Tom London
Encyclopedia
Tom London was an American
actor who, according to "The Guinness Book of Movie Records," is credited with appearing in the most movies in the history of Hollywood. Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky
, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois.
His debut was in 1915 in the Western
Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent film
s, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I
film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock".
London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. He appeared as the sidekick to Western star Sunset Carson
in several films.
London is credited in several prints of The Great Train Robbery
, but since he was only 14 years old when that movie was filmed in 1903, it's unlikely that he actually appeared in it. One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films.
London made many guest appearances in television
shows through the 1950s. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A.
in 1961.
He died in North Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor who, according to "The Guinness Book of Movie Records," is credited with appearing in the most movies in the history of Hollywood. Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois.
His debut was in 1915 in the Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock".
London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. He appeared as the sidekick to Western star Sunset Carson
Sunset Carson
Sunset Carson, born Winifred Maurice Harrison was an American B-western star of the 1940s.-Early life, acting:...
in several films.
London is credited in several prints of The Great Train Robbery
The Great Train Robbery (1903 film)
The Great Train Robbery is a 1903 American action Western film by Edwin S. Porter. Twelve minutes long, it is considered a milestone in film making, expanding on Porter's previous work Life of an American Fireman. The film used a number of innovative techniques including cross cutting, double...
, but since he was only 14 years old when that movie was filmed in 1903, it's unlikely that he actually appeared in it. One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films.
London made many guest appearances in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
shows through the 1950s. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A.
Underworld U.S.A.
Underworld U.S.A. is a 1961 neo-noir film produced, written and directed by Samuel Fuller. It tells the story of a fourteen-year-old boy who goes to enormous lengths to get revenge against the mobsters who beat his father to death...
in 1961.
He died in North Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Selected filmography
- High NoonHigh NoonHigh Noon is a 1952 American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann and starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. The film tells in real time the story of a town marshal forced to face a gang of killers by himself...
(19521952 in filmThe year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
) - Jesse James Rides AgainJesse James Rides AgainJesse James Rides Again is a Republic film serial.-Cast:* Clayton Moore as Jesse James* Linda Stirling as Ann Bolton. It was during filming of this serial that Linda Stirling met her future husband Sloane Nibley.* Roy Barcroft as Frank Lawton...
(19471947 in filmThe year 1947 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 22 - Great Expectations is premiered in New York.*November 24 : The United States House of Representatives of the 80th Congress voted 346 to 17 to approve citations for contempt of Congress against the "Hollywood Ten".*November 25...
) - The Phantom RiderThe Phantom Rider (Republic serial)The Phantom Rider is a Republic Movie serial. It was later re-released under the new title Ghost Riders of the West.-Plot:Dr Jim Sterling attempts to create a police force on the Big Tree Indian Reservation...
(19461946 in filmThe year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
) - Santa Fe ScoutsSanta Fe ScoutsSanta Fe Scouts is a 1943 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Howard Bretherton.- Cast :* Bob Steele as Tucson Smith* Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke* Jimmie Dodd as Lullaby Joslin* Lois Collier as Claire Robbins* John James as Tim Clay...
(1943) - Shadows on the SageShadows on the SageShadows on the Sage is a 1942 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Lester Orlebeck.- Cast :* Bob Steele as Tucson Smith* Tom Tyler as Stony Brooke* Jimmie Dodd as Lullaby Joslin* Cheryl Walker as Doris Jackson...
(1942) - Pals of the PecosPals of the PecosPals of the Pecos is a 1941 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Lester Orlebeck.- Cast :* Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke* Bob Steele as Tucson Smith* Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin* June Johnson as June Burke...
(1941) - Lone Star RaidersLone Star RaidersLone Star Raiders is a 1940 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by George Sherman.- Cast :* Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke* Bob Steele as Tucson Smith* Rufe Davis as Lullaby Joslin* June Johnson as Linda Cameron...
(1940) - Covered Wagon DaysCovered Wagon DaysCovered Wagon Days is a 1940 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by George Sherman.- Cast :* Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke* Raymond Hatton as Rusty Joslin* Duncan Renaldo as Rico Rinaldo* Kay Griffith as Maria...
(1940) - The Night RidersThe Night Riders (1939 film)The Night Riders is a 1939 Three Mesquiteers film starring John Wayne, Ray "Crash" Corrigan, and Max Terhune. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one films in the popular series...
(19391939 in filmThe year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
) - Santa Fe StampedeSanta Fe StampedeSanta Fe Stampede is a 1938 Three Mesquiteers film starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, and Max Terhune. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one films in the popular series...
(19381938 in filmThe year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
) - The Lone RangerThe Lone Ranger (serial)The Lone Ranger is a 1938 American Republic Movie serial. It was the ninth of the sixty-six serials produced by Republic, the fourth western and the first of 1938...
(1938) - Outlaws of SonoraOutlaws of SonoraOutlaws of Sonora is a 1938 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by George Sherman.- Cast :* Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke* Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith* Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin* Jack Mulhall as Dr...
(1938) - Zorro Rides AgainZorro Rides AgainZorro Rides Again is a 12-chapter Republic film serial. It was the eighth of the sixty-six Republic serials, the third with a western theme and the last produced in 1937. The serial was directed by William Witney & John English and starred John Carroll as a modern descendant of the original Zorro...
(19371937 in filmThe year 1937 in film involved some significant events, including the Walt Disney production of the first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.- Events :*April 16 - Way Out West premieres in the US....
) - The Fighting MarinesThe Fighting MarinesThe Fighting Marines is a Mascot movie serial. This was the last serial ever produced by Mascot. The studio was bought out and merged with others to become Republic Pictures...
(19351935 in film-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
) - The Miracle RiderThe Miracle RiderThe Miracle Rider is a 1935 Mascot movie serial directed by B. Reeves Eason and Armand Schaefer. The serial stars Tom Mix.-Plot outline:Zaroff , a rancher and oil company owner, wants to drive the Ravenhead Indians off their reservation so that he can mine the rare element X-94, a super explosive,...
(1935) - Mystery MountainMystery Mountain (serial)Mystery Mountain is a Mascot movie serial.It was a remake of Mascot's own The Hurricane Express .-Plot overview:Detective Ken Williams tries to capture the master of disguise, The Rattler, who is attacking a railroad.-Cast:...
(19341934 in film-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
) - The Lost SpecialThe Lost Special (serial)The Lost Special is a Universal movie serial based on the story The Lost Special by Arthur Conan Doyle. This adaptation does not include Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes, and moves events to the American West....
(19321932 in film-Events:*Cary Grant's film career begins*Katharine Hepburn's film career begins*Shirley Temple's film career begins*Disney released Flowers and Trees, the first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film.*Santa, first sound film made in Mexico released....
) - The Galloping GhostThe Galloping Ghost (serial)The Galloping Ghost is a Mascot movie serial. The title is actually the nickname of the star, American football player Harold 'Red' Grange.-Plot:...
(19311931 in film-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:*Best Picture: Cimarron - MGM*Best Actor: Lionel Barrymore - A Free Soul*Best Actor: Wallace Beery - The Champ*Best Actor: Fredric March - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...
) - Queen of the NorthwoodsQueen of the NorthwoodsQueen of the Northwoods is a film serial produced in 1929 by Pathé, directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Storey, with a story by George Arthur Gray. Known cast members were Walter Miller, Ethlyne Clair and Frank Lackteen. This serial was silent, had ten episodes and is believed to still...
(19291929 in film-Events:The days of the silent film are numbered. A mad scramble to provide synchronized sound is on.*January 20 - The movie In Old Arizona is released. The film is the first full-length talking film to be filmed outdoors....
) - The Black WatchThe Black WatchThe Black Watch is a 1929 American early epic adventure drama film directed by John Ford and written by James Kevin McGuinness based on the novel King of the Khyber Rifles by Talbot Mundy. The film starred Victor McLaglen...
(1929) - The Yellow CameoThe Yellow CameoThe Yellow Cameo is a 1928 adventure film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Kay Cottrell* Edward Hearn - Terry Lawton* Cyclone the Dog - Cyclone, the Dog* Noble Johnson - Smoke Dawson...
(19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) - The Return of the Riddle RiderThe Return of the Riddle RiderThe Return of the Riddle Rider is a 1927 action film serial directed by Robert F. Hill. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* William Desmond - Randolph Parker / The Riddle Rider* Lola Todd - Madge McCormack* Grace Cunard - Vilda Dixon...
(19271927 in film-Events:*January 10 - Fritz Lang's science-fiction fantasy Metropolis premieres in Germany.*April 7 - Abel Gance's Napoleon often considered his best known and greatest masterpiece, premiers at the Paris Opéra and would demonstrate techniques and equipment that would not be used for years to...
) - The Golden StallionThe Golden StallionThe Golden Stallion is a 1927 Western film serial directed by Harry S. Webb.-Cast:* Maurice Bennett Flynn - Wynne Randall* Joe Bonomo - Ewart Garth* Jay J...
(1927) - Snowed InSnowed In (serial)Snowed In is a 1926 drama film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Shirley Kane* Walter Miller - David Sheridan* Frank Austin - J.B. Swinnerton...
(19261926 in film-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
) - The Bar-C MysteryThe Bar-C MysteryThe Bar-C Mystery is a 1926 Western film serial directed by Robert F. Hill. It is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Dorothy Phillips - Jane Cortelyou* Wallace MacDonald - Nevada* Ethel Clayton - Mrs...
(1926) - To the Last Man (19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - The Social BuccaneerThe Social BuccaneerThe Social Buccaneer is a 1923 film serial directed by Robert F. Hill.-Cast:* Jack Mulhall - Jack Norton* Margaret Livingston - Princess Elise* William Welsh - Raymond Norton* Harry De Vere - Harvey Vail* Wade Boteler - Madison Ames...
(1923) - Nan of the NorthNan of the NorthNan of the North is a 1922 adventure film serial directed by Duke Worne. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ann Little - Nan* Tom London - Dick Driscoll * Joseph W. Girard - Yukon Hays* Hal Wilson - Gaspar Le Sage...
(19221922 in film-Events:* June 11 - United States première of Robert J. Flaherty's Nanook of the North, the first commercially successful feature length documentary film....
) - 'In Wrong' Wright'In Wrong' Wright'In Wrong' Wright is a 1920 American western silent film directed by Albert Russell and starring Hoot Gibson.- Cast :* Hoot Gibson* Dorothy Wood* Harry Jackson* Charles Herzinger * Tom London * Jim Corey...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - MaskedMasked (film)Masked is a 1920 short Western film directed by Mack V. Wright and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson* Virginia Browne Faire* Dan Crimmins* Nelson McDowell* Jim Corey* Tom London...
(1920) - Wolf TracksWolf TracksWolf Tracks is a 1920 short Western film directed by Mack V. Wright and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson* Thelma Percy* Tom London - * Jim Corey* Charles Newton...
(1920) - His Nose in the BookHis Nose in the BookHis Nose in the Book is a 1920 short Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson* Mildred Moore* B. Reeves Eason Jr.* Jim Corey* George Field* Tom London -...
(1920) - The Lion ManThe Lion Man (serial)The Lion Man is a 1919 American action film serial released by the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, directed by Albert Russell and Jack Wells, produced by Russell and starring Kathleen O'Connor and Jack Perrin. The serial is now considered to be lost....
(19191919 in filmThe year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
) - The Lion's ClawsThe Lion's ClawsThe Lion's Claws is a 1918 American adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Jacques Jaccard. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Marie Walcamp as Beth Johnson* Ray Hanford as Buck Masterson* Neal Hart as Capt. Harris...
(19181918 in filmThe year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
) - LibertyLiberty (serial)Liberty is a 1916 Western film serial directed by Jacques Jaccard and Henry MacRae. It was the first purely western serial ever made...
(19161916 in filmThe year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
)