John Darrow (born Harry Simpson; 17 July 1907 – 24 February 1980) was an American actor of the late silent and early talking film eras.

Biography

Born in Leonia, New Jersey in 1907, Darrow began acting in theater with a stock company, right after graduating high school. Shortly after, he would begin his film career with a featured role in the 1927 silent film, ''High School Hero''. After several films with featured roles, he was cast as the lead in 1931's ''

The Lady Refuses ''The Lady Refuses'' is a 1931 American pre-Code melodrama film, directed by George Archainbaud, from a screenplay by Wallace Smith, based on an original story by Guy Bolton and Robert Milton. It stars Betty Compson as a destitute young woman ...

'', which co-stars

Betty Compson Betty Compson (born Eleanor Luicime Compson; March 19, 1897 – April 18, 1974) was an American actress and film producer who got her start during Hollywood's silent era. She is best known for her performances in ''The Docks of New York'' and ...

and was directed by

George Archainbaud George Archainbaud (May 7, 1890 – February 20, 1959) was a French-American film and television director. Biography In the beginning of his career he worked on stage as an actor and manager. He came to the United States in January 1914, and s ...

. He would spend the next five years in leading man or featured roles, before retiring from acting in 1935. He would appear in five films that year, although four of them were produced in 1934. His final screen appearance would be in a supporting role in ''Annapolis Farewell''. Although he retired from acting, he did not leave the film industry and instead continued on to become a very successful agent. From the 1930s to the early 1950s, he was in a relationship with (future) film director

Charles Walters Charles Powell Walters (November 17, 1911 – August 13, 1982) was an American Hollywood director and choreographer most noted for his work in MGM musicals and comedies from the 1940s to the 1960s. Early years Charles Walters was born in Pasad ...

Filmography

(Per

AFI AFI may refer to: * ''Address-family identifier'', a 16 bit field of the Routing Information Protocol * Ashton Fletcher Irwin, an Australian drummer * AFI (band), an American rock band ** ''AFI'' (2004 album), a retrospective album by AFI rele ...

database) *''

Long Pants ''Long Pants'' (also known as ''Johnny Newcomer'') is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Frank Capra and starring Harry Langdon. Additional cast members include Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, and Priscilla Bonner. Plot The silent ...

'' (1927) - Minor Role *'' The High School Hero'' (1927) - Bill Merrill *''

Avalanche An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a slope, such as a hill or mountain. Avalanches can be set off spontaneously, by such factors as increased precipitation or snowpack weakening, or by external means such as humans, animals, and earth ...

'' (1928) - Verde *'' Prep and Pep'' (1928) - Flash Wells *'' The Racket'' (1928) - Dave Ames *'' The Argyle Case'' (1929) - Bruce Argyle *'' Girls Gone Wild'' (1929) - Speed Wade *''

Cheer Up and Smile ''Cheer Up and Smile'' is a 1930 American pre-Code musical film directed by Sidney Lanfield. The film starred Arthur Lake, Dixie Lee and Olga Baclanova and a 23-year-old John Wayne had a minor uncredited role. Plot Cast * Arthur Lake as Edd ...

'' (1930) - Tom *'' Hell's Angels'' (1930) - Karl Armstedt *'' Primrose Path'' (1931) - Buck Randall *'' Ten Nights in a Bar Room'' (1931) - Frank Slade *''

'' (1931) - Russell Courtney *''

Everything's Rosie ''Everything's Rosie'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code slapstick comedy film directed by Clyde Bruckman, from a screenplay by Ralph Spence, Tim Whelan, and Al Boasberg, based on a story by Boasberg. Although the screenplay was credited as origina ...

'' (1931) - Billy Lowe *''

Fanny Foley Herself ''Fanny Foley Herself'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy-drama film shot entirely in Technicolor. The film was the second feature to be filmed using a new Technicolor process, which removed grain and resulted in improved color. It was released ...

'' (1931) - Teddy *'' The Bargain'' (1931) - Roderick White *''

Alias Mary Smith ''Alias Mary Smith'' is a 1932 American mystery crime film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Blanche Mehaffey, John Darrow and Raymond Hatton.Langman & Finn p.6 It was released by the independent company Mayfair Pictures. Synopsis A youn ...

'' (1932) - Robert Hayes *''

The Midnight Lady ''The Midnight Lady'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Sarah Padden, John Darrow and Claudia Dell.Pitts p.90 It is also known by the alternative title of ''Dream Mother''. Cast * Sarah Padden as Nit ...

'' (1932) - Bert *''

Probation Probation in criminal law is a period of supervision over an offender, ordered by the court often in lieu of incarceration. In some jurisdictions, the term ''probation'' applies only to community sentences (alternatives to incarceration), such ...

'' (1932) - Nick Jarrett *''

Forbidden Company ''Forbidden Company'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Sally Blane, John Darrow and John St. Polis.Pitts, p. 90 Cast * Sally Blane as Barbara Blake * John Darrow as Jerry Grant * John St. ...

'' (1932) - Jerry Grant *'' The All American'' (1932) - Bob King * '' Maizie'' (1933) - Boyd Kenton *''

Midshipman Jack ''Midshipman Jack'' is a 1933 American pre-Code action film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Frank Wead and F. McGrew Willis. The film stars Bruce Cabot, Betty Furness, Frank Albertson, Arthur Lake, and Florence Lake. The film was re ...

'' (1933) - Clark Simpson *'' The Big Chance'' (1933) - Knockout Frankie "Rocky" Morgan *''

The Big Race ''The Big Race'' is a 1934 American film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer. It was also known as ''Raising the Wind''.RAISING THE WIND (Butcher) Picture Show; London Vol. 31, Iss. 786, (May 26, 1934): 19. Cast *Boots Mallory as Patricia *John Darrow ...

'' (1933) - Bob Hamilton *'' Strange People'' (1933) - Jimmy Allen *''

Monte Carlo Nights ''Monte Carlo Nights'' is a 1934 American pre-Code film directed by William Nigh. Plot A man wrongfully convicted of murder escapes custody and goes in search of real killer. The problem is that he only has one clue to go on. Cast *Mary Brian ...

'' (1934) - Larry Sturgis *'' Flirtation Walk'' (1934) - Chase *''

I Like It That Way ''I Like It That Way'' is a 1934 American pre-Code musical film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Gloria Stuart, Roger Pryor and Marian Marsh. The film depicts the story of a telephone operator who quits her job to become a singer at a night ...

'' (1934) - Harry Rogers *''

The Curtain Falls ''The Curtain Falls'' (german: Der Vorhang fällt) is a 1939 German crime film directed by Georg Jacoby and starring Anneliese Uhlig, Elfie Mayerhofer and Hilde Sessak. It was based on a play by Paul van der Hurck and was made by UFA at the comp ...

'' (1934) - Allan Scorsby *''

I Give My Love ''I Give My Love'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Karl Freund and written by Doris Anderson and Milton Krims. The film stars Paul Lukas, Wynne Gibson, Eric Linden, Anita Louise, John Darrow and Dorothy Appleby. The film was released on ...

'' (1934) - Alex Blair *''

Square Shooter ''Square Shooter'', which was also known under the title ''Quicksand'', is a 1935 American Western film directed by David Selman and starring Tim McCoy, Jacqueline Wells, and Erville Alderson. Cast list * Tim McCoy as Tim Baxter * Jacqueline ...

'' (1935) - Johnny Lloyd *'' Symphony of Living'' (1935) - Richard Grieg *''

A Notorious Gentleman ''A Notorious Gentleman'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Edward Laemmle and written by Leopold Atlas, Rufus King and Robert Tasker. The film stars Charles Bickford, Helen Vinson, Onslow Stevens, Dudley Digges, Sidney Blackmer and Joh ...

'' (1935) - Terry Bradford * '' Eight Bells'' (1935) - Carl *''

Annapolis Farewell ''Annapolis Farewell'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Frank Craven and Jack Wagner. The film stars Guy Standing, Rosalind Keith, Tom Brown, Richard Cromwell, John Howard and Benny Baker. The film was re ...

'' (1935) - Porter

References

External links

* * 1907 births 1980 deaths 20th-century American male actors LGBT male actors Talent agents American male silent film actors American male film actors People from Leonia, New Jersey Male actors from New Jersey American LGBT actors 20th-century LGBT people {{US-film-actor-1900s-stub