Louis King (June 28, 1898 – September 7, 1962) was an American actor and film director of westerns and adventure movies in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

Biography

King was born in

Christiansburg, Virginia Christiansburg (formerly Hans Meadows) is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County. Christiansburg, Blacksburg and the city of Radford are th ...

. His name was also written as L.H. King and Lewis King. A brother of director Henry King, he entered the film business in 1919 as a character actor. He specialized in villains and blusterers. He began his career as a director of a series of Westerns in the 1920s as Lewis King: ''The Bantam Cowboy'' (1928), ''The Fightin' Redhead'' (1928), ''The Pinto Kid'' (1928), ''The Little Buckaroo'' (1928), ''The Slingshot Kid'' (1927), ''The Boy Rider'' (1927), ''Montana Bill'' (1921), ''Pirates of the West'' (1921) and ''

The Gun Runners ''The Gun Runners'' is a 1958 American film noir crime film directed by Don Siegel, is the third adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's 1937 novel ''To Have and Have Not'', and starring Audie Murphy. Everett Sloane essays the part of the alcoholic side ...

'' (1921). He directed Hollywood action adventures and Westerns in the 1930s and 1940s and 20th Century-Fox wartime film ''

Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas ''Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas'' is a war film made by Twentieth Century Fox in 1943. The film starred Philip Dorn, Anna Sten, and Martin Kosleck. The film was originally titled ''The Seventh Column''. It was directed by Louis King and is b ...

'' in 1943. In the 1950s, he directed Westerns on television, including episodes of ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' in 1957, the ''

Zane Grey Theater ''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 F ...

'' in 1958, ''

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok ''The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'' is an American Western television series that ran for eight seasons from April 15, 1951, through September 24, 1958. The Screen Gems series began in syndication, but ran on CBS from June 5, 1955, through 195 ...

'' and ''

The Deputy ''The Deputy, a Christian tragedy'' (German: ''Der Stellvertreter. Ein christliches Trauerspiel''), also published in English as ''The Representative '', is a controversial 1963 play by Rolf Hochhuth which portrayed Pope Pius XII as having failed ...

'' in 1960–61. King died of undisclosed causes on September 7, 1962, in Hollywood, California, at the age of 64.

Partial filmography

* ''

Rosemary Climbs the Heights ''Rosemary Climbs the Heights'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Mary Miles Minter, Allan Forrest, and Margaret Shelby. It is the only one of Minter's feature films not listed in the Library of Congre ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Valley of Tomorrow ''The Valley of Tomorrow'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Emmett J. Flynn and starring William Russell, Mary Thurman and Harvey Clark.Connelly p.427 Cast * William Russell as Dabney Morgan * Mary Thurman as Elenore Colonna ...

'' (1920) * ''The Gun Runners'' (1921) * '' Ever Since Eve'' (1921) * '' Singing River'' (1921) * '' Watch Your Step'' (1922) * '' Main Street'' (1923) * '' Let's Go'' (1923) * ''

The Law Rustlers ''The Law Rustlers'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring William Fairbanks, Edmund Cobb and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 426. Synopsis Two ranch hands set off for Alaska but stop in a town on the way, cont ...

'' (1923) * ''

Spawn of the Desert ''Spawn of the Desert'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring William Fairbanks, Florence Gilbert and P. Dempsey Tabler.Munden, p. 752 Cast * William Fairbanks as Duke Steele * Florence Gilbert as Nola 'Lu ...

'' (1923) * '' The Printer's Devil'' (1923) * ''

The Devil's Cargo ''The Devil's Cargo'' is a 1925 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Wallace Beery and Pauline Starke. It is based on an original stor ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Boy Rider ''The Boy Rider'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Lorraine Eason and Sam Nelson. Cast * Buzz Barton as David Hepner * Lorraine Eason as Sally Parker * Sam Nelson as Terry McNeil * D ...

'' (1927) * '' The Pinto Kid'' (1928) * ''

The Little Buckaroo ''The Little Buckaroo'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Milburn Morante and Peggy Shaw. Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Milburn Morante as Toby Jones * Peggy Shaw as Ann Craw ...

'' (1928) * ''

Orphan of the Sage ''Orphan of the Sage'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Frank Rice and Thomas G. Lingham.Langman, p. 383 Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Frank Rice as Hank Robbins * Thomas ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Bantam Cowboy ''The Bantam Cowboy'' is a 1928 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Frank Rice (actor), Frank Rice and Nancy Drexel. Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Frank Rice ...

'' (1928) * ''

Young Whirlwind ''Young Whirlwind'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Edmund Cobb and Frank Rice.Darby p.380 Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Edmund Cobb as Jack * Frank Rice as Hank * Alm ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Fightin' Redhead ''The Fightin' Redhead'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Duane Thompson and Milburn Morante. Cast * Buzz Barton as Red Hepner * Duane Thompson as Jane Anderson * Milburn Morante as Side ...

'' (1928) * ''

Rough Ridin' Red ''Rough Ridin' Red'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Frank Rice and Ethan Laidlaw.Langman, p. 383 Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Frank Rice as Hank Robbins * Jim Welch as ...

'' (1928) * ''

The Freckled Rascal ''The Freckled Rascal'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Milburn Morante and Lotus Thompson. Cast * Buzz Barton as Red Hepner * Milburn Morante as Hank Robbins * Thomas G. Lingham as Fol ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Vagabond Cub ''The Vagabond Cub'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Frank Rice and Sam Nelson.Munden, p. 852 Cast * Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner * Frank Rice as Hank Robbins * Sam Nelson as Bob ...

'' (1929) * '' Mexicali Rose'' (1929) * ''

Men Without Law ''Men Without Law'' is a 1930 American pre-Code Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buck Jones, Carmelita Geraghty, Thomas Carr, Lydia Knott, and Harry Woods. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on October 15, 1930. Cas ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Lone Rider ''The Lone Rider'' is a 1930 American western film directed by Louis King and starring Buck Jones, Vera Reynolds and Harry Woods (actor), Harry Woods. It was remade twice by Columbia Pictures, Columbia first as ''The Man Trailer'' (1934) and then ...

'' (1930) * ''

The Mask Falls ''The Mask Falls'' (German: ''Die Maske fällt'') is a 1931 American drama film directed by William Dieterle William Dieterle (July 15, 1893 – December 9, 1972) was a German-born actor and film director who emigrated to the United States i ...

'' (1931) * ''

Desert Vengeance ''Desert Vengeance'' is a 1931 American western film directed by Louis King and starring Buck Jones, Barbara Bedford (actress), Barbara Bedford and Douglas Gilmore.Pitts p.86 It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Cast * Buck Jones ...

'' (1931) * '' Police Court'' (1932) * '' The Arm of the Law'' (1932) * ''

Drifting Souls ''Drifting Souls'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Louis King and starring Lois Wilson, Theodore von Eltz and Raymond Hatton.Pitts p.435 Cast * Lois Wilson as Linda Lawrence * Theodore von Eltz as Joe Robson * Raymond Hatt ...

'' (1932) * '' The County Fair'' (1932) * ''

Life in the Raw ''Life in the Raw'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Western film, based on Zane Grey's short story "From Missouri", directed by Louis King and written by Stuart Anthony. It was Claire Trevor's film debut. Plot Cast * George O'Brien as J ...

'' (1933) * ''

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

'' (1934) * ''

Murder in Trinidad ''Murder in Trinidad'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by Louis King and starring Nigel Bruce, Heather Angel, Victor Jory, and Murray Kinnell.Charlie Chan in Egypt ''Charlie Chan in Egypt'' is the eighth of 16 20th Century Fox Charlie Chan films starring Warner Oland in the title role. It was released in 1935. Plot Charlie Chan is brought in when an archaeologist disappears while excavating ancient art t ...

'' (1935) * ''

Angelina o el honor de un brigadier Angelina may refer to: Human names *Angelina (given name), a feminine given name *The feminine form of the family name Angelos People Entertainers *Angelina (American singer), American retired singer Angelina Camarillo Ramos (born 1976) *Angelina ...

'' (1935) in Spanish * ''

Bengal Tiger The Bengal tiger is a population of the ''Panthera tigris tigris'' subspecies. It ranks among the biggest wild cats alive today. It is considered to belong to the world's charismatic megafauna. The tiger is estimated to have been present in ...

'' (1936) * ''

Bulldog Drummond's Revenge ''Bulldog Drummond's Revenge'' is a 1937 American adventure mystery film directed by Louis King, produced by Stuart Walker, written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. and Herman C. McNeile (novel), and featuring John Barrymore. The picture stars John Howa ...

'' (1937) * ''

Wine, Women and Horses ''Wine, Women and Horses'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Louis King and written by Roy Chanslor. The film stars Barton MacLane, Ann Sheridan, Dick Purcell, Peggy Bates, Walter Cassel and Lottie Williams. It is based on the 1933 novel ...

'' (1937) * ''

Bulldog Drummond Comes Back ''Bulldog Drummond Comes Back'' is a 1937 American adventure mystery film starring John Howard as the English adventurer/crime-solver Bulldog Drummond. John Barrymore plays Drummond's friend Colonel Nielsen and is actually Top-billed in the pict ...

'' (1937) * ''

Tom Sawyer, Detective ''Tom Sawyer, Detective'' is an 1896 novel by Mark Twain. It is a sequel to ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876), ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884), and ''Tom Sawyer Abroad'' (1894). Tom Sawyer attempts to solve a mysterious murder i ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Way of All Flesh ''The Way of All Flesh'' (sometimes called ''Ernest Pontifex, or the Way of All Flesh'') is a semi-autobiographical novel by Samuel Butler that attacks Victorian-era hypocrisy. Written between 1873 and 1884, it traces four generations of the ...

'' (1940) * ''

Typhoon A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is referred to as the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for a ...

'' (1940) * '' Young America'' (1942) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

Thunderhead, Son of Flicka ''Thunderhead, Son of Flicka'' is a 1945 American Western film directed by Louis King and starring Roddy McDowall, Preston Foster, and Rita Johnson. It is a sequel to the 1943 film ''My Friend Flicka'' (parodied in 2006 as ''Flicka''). The film wa ...

'' (1945) * '' Smoky'' (1946) * '' Thunder in the Valley'' (1947) * ''

Green Grass of Wyoming ''Green Grass of Wyoming'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Louis King and starring Peggy Cummins, Charles Coburn and Robert Arthur. The screenplay, written by Martin Berkeley, is based on the third book in the popular, "My Friend ...

'' (1948) * ''

Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

'' (1949) * ''

Mrs. Mike ''Mrs. Mike, the Story of Katherine Mary Flannigan'' is a novel by Benedict and Nancy Freedman set in the Canadian wilderness during the early 1900s. Considered by some a young-adult classic, ''Mrs. Mike'' was initially serialized in the Atlantic ...

'' (1949) * '' Powder River'' (1953) * '' Sabre Jet'' (1953) * ''

Dangerous Mission ''Dangerous Mission'' is a 1954 American Technicolor thriller (genre), thriller film starring Victor Mature, Piper Laurie, Vincent Price and William Bendix. The film was produced by Irwin Allen, directed by Louis King and released by RKO Pictures, ...

'' (1954) * ''

Massacre A massacre is the killing of a large number of people or animals, especially those who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves. A massacre is generally considered to be morally unacceptable, especially when per ...

'' (1956)

References

External links

* * 1962 deaths 1898 births People from Christiansburg, Virginia Male actors from Virginia Film directors from Virginia Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub