Joseph Patrick Cranshaw (June 17, 1919 – December 28, 2005) was an American character actor known for his distinctive look and deadpan humor. He is best known for one of his last roles, that of Joseph "Blue" Pulaski, a

fraternity A fraternity (from Latin language, Latin ''wiktionary:frater, frater'': "brother (Christian), brother"; whence, "wiktionary:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal ...

brother, in the 2003 hit comedy '' Old School''. Some sources state that this role gave him "pop-culture status".December 31, 2005 LA Times Obituary of Cranshaw
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Early life

Cranshaw was born in

Bartlesville, Oklahoma Bartlesville is a city mostly in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 37,290 at the 2020 census. Bartlesville is north of Tulsa and south of the Kansas border. It is the county seat of Washington County. The Can ...

, and became interested in acting while entertaining American troops as a member of the

Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

before

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Career

Cranshaw began his screen acting career in 1955 when he was 36 in the uncredited role of a bar tender at a dance in the western ''

Texas Lady ''Texas Lady'' is a 1955 color American Western film directed by Tim Whelan in his final film before his death in 1957, and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It stars Claudette Colbert, Barry Sullivan and Ray Collins. The film tells the story ...

''. Despite an acting span of more than 40 years and some 102 appearances, Cranshaw's first credited film role came at the age of 41, in '' The Amazing Transparent Man'' (1960). Cranshaw's mild-mannered and gentlemanly demeanor led him to a number of roles as bank tellers, store managers, and grandfathers. His major credits include ''

Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (October 1, 1910May 23, 1934) and Clyde Chestnut (Champion) Barrow (March 24, 1909May 23, 1934) were an American criminal couple who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. The co ...

'' (1967), ''Bandelero!'' (1968) '' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' (1978), '' Pee-Wee's Big Adventure'' (1985), ''Moving'' (1988), ''

The Hudsucker Proxy ''The Hudsucker Proxy'' is a 1994 screwball comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by the Coen brothers. Sam Raimi co-wrote the script and served as second unit director. The film stars Tim Robbins as a naïve but ambitious business scho ...

'' (1994), ''

Everyone Says I Love You ''Everyone Says I Love You'' is a 1996 American musical film written and directed by Woody Allen. It stars Allen, Alan Alda, Drew Barrymore, Goldie Hawn, Edward Norton, Julia Roberts, Tim Roth, Natasha Lyonne and Natalie Portman. Set in New York ...

'' (1996), '' Nothing to Lose'' (1997), ''

Almost Heroes ''Almost Heroes'' is a 1998 American adventure comedy Western film directed by Christopher Guest, narrated by Guest's friend and frequent collaborator Harry Shearer, and starring Chris Farley and Matthew Perry. It was Farley's last leading film ...

'' (1998), '' Broken Vessels'' (1998), '' Best in Show'' (2000), '' Bubble Boy'' (2001), and '' Old School'' (2003). He appeared in more than 50 television series, including '' Alice'' and '' After MASH''.

Death

Cranshaw died of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

at his

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

home, aged 86.

Selected filmography

*'' The Amazing Transparent Man'' (1960) - Security Guard *'' The Yesterday Machine'' (1963) *'' Under Age'' (1964) - W.J. Earnhardt *''

'' (1967) - Bank Teller (uncredited) *''

Bandolero! ''Bandolero!'' is a 1968 American Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Stewart, Dean Martin, Raquel Welch and George Kennedy. The story centers on two brothers on the run from a posse, led by a local sheriff who want ...

'' (1968) - Bank Clerk *''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'' (1974) - Jealous Husband *''

Nightmare Honeymoon ''Nightmare Honeymoon'' is a 1974 American crime-thriller film directed by Elliot Silverstein, starring Dack Rambo and Rebecca Dianna Smith. Plot Newlyweds David and Jill Webb (Dack Rambo and Rebecca Dianna Smith) want nothing more than to co ...

'' (1974) - Old Bail Boy *''

Slumber Party '57 ''Slumber Party '57'' is a 1976 American comedy-drama film directed by William A. Levey and starring Debra Winger in her feature film debut. Cast *Janet Wood as Smitty *Noelle North as Angie *Bridget Holloman as Bonnie May * Debra Winger as Deb ...

'' (1976) - Store Owner *'' Thunder and Lightning'' (1977) - Taylor *'' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'' (1978) - Western Union Messenger *''

The New Adventures of Wonder Woman ''Wonder Woman'', later known for seasons 2 and 3 as ''The New Adventures of Wonder Woman'', is an American Superhero fiction, superhero television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. It stars Lynda Carter as Won ...

'' (1979) - Codger *''

The Dukes of Hazard ''The Dukes of Hazzard'' is an American action comedy TV series that was aired on CBS from January 26, 1979 to February 8, 1985. The show aired for 147 episodes spanning seven seasons. It was consistently among the top-rated television series ...

'' (1979-80) - Doc Petticord *'' The Private Eyes'' (1980) - Roy *''

The Gong Show Movie ''The Gong Show Movie'' is a 1980 American slapstick film starring, co-written and directed by Chuck Barris, the host and creator of the popular game show with the same name. Plot The film shows a fictional week in the life of Chuck Barris as ...

'' (1980) - Man Dying In Elevator *''

CHiPs ''CHiPs'' is an American crime drama television series created by Rick Rosner and originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to May 1, 1983. It follows the lives of two motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The serie ...

'' (1980) Kidnap - Carpenter *''

Yes, Giorgio ''Yes, Giorgio'' is a 1982 American musical–comedy film starring Luciano Pavarotti. The film is based on the 1961 novel by Anne Piper. ''Yes, Giorgio'' also stars Kathryn Harrold, Eddie Albert, Paola Borboni, James Hong, Joseph Mascolo, Leon ...

'' (1982) - Man on Gurney *''

Diff’rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, ...

'' (1983) - Old Man as Arnold Jackson *'' After M*A*S*H'' (1983) - Veteran Bob Scannell *''

Wayne's World "Wayne's World" was originally a recurring sketch from the NBC television series ''Saturday Night Live''. It evolved from a segment titled "Wayne's Power Minute" (1987) on the CBC Television series '' It's Only Rock & Roll'', as the main characte ...

'' (1992) *''

The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family from ...

'' (1993) - Reverend Mason *''

'' (1994) - Ancient Sorter *''

'' (1996) - Grandpa *'' Nothing to Lose'' (1997) - Henry *'' Broken Vessels'' (1998) - Gramps *''

'' (1998) - Jackson *''

Just Shoot Me! ''Just Shoot Me!'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from March 4, 1997, to November 26, 2003, with a total of 145 half-hour episodes spanning seven seasons. The show was created by Steven Levitan, the show's executive pr ...

'' (1998) - Cowboy Pete *'' MVP: Most Valuable Primate'' (2000) - Ron *'' Best in Show'' (2000) - Leslie Ward Cabot *'' Bubble Boy'' (2001) - Pappy / Pippy *'' MVP: Most Vertical Primate'' (2001) - Ron *'' Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch'' (2002) - Sheriff Bob *'' Frank McKlusky, C.I.'' (2002) - The Old Man *'' Old School'' (2003) - Blue *'' Air Bud: Spikes Back'' (2003) - Sheriff Bob *''

My Boss's Daughter ''My Boss's Daughter'' (originally titled The Guest) is a 2003 American romantic comedy film directed by David Zucker. It stars Ashton Kutcher, Tara Reid and Terence Stamp. The film revolves around a man housesitting for his boss and getting into ...

'' (2003) - Old Man *'' Breakin' All the Rules'' (2004) - Mr. Lynch *'' Herbie: Fully Loaded'' (2005) - Jimmy D. *''

Air Buddies ''Air Buddies'' is a 2006 American sports comedy film directed by Robert Vince. It is the sixth film in the ''Air Bud'' series and the first in the direct-to-video spin-off series ''Air Buddies'', which follows the life of a lonely teenager and ...

'' (2006) - Sheriff Bob (final film role, posthumous release)

References

External links

* * 1919 births 2005 deaths American male film actors American male television actors People from Bartlesville, Oklahoma Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas Male actors from Oklahoma Deaths from pneumonia in Texas 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors {{Oklahoma-stub