Erford Holmes Gage (April 5, 1912 – March 17, 1945) was an American actor. After several years as a stage actor, he was active in Hollywood films between 1942 and 1944. In his movies, he often played shady characters or outright villains, most notably the sadistic Nazi Dr. Schmidt in '' Hitler's Children''. In a different vein, he appeared as the no-nonsense Sgt. Burke in the two low-budget GI comedies starring the team of Brown and Carney.

Personal life

Gage served as a

staff sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. History of title In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administrative, supervi ...

in the 20th Infantry Regiment of the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

and was killed in action during the

Battle of Luzon The Battle of Luzon ( tl, Labanan sa Luzon; ja, ルソン島の戦い; es, Batalla de Luzón) was a land battle of the Pacific Theater of Operations of World War II by the Allied forces of the U.S., its colony the Philippines, and allies agai ...

on March 17, 1945. During his service, he was awarded the

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

, and

Purple Heart The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...

. He is buried at

Manila American Cemetery The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is located in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro Manila, within the boundaries of the former Fort William McKinley. It can be reached most easily from the city via EDSA to McKinley Road, then to McKinle ...

. According to obituaries at the time, his widow was actress Nell King.

Filmography

References

External links

* 1912 births 1945 deaths People from Northfield, Massachusetts Male actors from Massachusetts American male film actors 20th-century American male actors United States Army non-commissioned officers United States Army personnel killed in World War II Recipients of the Silver Star Burials at the Manila American Cemetery {{US-actor-stub