George Dunn (actor) explained

George Dunn
Birth Name:Ollen George Dunn
Birth Date:November 23, 1914
Birth Place:Brownwood, Texas, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Othername:George E. Dunn
Occupation:Actor, humorist
Years Active:1953–1980

Born Ollen George Dunn (November 23, 1914 – April 27, 1982) was an American actor, humorist, vaudeville performer, and satirist born in Brownwood, Texas. He often portrayed Western characters in film and television. His homespun wit, rope tricks, and satirizing of American life, politics, and sports reflected the strong influence Will Rogers had on him as an entertainer.

Career

Dunn made his way to New York City to perform in vaudeville. From there, he went on to Hollywood, where he appeared in twenty five motion pictures and more than one hundred television shows. Some of his appearances were uncredited bit parts.

One of his major roles was "The Prophet" in Operation Petticoat, alongside Tony Curtis and Gavin MacLeod. Dunn also appeared in several other well-known films, including Giant, Inherit the Wind, The Long, Hot Summer, The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm, and Shenandoah. In another phase of his career, he appeared in a number of John Cassavetes films, including Faces and A Woman Under the Influence. Like John Wayne's, Dunn's final role was in The Shootist. In addition to his film work, Dunn appeared in many popular television shows throughout the mid '50s, '60s, and '70s, such as The Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, The Beverly Hillbillies, My Favorite Martian, and Starsky and Hutch. He also appeared in the Off-Broadway production of The Rainmaker in 1954.

While George Dunn never attained celebrity status, his long and steady acting career allowed him to travel around the world three times, visiting 95 countries. His world travels provided him with much fodder for humorous storytelling and entertaining after-dinner speaking engagements.

Death

Dunn died on April 27, 1982, in Los Angeles, California, aged 67, from undisclosed causes.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1953How to Marry a MillionaireMike - Elevator OperatorUncredited
1955Prince of PlayersDoorman Uncredited
Daddy Long Legs Chauffeur Uncredited
Good Morning, Miss DoveBert, the Janitor Uncredited
1956The Lieutenant Wore Skirts Base mail clerk Uncredited
Ransom!Bank clerkUncredited
Alternative title: Fearful Decision
Away All BoatsHubert
Giant Vern DeckerUncredited
1957The Kettles on Old MacDonald's FarmGeorge
Joe Dakota Jim Baldwin
1959Operation Petticoat The Prophet
1960Wake Me When It's OverStaff PhotographerUncredited
Inherit the WindBanker - Critic at City Meeting Uncredited
1962The Silent Witness
1965Baby the Rain Must Fall Counterman at Restaurant
1968FacesComedian
1969The Good Guys and the Bad GuysEngineer #1
1971The Beguiled Sam Jefferson
1973Stand Up and Be CountedPoliceman Uncredited
The Severed ArmHarry the Janitor
1974A Woman Under the InfluenceGarson Cross
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1958The Adventures of Jim BowieDavey Crockett1 episode
1958-1959Cimarron CityJesse Williams5 episodes
1959The Detectives Starring Robert TaylorSooky1 episode
The AlaskansStampede Pete1 episode
1960Harrigan and SonDetective1 episode
1960–1961The Andy Griffith ShowPete3 episodes
1961My Three SonsListener 1 episode
The AquanautsChuck1 episode
Ben Casey1 episode
1961–1971BonanzaDrunk #2
Andy
2 episodes
1962RipcordJohn Chapman1 episode
Lawman1 episode
The VirginianBiggs1 episode
1962–1963The Lloyd Bridges ShowLeo2 episodes
1963The Great AdventureFarmer1 episode
Wagon TrainJones1 episode
1964My Favorite MartianMr. Edgar Graham1 episode
1965Camp RunamuckThe SheriffUnknown episodes
1967Stranger on the RunPilney Television movie
Alternative title: Lonesome Gun
1968Felony SquadWatchman1 episode
1969The Beverly HillbilliesBailiff 1 episode
Adam-12Danny Bryant 1 episode
1972MannixCustomer 1 episode
1976Starsky and HutchOfficer O' Keefe 1 episode
1978The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew MysteriesBellman1 episode
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape KidJim Haggerty Television movie
1980The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboFire chief1 episode, (final appearance)

References