Wilbur McGaugh (March 12, 1895–January 31, 1965) was an American

film actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...

of the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

, appearing mostly in

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 ...

. He also directed five films. He also worked extensively as an

assistant director The role of an assistant director on a film includes tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, and maintaining order on the set. They also have to tak ...

in film and television. McGaugh's career changed with the coming of sound films. Described as "sadly inept in front of the microphones", he began working off-camer and became an assistant director for films in the 1930s and 1940s.

Selected filmography

* '' Devil Dog Dawson'' (1921) * '' The Broken Spur'' (1921) * ''

Cupid's Brand ''Cupid's Brand'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Jack Hoxie, Wilbur McGaugh and Mignon Anderson. Cast * Jack Hoxie as Reese Wharton * Wilbur McGaugh as 'Spike' Crowder * Charles Force as 'Bull ...

'' (1921) * '' Dead or Alive'' (1921) * '' Hills of Hate'' (1921) * ''

The Sheriff of Hope Eternal ''The Sheriff of Hope Eternal'' is a 1921 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Jack Hoxie, Marin Sais and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 707. Synopsis A stage coach driver Drew Halliday falls in love with Hela M ...

'' (1921) * '' Peaceful Peters'' (1922) * ''

One Eighth Apache ''One Eighth Apache'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Roy Stewart, Kathleen Kirkham and Wilbur McGaugh.Munden, p. 568. Cast * Roy Stewart as Brant Murdock * Kathleen Kirkham as Norma Biddie * W ...

'' (1922) * ''

At Devil's Gorge ''At Devil's Gorge'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Ashton Dearholt and starring Edmund Cobb, Helene Rosson and Wilbur McGaugh.Langman, p. 13 In a gold mining boom town, greed and jealousy becomes between two partners and l ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Law Rustlers ''The Law Rustlers'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring William Fairbanks, Edmund Cobb and Joseph W. Girard.Munden, p. 426. Synopsis Two ranch hands set off for Alaska but stop in a town on the way, co ...

'' (1923) * '' The Santa Fe Trail'' (1923) * '' Branded a Bandit'' (1924) * ''

Cupid's Rustler ''Cupid's Rustler'' is a 1924 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Francis Ford (actor), Francis Ford and starring Edmund Cobb and Florence Gilbert. It also featured an early appearance by the future star Janet ...

'' (1924) * ''

Bringin' Home the Bacon ''Bringin' Home the Bacon'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Jay Wilsey, Jean Arthur and Bert Lindley. Cast * Jay Wilsey as Bill Winton * Jean Arthur as Nancy Norton * Bert Lindley as Joe Breed * ...

'' (1924) * '' The Fugitive'' (1925) * '' Roped by Radio'' (1925) * ''

Bad Man's Bluff ''Bad Man's Bluff'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Alan James and starring Jay Wilsey, Molly Malone and Frank Whitson. It was the last film to be distributed under the Associated Exhibitors banner following its merger with ...

'' (1926) * ''

Three Pals ''Three Pals'' is a 1926 American silent romance film directed by Wilbur McGaugh and Bruce Mitchell and starring Marilyn Mills, Josef Swickard and William H. Turner. Gary Cooper made one of his earliest screen appearances as an extra. Cast ...

'' (1926) * '' The Fire Fighters'' (1927) * '' The Sky Skidder'' (1929) * ''

The Indians Are Coming ''The Indians Are Coming'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code Universal movie serial based on ''The Great West That Was'' by William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. The serial was the first "all-talking" (complete sound rather than a silent movie with occasion ...

'' (1930)

References

External links

* 1895 births 1965 deaths American film directors American male film actors People from Los Angeles Male Western (genre) film actors {{US-film-actor-1890s-stub