LeRoy Franklin Mason (July 2, 1903 – October 13, 1947) was an American film actor who worked primarily in

Westerns The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

in both the silent and sound film eras. Mason was born in

Larimore, North Dakota Larimore is a city in Grand Forks County, North Dakota, United States. It is located three miles south of the junction of U.S. Route 2 and North Dakota Highway 18. Larimore is part of the "Grand Forks, ND- MN Metropolitan Statistical Area" or "G ...

on July 2, 1903.

Career

1920s

Mason's first film was ''

Hit and Run In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there may be a ...

'' opposite

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitioned ...

(1924). He was officially credited in '' Born to Battle'' (1926) opposite

Tom Tyler Tom Tyler (born Vincent Markowski; August 9, 1903 – May 1, 1954) was an American actor known for his leading roles in low-budget Western films in the silent and sound eras, and for his portrayal of superhero Captain Marvel in the 1941 ...

and

Jean Arthur Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American Broadway and film actress whose career began in silent films in the early 1920s and lasted until the early 1950s. Arthur had feature roles in three F ...

. In 1926, Mason starred in ''

The Arizona Streak ''The Arizona Streak'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Robert De Lacey and starring Tom Tyler, Frankie Darro and Ada Mae Vaughn. Cast * Tom Tyler as Dandy Carrell * Alfred Hewston as Smiling Morn * Ada Mae Vaughn as Rut ...

'' opposite Tom Tyler,

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

, and

Ada Mae Vaughn Adamae Vaughn (November 8, 1905 – September 11, 1943), also billed as Ada Mae Vaughn, was an American actress. Early years Her sister was film actress Alberta Vaughn. Adamae was at first Alberta's manager and chaperone. When the studio need ...

. Also in 1926, he starred in ''

Lightning Hutch Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of an avera ...

'' opposite

Charles Hutchison Charles Hutchison (December 3, 1879 – May 30, 1949) was an American film actor, director and screenwriter. He appeared in more than 40 films between 1914 and 1944. He also directed 33 films between 1915 and 1938. Though he directed nume ...

and Edith Thornton. Mason starred opposite Tom Tyler,

Doris Hill Doris Hill (March 21, 1905 – March 3, 1976), born Roberta M. Hill, was an American film actress of the 1920s and 1930s. Early years Born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, Hill was the daughter of rancher William A. Hill. She was educated ...

, and

in ''

Tom and His Pals ''Tom and His Pals'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Robert De Lacey and starring Tom Tyler, Doris Hill and Frankie Darro.Munden, p. 818 It was released in Britain under the alternative title of ''Movie Struck''. A film com ...

'' (1926). He starred opposite

William Fairbanks William Fairbanks (born Carl Ullman; May 24, 1894 – April 1, 1945) was an American actor. He appeared in over 65 silent era films between 1916 and 1928. Biography Fairbanks was born Carl Ullman in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Charles ...

Alice Calhoun Alice Beatrice Calhoun (November 21, 1900 – June 3, 1966) was an American silent film actress. Film star Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she made her film debut in an uncredited role in 1918 and went on to appear in another forty-seven films betw ...

, and Frank Rice in '' Flying High'' (1926). He starred in ''

Closed Gates ''Closed Gates'' is a 1927 American silent melodrama film based on a story by Manfred Lee and directed by Phil Rosen. It stars John Harron, Jane Novak, and Lucy Beaumont, and was released on June 1, 1927. Cast list Plot George Newell Jr. i ...

'' (1928) opposite

John Harron John Harron (March 31, 1903 – November 24, 1939) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 160 films between 1918 and 1940. Born in New York, New York, he was the brother of actor Robert Harron and of actress Mary Harron. Harron di ...

Jane Novak Jane Novak (born Johana Barbara Novak; January 12, 1896 – February 3, 1990) was an American actress of the silent film era. Background Jane Novak was born Johana Barbara Novak in St. Louis, Missouri to Bohemian immigrant Joseph Jerome Novak a ...

, and Lucy Beaumont. Mason starred in '' Golden Shackles'' (1928) opposite

Grant Withers Granville Gustavus Withers (January 17, 1905 – March 27, 1959) was an American film actor who acted under the screen name Grant Withers. With early beginnings in the silent era, Withers moved into sound films, establishing himself with a lis ...

and

Priscilla Bonner Priscilla Bonner (February 17, 1899 – February 21, 1996) was an American silent film actress who specialized in portraying virginal, innocent heroines. Early years Priscilla Bonner was born in Washington, D.C. on February 17, 1899. Her ...

. He starred in '' The Avenging Shadow'' (1928) opposite Margaret Morris. Mason starred in ''

The Law's Lash ''The Law's Lash'' is a 1928 American silent action film directed by Noel M. Smith and starring Robert Ellis, Mary Mayberry and LeRoy Mason.Munden p.22 It was designed as a vehicle for Klondike the Dog, an imitator of Rin Tin Tin. Cast * ...

'' (1928) opposite Robert Ellis and

Mary Mayberry Mary Mayberry (March 29, 1907 – May 4, 1972) was an American film actress of the silent era.Pitts p. 208 She was also billed as Mary Mabery in five films. After appearing in a number of shorts, she played the female lead in several westerns al ...

. He starred in ''

Hit of the Show ''Hit of the Show'' is a 1928 comedy film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Joe E. Brown, Gertrude Olmstead and William Bailey.Quinlan, p. 152 It was originally released as a silent, with some sound added to later versions. Cast See als ...

'' (1928), originally a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

, opposite

Joe E. Brown Joseph Evans Brown (July 28, 1891 – July 6, 1973) was an American actor and comedian, remembered for his friendly screen persona, comic timing, and enormous elastic-mouth smile. He was one of the most popular American comedians in the 19 ...

Gertrude Olmstead Gertrude Olmstead (November 13, 1897 – January 18, 1975) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929. Her last name was sometimes seen as Olmsted. Career Olmstead was born in Chicago, Illinoi ...

, and William Bailey. Mason starred in '' Revenge'' (1928) Dolores del Río,

James A. Marcus James A. Marcus (January 21, 1867 – October 15, 1937) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1915 and 1937. He was born in New York City. On October 15, 1937, Marcus died in Hollywood, California from a myocardi ...

, and Rita Carewe. He starred in '' The Viking'' (1928) opposite

Pauline Starke Pauline Starke (January 10, 1901Some sources say she was born in 1900. – February 3, 1977) was an American silent-film actress. Early years Pauline Starke was born on January 10, 1901, in Joplin, Missouri, the daughter of George W. Starke ...

and

Donald Crisp Donald William Crisp (27 July 188225 May 1974) was an English film actor as well as an early producer, director and screenwriter. His career lasted from the early silent film era into the 1960s. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ...

. Mason starred in ''

Bride of the Desert ''Bride of the Desert'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Duke Worne and starring Alice Calhoun, LeRoy Mason and Ethan Laidlaw. Cast * Alice Calhoun as Joanna Benton * LeRoy Mason as Fugitive * Ethan Laidlaw as Tom Benton * L ...

'' (1929) opposite

and

Ethan Laidlaw Ethan Allen Laidlaw (November 25, 1899 – May 25, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 350 films and made more than 500 appearances on television, mainly uncredited in Westerns, between 1923 and 1962. Laidlaw was bor ...

. He starred in ''

The Woman Who Was Forgotten ''The Woman Who Was Forgotten'' is a short story by Bess Streeter Aldrich first published in 1926. It is about a retired high school teacher who realizes that she will not be able to support herself at the same time that she discovers that the hi ...

'' (1930) opposite

Belle Bennett Belle Bennett (born Ara Belle Bennett; April 22, 1891 – November 4, 1932), was a stage and screen actress who started her career as a child as a circus performer. She later performed in theater and films. Early life and career Bennett was ...

and

Jack Mower Jack Mower (September 5, 1890 – January 6, 1965) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 520 films between 1914 and 1965. He was born in Honolulu and died in Hollywood. After studying at Punahou College, in Honolulu, Mower moved ...

1930s

Mason starred opposite of

Lon Chaney Jr. Creighton Tull Chaney (February10, 1906 – July12, 1973), known by his stage name Lon Chaney Jr., was an American actor known for playing Larry Talbot in the film '' The Wolf Man'' (1941) and its various crossovers, Count Alucard (Dra ...

in '' The Last Frontier'' (1932). He starred opposite

Ray "Crash" Corrigan Ray "Crash" Corrigan (born Raymond Benitz; February 14, 1902 – August 10, 1976) was an American actor most famous for appearing in many B-Western movies (among these the Three Mesquiteers and Range Busters film series). He also was a st ...

in ''

The Painted Stallion ''The Painted Stallion'' is a 1937 American Western film serial from Republic Pictures. It was the sixth Republic serial of the sixty-six made by that company. Western serials such as this made up a third of the serials from Republic, a studio t ...

'' (1937). Mason starred opposite John Wayne in ''

Wyoming Outlaw ''Wyoming Outlaw'' is a 1939 American "Three Mesquiteers" Western film directed by George Sherman and starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, and Raymond Hatton. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one films in the series. Plot summary Ca ...

'' (1939) and ''

New Frontier The term ''New Frontier'' was used by Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in his acceptance speech in the 1960 United States presidential election to the Democratic National Convention at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the ...

'' (1939).

1940s

Mason starred opposite David Sharpe in '' Silver Stallion'' (1941). He starred opposite

Wild Bill Elliott Wild Bill Elliott (born Gordon Nance, October 16, 1904 – November 26, 1965) was an American film actor. He specialized in playing the rugged heroes of B Westerns, particularly the Red Ryder series of films. Early life Elliott was born Gor ...

in ''

Hidden Valley Outlaws ''Hidden Valley Outlaws'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by John K. Butler and Robert Creighton Williams. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, George "Gabby" Hayes, Anne Jeffreys, Roy Barcroft, Kenne Dun ...

'' (1944). In the film, Mason and John James sings the song ''

Oh Susanna "Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826–1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all ti ...

''.

Personal life and death

Mason married Rita Carewe in 1928 and divorced her in 1936. He was married to actress Bo Ling; they had no children and eventually separated. A shooting accident while he worked on a film in the late 1930s caused him to lose sight in his right eye. On October 13, 1947, Mason died of "

acute myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may t ...

due to

coronary thrombosis Coronary thrombosis is defined as the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel of the heart. This blood clot may then restrict blood flow within the heart, leading to heart tissue damage, or a myocardial infarction, also known as a heart at ...

" in the

Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital Birmingham General Hospital was a World War II US Army Hospital in Van Nuys, California at the corner of Vanowen Street and Balboa Boulevard. The hospital was built in 1942 and 1943 to care for troops returning home from oversea service. The ...

Van Nuys, California Van Nuys () is a neighborhood in the central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Home to Van Nuys Airport and the Valley Municipal Building, it is the most populous neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. History In 1909, ...

. He had been there for 31 days after suffering a heart attack on the set of ''

California Firebrand ''California Firebrand'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Philip Ford and written by J. Benton Cheney, John K. Butler and Royal K. Cole. The film stars Monte Hale, Lorna Gray, Paul Hurst, Alice Tyrrell, Tristram Coffin and LeRoy M ...

''. An

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

news story published October 14, 1947, says that Mason "collapsed on a Republic Studio set Monday and died a few hours later of a heart ailment."

Filmography

Film

The following were with John Wayne: * ''

Maker of Men ''Maker of Men'' is a 1931 American pre-Code sports melodrama film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Howard J. Green and Edward Sedgwick. Produced by Columbia Pictures Corporation, the film stars Jack Holt, Richard Cromwell, and ...

'' (1931) * '' California Straight Ahead!'' (1937) * ''

Santa Fe Stampede ''Santa Fe Stampede'' is a 1938 American " Three Mesquiteers" Western film directed by George Sherman and starring John Wayne, Ray Corrigan, and Max Terhune. Wayne played the lead in eight of the fifty-one films in the popular series. Plot s ...

'' (1938) * ''

'' (1939) * ''

'' (1939) Other films: * ''

It Happened Out West ''It Happened Out West'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Earle Snell and John Roberts. The film stars Paul Kelly, Judith Allen, Johnny Arthur, LeRoy Mason, Lew Kelly, and Russell Hicks. The film wa ...

'' (1937) * ''

Jungle Menace ''Jungle Menace'' (1937) is the first serial released by Columbia Pictures. Based on the success of Republic Pictures's 1936 serial '' Darkest Africa'', starring real-life animal trainer Clyde Beatty, Columbia made this exotic jungle serial ...

'' (1937) * ''

Heroes of the Hills ''Heroes of the Hills'' is a 1938 American Western " Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by George Sherman. Cast * Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke * Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith * Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin * Priscilla Lawson as Madelin ...

'' (1938) * '' Topa Topa'' (1938) * '' The Painted Trail'' (1938) * ''

The Range Busters ''The Range Busters'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by S. Roy Luby and written by John Rathmell. The film is the first in Monogram Pictures' "Range Busters" series, and it stars Ray "Crash" Corrigan as Crash, John "Dusty" King as D ...

'' (1940) * '' Rocky Mountain Rangers'' (1940) * ''

Triple Justice ''Triple Justice'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by David Howard and starring George O'Brien, Virginia Vale and Peggy Shannon. The supporting cast includes Paul Fix and Glenn Strange. Plot Cast * George O'Brien as Brad Henderson ...

'' (1940) * ''

Across the Sierras ''Across the Sierras'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Bill Elliott. Plot After six years in prison, Mitch Carew returns to Arroyo to seek his revenge on the two men who sent him to prison, shopkeepe ...

'' (1941) * '' Silver Stallion'' (1941) * ''

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 i ...

'' (1943) * '' Raiders of Sunset Pass'' (1943) * ''

Lucky Cowboy ''Lucky Cowboy'' is a 1944 American two-reel Western (genre), Western film directed by Josef Berne using a screenplay by Robert Stephen Brode. The film starred Eddie Dew, Julie Gibson, Bob Kortman, and LeRoy Mason. External links

* 1944 f ...

'' (1944) * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1944) * ''

San Fernando Valley The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, California. Located to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it contains a large portion of the City of Los Angeles, as well as unincorporated ar ...

'' (1944)

References

Citations

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Leroy 1903 births 1947 deaths People from Grand Forks County, North Dakota Male actors from North Dakota American male film actors American male silent film actors Male film serial actors Male Western (genre) film actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American male actors