Dick Curtis
Encyclopedia
Dick Curtis was an American actor who made over 230 film and television appearances during his career.
. A tall, hulking actor, standing at 6' 3", Curtis appeared in films stretching from Charles Starrett
to The Three Stooges. In most of his films, he played villains or heavies. He made television appearances on The Lone Ranger
and The Range Rider
. He appeared in California Gold Rush
, Spook Town
, The Gene Autry Show
, and many others.
Though his forte was in villainous roles, Curtis had a genuine comedic touch. As such, modern audiences will recognize Curtis for his roles such Three Stooges
films as Yes, We Have No Bonanza
, You Nazty Spy
and The Three Troubledoers
.
, Curtis helped develop Pioneertown
, a western movie set location in Southern California that was used for many television and film westerns.
on January 3, 1952. His final appearance with the Stooges was as Shemp Howard's dental patient in The Tooth Will Out
.
He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
in Culver City, California
.
Career
Curtis was born Richard Dye in Newport, KentuckyNewport, Kentucky
Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which...
. A tall, hulking actor, standing at 6' 3", Curtis appeared in films stretching from Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was an American actor best known for his starring role in the Durango Kid Columbia Pictures western series. He was born in Athol, Massachusetts.-Career:...
to The Three Stooges. In most of his films, he played villains or heavies. He made television appearances on The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked Texas Ranger who, with his Native American companion Tonto, fights injustice in the American Old West. The character has become an enduring icon of American culture....
and The Range Rider
The Range Rider
The Range Rider is an American Western television series that aired in syndication from 1951-1953. A single lost episode was first shown in 1959...
. He appeared in California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, Spook Town
Spook Town
- Cast :*Dave O'Brien as Texas Ranger Tex*James Newill as Texas Ranger Jim*Guy Wilkerson as Texas Ranger Panhandle*Mady Lawrence as Lucy Warren*Dick Curtis as Sam Benson*Harry Harvey as Drywash Thompson*Ed Cassidy as Ranger Capt...
, The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show
The Gene Autry Show is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.-Overview:...
, and many others.
Though his forte was in villainous roles, Curtis had a genuine comedic touch. As such, modern audiences will recognize Curtis for his roles such Three Stooges
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
films as Yes, We Have No Bonanza
Yes, We Have No Bonanza
Yes, We Have No Bonanza is the 39th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, You Nazty Spy
You Nazty Spy
You Nazty Spy! is the 44th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. It was the first Hollywood film that openly satirized Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, months before Charles Chaplin's controversial feature film, The Great Dictator.-Plot:In the fictional country of...
and The Three Troubledoers
The Three Troubledoers
The Three Troubledoers is the 91st short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
.
Pioneertown
With the help of his friend and actor Russell HaydenRussell Hayden
Russell "Lucky" Hayden was an American film and television actor.He was born as Hayden Michael "Pate" Lucid, son of Francis J...
, Curtis helped develop Pioneertown
Pioneertown, California
Pioneertown, California is an unincorporated village in the Morongo Basin region of Southern California's Inland Empire Metropolitan Area. It is located approximately 56 miles east of San Bernardino.-History:...
, a western movie set location in Southern California that was used for many television and film westerns.
Death
Curtis died of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on January 3, 1952. His final appearance with the Stooges was as Shemp Howard's dental patient in The Tooth Will Out
The Tooth Will Out
The Tooth Will Out is the 134th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
.
He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Holy Cross Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 5835 West Slauson Avenue in Culver City, California, operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles....
in Culver City, California
Culver City, California
Culver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
.