Stanley Clements
Encyclopedia
Stanley Clements was an American
actor
and comedian
.
Stanley Clements was born Stanislaw Klimowicz in Long Island, New York. Young Stan realized that he wanted a show-business career while he was in grammar school, and when he graduated from college he toured in vaudeville
for two years. He then joined the touring company of the Major Bowes Amateur Hour
. In 1941, he was signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox
and appeared in several B films for the studio.
After a short stint with the East Side Kids
, he set out on his own again, this time landing roles in more prestigious pictures. He was featured in the Bing Crosby
hit Going My Way
, and scored a great success as a jockey in the Alan Ladd feature Salty O'Rourke
. His career was interrupted by military service in World War II
, and when he returned, he began appearing in lower-budgeted films, including Johnny Holiday (cast against type as a psychopath). He starred in a series of action/detective pictures at Allied Artists for producer Ben Schwalb and director Edward Bernds
.
Schwalb soon became staff producer for The Bowery Boys
, and when he needed a replacement for Leo Gorcey
in 1956, he asked Clements to step in. Clements comfortably settled into the role of Huntz Hall
's sidekick, beginning with Fighting Trouble
, and co-starred in the final seven Bowery Boys comedies.
The series finally ended in 1958, and Clements went on to a steady career of supporting roles in film and TV until his death from emphysema
in 1981. One of his last jobs was an appearance in a nationally advertised commercial for Pringle's
potato chips.
Stanley Clements died of emphysema in Pasadena, California
, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery
in Riverside
, California.
- East Side Kids or Bowery Boys series
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
.
Stanley Clements was born Stanislaw Klimowicz in Long Island, New York. Young Stan realized that he wanted a show-business career while he was in grammar school, and when he graduated from college he toured in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
for two years. He then joined the touring company of the Major Bowes Amateur Hour
Major Bowes Amateur Hour
Major Bowes Amateur Hour, American radio's best-known talent show, was one of the most popular programs broadcast in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s...
. In 1941, he was signed to a contract by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
and appeared in several B films for the studio.
After a short stint with the East Side Kids
East Side Kids
The East Side Kids were characters in a series of films released by Monogram Pictures from 1940 through 1945. Many of them were originally part of The Dead End Kids and The Little Tough Guys, and several of them later became members of The Bowery Boys....
, he set out on his own again, this time landing roles in more prestigious pictures. He was featured in the Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
hit Going My Way
Going My Way
Going My Way is a 1944 film directed by Leo McCarey. It is a light-hearted musical comedy-drama about a new young priest taking over a parish from an established old veteran . Crosby sings five songs in the film. It was followed the next year by a sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's. This picture was...
, and scored a great success as a jockey in the Alan Ladd feature Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke
Salty O'Rourke is a 1945 film directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Alan Ladd and Gail Russell. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1946- Cast :* Alan Ladd as Salty O'Rourke* Gail Russell as Barbara Brooks* William Demarest as Smitty...
. His career was interrupted by military service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and when he returned, he began appearing in lower-budgeted films, including Johnny Holiday (cast against type as a psychopath). He starred in a series of action/detective pictures at Allied Artists for producer Ben Schwalb and director Edward Bernds
Edward Bernds
Edward Bernds was an American screenwriter and director, born in Chicago, Illinois.-Career:While in his junior year in Lake View High School, he and several friends formed a small radio clique and obtained amateur licenses...
.
Schwalb soon became staff producer for The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys
The Bowery Boys were fictional New York City characters who were the subject of feature films released by Monogram Pictures from 1946 through 1958....
, and when he needed a replacement for Leo Gorcey
Leo Gorcey
Leo Bernard Gorcey was an American stage and movie actor who became famous for portraying on film the leader of the group of young hooligans known variously as the Dead End Kids, The East Side Kids and The Bowery Boys. Always the most pugnacious member of the gangs he participated in, young Leo...
in 1956, he asked Clements to step in. Clements comfortably settled into the role of Huntz Hall
Huntz Hall
Henry Richard "Huntz" Hall was an American radio, theatrical, and motion picture performer noted primarily for his roles in the "Dead End Kids" movies, such as Angels with Dirty Faces , which gave way to the "The Bowery Boys" movie franchise, a prolific and highly successful series of comedies in...
's sidekick, beginning with Fighting Trouble
Fighting Trouble
Fighting Trouble is a 1956 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on September 16, 1956 by Allied Artists and is the forty-second film in the series. It was the first film in the series to feature Stanley Clements.-Plot:...
, and co-starred in the final seven Bowery Boys comedies.
The series finally ended in 1958, and Clements went on to a steady career of supporting roles in film and TV until his death from emphysema
Emphysema
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath. In people with emphysema, the tissues necessary to support the physical shape and function of the lungs are destroyed. It is included in a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary...
in 1981. One of his last jobs was an appearance in a nationally advertised commercial for Pringle's
Pringles
Pringles is a brand of potato and wheat based snacks originally developed by Procter & Gamble. Pringles are sold in more than 140 countries and have yearly sales of more than...
potato chips.
Stanley Clements died of emphysema in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery
Riverside National Cemetery is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers , making it the third-largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration...
in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California.
Partial filmography
- Smart AlecksSmart Alecks-Plot:Hank leaves the East Side Kids to become an apprentice crook; his first job being the lookout during a bank robbery done by Mike and Butch. Hank is handed the pistol one of the crooks used to rob the bank with the events witnessed by Police Officer Regan and Danny's sister...
* (1942) - 'Neath Brooklyn Bridge'Neath Brooklyn Bridge'Neath Brooklyn Bridge is a 1942 film released by Monogram Pictures. The film is the eleventh installment in the East Side Kids series and one of the more dramatic films of the series, released at a time when they were making lighter, more humorous fare...
* (1942) - The More the MerrierThe More the MerrierThe More the Merrier is a 1943 American comedy film made by Columbia Pictures which makes fun of the housing shortage during World War II, especially in Washington, D.C.. The picture stars Jean Arthur, Joel McCrea, Charles Coburn, Stanley Clements and Richard Gaines. The movie was directed by...
(1943) - Ghosts on the LooseGhosts on the LooseGhosts on the Loose is a 1943 American film and the fourteenth film in the East Side Kids series, directed by William Beaudine.The film was released in the United Kingdom as Ghosts in the Night.-Cast:The East Side Kids:*Leo Gorcey as Mugs...
* (1943) - Going My WayGoing My WayGoing My Way is a 1944 film directed by Leo McCarey. It is a light-hearted musical comedy-drama about a new young priest taking over a parish from an established old veteran . Crosby sings five songs in the film. It was followed the next year by a sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's. This picture was...
(1944) - Salty O'RourkeSalty O'RourkeSalty O'Rourke is a 1945 film directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Alan Ladd and Gail Russell. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1946- Cast :* Alan Ladd as Salty O'Rourke* Gail Russell as Barbara Brooks* William Demarest as Smitty...
(1946) - HazardHazard (1948 film)Hazard is a 1948 film directed by George Marshall. It stars Paulette Goddard and Macdonald Carey.-Cast:*Paulette Goddard as Ellen Crane*Macdonald Carey as JD Storm*Fred Clark as Lonnie Burns*Stanley Clements as Joe Zinkle...
(1948) - Canon CityCanon City (film)Canon City is an American film noir written and directed by Crane Wilbur. The drama features Scott Brady, Jeff Corey, Whit Bissell and others.-Plot:...
(1948) - Mr. Soft TouchMr. Soft TouchMr. Soft Touch is a 1949 film about a man on the run from the Mob. It stars Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes.-Plot:Polish American Joe Miracle returns from fighting in World War II, only to find his San Francisco nightclub under the control of the Mob, and his friend and partner Leo missing and...
(1949) - Destination MurderDestination MurderDestination Murder is an American crime film noir directed by Edward L. Cahn. The drama features Joyce Mackenzie, Stanley Clements and Hurd Hatfield.-Cast:* Joyce Mackenzie as Laura Mansfield* Stanley Clements as Jackie Wales...
(1950) - Boots MaloneBoots MaloneBoots Malone is a 1952 drama film starring William Holden as a down-on-his-luck sports agent and Johnny Stewart as a rich runaway who wants to become a jockey.-Plot:...
(1952) - White LightningWhite Lightning (1953 film)White Lightning is a 1953 film directed by Edward Bernds, starring Stanley Clements, Barbara Bestar and Steve Brodie. The film also features a young Lee Van Cleef in an early role.-Plot:...
(1953) - Off LimitsOff Limits (1953 film)Off Limits is a 1953 comedy film starring Bob Hope as a manager who enlists in the army to keep an eye on his boxer, who has been drafted. It was released in the UK as Military Policemen, as the characters played by Hope and his friend Mickey Rooney join the military police.-Cast:*Bob Hope as Wally...
(1953) - Fighting TroubleFighting TroubleFighting Trouble is a 1956 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on September 16, 1956 by Allied Artists and is the forty-second film in the series. It was the first film in the series to feature Stanley Clements.-Plot:...
* (1956) - Hot ShotsHot Shots (1956 film)Hot Shots is a 1956 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on December 23, 1956 by Monogram Pictures and is the forty-third film in the series. It was directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Jack Townley.-Synopsis:...
* (1956) - Hold That HypnotistHold That HypnotistHold That Hypnotist is a 1957 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on March 10, 1957 by Allied Artists and is the forty-fourth film in the series.-Plot:...
* (1957) - Spook ChasersSpook ChasersSpook Chasers is a 1957 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 2, 1957 by Allied Artists and is the forty-fifth film in the series.-Plot:...
* (1957) - Looking for DangerLooking for DangerLooking for Danger is a 1957 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on October 6, 1957 by Allied Artists and is the forty-sixth film in the series.-Synopsis:...
* (1957) - Up in SmokeUp In Smoke (1957 film)Up in Smoke is a 1957 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on December 22, 1957 by Allied Artists and is the forty-seventh film in the series.-Plot:...
* (1957) - In the MoneyIn the MoneyIn the Money is a comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on February 16, 1958 by Allied Artists Pictures and is the forty-eighth and final film in the series. It was directed by William Beaudine and written by Al Martin and Elwood Ullman.-Plot summary:Sach is hired to take...
* (1958) - Sniper's RidgeSniper's RidgeSniper's Ridge is a 1961 Korean War drama film directed by John A. Bushelman, starring Jack Ging and Stanley Clements.-Cast:* Jack Ging as Cpl. Sharack* Stanley Clements as Cpl. Pumphrey* John Goddard as Capt. Tombolo...
(1961) - Devil's PartnerDevil's Partner- Plot summary :The story opens with a hunched old man, Pete Jensen, who lives in a shack in the town of Furnace Flats.He slaughters a goat and daubs its blood within a pentagon drawn on the floor of his shack....
(1962) (screenwriter) - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers...
(1963) (uncredited)
- East Side Kids or Bowery Boys series