Richard Theodore Adams (March 17, 1890 – September 24, 1973) was an American film actor who appeared in nearly 200 films between 1926 and 1952.

Early life

Adams was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

. He appeared with his parents in their

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

act and later attended

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...

. He served in World War I and World War II in the US Navy.

Career

Adams' film career spanned more than three decades and included roles "on both sides of the law". He worked primarily in B-Westerns, often as a villain. Studios for which he worked included

Monogram A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series o ...

and PRC, and he was often seen in films that starred

Johnny Mack Brown John Brown (September 1, 1904 – November 14, 1974) was an American college football player and film actor billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career. He acted and starred mainly in Western (genre), Western films. Early lif ...

or Bob Steele. He also appeared in serials, including ''

The Mysterious Pilot ''The Mysterious Pilot'' is a 15-episode 1937 Columbia Pictures, Columbia Serial (film), movie serial based on the book by William Byron Mowery and starring the record-breaking aviator Frank Hawks. This was the second serial produced by Columbia ...

'' (1937), '' Holt of the Secret Service'' (1941), ''

Daredevils of the West ''Daredevils of the West'' is an American Western movie serial consisting of 12 chapters, released by Republic Pictures in 1943 starring Allan Lane and Kay Aldridge. The plot involves a gang of land-grabbers who try to prevent safe passage o ...

'' (1943), and ''

King of the Rocket Men ''King of the Rocket Men'' is a 1949 12-chapter black-and-white movie serial from Republic Pictures, produced by Franklin Adreon, directed Fred C. Brannon, that stars Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke, Don Haggerty, House Peters, Jr., James Craven ...

'' (1949).

Later life and death

Late in his career, Adams acted on television Westerns, including ''

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in '' Everybody's Magaz ...

'', ''

Cowboy G-Men ''Cowboy G-Men'' is an American Western series that aired in syndication from September 1952 to June 1953, for a total of thirty-nine episodes. Synopsis Russell Hayden and former child actor Jackie Coogan (who would later perform as Uncle Feste ...

'', and ''

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 ...

''. On September 24, 1973, Adams died 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' ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, at age 83. His remains were

cremated Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre i ...

and are interred at

Chapel of the Pines Crematory Chapel of the Pines Crematory is a crematory and columbarium located at 1605 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, in the U.S. state of California, in the historic West Adams District a short distance southwest of Downtown. It is beside Angelus-Ros ...

in Los Angeles.

Selected filmography

* '' The Road Agent'' (1926) * ''

Rider of the Plains ''Rider of the Plains'' is a 1931 American Western film directed by John P. McCarthy and starring Tom Tyler, Lilian Bond and Al Bridge. Main cast * Tom Tyler as Blackie Saunders * Lilian Bond as Betty Harper * Al Bridge as Deputy Bill Gaines ...

'' (1931) * ''

Ships of Hate ''Ships of Hate'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by John P. McCarthy and starring Lloyd Hughes, Dorothy Sebastian and Charles Middleton.Dooley p.44 Synopsis A fierce rivalry is raged over a dancer by a captain of a ship and o ...

'' (1931) * '' God's Country and the Man'' (1931) * '' The Cyclone Kid'' (1931) *'' The Savage Girl'' (1932) * '' Malay Nights'' (1932) * ''

Human Targets ''Human Targets'' is a 1932 American pre-Code Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Buzz Barton and Francis X. Bushman Jr. Cast * Buzz Barton as Buzz Dale * Pauline Parker as Nellie Dale * Francis X. Bushman Jr. as Bart Travis ...

'' (1932) * '' The Gambling Sex'' (1932) * '' Battling Buckaroo'' (1932) *''

Sagebrush Trail ''Sagebrush Trail'' (UK title ''An Innocent Man'') is a 1933 American Pre-Code Western film with locations filmed at Bronson Canyon starring John Wayne and featuring Lane Chandler and Yakima Canutt (Canutt plays the leader of the gang as well ...

'' (1933) * ''

Easy Millions ''Easy Millions'' is a 1933 American comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher, Dorothy Burgess and Merna Kennedy.Pitts p.161 Cast * Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher * Dorothy Burgess * Merna Kennedy * Jo ...

'' (1933) * ''

Her Forgotten Past ''Her Forgotten Past'' is a 1933 American pre-Code mystery film directed by Wesley Ford and starring Monte Blue, Barbara Kent and Henry B. Walthall.Pitts p. 253 Synopsis Without telling her wealthy father, Doris Maynard marries the family chauffe ...

'' (1933) *''

The Law of 45's ''The Law of the 45's'' (also known as ''The Mysterious Mr. Sheffield'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1935 American Western film directed by John P. McCarthy. The screenplay was based on the 1933 novel of the same name by William Colt MacDonald ...

'' (1935) * ''

His Fighting Blood ''His Fighting Blood'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by John English and starring Kermit Maynard, Polly Ann Young and Paul Fix.Goble p.102 It was produced on Poverty Row as a second feature. The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1935) *''

The Gambling Terror ''The Gambling Terror'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Iris Meredith and Charles King.Pitts p.121 Plot A town is effectively terrorised by a protection racket with no one knowing who th ...

'' (1937) *''

It Happened Out West ''It Happened Out West'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Earle Snell and John Roberts. The film stars Paul Kelly, Judith Allen, Johnny Arthur, LeRoy Mason, Lew Kelly, and Russell Hicks. The film wa ...

'' (1937) *''

Smoke Tree Range ''Smoke Tree Range'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Frances Guihan. The film stars Buck Jones, Muriel Evans, John Elliott, Dick Jones, Donald Kirke, Ted Adams and Ben Hall. The film was released o ...

'' (1937) *''

Pals of the Saddle ''Pals of the Saddle'' is a 1938 "Three Mesquiteers" Western film starring John Wayne and directed by George Sherman. This is the first of eight films in which Wayne played the lead in the popular series of fifty-one Three Mesquiteers films. P ...

'' (1938) * ''

Paroled from the Big House ''Paroled from the Big House'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Jean Carmen, Ted Adams and George Eldredge. It was produced as a second feature on Poverty Row.Pitts p.196 It was later reissued under the alte ...

'' (1938) * ''

El Diablo Rides ''El Diablo Rides'' is a 1939 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Ira S. Webb and written by Carl Krusada. The film stars Bob Steele (actor), Bob Steele, Claire Rochelle, Kit Guard, Carleton Young, Ted Adams (actor), Ted Adams and ...

'' (1939) * '' Fighting Mad'' (1939) *''

The Pal from Texas ''The Pal from Texas'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and written by Carl Krusada. The film stars Bob Steele, Claire Rochelle, Josef Swickard, Betty Mack, Ted Adams and Carleton Young. The film was released on Novem ...

'' (1939) *''

Three Texas Steers ''Three Texas Steers'' (UK title ''Danger Rides the Range'') is a 1939 American "Three Mesquiteers" Western B-movie directed by George Sherman. It stars John Wayne, Ray "Crash" Corrigan and Max Terhune as the Mesquiteers; with Carole Landis as ...

'' (1939) *''

Smoky Trails ''Smoky Trails'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Bernard B. Ray and written by George H. Plympton. The film stars Bob Steele, Jean Carmen, Murdock MacQuarrie, Bruce Dane, Carleton Young and Ted Adams. The film was released on M ...

'' (1939) * '' Crashing Thru'' (1939) *''

Billy the Kid Outlawed ''Billy the Kid Outlawed'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Oliver Drake. It stars Bob Steele as gunfighter "Billy the Kid", Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones and Carleton Young as Jeff Travis, w ...

'' (1940) * '' Wild Horse Valley'' (1940) * ''

Frontier Crusader ''Frontier Crusader'' is a 1940 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Tim McCoy, Dorothy Short and Lou Fulton.Darby p.200 Cast * Tim McCoy as Trigger Tim Rand * Dorothy Short as Jenny Mason * Lou Fulton ...

'' (1940) * ''

Gun Code ''Gun Code'' is a 1940 American western film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Tim McCoy, Inna Gest and Carleton Young.Pitts p.134 It was distributed by the independent company PRC which specialized in handling low-budget second features. T ...

'' (1940) * '' Pioneer Days'' (1940) *''

East Side Kids The East Side Kids were characters in a series of 22 films released by Monogram Pictures from 1940 through 1945. Many of them were originally part of The Dead End Kids and The Little Tough Guys, and several of them later became members of The ...

'' (1940) *''

Law and Order In modern politics, law and order is the approach focusing on harsher enforcement and penalties as ways to reduce crime. Penalties for perpetrators of disorder may include longer terms of imprisonment, mandatory sentencing, three-strikes laws a ...

'' (1940) * ''

Billy the Kid's Gun Justice ''Billy the Kid's Gun Justice'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield for Producers Releasing Corporation, and 3rd in PRC's Billy the Kid series. Hal Erickson, Rovi.Billy the Kid's Gun Justice (1940), ''The New York Times''. ...

'' (1940) *''

The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury ''The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. The film stars George Houston as the "Lone Rider" and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Hillary Brooke, Karl Hackett, Ted Adams and ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Lone Rider Ambushed ''The Lone Rider Ambushed'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Oliver Drake. The film stars George Houston as the Lone Rider and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Maxine Leslie, Frank Hagney ...

'' (1941) * ''

Billy the Kid's Range War ''Billy the Kid's Range War'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield that was the fourth of Producers Releasing Corporation's Billy the Kid film series. Despite the film's title and mention of Lincoln County, there is neithe ...

'' (1941) * ''

Outlaws of Boulder Pass ''Outlaws of Boulder Pass'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. The film stars George Houston as the "Lone Rider" and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, and Dennis Moore as Sheriff Smoky Hammer, with Marjorie Mann ...

'' (1942) * ''

Overland Stagecoach ''Overland Stagecoach'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Robert Livingston as the Lone Rider, Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, and Dennis Moore as Sheriff Smoky Moore ...

'' (1942) * ''

Billy the Kid Trapped ''Billy the Kid Trapped'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. Plot Imprisoned and sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit, Billy, Fuzzy and Jeff break out of jail. The three escapees discover that there are thr ...

'' (1942) * ''

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns ''Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Milton Raison and George Wallace Sayre. The film stars Buster Crabbe, Al St. John, Dave O'Brien, John Merton, Milton Kibbee and Ted Adams ...

'' (1942) * '' The Mysterious Rider'' (1942) *''

'' (1943) * ''

The Kid Rides Again ''The Kid Rides Again'' is a 1943 American western directed by Sam Newfield. The film was one of the Billy the Kid (film series), Billy the Kid (film series by Producers Releasing Corporation. It was Iris Meredith's last credited feature film ...

'' (1943) *'' Trigger Fingers'' (1946) * ''

Swing, Cowboy, Swing ''Swing, Cowboy, Swing'' is a 1946 American musical Western film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Cal Shrum, Max Terhune and Alta Lee.Pitts p.341 It was shot at the Corriganville Movie Ranch in California. In 1949 it was reissued under t ...

'' (1946) *'' The Law Comes to Gunsight'' (1947) *''

Prairie Express ''Prairie Express'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Anthony Coldeway and J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Virginia Belmont, Marshall Reed, William Ruhl and Robert Wi ...

'' (1947) *''

Raiders of the South ''Raiders of the South'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Evelyn Brent, Raymond Hatton, Reno Browne, Marshall Reed and John Hamilton. The film was r ...

'' (1947) *''

Range Beyond the Blue ''Range Beyond the Blue'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Patricia Harper. The film stars Eddie Dean, Roscoe Ates,Helen Mowery, Bob Duncan, Ted Adams and Billy Hammond. The film was released on March 17 ...

'' (1947) *''

Song of the Wasteland ''Song of the Wasteland'' is a 1947 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Jimmy Wakely, Lee White, Dottye Brown, Henry Hall, John James and Mike Ragan. The film was released on May 31, 1 ...

'' (1947) *'' Valley of Fear'' (1947) *''

Back Trail ''Back Trail'' is a 1948 American Western film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, and Mildred Coles, and was released on July 18, 1948. Plot Bob Frazer is a businessman in Brentwood. When he was younger ...

'' (1948) *''

Frontier Agent ''Frontier Agent'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by J. Benton Cheney. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Raymond Hatton, Reno Browne, Kenneth MacDonald, Dennis Moore and Riley Hill. The film was relea ...

'' (1948) *''

Gun Runner Arms trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trade of small ar ...

'' (1949) *''

Haunted Trails ''Haunted Trails'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by Adele Buffington. The film stars Whip Wilson, Andy Clyde, Reno Browne, Dennis Moore, I. Stanford Jolley and William Ruhl. The film was released on ...

'' (1949) *'' Across the Rio Grande'' (1949) *''

'' (1949) * ''

Kansas Territory The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the United States, Union as the Slave and ...

'' (1952)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Ted 1890 births 1973 deaths American male film actors 20th-century American male actors Male Western (genre) film actors Vaudeville performers American military personnel of World War I American military personnel of World War II Film serial actors American male television actors Western (genre) television actors