Joe Downing (June 26, 1903 in

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

– October 16, 1975 in

Canoga Park, California Canoga Park is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Before the Mexican–American War, the district was part of a rancho, and after the American victory it was converted into wheat farms and the ...

) was an American stage, TV and

B-movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

actor who made more than 70 appearances. Downing's early acting experience included work with the

Theatre Guild The Theatre Guild is a theatrical society founded in New York City in 1918 by Lawrence Langner, Philip Moeller, Helen Westley and Theresa Helburn. Langner's wife, Armina Marshall, then served as a co-director. It evolved out of the work of the W ...

, particularly dancing in ''

The Garrick Gaieties ''Garrick Gaieties'' is a revue with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, the first successful musical by this songwriting team. It debuted in 1925 on Broadway and was the first of three ''Garrick Gaiety'' revues, which were subs ...

''. His Broadway credits include ''Ramshackle Inn'' (1944), ''Cross-town'' (1937), ''Dead End'' (1935), ''Ceiling Zero'' (1935), ''Page Miss Glory'' (1934), ''The Drums Begin'' (1933), ''Heat Lightning'' (1933), ''Shooting Star'' (1933), and ''A Farewell to Arms'' (1930). Downing's film debut came in ''Doctor Socrates''. Often cast as gangsters, his film credits include ''

A Slight Case of Murder ''A Slight Case of Murder'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon. The film is based on the 1935 play by Damon Runyon and Howard Lindsay. The offbeat comedy stars Edward G. Robinson spoofing his own gangster image as Remy Marco. ...

'', ''

Danger on the Air ''Danger on the Air'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett. The film was based on the novel ''Death Catches Up with Mr. Kluck'' by author Xanthippe. Plot summary Nan Grey, as Christina "Steenie" MacCorkle, a radio advertisin ...

'', ''

Racket Busters ''Racket Busters'' is a 1938 film about crime in the trucking industry starring Humphrey Bogart and George Brent. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon. Plot summary Attorney Hugh Allison (Walter Abel) is appointed Special Prosecutor to invest ...

'', ''

Each Dawn I Die ''Each Dawn I Die'' is a 1939 Crime film, gangster film directed by William Keighley and starring James Cagney and George Raft. The plot of ''Each Dawn I Die'' involves a crusading reporter who is unjustly thrown in jail and befriends a famous gan ...

'' and '' The Big Shot''. His television credits include three appearances on ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'' from 1956 to 1958, as well as other

anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...

popular during the era.

Partial filmography

*''

The Case of the Lucky Legs ''The Case of the Lucky Legs'' is a 1935 mystery film, the third in a series of Perry Mason films starring Warren William as the famed lawyer. Plot Margie Clune wins the "Lucky Legs" beauty contest concocted by Frank Patton, but has trouble col ...

'' (1935) - George Sanborne *'' Dr. Socrates'' (1935) - Cinq Laval *''

Borrowing Trouble ''Borrowing Trouble'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane and Spring Byington.Drew p.180 It is part of the Jones Family series of films and is also known by the alternative title of ' ...

'' (1937) - Charlie *''

'' (1938) - Innocence *''

Wide Open Faces ''Wide Open Faces'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Joe E. Brown, Jane Wyman and Alison Skipworth.Quinlan p.72 The screenplay concerns a man who tries to prevent mobsters getting their hands on loot that th ...

'' (1938) - Stretch *''

The Lady in the Morgue ''The Lady in the Morgue'' (1936) is one of the novels by Jonathan Latimer featuring private detective William Crane. The lady of the title is a female corpse which is stolen from a Chicago morgue before the dead woman's identity can be establish ...

'' (1938) - Steve Collins *''

The Devil's Party ''The Devil's Party'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Ray McCarey based on the Borden Chase novel ''Hell's Kitchen Has a Pantry''. Plot Marty Malone is a member of a street gang called the "Death Avenue Cowboys", consisting of poor c ...

'' (1938) - Frank Diamond *''

'' (1938) - Joe Carney *''

'' (1938) - Joe Pender, Martin's Henchman *'' I Am the Law'' (1938) - Tom Cronin (uncredited) *'' The Night Hawk'' (1938) - Lefty *''

Angels with Dirty Faces ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' is a 1938 American crime drama film directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers. It stars James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, The Dead End Kids, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, and George Bancroft. The screenplay was wr ...

'' (1938) - Steve *''

North of Shanghai ''North of Shanghai'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman. Cast * James Craig as Jed Howard * Betty Furness as Helen Warner * Keye Luke as Jimmy Riley * Morgan Conway as Bob Laird * Joe Downing as Chandler (as Joseph D ...

'' (1939) - Chandler *''

You Can't Get Away with Murder ''You Can't Get Away with Murder'' is a 1939 crime drama directed by Lewis Seiler, starring Humphrey Bogart and Gale Page, and featuring " Dead End Kid" leader Billy Halop. The film is from Bogart's period of being cast in B pictures by Warne ...

'' (1939) - Smitty *''

Torchy Runs for Mayor ''Torchy Runs for Mayor'' is a 1939 American drama-comedy film directed by Ray McCarey. It is the eighth film in the Torchy Blane film series by Warner Bros., and the last film starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane as Torchy Blane and Steve ...

'' (1939) - Spuds O'Brien *''

The Forgotten Woman ''The Forgotten Woman'' is a 2008 Canadian documentary film directed by Dilip Mehta and written by Deepa Mehta. The film is about widows in India and was inspired by Deepa Mehta's 2005 Academy Award-nominated film on the same subject, ''Water''. ...

'' (1939) - Johnny Bradshaw *''

'' (1939) - Limpy Julien *''

Smashing the Money Ring ''Smashing the Money Ring'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Terry O. Morse, written by Anthony Coldeway and Raymond L. Schrock, and starring Ronald Reagan, Margot Stevenson, Eddie Foy, Jr., Joe Downing, Charles D. Brown and Jo ...

'' (1939) - Dice Mathews *''

Beware Spooks! ''Beware Spooks!'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Joe E. Brown, Mary Carlisle and Clarence Kolb.Gehring p.100 Synopsis Rookie cop Roy L. Gifford is kicked off the force after he accidentally assists a bank ...

'' (1939) - (uncredited) *''

Missing Evidence ''Missing Evidence'' is a 1939 American drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Preston Foster, Irene Hervey, and Inez Courtney, and was released on December 15, 1939. Cast list * Preston Foster as Bill Collins * Irene Hervey as Linda Pa ...

'' (1939) - Marty Peters *''

Another Thin Man ''Another Thin Man'' is a 1939 American detective film directed by W. S. Van Dyke, the third of six in the ''Thin Man'' series. It again stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles and is based on Dashiell Hammett's Continen ...

'' (1939) - Hoodlum (uncredited) *''

Invisible Stripes ''Invisible Stripes'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. crime film starring George Raft as a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison. The movie was directed by Lloyd Bacon and also features William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey ...

'' (1939) - Johnny *''

Oh Johnny, How You Can Love ''Oh Johnny, How You Can Love'' is a 1940 American film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Tom Brown and Peggy Moran. It was an early appearance of Laird Cregar. The film cost $100,000. Plot Kelly Archer, an heiress trying to escape her c ...

'' (1940) - 'Doc' Kendrick - Bank Robber *''

Castle on the Hudson ''Castle on the Hudson'' (UK title: ''Years Without Days'') is a 1940 American film noir drama (film and television), drama directed by Anatole Litvak and starring John Garfield, Ann Sheridan, and Pat O'Brien (actor), Pat O'Brien. A thief is sent ...

'' (1940) - Gangster in Car (uncredited) *''

Sandy Is a Lady ''Sandy Is a Lady'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and written by Charles Grayson. The film stars Baby Sandy, Billy Lenhart, Kenneth Brown, Eugene Pallette, Nan Grey, Tom Brown, Mischa Auer, Billy Gilbert and Edgar K ...

'' (1940) - Nick Case *''

The Secret Seven The Secret Seven or Secret Seven Society is a fictional group of child detectives created by Enid Blyton and based on the publisher’s children. They appear in one of several adolescent detective series which Blyton wrote. The Secret Seve ...

'' (1940) - Lou Bodie *''

The San Francisco Docks ''The San Francisco Docks'' is a 1940 American crime drama film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Burgess Meredith, Barry Fitzgerald, and Irene Hervey. Plot When his sweetheart, barmaid Kitty Tracy, is annoyed by a customer, longshoreman Jo ...

'' (1940) - Cassidy *''

Tall, Dark and Handsome "Tall, dark, and handsome" is a phrase that refers to an appealing man, often found in romantic fiction aimed at women. History The term came to prominent use in the early 1900s and was commonly used in Hollywood during the 1920s to describe Ru ...

'' (1941) - Cigar Store Killer (uncredited) *''

Double Date Dating is a stage of romantic relationships in which two individuals engage in an activity together, most often with the intention of evaluating each other's suitability as a partner in a future intimate relationship. It falls into the categor ...

'' (1941) - Burglar *''

Strange Alibi ''Strange Alibi'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman, written by Kenneth Gamet, Leslie T. White and Fred Niblo Jr., and starring Arthur Kennedy, Joan Perry, Jonathan Hale, John Ridgely, Florence Bates and Charles Trowbri ...

'' (1941) - Benny McKaye *''

Belle Starr Myra Maybelle Shirley Reed Starr (February 5, 1848 – February 3, 1889), better known as Belle Starr, was an American outlaw who gained national notoriety after her violent death. She associated with the James–Younger Gang and other outlaws ...

'' (1941) - Jim Cole *''

Unholy Partners ''Unholy Partners'' is a 1941 black-and-white film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Laraine Day, Edward Arnold, and Marsha Hunt. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot A newspaper reporter, Bruce Corey, return ...

'' (1941) - Jerry - Henchman *''

Johnny Eager ''Johnny Eager'' is a 1941 film noir directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Robert Taylor, Lana Turner and Van Heflin. Heflin won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film was one of many spoofed in ''Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid'' (19 ...

'' (1941) - Ryan *'' Sealed Lips'' (1942) - Trigger Dolan (uncredited) *''

Larceny, Inc. ''Larceny, Inc.'' is a 1942 American film. Originally released on May 2, 1942, by Warner Bros., the film is a cross between comedy and gangster genres. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, the film stars Edward G. Robinson, Jane Wyman, Broderick Crawford, a ...

'' (1942) - Smitty *''

My Gal Sal ''My Gal Sal'' is a 1942 American musical film distributed by 20th Century Fox and starring Rita Hayworth and Victor Mature. The film is a biopic of 1890s composer and songwriter Paul Dresser and singer Sally Elliot. It was based on a biographi ...

'' (1942) - Slip (uncredited) *'' The Big Shot'' (1942) - Frenchy *''

You Can't Escape Forever ''You Can't Escape Forever'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Jo Graham and written by Fred Niblo, Jr. and Hector Chevigny. The film stars George Brent, Brenda Marshall, Gene Lockhart, Roscoe Karns, Eduardo Ciannelli and Paul Harvey. Th ...

'' (1942) - Varney (uncredited) *''

Lucky Jordan ''Lucky Jordan'' is a 1942 film directed by Frank Tuttle, starring Alan Ladd in his first leading role, Helen Walker in her film debut, and Sheldon Leonard. The screenplay concerns a self-centered gangster who tangles with Nazi spies. Plot Dur ...

'' (1942) - Harrison (uncredited) *'' Las Vegas Shakedown'' (1955) - Henchman Matty *''

Fighting Trouble ''Fighting Trouble'' is a 1956 American comedy film directed by George Blair and starring The Bowery Boys. It was released on September 16, 1956, by Allied Artists. The 42nd film in the Bowery Boys series, it was the first to feature Stanley Cle ...

'' (1956) - Handsome Hal Lomax *''

'' TV series. Episode: "Place Of Shadows" (1956) - Floyd Unser (as Joseph Downing) *''

Slaughter on Tenth Avenue ''Slaughter on Tenth Avenue'' is a ballet with music by Richard Rodgers and choreography by George Balanchine. It occurs near the end of Rodgers and Hart's 1936 Broadway musical comedy ''On Your Toes''. ''Slaughter'' is the story of a hoofer who ...

'' (1957) - Eddie 'Cockeye' Cook

References

External links

* * 1903 births 1975 deaths American male film actors American male television actors 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York City {{US-theat-actor-1900s-stub