Ralph Dayton Sanford (May 21, 1899 – June 20, 1963) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films and in at least 200 episodes on television between 1930 and 1960, mostly bit parts or supporting roles. Sanford frequently appeared in Westerns and often portrayed "tough guys". Sanford also served in the infantry during World War I.

Career

Sanford's began his professional career in 1924 as the dancing partner of Ray Bolger. He moved to California in 1928 and gained his first movie credit in 1933. He began appearing on television in 1951, playing various roles. He is probably best-remembered on

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before '' Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely ...

, appearing in 21 episodes, including 16 as Mayor Jim Kelly during the 1958-1959 season. On Broadway, Sanford performed in ''Between Two Worlds'' (1934), ''Saluta'' (1934), ''They Shall Not Die'' (1934), ''Twenty-five Dollars an Hour'' (1933), ''Ballyhoo of 1932'' (1932), ''Hey Nonny Nonny!'' (1932), ''Child of Manhattan'' (1932), ''The Constant Sinner'' (1931), ''The Great Man'' (1931), ''Mendel, Inc.'' (1929), and ''Half a Widow'' (1927).

Death

Sanford died in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

on June 20, 1963. Upon death, his body was transported to his birthplace of Springfield Massachusetts for burial.

Selected filmography

* '' In the Dough'' (1932) * ''

Sea Racketeers ''Sea Racketeers'' is a 1937 American film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and starring Weldon Heyburn, Jeanne Madden, and Warren Hymer. Plot summary Cast * Weldon Heyburn as Chief Bos'n Mate Jim Wilson *Jeanne Madden as Patricia 'Pat' Co ...

'' (1937) * ''

Prescription for Romance ''Prescription for Romance'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon for Universal Pictures. It stars Wendy Barrie, Kent Taylor, and Frank Jenks. Plot Cast * Wendy Barrie as Valarie Barry * Kent Taylor as Steve Ma ...

'' (1937) * ''

Undercover Agent To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an indi ...

'' (1939) * '' Dance, Girl, Dance'' (1940) * '' Alaska Highway'' (1943) * ''

Sweethearts of the U.S.A. ''Sweethearts of the U.S.A.'' is a 1944 American musical comedy film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Una Merkel, Harry Parke, and Donald Novis.Taylor & Jackson p.276 In Britain, it was released under the alternative title of ''Sweethear ...

'' (1944) * ''

The Bullfighters ''The Bullfighters'' is the penultimate feature film starring Laurel and Hardy, the sixth and final film the duo made under 20th Century Fox as well as the last released in the United States. Plot Private detectives Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy ...

'' (1945) * '' Adventures of Kitty O'Day'' (1945) * '' High Powered'' (1945) * ''

My Pal Trigger ''My Pal Trigger'' is a 1946 American Western musical film directed by Frank McDonald. The screenplay by Jack Townley and John K. Butler was based upon a story by Paul Gangelin. The film stars Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, George “Gabby” Hayes, ...

'' (1946) * ''

It's a Joke, Son! ''It's a Joke, Son!'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff (in his final directorial role in a film) featuring radio comedian Kenny Delmar as Senator Beauregard Claghorn, the inspiration for the cartoon character Foghorn L ...

'' (1947) * '' French Leave'' (1948) * ''

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, a ...

'' (1949) * ''

The Glass Menagerie ''The Glass Menagerie'' is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his Histrionic persona ...

'' (1950) * '' Let's Make It Legal'' (1951) * '' Rogue River'' (1951) * ''

Torpedo Alley The Torpedo Alley, or Torpedo Junction, off North Carolina, is one of the graveyards of the Atlantic Ocean, named for the high number of attacks on Allied shipping by German U-boats in World War II. Almost 400 ships were sunk, mostly during t ...

'' (1952) * ''

'' (TV; 1955-1959, 22 episodes) * '' Uranium Boom'' (1956) * '' The Oregon Trail'' (1959) * ''

The Purple Gang The Purple Gang, also known as the Sugar House Gang, was a criminal mob of bootleggers and hijackers comprised predominantly of Jewish gangsters. They operated in Detroit, Michigan, during the 1920s of the Prohibition era and came to be Detr ...

'' (1959)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanford, Ralph 1899 births 1963 deaths American male film actors Actors from Springfield, Massachusetts 20th-century American male actors