Royal Edward Dano Sr. (November 16, 1922 - May 15, 1994) was an American actor. In a career spanning 46 years, he was perhaps best known for playing cowboys, villains, and

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

. Dano also provided the voice of the Audio-Animatronic Lincoln for

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

's '' Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln'' attraction at the 1964 World's Fair (brought to

Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisi ...

in 1965), as well as Lincoln's voice at the "

Hall of Presidents The Hall of Presidents is an attraction located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The attraction is a multi-media presentation featuring Audio-Animatronic figures of all 45 individuals who have served as President ...

" attraction at Disney's

Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park, previously known as Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (1971–1994) and The Magic Kingdom (1994–2017), is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando, Florida. Owned and operated by The ...

in 1971.

Early life

Dano was born in New York City on November 16, 1922, the eldest of three siblings born to Mary Josephine (née O'Connor), an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers.

Career

Dano appeared as McSnoyd the

leprechaun A leprechaun ( ga, leipreachán/luchorpán) is a diminutive supernatural being in Irish folklore, classed by some as a type of solitary fairy. They are usually depicted as little bearded men, wearing a coat and hat, who partake in mischief. ...

in the stage show '' Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley'', based on the comic strip by Crockett Johnson. McSnoyd appears to the audience only as a blinking light on a large mushroom, so only his voice is heard. However, at the conclusion of the show Dano joined the rest of the cast, wearing a leprechaun costume. Dano is remembered for his supporting roles in a number of 1950s western and mystery films. The chance for the breakout role of a lifetime escaped him in the theatrical release of '' The Red Badge of Courage''. Dano, cast as The Tattered Man, delivered such a disturbing performance in his death scene, according to director

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...

, that the initial test audience left the theater in droves, e.g., "I've never seen so many people get up and leave the theater...they liked no part of it." The death scene was lent a human touch by Dano, and in 1951, war-weary Americans rejected it (Huston: "...

he audience rejection He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...

was a pretty sickening event."). ''Red Badge'' was immediately recut, and the death scene was removed. It is long believed, and as early as Huston commenting in an interview in 1972, the scene has been lost ("I doubt very much, whether the scene still exists."). He often worked with Anthony Mann and James Stewart. Over the years, Dano made many television appearances, often in bizarre, macabre roles. Dano was also a frequent guest star on ''

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 chara ...

'', with a total of thirteen appearances. Dano was the voice of

for

's '' Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln'' attraction, first presented at the 1964 World's Fair. Disney personally selected Dano, because he felt the actor came closest to the historical descriptions of Lincoln's voice. ''Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln'' was moved to

in 1965, and Dano's vocals continued to be a part of the attraction until 2001. In 1971, his voice was also used for a revised Lincoln speech in the new "Hall of Presidents" attraction at

in Florida, which ran to 1993. He died of pulmonary fibrosis on May 15, 1994, in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

. In 2009, Dano's vocals were returned to ''Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln'' at Disneyland in an updated version of the show.

Selected filmography

*'' Undercover Girl'' (1950) as The Moocher *''

Under the Gun Under the Gun may refer to: Film and television * ''Under the Gun'' (1951 film), an American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff * ''Under the Gun'' (1995 film), an Australian action film by Matthew George * ''Under the Gun'', an Australian fi ...

'' (1951) as Sam Nugent *'' The Red Badge of Courage'' (1951) as The Tattered Soldier *''

Flame of Araby ''Flame of Araby'' (a.k.a. ''Flame of the Desert'') is a 1951 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Charles Lamont starring Maureen O'Hara and Jeff Chandler. British film star Maxwell Reed made his American film debut in the picture. ...

'' (1951) as Basra *'' Bend of the River'' (1952) as Long Tom *'' Carrie'' (1952) as Captain (uncredited) *'' Johnny Guitar'' (1954) as Corey *'' The Far Country'' (1954) as Luke *'' The Trouble with Harry'' (1955) as Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs *''

'' (1955-1971, TV Series) as Henry Mather / Watney / Gideon Hale / Jessup / Jefferson Dooley / Rory Luken / Lambert Haggen / Praylie / Bender / Seth Tandy / Obie Tater *''

Tribute to a Bad Man ''Tribute to a Bad Man'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Robert Wise and starring James Cagney about a rancher whose harsh enforcement of frontier justice alienates the woman he loves. It was based on the short story "Hanging's for t ...

'' (1956) as Abe *'' Moby Dick'' (1956) as 'Elijah' *''

Santiago Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, who ...

'' (1956) as Lobo *'' Tension at Table Rock'' (1956) as Harry Jameson *'' Crime of Passion'' (1957) as Police Capt. Charlie Alidos *'' All Mine to Give'' (1957) as Howard Tyler *'' Father Knows Best'' (1957, TV Series) as Sageman *'' Trooper Hook'' (1957) as Mr. Trude, Stage Driver *'' Man in the Shadow'' (1957) as Aiken Clay *'' The Millionaire'' (1957, TV Series) as Hap Connolly *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was r ...

'' (1957-1960, TV Series) as Mr. Atkins / Martin Ross *'' The Restless Gun'' (1957) Episode "Cheyenne Express" as Wilbur English *'' Saddle the Wind'' (1958) as Clay Ellison *''

Handle with Care A handle is a part of, or attachment to, an object that allows it to be grasped and object manipulation, manipulated by hand. The design of each type of handle involves substantial ergonomics, ergonomic issues, even where these are dealt wit ...

'' (1958) as Al Lees *''

Man of the West ''Man of the West'' is a 1958 American Western film noir film starring Gary Cooper and directed by Anthony Mann, produced by Walter Mirisch and distributed by United Artists. The screenplay, written by Reginald Rose, is based on the 1955 novel ...

'' (1958) as Trout *''

Never Steal Anything Small ''Never Steal Anything Small'' is a 1959 American CinemaScope comedy-drama musical film directed by Charles Lederer and starring James Cagney and Shirley Jones. It is based on the play ''The Devil's Hornpipe'' by Maxwell Anderson and Rouben Mamoul ...

'' (1959) as Words Cannon *'' These Thousand Hills'' (1959) as Ike Carmichael *'' The Boy and the Bridge'' (1959) as Evangelist *'' Face of Fire'' (1959) as Jake Winter *'' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1959, TV Series) as Charlie Wright *'' Hound-Dog Man'' (1959) as Fiddling Tom Waller *'' Route 66'' (1961, TV Series, episode "Most Vanquished, Most Victorious") as Doctor *''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'' (1959-1963, TV Series) as John Bouchette / Boone Caulder *'' The Rifleman'' (1959-1962, TV Series) as Reverend Jamison / Able 'Abe' Lincoln / Aaron Wingate / Jonas Epps / Frank Blandon *'' The Rebel'' (ABC-TV, 1959–1961, TV Series) as Ben Crowe / Amos Cooper *'' The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1960) as Sheriff Harlan *'' Cimarron'' (1960) as Ike Howes (photographer) *'' Have Gun Will Travel'' (1960) as Curley Ashburne *'' Tales of Wells Fargo'' (1960-1962, TV Series) as Robert Mapes / Cole Younger *''

Posse from Hell ''Posse from Hell'' is a 1961 American Western film directed by Herbert Coleman and starring Audie Murphy and John Saxon. Plot In 1880 four escapees from death row, Crip, Leo, Chunk, and Hash ride into the town of Paradise and enter the Ro ...

'' (1961) as Uncle Billy *'' King of Kings'' (1961) as Peter *'' Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (animated TV special)'' (1962, TV Movie) as Marley's Ghost (voice) *'' Rawhide'' (1962-1965, TV Series) as Sam Wentworth / Mr. Teisner / Jeb Newton / Monty Fox *'' The Virginian'' (1962-1966, TV Series) as Uncle Dell Benton / Daniels / Faraway McPhail / Dan Molder *''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'' (NBC-TV, 1962–1967, TV Series) as Matt Jeffers / Hank Penn / Jason Ganther *'' The Dakotas'' (ABC, 1963, TV Series) as Rev. Walter Wyman *'' Savage Sam'' (1963) as Pack Underwood (uncredited) *''

Mr. Novak ''Mr. Novak'' is an American television dramatic series starring James Franciscus in the title role as a high school teacher. The series aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965. It won a Peabody Award in 1963. Synopsis The series follo ...

'' (NBC-TV, 1963, TV Series) as Mr. Metcalfe *'' The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters'' (ABC-TV, 1964, TV Series) as James Weston *'' 7 Faces of Dr. Lao'' (1964) as Carey *''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was rena ...

'' (1964, TV Series) as Mr. Miley *''

'' (1964, TV Series) as Praylie *'' The Fugitive'' (1964, TV Series, episode "When the Bough Breaks") as Preacher *''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the progra ...

'' (1965-1970, TV Series) as Andrew Bonney / Hannibal McCall / Aaron Winters / Henderson Lewelling *'' Lost in Space'' (1966, TV Series, episode: 27, "The Lost Civilization") as Major Domo *'' Gunpoint'' (1966) as Ode *''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the w ...

'' (NBC-TV, 1966–1967, TV Series) as John Maddox / Matty Brenner *'' The Big Valley'' (1966-1969, TV Series) as Rufus Morton / Jesse Bleeck / The Vet / Ezra *'' Welcome to Hard Times'' (1967) as John Bear *'' The Last Challenge'' (1967) as Pretty Horse *''

'' (1967) as Lambert Haggen *''

Day of the Evil Gun ''Day of the Evil Gun'' is a 1968 American traditional Western (genre), Western starring Glenn Ford, Arthur Kennedy (actor), Arthur Kennedy, and Dean Jagger. It was directed by Jerry Thorpe. Plot Angie Warfield and her two children are kidnapp ...

'' (1968) as Dr. Eli Prather *''

If He Hollers, Let Him Go! ''If He Hollers Let Him Go'' is the first novel by American writer Chester Himes, published in 1945, about an African-American shipyard worker in Los Angeles during World War II. It earned him critical acclaim and was considered a "protest nove ...

'' (1968) as Carl Blair *'' Death of a Gunfighter'' (1969) as Arch Brandt *'' The Undefeated'' (1969) as Maj. Sanders, CSA (one-armed major) *'' Hawaii Five-O'' (1970, TV Series) as Hody Linquist *'' Run, Simon, Run'' (1970, TV Movie) as Sheriff Tacksberry *'' Skin Game'' (1971) as John Brown (abolitionist) *'' The Culpepper Cattle Co.'' (1972) as Cattle Rustler *''

The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid ''The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid'' is a 1972 American Western film about the James-Younger Gang distributed by Universal Pictures. It was written and directed by Philip Kaufman in a cinéma vérité style and starring Cliff Robertson. The ...

'' (1972) as Gustavson *'' Moon of the Wolf'' (1972, TV Movie) as Tom Sr. *''

Emergency! ''Emergency!'' is an American action-adventure medical drama A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television) ...

'' (1972-1976, TV Series) as Sam / Hallucinating Man *'' Kung Fu'' (1973, TV Series) as Henry Skowrin *'' Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies'' (1973) as Jake *'' Messiah of Evil'' (1973) as Joseph Lang *'' Cahill U.S. Marshal'' (1973) as MacDonald, Hermit who sells Cahill the mule *''

Electra Glide in Blue ''Electra Glide in Blue'' is a 1973 American action film, starring Robert Blake as a motorcycle cop in Arizona and Billy "Green" Bush as his partner. The film was produced and directed by James William Guercio, and is named after the Harley-Dav ...

'' (1973) as Coroner *''

Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is an American science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control. The franchise is based on Frenc ...

'' (1974, TV Series) as Farrow *'' Big Bad Mama'' (1974) as Reverend Johnson *'' Adam-12'' (1975, TV Series) as Walter Covey *'' The Wild Party'' (1975) as Tex *'' Huckleberry Finn'' (1975, TV Movie) as

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

*''

Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone (; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the ...

'' (1975) as Anton J. Cermak *'' The Outlaw Josey Wales'' (1976) as Ten Spot *'' Drum'' (1976) as Zeke Montgomery *'' The Killer Inside Me'' (1976) as Father *'' Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell'' (1977) as Will Hays *'' Bad Georgia Road'' (1977) as Arthur Pennyrich *'' Quincy, M.E.'' (1977, TV Series) as Dr. Williams / Holsang *'' The One Man Jury'' (1978) as Bartender *'' In Search of Historic Jesus'' (1979, Documentary) as Prophet #1 *'' The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang'' (1979, TV Movie) as Pa Dalton *'' Little House on the Prairie'' (1979-1981, TV Series) as Mr. Hector Webb / Harold *'' Take This Job and Shove It'' (1981) as Beeber *'' Hammett'' (1982) as Pops *'' Something Wicked This Way Comes'' (1983) as Tom Fury *'' The Right Stuff'' (1983) as Minister *''

Teachers A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

'' (1984) as Ditto Stiles *'' Cocaine Wars'' (1985) as Bailey *''

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...

'' (1986, TV Series) as Elmer Quick / Salvation Army Officer *'' Red Headed Stranger'' (1986) as Larn Claver *'' House II: The Second Story'' (1987) as Gramps *'' Date with an Angel'' (1987) as Treating Doctor in Hospital (uncredited) *'' Once Upon a Texas Train'' (1988, TV Movie) as Nitro Jones *'' Killer Klowns from Outer Space'' (1988) as Farmer Gene Green *'' Ghoulies II'' (1988) as Uncle Ned *'' Spaced Invaders'' (1990) – Wrenchmuller *'' Twin Peaks'' (1990) as Judge Clinton Sternwood *'' The Dark Half'' (1993) as Digger Holt (final film role)

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dano, Royal 1922 births 1994 deaths American male film actors American male television actors United States Army personnel of World War II Male actors from New York City Military personnel from New York City American people of Irish descent Burials at Los Angeles National Cemetery 20th-century American male actors Western (genre) television actors United States Army soldiers

Early life

Career

Selected filmography

References

Further reading

External links