Tom Dugan (1 January 1889 – 7 March 1955) was an Irish-American film actor. He appeared in more than 260 films between 1927 and 1955. He was born in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

, Ireland and died in

Redlands, California Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately west of Palm Springs and east of Lo ...

, after injuries sustained in a road accident.

Life and career

At an early age, Tom Dugan's family moved to

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

where he was educated at the Philadelphia High School. After leaving school, he tried three trades (shoe cutting, neck tie cutting and paper hanging) in quick succession but he had a good tenor voice, so he decided on show business. He appeared in a travelling medicine show, then a minstrel troupe before going on stage. He was a headliner for the Keith Circuit in America for several years. He also played in musical comedies in New York City and in vaudeville theatres like

Earl Carroll Earl Carroll (September 16, 1893 – June 17, 1948) was an American theatrical producer, director, writer, songwriter and composer. Early life Carroll was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1893. He lived as an infant in the Nunnery Hill ( Fine ...

's Vanities. He eventually became a

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

comedian. Dugan appeared in nearly 270 films between 1927 and 1955 and had also some television roles near the end of his life. He supported comedians like

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

and appeared in '' Lights of New York'' (1928), the first all-talking picture. Dugan also worked as an actor and perhaps also writer for the

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

studios in the mid-1930s. He mostly played small roles, often as an Irish cop, gangster or cab driver. His best film role was perhaps the Polish actor Bronski who disguises himself as Adolf Hitler in

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

's ''

To Be or Not to Be To Be or Not to Be may refer to: * ''To be, or not to be'', the soliloquy from ''Hamlet''. Films and TV, theatre and books * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1942 film), directed by Ernst Lubitsch * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983 film), a remake produced ...

'' (1942).

Death

Dugan died 7 March 1955 in

. His remains are interred at

San Fernando Mission Cemetery The San Fernando Mission Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery located in the Mission Hills community of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. The property adjoins the San Fernando Mission and Bishop Alemany Catholic High School. ThSan Fernando Mi ...

in North Hollywood.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Partial filmography

*''What Every Girl Should Know'' (1927) *''

The Kid Sister ''The Kid Sister'' is a 1945 American comedy drama film directed by Sam Newfield. The film is also known as ''All in the Family'' (American alternative title). Plot summary Joan Hollingsworth's mother orders her to remain in her bedroom du ...

'' (1927) *'' The Swell-Head'' (1927) *'' By Whose Hand?'' (1927) *''

Sharp Shooters ''Sharp Shooters'' is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by John G. Blystone and starring George O'Brien, Lois Moran, and Noah Young. A print survives in the UCLA Film and Television Archive. ''Sharp Shooters'' contains uncredited perf ...

'' (1928) *'' Dressed to Kill'' (1928) *''

The Midnight Taxi The Midnight Taxi is a 1928 American early part-talkie thriller picture from Warner Bros. directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Antonio Moreno, Helen Costello, and Myrna Loy. According to the Library of Congress, it has a completed copy of ...

'' (1928) *'' Melody of Love'' (1928) as Lefty (credited as Tommy Dugan) *''

Shadows of the Night "Shadows of the Night" is a song composed by D.L. Byron explicitly for the 1980 film ''Times Square (1980 film), Times Square'', which tells the story of two young runaways in New York City. The song did not make it into the movie and Byron's ow ...

'' (1928) *''

The Barker ''The Barker'' is a 1928 part-talkie pre-Code romantic drama film produced and released by First National Pictures, a subsidiary of Warner Bros., acquired in September 1928. The film was directed by George Fitzmaurice and stars Milton Sills, Do ...

'' (1928) *''

The Million Dollar Collar ''The Million Dollar Collar'' is a 1929 American part-talkie crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman. It was a part-talkie released in Vitaphone with music and sound effects. The film is in unknown status which suggests that it may be lost. Acc ...

'' (1929) *'' Sonny Boy'' (1929) *'' Drag'' (1929) as Charlie Parker *''

The Bad One ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1930) *''

The Phantom of the West ''The Phantom of the West'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film serial and was the second all-talking serial produced by Mascot Pictures. Tom Tyler stars as Jim Lester, trying to prove that Francisco Cortez (Frank Lanning) is innocent of ki ...

'' (1931) *''

The Vanishing Legion ''The Vanishing Legion'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western (genre), Western film serial from Mascot Pictures, Mascot, directed by Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason. Stars Harry Carey (actor born 1878), Harry Carey and Edwina Booth were originall ...

'' (1931) *'' The Galloping Ghost'' (1931 serial) *'' Big City Blues'' (1932) as Red *''

The Pride of the Legion ''The Pride of the Legion'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Ford Beebe and starring Victor Jory, Barbara Kent and Sally Blane Sally Blane (born Elizabeth Jane Young; July 11, 1910 – August 27, 1997) was an American actress ...

'' (1932) *'' Palooka'' (1934) *'' The Gilded Lily'' (1935) *''

Princess O'Hara ''Princess O'Hara'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by David Burton and starring Jean Parker, Chester Morris and Leon Errol.Nollen p.72 The story was re-used for the 1943 Abbott and Costello film ''It Ain't Hay''. Plot Cast * Jean Park ...

'' (1935) *''

The Affair of Susan ''The Affair of Susan'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Zasu Pitts, Hugh O'Connell and Walter Catlett.Lowe p.1968 It is a remake of the 1928 silent film '' Lonesome''. Two lonely people meet at an amusemen ...

'' (1935) *'' The Case of the Missing Man'' (1935) *''

Three Kids and a Queen ''Three Kids and a Queen'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Edward Ludwig, written by Samuel Ornitz and Barry Trivers, and starring May Robson, Henry Armetta, Herman Bing, Frankie Darro, Bill Burrud and William "Billy" Benedict. It was r ...

'' (1935) *''

Divot Diggers ''Divot Diggers'' is a 1936 '' Our Gang'' short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan; It was the 142nd ''Our Gang'' short to be released. Plot The action takes place at an expansive California golf course, where the gang merrily play their ow ...

'' (1936) *'' Pennies from Heaven'' (1936) *''

Wife vs. Secretary ''Wife vs. Secretary'' (or ''Wife versus Secretary'') is a 1936 comedy drama directed and co-produced by Clarence Brown and starring Clark Gable as a successful businessman, Jean Harlow as his secretary, and Myrna Loy as his wife, supported by Ja ...

'' (1936) as Finney *'' Nobody's Baby'' (1937) *''

True Confession ''True Confession'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and John Barrymore. It was based on the 1934 play ''Mon Crime'', written by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil. In ...

'' (1937) *''

Youth Takes a Fling ''Youth Takes a Fling'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Joel McCrea. McCrea plays Joe Meadows, whose only ambition as a Kansas farm boy was a life at sea. He moves to New York to try to get a job as a sailo ...

'' (1938) *''

There's That Woman Again ''There's That Woman Again'' is a 1938 American comedy mystery film directed by Alexander Hall. It is the sequel to ''There's Always a Woman'', released the same year. In both films, Melvyn Douglas stars as a private investigator whose wife involv ...

'' (1938) *'' The House of Fear'' (1939) *''

Missing Evidence ''Missing Evidence'' is a 1939 American drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Preston Foster, Irene Hervey, and Inez Courtney, and was released on December 15, 1939. Cast list * Preston Foster as Bill Collins * Irene Hervey as Linda Pa ...

'' (1939) *''

Mystery of the White Room ''Mystery of the White Room'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Otis Garrett and starring Bruce Cabot, Helen Mack and Joan Woodbury.Weaver & Brunas p.441 A surgeon is killed during the middle of an operation when the hospital room is thr ...

'' (1939) * '' Laugh It Off'' (1939) *''

The Fighting 69th ''The Fighting 69th'' is a 1940 American war film starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and George Brent. The plot is based upon the actual exploits of New York City's 69th Infantry Regiment during World War I. The regiment was given that nickna ...

'' (1940) *''

Cross-Country Romance ''Cross-Country Romance'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Woodruff and starring Gene Raymond and Wendy Barrie. With the huge success of ''It Happened One Night'', the 1934 American romantic comedy film directed by Fran ...

'' (1940) *'' Half a Sinner'' (1940) *'' So You Won't Talk'' (1940) *''

The Boys from Syracuse ''The Boys from Syracuse'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, based on William Shakespeare's play ''The Comedy of Errors'', as adapted by librettist George Abbott. The score includes swing and other contemp ...

'' (1940) *''

Meet the Stewarts ''Meet the Stewarts'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy directed by Alfred E. Green, which stars William Holden and Frances Dee. It was Holden's final film prior to his entering military service for World War II World War II or ...

'' (1942) *''

Yankee Doodle Dandy ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 American biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, George Tobias, Ro ...

'' (1942) *''

Bataan Bataan (), officially the Province of Bataan ( fil, Lalawigan ng Bataan ), is a province in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. Its capital is the city of Balanga while Mariveles is the largest town in the province. Occupying the entir ...

'' (1943) *''

In Society ''In Society'' is a 1944 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It was the first of five Abbott and Costello films to be directed by Jean Yarbrough. It was re-released in 1953. Plot Eddie Harrington and Albert Mansfield are plumbe ...

'' (1944) *''

Accomplice Under the English common law, an accomplice is a person who actively participates in the commission of a crime, even if they take no part in the actual criminal offense. For example, in a bank robbery, the person who points the gun at the teller ...

'' (1946) * ''

The Shadow Returns ''The Shadow Returns'' is a 1946 American comedy crime film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Kane Richmond, Barbara Read and Tom Dugan. It features the pulp character The Shadow, already a popular hero of novels and a radio show. It was the fi ...

'' (1946) as the cab driver Shrevvy *''

Bringing Up Father ''Bringing Up Father'' is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 2, 1913, to May 28, 2000. The strip was later titled ''Jiggs and Maggie'' (or ''M ...

'' (1946) *''

The Pilgrim Lady ''The Pilgrim Lady'' is a 1947 American comedy crime film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Lynne Roberts, Warren Douglas and Alan Mowbray Alan Mowbray (born Alfred Ernest Allen; 18 August 1896 – 25 March 1969) was an English stag ...

'' (1947) *''

Half Past Midnight ''Half Past Midnight'' is a 1948 American comedy murder mystery film. It was William F. Claxton's first directed feature after eight years as a film editor. Plot Kent Taylor plays a man who meets a dancer in a nightclub. She's implicated in a ...

'' (1948) *'' On the Town'' (1949) *''

Take Me Out to the Ball Game "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of North American baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song ...

'' (1949) *''

The Lemon Drop Kid ''The Lemon Drop Kid'' is a 1951 American comedy film based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. Although Sidney Lanfield is credited as the director, Frank Tashlin reportedly was hired, u ...

'' (1951) *''

Crashout ''Crashout'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster and starring William Bendix, Arthur Kennedy, Luther Adler, William Talman, Gene Evans, Marshall Thompson, and Beverly Michaels.. Plot Convict Van Duff is the le ...

'' (1955)

References

External links

* * *
British Film Institute (BFI)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dugan, Tom 1889 births 1955 deaths Road incident deaths in California Irish male film actors Male actors from County Dublin 20th-century Irish male actors Burials at San Fernando Mission Cemetery Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)