Richard Jourdan Reeves (August 10, 1912 – March 17, 1967) was an American

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

best known for playing

henchmen A henchman (''vernacular:'' "hencher"), is a loyal employee, supporter, or aide to some powerful figure engaged in nefarious or criminal enterprises. Henchmen are typically relatively unimportant in the organization: minions whose value lies pri ...

and thugs. He performed in hundreds of film and television roles between the 1940s and 1960s.

Early life and film career

Richard Jourdan Reeves grew up in an affluent section of

Queens, New York Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long I ...

, the elder of two children of bank executive Walter Reeves and his wife, the former Marie Titsink. He studied music in school; and then, at the age of 18, he worked as a seaman, spending much of his time in the 1930s aboard ships that plied the New York-

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

route. In April 1942, shortly after the United States entered World War II, Reeves enlisted in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

and by war's end had risen to the rank of sergeant in the 1208 Service Command Unit. After the war, he resumed his efforts to get more film work as an actor in

Los Angeles 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' ...

, where by the late 1940s and early 1950s he became a busy supporting player in various movie productions.

Television

Beginning in the early 1950s, Reeves began to perform on a variety of television series. His height, heavy build, and general "tough guy" appearance led to his being frequently cast as bullies, robbers, and

mob enforcer Contract killing is a form of murder or assassination in which one party hires another party to kill a targeted person or persons. It involves an illegal agreement which includes some form of payment, monetary or otherwise. Either party may be ...

s in modern crime dramas, as well as in many

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 ...

and

sitcoms A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new ...

. He, for example, portrayed those types of characters in five episodes of the '' Adventures of Superman'' between 1952 and 1956. Reeves appeared in scores of other series as well in the 1950s and 1960s, such as ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

'', ''

Mr. Ed ''Mister Ed'' is an American television sitcom produced by Filmways that aired in syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966. The show's title character is a talking horse which orig ...

'', ''

The Roy Rogers Show ''The Roy Rogers Show'' is an American western television series starring Roy Rogers. 100 episodes were broadcast on NBC for six seasons between December 30, 1951 and June 9, 1957. The episodes were set in the prevailing times (1950s) in the st ...

'', ''

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedies ...

'', ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

'', ''

The Lone Ranger The Lone Ranger is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture. He first appeared in 1933 in ...

'', ''

Zorro Zorro (Spanish language, Spanish for 'fox') is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed a ...

'', ''

Sugarfoot ''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and ''Bronco'' (second season); and ...

'', ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...

'', ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to ...

'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'', ''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The series' first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the second seaso ...

'', ''

TV Reader's Digest ''TV Reader's Digest '' is the title of a 30-minute American television anthology drama series, which aired on the ABC from 1955 to 1956. Its theme music was "Polonaise" from Act III of ''Eugene Onegin''. Based on articles that appeared in '' ...

'', ''

Date with the Angels ''Date with the Angels'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from May 10, 1957, to January 29, 1958. The series, which stars Betty White and Bill Williams, began as a late season replacement for '' The Ray Anthony Show'' for the same sponsor ...

''. In a 1958 episode entitled “Island In The Swamp” on the TV Western ''

'', Reeves breaks normal villain character, playing alongside ''

Edgar Buchanan William Edgar Buchanan II (March 20, 1903 – April 4, 1979) was an American actor with a long career in both film and television. He is most familiar today as Uncle Joe Carson from the ''Petticoat Junction'', ''Green Acres'', and ''The ...

'' as leaders of a peaceful but eccentric cult of pirating immigrant smugglers who now run an island out of jurisdiction of the law. In 1965 on the television Series, “ My Three Sons”, Richard Reeves played the “Police Officer” in Season 5, Episode 34- Titled “ All the Weddings “ ''

My Favorite Martian ''My Favorite Martian'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from September 29, 1963, to May 1, 1966, for 107 episodes. The show stars Ray Walston as "Uncle Martin" (the Martian) and Bill Bixby as Tim O'Hara. The first two seasons, totalin ...

'', ''

Annie Oakley Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey; August 13, 1860 – November 3, 1926) was an American sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Oakley developed hunting skills as a child to provide for her impoverished family in western ...

'', and '' Fury''. In 1955 Reeves appeared as Cliff Bartow on the TV western ''Cheyenne'' in the episode "Border Showdown."

Death

Reeves died of

cirrhosis Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease, is the impaired liver function caused by the formation of scar tissue known as fibrosis due to damage caused by liver disease. Damage causes tissue repai ...

at age 54. He is buried in Oakwood Memorial Park in

Chatsworth, California Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley. The area was home to Native Americans, some of whom left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish be ...

Selected filmography

* ''

This Is the Army ''This Is the Army'' is a 1943 American wartime musical comedy film produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner, and directed by Michael Curtiz, adapted from a wartime stage musical with the same name, designed to boost morale in the U.S. duri ...

'' (1943) - Moore's Son's Dance Partner - 'Ladies of Chorus' (uncredited) * '' The Long Night'' (1947) - Cop (uncredited) * '' Unconquered'' (1947) - Joshua (uncredited) * '' The Hunted'' (1948) - Detective (uncredited) * ''

Force of Evil ''Force of Evil'' is a 1948 American crime film noir starring John Garfield and directed by Abraham Polonsky. It was adapted by Polonsky and Ira Wolfert from Wolfert's novel ''Tucker's People''. Polonsky had been a screenwriter for the boxing f ...

'' (1948) - Policeman (uncredited) * '' Double Deal'' (1950) - Detective Webber (uncredited) * '' Dear Brat'' (1951) - (uncredited) * '' Excuse My Dust'' (1951) - Brigadier General (uncredited) * '' Tomorrow Is Another Day'' (1951) - Joe - Driver (uncredited) * ''

Force of Arms ''Force of Arms'' (reissued under the title ''A Girl for Joe'') is a 1951 romantic war drama film set in the Italian theater of World War II. It reteamed William Holden and Nancy Olson in the third of their four movies together (''Sunset Boul ...

'' (1951) - Hospital Attendant (uncredited) * '' Come Fill the Cup'' (1951) - Moving Man (uncredited) * '' The Racket'' (1951) - Leo - Driver / Scanlon Henchman (uncredited) * '' The Blue Veil'' (1951) - Detective (uncredited) * ''

Finders Keepers Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...

'' (1952) - Joey * '' A Girl in Every Port'' (1952) - Slow Poke, Henchman (uncredited) * ''

Retreat, Hell! ''Retreat, Hell!'' is a 1952 American war film about the 1st Marine Division in the Korean War, directed by Joseph H. Lewis. It stars Frank Lovejoy as a career Marine battalion commander who is recalled from work at an American embassy, Richard ...

'' (1952) - MP Outside Division Headquarters in Seoul (uncredited) * '' Hoodlum Empire'' (1952) - Rollins (uncredited) * ''

Carbine Williams ''Carbine Williams'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring James Stewart, Jean Hagen and Wendell Corey. The film follows the life of its namesake, David Marshall Williams, who invented the operating principle for ...

'' (1952) - Guard in Cage (uncredited) * ''

Gobs and Gals ''Gobs and Gals'' is a 1952 American comedy film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Arthur T. Horman. The film stars George Bernard, Bert Bernard, Robert Hutton, Cathy Downs, Gordon Jones and Florence Marly. The film was released o ...

'' (1952) - Big Sailor (uncredited) * ''

The Pride of St. Louis ''The Pride of St. Louis'' is a 1952 American biographical film of the life of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean. It starred Dan Dailey as Dean, Joanne Dru as his wife, and Richard Crenna as his brother Paul "Daffy" Dean, a ...

'' (1952) - Connelly (uncredited) * ''

Carson City Carson City is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the List of cities in Nevada, sixth largest ...

'' (1952) - Cook (uncredited) * '' I Dream of Jeanie'' (1952) - Tough Saloon Mate (uncredited) * ''

She's Working Her Way Through College ''She's Working Her Way Through College'' is a 1952 American comedy film produced by Warner Bros. A musical comedy in Technicolor, it is directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and stars Virginia Mayo and Ronald Reagan. The screenplay is based on the 1 ...

'' (1952) - Mike (uncredited) * ''

We're Not Married! ''We're Not Married!'' is a 1952 American anthology romantic comedy film directed by Edmund Goulding. It was released by 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was written by Nunnally Johnson Nunnally Hunter Johnson (December 5, 1897 – March 25 ...

'' (1952) - Brig Guard (uncredited) * '' Fargo'' (1952) - Bartender * '' Thunderbirds'' (1952) - Captain, Quartermaster Corps. * '' Stop, You're Killing Me'' (1952) - Battling Moss (uncredited) * ''

The Maverick ''The Maverick'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and starring Wild Bill Elliott, Myron Healey and Phyllis Coates.Fitzgerald & Magers p.35 Plot Cast * Wild Bill Elliott as Lieutenant Pete Devlin * Myron Healey as S ...

'' (1952) - Frank Bullitt * '' Androcles and the Lion'' (1952) - Gladiator (uncredited) * ''

Fair Wind to Java ''Fair Wind to Java'' is a 1953 American adventure film in Trucolor from Republic Pictures, produced and directed by Joseph Kane, that stars Fred MacMurray and Vera Ralston. With special effects by the Lydecker brothers, the film was based on the ...

'' (1953) - Hoppo Two * ''

The Glass Wall ''The Glass Wall'' is a 1953 American drama film noir directed by Maxwell Shane and starring Vittorio Gassman and Gloria Grahame. The black-and-white film was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The title refers to a design feature o ...

'' (1953) - Eddie Hinckley * ''

Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki ''Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki'' is a 1955 American comedy film directed by Lee Sholem. It is the seventh installment of Universal-International's ''Ma and Pa Kettle'' series starring Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in his final starring role. Pl ...

'' (1953) - Lefty Conway - Kidnapper (uncredited) * ''

A Perilous Journey ''A Perilous Journey'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by R. G. Springsteen and written by Richard Wormser. The film stars Vera Ralston, David Brian, Scott Brady, Charles Winninger, Hope Emerson, Eileen Christy and Leif Erickson. Th ...

'' (1953) - Stewart the Sailor (uncredited) * ''

Siren of Bagdad ''Siren of Bagdad'' is a 1953 Technicolor fantasy adventure film produced by Sam Katzman and directed by Richard Quine set in the medieval Persian Empire. It stars Paul Henreid as a travelling Master magician who seeks to recover his troop of be ...

'' (1953) - Saladin's Guard (uncredited) * '' Devil's Canyon'' (1953) - Guard (uncredited) * ''

City of Bad Men ''City of Bad Men'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Harmon Jones and starring Jeanne Crain and Dale Robertson. Plot A heavyweight championship fight between "Gentleman Jim" Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons is coming to Carson City, Nev ...

'' (1953) - Gunslinger at Ringside (uncredited) * ''

Man of Conflict ''Man of Conflict'' is a 1953 American crime drama film directed by Hal R. Makelim and starring John Agar and Edward Arnold. Plot Industrial giant J. R. Compton and his partner son Ray clash over J. R.'s treatment of employees in the company's ...

'' (1953) - Thug Driving Car * ''

Jack Slade Joseph Alfred "Jack" Slade, (January 22, 1831 – March 10, 1864), was a stagecoach and Pony Express superintendent, instrumental in the opening of the American West and the archetype of the Western gunslinger. Born in Carlyle, Illinois, he w ...

'' (1953) - Rufe Prentice * '' Wicked Woman'' (1953) - Man in Bar (uncredited) * ''

Money from Home ''Money From Home'' is a 1953 American comedy film starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The comedy was the first for the Martin and Lewis team to be shot in color and was their only film in 3-D. The picture was premiered as a special previe ...

'' (1953) - Russian Henry (uncredited) * ''

Trader Tom of the China Seas ''Trader Tom of the China Seas'' is a 1954 Republic film serial directed by Franklin Adreon and starring Harry Lauter, Aline Towne, Lyle Talbot, Robert Shayne, Fred Graham, and Richard Reeves. In 1966 the serial was edited into ''Century 66 ...

'' (1954) - Rebel Chief * ''

Loophole A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system. Originally, the word meant an arrowslit, a narrow verti ...

'' (1954) - Pete Mazurki / Tanner * '' Khyber Patrol'' (1954) - Khan Servant Bringing Wine (uncredited) * '' Target Earth'' (1954) - Jim Wilson * '' Destry'' (1954) - Mac * ''

The Silver Chalice ''The Silver Chalice'' is a 1952 English language historical novel by Thomas B. Costain. It is the fictional story of the making of a silver chalice to hold the Holy Grail (itself here conflated with the Holy Chalice) and includes 1st century b ...

'' (1954) - Overseer (uncredited) * ''

Day of Triumph ''Day of Triumph'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Irving Pichel and John T. Coyle, from a screenplay by Arthur T. Horman. The film stars Lee J. Cobb, Robert Wilson, James Griffith, and Joanne Dru. This was the last film directed by Ir ...

'' (1954) - Gestas * ''

Tarzan's Hidden Jungle ''Tarzan's Hidden Jungle'' is a 1955 black-and-white film from RKO Pictures directed by Harold D. Schuster and starring Gordon Scott in his first film as Tarzan, taking over the role from Lex Barker, who had in turn followed Johnny Weissmuller ...

'' (1955) - Reeves * '' Strange Lady in Town'' (1955) - Mr. Bisbee (uncredited) * ''

The Eternal Sea ''The Eternal Sea'' (aka ''The Admiral Hoskins Story'') is a 1955 American war film directed by John H. Auer and starring Sterling Hayden, Alexis Smith and Ben Cooper. After an American naval officer loses his leg at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, h ...

'' (1955) - Rivet Catcher (uncredited) * '' City of Shadows'' (1955) - Angelo Di Bruno * '' I Died a Thousand Times'' (1955) - Deputy (uncredited) * ''

Top Gun ''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an a ...

'' (1955) - Willets (uncredited) * '' The Killing'' (1956) - Bill (uncredited) * '' The Man Is Armed'' (1956) - Rutberg * ''

Running Target Running target shooting refers to a number of target shooting sports and events involving a shooting target—sometimes called a boar, moose, or deer—that is made to move as if it is a running animal. Competitions are shot at known target dis ...

'' (1956) - Jaynes * ''

Dance with Me, Henry ''Dance with Me, Henry'' is a 1956 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is the final film that they starred in together, although Costello starred in one more film before his death, '' The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock''. Plot ...

'' (1956) - Mushie * ''

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral The gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a thirty-second shootout between law enforcement officer, lawmen led by Virgil Earp and members of a loosely organized group of outlaws called the Cochise County Cowboys, Cowboys that occurred at about 3: ...

'' (1957) - Pierce's Foreman (uncredited) * ''

The Buckskin Lady ''The Buckskin Lady'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Carl K. Hittleman and starring Patricia Medina in the titular role and Richard Denning as her leading man. The supporting cast features Gerald Mohr, Henry Hull, and Hank Worden. ...

'' (1957) - Potter * ''

Auntie Mame ''Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade'' is a 1955 novel by American author Patrick Dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, Patrick, growing up as the ward of his Aunt Mame Dennis, the sister of his dead father. The book is often desc ...

'' (1958) - Mr. Krantz (uncredited) * ''

Gunsmoke in Tucson ''Gunsmoke in Tucson'' is a 1958 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by Paul Leslie Peil and Robert L. Joseph. The film stars Mark Stevens, Forrest Tucker, Gale Robbins, Vaughn Taylor, John Ward and Kevin H ...

'' (1958) - Notches Pole * ''

Riot in Juvenile Prison ''Riot in Juvenile Prison'' is a 1959 film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Jerome Thor and Scott Marlowe.

'' (1959) - Andy, a guard (uncredited) * '' The Rookie'' (1959) - Bruce - Military Police Sergeant * ''

Twelve Hours to Kill ''Twelve Hours to Kill'' (also known as ''12 Hours to Kill'') is a 1960 American crime drama film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Nico Minardos and Barbara Eden. Plot Martin Filones (Nico Minardos), a young Greek man, witnesses the murde ...

'' (1960) - Mark * '' Blue Hawaii'' (1961) - Harmonica-Playing Convict (uncredited) * '' Toys in the Attic'' (1963) - Refrigerator Delivery Man (uncredited) * ''

Fun in Acapulco ''Fun in Acapulco'' is a 1963 American musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley and Ursula Andress. The film featured the Top 10 ''Billboard'' hit "Bossa Nova Baby" and reached No. 1 on the national weekly box office charts a week after the ass ...

'' (1963) - Police Officer (uncredited) * '' A House Is Not a Home'' (1964) - Pete Snyder * ''

Kiss Me, Stupid ''Kiss Me, Stupid'' is a 1964 American sex comedy film produced and directed by Billy Wilder and starring Dean Martin, Kim Novak, and Ray Walston. The screenplay by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond is based on the play ''L'ora della fantasia'' (''Th ...

'' (1964) - Waiter at Desert Sands (uncredited) * ''

Girl Happy ''Girl Happy'' is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy and beach party film starring Elvis Presley in his eighteenth feature. The movie won a fourth place prize Laurel Award in the category Top Musical of 1965. It featured the song " Puppe ...

'' (1965) - Officer Wilkins (uncredited) * ''

Tickle Me ''Tickle Me'' is a 1965 American musical comedy western film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley as a champion rodeo bull rider and bronco buster. Presley won a 1966 Golden Laurel Award as best male actor in a musical film fo ...

'' (1965) - Jim - Bartender (uncredited) * '' At the End of the Rainbow'' (1965) - Genie * '' Harum Scarum'' (1965) - Scarred Bedouin * '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1966) - Man on Street (uncredited) * '' Billy the Kid vs. Dracula'' (1966) - Pete - Saloonkeeper * ''

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin ''The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' is a 1967 American Western comedy film directed by James Neilson, produced by Walt Disney Productions, starring Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette, Hermione Baddeley, and Karl Malden. The film's screenpl ...

'' (1967) - Last Haircut Man (uncredited) * ''

Eight on the Lam ''Eight on the Lam'' is a 1967 American comedy film directed by George Marshall. It stars Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller. Plot Bank teller Henry Dimsdale (Bob Hope) finds ten $1,000 bills. He is a widower with seven kids and could use the money, and ...

'' (1967) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Casino Royale'' (1967) - Hit Man (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reeves, Richard 1912 births 1967 deaths Deaths from cirrhosis American male television actors American male film actors 20th-century American male actors Male Western (genre) film actors