hendricks
1943
Det. Capt. R.W. Davis
1947
Mr. Mason
1943
American Immigration Official (uncredited)
1941
Clay
1950
Kelsey Bunker
1950
Fred Salter
1951
Capt. Denny
1930
Capt. Lawrence
1946
Capt. Rogers
1947
Capt. Mahoney
1940
John Rutherford
1955
Railroad Detective
1937
Mr. Buchanan
1951
Mr. Totter
1956
1948
Clay Ford
1957
Police Sergeant
1932
The Landlord
1934
Tom Gibbons
1943
Pop Middleton (archive footage)
1984
Tom Cary
1944
Father
1939
1933
Bank Robber
1934
Larry
1929
Macbeth
1936
Dynamite Dan
1929
Grogan
1933