John Archer (born Ralph Bowman; May 8, 1915 – December 3, 1999) was an American actor.

Early life

Archer was born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, the son of Eunice Melba (née Crawford) and Joseph Emmett Bowman. Archer moved to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

at the age of five. He attended

Hollywood High School Hollywood High School is a four-year public secondary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District, located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California. Histo ...

and the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8. ...

, where he studied

cinematography Cinematography (from ancient Greek κίνημα, ''kìnema'' "movement" and γράφειν, ''gràphein'' "to write") is the art of Film, motion picture (and more recently, electronic video camera) photography. Cinematographers use a lens (o ...

, expecting work behind the camera.

Radio

When finding work in the field of cinematography proved difficult Archer drifted into acting, working as a radio announcer and actor, including one year (beginning in 1944DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). ''Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 14) in the starring role of Lamont Cranston in ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...

'', a role originally played by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

Stage

Archer honed his acting skills in plays at the Ben Bard Playhouse. He appeared on Broadway in ''The Odds on Mrs. Oakley'' (1944), ''One-man Show'' (1945), ''A Place of Our Own'' (1945), '' The Day Before Spring'' (1945-1946), ''This Time Tomorrow'' (1947), ''Strange Bedfellows'' (1948), and ''Captain Brassbound's Conversion'' (1950-1951).

Film

Archer made his film debut in 1938. He acted in films for Universal and Republic under his birth name. In a radio contest sponsored by Jesse L. Lasky on the program ''

Gateway to Hollywood ''Gateway to Hollywood'' is an American old-time radio talent show. It was broadcast on CBS from January 8, 1939, to December 31, 1939. Like other programs from ''Major Bowes Amateur Hour'' to ''American Idol,'' the show sought to turn relatively u ...

'', he won the top prize, an RKO contract in the name of "John Archer." He appeared in the films: '' Hello, Frisco, Hello''; '' Guadalcanal Diary''; ''

White Heat ''White Heat'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Edmond O'Brien, Margaret Wycherly and Steve Cochran. Written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts, ''White Heat'' is based on a story by ...

''; '' Destination Moon''; ''

Rock Around the Clock "Rock Around the Clock" is a rock and roll song in the Twelve-bar blues, 12-bar blues format written by Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers (the latter being under the pseudonym "Jimmy De Knight") in 1952. The best-known and most successful ren ...

''; '' She Devil''; Ten Thousand Bedrooms''; ''

Decision at Sundown ''Decision at Sundown'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Randolph Scott. It is one of seven Boetticher/Scott western collaborations, including '' Seven Men from Now'', ''The Tall T'', ''Buchanan Rides Alon ...

''; ''

Blue Hawaii ''Blue Hawaii'' is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written Amer ...

''; and '' How to Frame a Figg''.

Television

Archer appeared in television series such as '' Rescue 8'', ''

Science Fiction Theatre ''Science Fiction Theatre'' was an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955 and ended on April 6, 1957, with a total ...

'', ''

Armstrong Circle Theatre ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The U.S. Steel Hour''. It f ...

'', ''

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' is an American Western anthology television series that was broadcast on CBS from October 5, 1956, until September 20, 1962. Format Many episodes were based on novels by Zane Grey, to all of which Four Star ...

'', and '' The Millionaire'', ''

The Loretta Young Show ''The Loretta Young Show'' (originally known as ''Letter to Loretta'') is an American anthology drama television series broadcast on Sunday nights from September 2, 1953, to June 4, 1961, on NBC for a total of 165 episodes. The series was hoste ...

'', ''

Private Secretary A private secretary (PS) is a civil servant in a governmental department or ministry, responsible to a secretary of state or minister; or a public servant in a royal household, responsible to a member of the royal family. The role exists in t ...

'', ''

The Bob Cummings Show ''The Bob Cummings Show'' (also known in reruns as ''Love That Bob'') is an American sitcom starring Bob Cummings, which was broadcast from January 2, 1955, to September 15, 1959. The program began with a half-season run on NBC, then ran for ...

'', '' Mackenzie's Raiders'', ''

This Man Dawson ''This Man Dawson'' is a syndicated drama television series that was broadcast during 1959-60, starring Keith Andes as a former United States Marine Corps colonel hired to clean up police corruption in an undisclosed American city. The serie ...

'', ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...

'', '' The Californians'', ''

Sea Hunt ''Sea Hunt'' is an American action adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges a ...

'', '' Maverick'' (in the series' only 2-part episode, titled " The Devil's Necklace"), ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television program, television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dysto ...

'', '' The Tall Man'', ''

Surfside 6 ''Surfside 6'' is an ABC television series which aired from 1960 to 1962. The show centered on a Miami Beach detective agency set on a houseboat and featured Troy Donahue as Sandy Winfield II; Van Williams as Kenny Madison (a character recyc ...

'' with Van Williams, ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American television private detective drama series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each episode was on ...

'', ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'', ''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian partner, Tom Lopaka (Robert Con ...

'', ''

McHale's Navy ''McHale's Navy'' is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, 1962, to April 12, 1966, on the ABC television network. The series was filmed in black and white and originate ...

'', '' The Silent Service'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', ''

Hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999 ...

'', ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private in ...

'', and ''

The Name of the Game Name of the Game may refer to: Television * ''The Name of the Game'' (TV series), a 1968–1971 American drama ** ''Fame Is the Name of the Game'', a 1966 American television film and pilot for the series * "The Name of the Game" (''Grey's Anato ...

''. In 1960 Archer was cast as Joe Holman in the episode "Phantom Trail" of the western series '' Colt .45''. He made five guest appearances on '' Perry Mason''. He played Frank Maddox in the show's second episode in 1957, "The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece". In 1958 he played murder victim Maj. Frank Lessing in the episode "The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant", and in 1959 he played murderer J. R. Bradbury in the episode "The Case of the Lucky Legs". He also played murder victim Harry Arnold in the 1965 episode "The Case of Candy Queen". He also made seven guest appearances on ''

Lassie Lassie is a fictional female Rough Collie dog and is featured in a short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a full-length novel called '' Lassie Come-Home''. Knight's portrayal of Lassie bears some features in common with another ...

'' and six on ''

''. He played the outlaw Matt Grundy in a 1962 episode of '' Laramie'', entitled "The Confederate Express".

Personal life

Archer was married twice. From 1941 to 1955, he was married to actress Marjorie Lord. They had two children, including daughter actress

Anne Archer Anne Archer (born August 24, 1947) is an American actress. Archer was named Miss Golden Globe in 1971, and in the year following, appeared in her feature film debut '' The Honkers'' (1972). She had supporting roles in '' Cancel My Reservation'' ...

. Archer had two children with his second wife, Ann Leddy, to whom he was married from 1956 until his death. Archer was a grandfather of Tommy Davis, son of his daughter Anne, both of whom are noted members of the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious ...

. On December 3, 1999, Archer died from

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma (since about 98–99% of all lung cancers are carcinomas), is a malignant lung tumor characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. Lung carcinomas derive from transformed, malign ...

Redmond, Washington Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 73,256 at the 2020 census, up from 54,144 in 2010. Redmond is best known as the home of Microsoft and Nintendo of America. With an a ...

, at age 84.

Selected filmography

* ''

Flaming Frontiers ''Flaming Frontiers'' (1938) is a Universal movie serial starring Johnny Mack Brown. It was a remake of '' Heroes of the West'' (1932). It was re-edited into a TV series in 1966. Much of the material was reused in Lon Chaney Jr.'s 1942 serial ' ...

'' (1938) - Tom Grant * '' Letter of Introduction'' (1938) - Reporter (uncredited) * '' Dick Tracy Returns'' (1938) - Mr. Clark (uncredited) * '' Overland Stage Raiders'' (1938) - Bob Whitney * '' Spring Madness'' (1938) - Dartmouth College Student (uncredited) * ''

Career The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defi ...

'' (1939) - Ray Cruthers * '' Curtain Call'' (1940) - Ted Palmer * '' Barnyard Follies'' (1940) - Jeff Hill * '' Cheers for Miss Bishop'' (1941) - Richard Clark * '' Scattergood Baines'' (1941) - Johnny Bones * ''

City of Missing Girls ''City of Missing Girls'' is a 1941 American film directed by Elmer Clifton. Plot The police led by Captain McVeigh and the Assistant District Attorney James J. Horton are baffled by the disappearances of several young girls with some being fou ...

'' (1941) - James Horton * '' The People vs. Dr. Kildare'' (1941) - Interne (uncredited) * ''

King of the Zombies ''King of the Zombies'' is a 1941 American zombie comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and starring Dick Purcell, Joan Woodbury, and Mantan Moreland. The film was produced by Monogram Pictures, and was typical of its B films produced by the ...

'' (1941) - Bill Summers * '' Paper Bullets'' (1941) - Bob Elliott * '' Mountain Moonlight'' (1941) - Dr. Ed * '' Always Tomorrow: The Portrait of an American Business'' (1941) - Jim Westlake * ''

Hi, Neighbor ''Hi, Neighbor'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Jean Parker, John Archer, Janet Beecher, Marilyn Hare, Bill Shirley and Pauline Drake. The film was ...

'' (1942) - Dr. Hall * '' Police Bullets'' (1942) - Prof. J. Thomas Quincy * ''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p. ...

'' (1942) - Dr. Robert Redmond (uncredited) * '' Scattergood Survives a Murder'' (1942) - Dunker Gilson * '' Bowery at Midnight'' (1942) - Richard Dennison * '' Hello, Frisco, Hello'' (1943) - Ned Clark * ''

The Purple V ''The Purple V'' is a 1943 American war film directed by George Sherman and starring John Archer, Mary McLeod and Fritz Kortner. The ''Purple V'' marked German stage star Fritz Kortner's American film debut. Actors John Archer and Mary McLeod wer ...

'' (1943) - Jimmy Thorne * '' Sherlock Holmes in Washington'' (1943) - Lt. Pete Merriam * '' Shantytown'' (1943) - Bill Allen * '' Crash Dive'' (1943) - Curly Bowman (uncredited) * '' Guadalcanal Diary'' (1943) - Lt. Thurmond * '' The Eve of St. Mark'' (1944) - Pvt. Carter * '' Roger Touhy, Gangster'' (1944) - FBI Agent Kerrigan * '' The Lost Moment'' (1947) - Charles * ''After Nightfall'' (1949) * ''

Colorado Territory The Territory of Colorado was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 28, 1861, until August 1, 1876, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Colorado. The territory was organized in the ...

'' (1949) - Reno Blake * ''

'' (1949) - Philip Evans * '' Destination Moon'' (1950) - Jim Barnes * '' The Great Jewel Robber'' (1950) - Police Detective Lou Sampter * '' High Lonesome'' (1950) - Pat Farrell * '' Santa Fe'' (1951) - Clint Canfield * ''

Home Town Story ''Home Town Story'' is a 1951 American drama film written and directed by Arthur Pierson, starring Jeffrey Lynn, Donald Crisp, and Marjorie Reynolds, with Marilyn Monroe and Alan Hale Jr. Alan Hale Jr. (born Alan Hale MacKahan; (March 8, 192 ...

'' (1951) - Don (uncredited) * ''

Best of the Badmen ''Best of the Badmen'' is a 1951 Western film directed by William D. Russell that is set in Missouri during the post-American Civil War period. It stars Robert Ryan, Claire Trevor and Robert Preston. It was a loose follow-up to ''Return of th ...

'' (1951) - Curley Ringo * ''

My Favorite Spy My Favorite Spy may refer to: * My Favorite Spy (1942 film), an American comedy film * My Favorite Spy (1951 film) ''My Favorite Spy'' is a 1951 comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Bob Hope and Hedy Lamarr. Plot US intelligen ...

'' (1951) - Henderson * ''

The Big Trees ''The Big Trees'' is a 1952 lumberjack Western film starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Felix E. Feist. It was Kirk Douglas's final film for Warner Brothers, a film he did for free in exchange for the studio agreeing to release him from hi ...

'' (1952) - Frenchy LeCroix * '' Rodeo'' (1952) - Slim Martin * ''

A Yank in Indo-China ''A Yank in Indo-China'' is a 1952 American war film directed by Wallace Grissell and starring John Archer, Douglas Dick and Jean Willes. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution by Columbia Pictures. The film's sets were designed by the a ...

'' (1952) - Mulvaney * '' Sound Off'' (1952) - Maj. Paul Whiteside * '' The Sea Tiger'' (1952) - Ben McGrun * '' The Stars Are Singing'' (1953) - Dave Parish * ''

Dragon's Gold ''Dragon's Gold'' is a 1954 American crime film directed by Aubrey Wisberg and Jack Pollexfen and starring John Archer, Hillary Brooke and Philip Van Zandt.

'' (1954) - Mack Rossiter * '' No Man's Woman'' (1955) - Harlow Grant * ''

'' (1956) - Mike Dodd * '' Emergency Hospital'' (1956) - Dr. Herb Ellis * '' Affair in Reno'' (1957) - Tony Lamarr * '' She Devil'' (1957) - Barton Kendall * '' 10,000 Bedrooms'' (1957) - Bob Dudley * ''

'' (1957) - Dr. John Storrow * '' City of Fear'' (1959) - Lt. Mark Richards * ''

'' (1961) - Jack Kelman * '' Apache Rifles'' (1964) - Col. Perry * '' I Saw What You Did'' (1965) - John Austin * '' How to Frame a Figg'' (1971) - Gerard * ''The Little Sister'' (1986) - Warehouse Cop

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, John 1915 births 1999 deaths Male actors from Nebraska People from Osceola, Nebraska American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors People from Redmond, Washington USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni 20th-century American male actors RKO Pictures contract players Deaths from lung cancer in Washington (state)