Harry Shannon
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.
Acting
Movie
Citizen Kane
as Jim Kane
1941
Movie
Touch of Evil
as Chief Gould
1958
Movie
High Noon
as Cooper
1952
Movie
The Lady from Shanghai
as Cab Driver
1947
Movie
Written on the Wind
as Hoak Wayne
1956
TV
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Dr. Harner
1955
Movie
The Gunfighter
as Chuck (uncredited)
1950
Movie
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
as Tesander
1948
Movie
This Gun for Hire
as Steve Finnerty
1942
TV
The Untouchables
as Michael Shaw
1959
TV
Gunsmoke
as Bowers
1955
Movie
Champion
as Lew
1949
Movie
The Red House
as Dr. Jonathan Byrne
1947
Movie
The Mummy's Ghost
as Sheriff Elwood
1944
Movie
The Tall Men
as Sam
1955
Movie
Gypsy
as Grandpa
1962
Movie
Witness to Murder
as Captain Donnelly
1954
TV
Lassie
1954
Movie
Canyon Passage
as Henry McLane (uncredited)
1946
Movie
Executive Suite
as Ed Benedeck
1954
Movie
The Violent Men
as Purdue
1955
Movie
Where Danger Lives
as Dr. Maynard
1950
Movie
Once Upon a Honeymoon
as Ed Cumberland
1942
Movie
The Buccaneer
as Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian
1958