Ralph Byrd (April 22, 1909 – August 18, 1952) was an American

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 (), li ...

. He was most famous for playing the comic strip character Dick Tracy on screen, in serials, films and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

Early life and career

The son of George and Edna May Byrd, Ralph Byrd was born in Dayton, Ohio. Before he began acting in films, he sang and danced in theatrical productions. He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, having been inducted into the service in San Pedro, California, in 1944. He married actress and model

Virginia Carroll Virginia Evangeline Carroll (December 2, 1913 – July 23, 2009) was an American actress. She was best known for her appearance in a number of western films. Biography Carroll was born in Los Angeles on December 2, 1913. Her brother, Frank Carr ...

in 1936. The couple remained together until Byrd's death in 1952. Byrd was a good, all-purpose actor with a gift for delivering dialogue in a natural, ingratiating way. His screen characters could be breezy and affable or tough and authoritative, as the role required. He debuted in movies with a bit part in '' Red-Headed Woman'' in (1932). Once established in Republic Pictures' Dick Tracy serials (beginning in 1937), he was usually cast in action features (as a

truck driver A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster, or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; a HGV driver in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the European Union, a lorry driver, or driver in ...

, lumberjack, cowboy, etc.), despite not having the usual brawny frame that went with these roles. He had a strong, resolute jaw, however, which gave him a heroic presence. Byrd also starred in three other serials: '' Blake of Scotland Yard'' (1937), '' S.O.S. Coast Guard'' (1937), and ''

The Vigilante ''The Vigilante'' is a 1947 American Western film serial directed by Wallace Fox. The 33rd serial released by Columbia Pictures, it was based on the comic book cowboy Vigilante, who first appeared in ''Action Comics'', published by DC Comics. ...

'' (1947).

Dick Tracy

Republic cast Byrd as

Chester Gould Chester Gould (; November 20, 1900 – May 11, 1985) was an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of the '' Dick Tracy'' comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 to 1977, incorporating numerous colorful and monstrous villains. ...

's comic-strip detective Dick Tracy in the 1937 serial of the same name. The film was so successful that it spawned three sequels (unheard of in serials): ''

Dick Tracy Returns ''Dick Tracy Returns'' (1938) is a Republic Movie serial based on the Dick Tracy comic strip. It was the eleventh of the sixty-six serials Republic produced and a sequel to the 1937 serial ''Dick Tracy'', with Ralph Byrd reprising his role as the ...

'', ''

Dick Tracy's G-Men ''Dick Tracy's G-Men'' (1939) is a 15-Chapter Republic movie serial based on the ''Dick Tracy'' comic strip by Chester Gould. It was directed by William Witney and John English. This serial was the fifteenth of the sixty-six produced by Rep ...

'' (featuring a young

Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones (born Phylis Lee Isley; March 2, 1919 – December 17, 2009), also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned over five decades, she was nominated ...

, under her real name of Phylis Isley), and ''

Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. ''Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.'' (1941) is a Republic Movie serial based on the Dick Tracy comic strip. It was directed by the team of William Witney and John English with Ralph Byrd reprising his role from the earlier serials. It was the last of ...

'' (reissued in 1952 as ''Dick Tracy vs. the Phantom Empire'').

RKO Radio Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orph ...

made a feature film, '' Dick Tracy'', in 1945, with

Morgan Conway Morgan Conway (born Sidney Conway, March 16, 1903 – November 16, 1981) was an American actor, best known for his portrayals of Dick Tracy. Early life and career Conway was educated at Columbia University in New York City. He had a bro ...

in the title role. After two films, exhibitors complained. To them, Ralph Byrd ''was'' Dick Tracy, and only Ralph Byrd would do. RKO capitulated, and hired Byrd to finish the series. ''

Dick Tracy's Dilemma ''Dick Tracy's Dilemma'', released in the United Kingdom as ''Mark of the Claw'', is a 1947 American action film based on the Dick Tracy, 1930s comic-strip character of the same name created by Chester Gould. Ralph Byrd stars as Dick Tracy, repr ...

'' and ''

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome ''Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome'' (also known as ''Dick Tracy Meets Karloff'' and ''Dick Tracy's Amazing Adventure'' (UK) ) is a 1947 thriller film starring Boris Karloff, Ralph Byrd, and Anne Gwynne. The film is the fourth and final installment of t ...

'' were both released in 1947.

Later life and death

Byrd continued to work in action fare in the late 1940s, and when the Dick Tracy property became a TV series in 1950, Byrd was the obvious choice to reprise his most famous role. The shows were produced on low budgets, with Byrd forced to cope with long hours and strenuous action scenes. The accelerated pace of TV production took its toll on the overworked actor's health, and he succumbed to a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

in Tarzana, California, on August 18, 1952 and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale).Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016) He was 43 years old.

Selected filmography

* '' Red-Headed Woman'' (1932) as Driver with Mustache (uncredited) * ''

Chinatown Squad ''Chinatown Squad'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Murray Roth, written by Dore Schary and Ben Ryan starring Lyle Talbot, Valerie Hobson, Hugh O'Connell, and Andy Devine, and featuring Leslie Fenton and Bradley Page. The film was re ...

'' (1935) as Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * ''

The Adventures of Rex and Rinty ''The Adventures of Rex and Rinty'' (1935) is a Mascot film serial directed by Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason and starring the equine actor Rex ("The King of Wild Horses") and canine actor Rin Tin Tin, Jr. Cast * Rex the king of wild horses as ...

'' (1935, Serial) as Forest Ranger Jerry Morton

hs. 5-6 HS or Hs can stand for: Businesses and brands * HS Produkt, a Croatian firearms manufacturer * ''Helsingin Sanomat'', a newspaper in Finland * Hawker Siddeley, aircraft manufacturing group * Henschel & Son, in aircraft prefixes; e.g., Hs 117 * H ...

(uncredited) * '' The Affair of Susan'' (1935) as Mechanic (uncredited) * '' Hell-Ship Morgan'' (1936) as Dale * '' Border Caballero'' (1936) as Tex Weaver * ''

Pride of the Marines ''Pride of the Marines'' is a 1945 American biographical war film starring John Garfield and Eleanor Parker. It tells the story of U.S. Marine Al Schmid in World War II, his heroic stand against a Japanese attack during the Battle of Guadalc ...

'' (1936) as Male Nurse (uncredited) * '' The Last Outlaw'' (1936) as Pilot (uncredited) * '' The Final Hour'' (1936) as Department of Justice Guard (uncredited) * ''

Two-Fisted Gentleman ''Two-Fisted Gentleman'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Gordon Wiles and starring James Dunn, June Clayworth June Clayworth (born Esther June Cantor, June 9, 1905 – January 1, 1993) was an American stage and film actress. Ea ...

'' (1936) as Charley * ''

Swing Time In music, the term ''swing'' has two main uses. Colloquially, it is used to describe the propulsive quality or "feel" of a rhythm, especially when the music prompts a visceral response such as foot-tapping or head-nodding (see pulse). This sens ...

'' (1936) as Hotel Clerk (uncredited) * ''

Alibi for Murder ''Alibi for Murder'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring William Gargan, Marguerite Churchill and Gene Morgan. Plot A radio newsman investigates the murder of a well-known inventor. Cast * William Gargan a ...

'' (1936) as Cop (uncredited) * ''A Tenderfoot Goes West'' (1936) as Steve * '' White Legion'' (1936) as NCO Clerk (uncredited) * ''

We Who Are About to Die ''We Who Are About to Die'' is a 1937 film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Ann Dvorak Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an American stage and film actress. Asked how to pronounc ...

'' (1937) as Police Lab Technician (uncredited) * '' Find the Witness'' (1937) as Tex * '' Blake of Scotland Yard'' (1937) as Dr. Jerry Sheehan * ''

They Wanted to Marry ''They Wanted to Marry'' is a 1937 romantic comedy film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Paul Yawitz and Ethel B. Borden, Ethel Borden, based on a story by Larry Bachmann and Daniel L. Teilhet. RKO produced and distributed the film, r ...

'' (1937) as Roger Coleman (uncredited) * '' Sea Devils'' (1937) as Court-Martial Seaman (uncredited) * '' Dick Tracy'' (1937, Serial) as Dick Tracy * ''

Motor Madness ''Motor Madness'' was a motorsports based television show on The Nashville Network debuted in 1997.

'' (1937) as C.P.O. Mike Burns * '' Criminals of the Air'' (1937) as Williamson * '' They Gave Him a Gun'' (1937) as Wounded Soldier (uncredited) * ''

San Quentin San Quentin State Prison (SQ) is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men, located north of San Francisco in the unincorporated place of San Quentin in Marin County. Opened in July 1852, San Quentin is the ...

'' (1937) as Cop on Phone (scenes deleted) * '' A Fight to the Finish'' (1937) as Jimmy (uncredited) * '' S.O.S. Coast Guard'' (1937) as Lt. Terry Kent * '' The Firefly'' (1937) as French Lieutenant (uncredited) * ''

The Trigger Trio ''The Trigger Trio'' is a 1937 American Western "Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by William Witney. Plot Cast *Ray Corrigan as Tucson Smith *Max Terhune as Lullaby Joslin * Ralph Byrd as Larry Smith (Tucson's brother) * Sandra Corday ...

'' (1937) as Larry Smith * '' Paid to Dance'' (1937) as Nickels Brown * ''

Born to Be Wild "Born to Be Wild" is a song written by Mars Bonfire and first performed by the band Steppenwolf. The song is often invoked in both popular and counter culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude. It is most notably featured in the 1969 f ...

'' (1938) as Steve Hackett * ''

Army Girl ''Army Girl'' (also released as ''The Last of the Cavalry'') is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Nicholls Jr. and starring Madge Evans and Preston Foster. It was a high budget film by Republic Pictures. Plot Captain Dike Conger, ...

'' (1938) as Capt. Bob Marvin * ''

'' (1938) as Dick Tracy * '' Down in 'Arkansaw''' (1938) as John Parker * ''

Fighting Thoroughbreds ''Fighting Thoroughbreds'' is a 1939 American drama film directed by Sidney Salkow and written by Wellyn Totman. The film stars Ralph Byrd, Mary Carlisle, Robert Allen, George "Gabby" Hayes, Marvin Stephens and Charles C. Wilson. The film was re ...

'' (1939) as Ben Marshall * ''

S.O.S. Tidal Wave ''S.O.S. Tidal Wave'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by John H. Auer and written by Gordon Kahn and Maxwell Shane. The film stars Ralph Byrd, George Barbier (actor), George Barbier, Kay Sutton, Frank Jenks, Marc Lawrence and Dorothy Lee ( ...

'' (1939) as Jeff Shannon * '' Mickey the Kid'' (1939) as Dr. Ben Cameron * ''

'' (1939) as Dick Tracy * '' The Captain Is a Lady'' (1940) as Randy - Seaman (uncredited) * '' The Golden Fleecing'' (1940) as Larry Kelly * ''

The Howards of Virginia ''The Howards of Virginia'' is a 1940 American drama war film directed by Frank Lloyd, released by Columbia Pictures, and based on the book ''The Tree of Liberty'' written by Elizabeth Page. The Howards of Virginia live through the American Revo ...

'' (1940) as James Howard * '' Dulcy'' (1940) as Businessman in Meeting (uncredited) * '' Drums of the Desert'' (1940) as Paul Dumont * '' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) as Constable Ackroyd * '' The Mark of Zorro'' (1940) as Student / Officer (uncredited) * '' Dark Streets of Cairo'' (1940) as Dennis Martin * ''

The Son of Monte Cristo ''The Son of Monte Cristo'' is a 1940 American black-and-white swashbuckling adventure film from United Artists, produced by Edward Small, directed by Rowland V. Lee, that stars Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders. The Small producti ...

'' (1940) as William Gluck * '' Misbehaving Husbands'' (1940) as Bob Grant * '' Play Girl'' (1941) as Miami Doctor (uncredited) * '' The Penalty'' (1941) as Brock * '' Power Dive'' (1941) as Jackson - Draftsman * ''

Desperate Cargo ''Desperate Cargo'' is a 1941 American film directed by William Beaudine and based on the 1937 '' Argosy'' magazine serial ''Loot Below'' by Eustace Lane Adams. The film stars Ralph Byrd, Carol Hughes, Julie Duncan and Jack Mulhall. Plot On the ...

'' (1941) as Tony Bronson * ''

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day ''Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, and Laraine Day. It is the eighth of a total of nine Dr. Kildare pictures made by the MGM studios. When MGM decided ...

'' (1941) as Policeman (uncredited) * '' Navy Blues'' (1941) as Lieutenant (uncredited) * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) as Al Bennett * ''

'' (1941) as Dick Tracy * '' Duke of the Navy'' (1942) as Breezy Duke * ''

Broadway Big Shot ''Broadway Big Shot'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by William Beaudine. Synopsis A reporter (Ralph Byrd) confesses to a crime in order to get into prison for an interview. Then he can't get out. Cast * Ralph Byrd as Jimmy O'Brien * V ...

'' (1942) as Jimmy O'Brien * ''

Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book ''Jungle Book'' is a 1942 independent Technicolor action-adventure film by the Korda brothers, loosely adapted from Rudyard Kipling's ''The Jungle Book'' (1894). The story centers on Mowgli, a feral young man who is kidnapped by villagers who a ...

'' (1942) as Durga * ''

Moontide ''Moontide'' is a 1942 American romantic drama with elements of a thriller. It was produced by Mark Hellinger and directed by Archie Mayo, who took over direction after initial director Fritz Lang left the project early in the shooting schedule. ...

'' (1942) as Rev. Wilson * ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton. Its cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. George Montgomery replac ...

'' (1942) as Maloney * '' Careful, Soft Shoulder'' (1942) as Elliott Salmon * ''

Manila Calling ''Manila Calling'' is a 1942 American black-and-white World War II propaganda war film drama from 20th Century Fox, produced by Sol M. Wurtzel, directed by Herbert I. Leeds, that stars Lloyd Nolan, Carole Landis, Cornel Wilde, James Gleason, ...

'' (1942) as Corbett * '' Time to Kill'' (1942) as Lou Venter, bodyguard * '' Margin for Error'' (1943) as Pete - Dice-Playing Soldier (uncredited) * ''

The Meanest Man in the World Not to be confused with the 1920 George M. Cohan play or The Meanest Man in the World (1923 film) ''The Meanest Man in the World'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield, starring Jack Benny and Priscilla Lane, based upon ...

'' (1943) as Reporter (uncredited) * '' They Came to Blow Up America'' (1943) as Burkhardt * '' Guadalcanal Diary'' (1943) as Ned Rowman * '' December 7th: The Movie'' (1943) as Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Four Jills in a Jeep ''Four Jills in a Jeep'' is a 1944 American comedy-drama musical film starring Kay Francis, Carole Landis, Martha Raye, and Mitzi Mayfair as themselves, re-enacting their USO tour of Europe and North Africa during World War II. Production The ...

'' (1944) as Sergeant in Mess Hall (uncredited) * ''

Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fifth ...

'' (1944) as Quartermaster O'Brien (uncredited) * '' Stallion Road'' (1947) as Richmond Mallard * ''

'' (1947) as Dick Tracy * ''

'' (1947) as Greg Sanders / The Vigilante * ''

'' (1947) as Dick Tracy * '' The Argyle Secrets'' (1948) as Police Lt. Samuel Samson * '' Stage Struck'' (1948) as Police Sgt. Tom Ramey * '' ''Canon City'''' (1948) as Officer Gray * ''

Jungle Goddess ''Jungle Goddess'' is a 1948 American action/adventure crime film starring George Reeves, Ralph Byrd, and Wanda McKay. Directed by Lewis D. Collins, the film was based on an idea by producer William Stephens. ''Jungle Goddess'' was later featur ...

'' (1948) asBob Simpson * ''

Thunder in the Pines ''Thunder in the Pines'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Robert Edwards and starring George Reeves and Ralph Byrd. The film was shot in sepia tone. It was executive produced by Robert L. Lippert. Plot Production Reeves and Byrd a ...

'' (1948) as 'Boomer' Benson * ''

Radar Secret Service ''Radar Secret Service'' is a 1950 action film starring John Howard, produced by Barney A. Sarecky and directed by Sam Newfield. The film was featured on the American television show ''Mystery Science Theater 3000''. Plot In the post-World War T ...

'' (1950) as Static * ''

Union Station A union station (also known as a union terminal, a joint station in Europe, and a joint-use station in Japan) is a railway station at which the tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway companies, allowing passengers to ...

'' (1950) as Priest (uncredited) * ''

The Redhead and the Cowboy ''The Redhead and the Cowboy'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Glenn Ford and Rhonda Fleming. Plot Late in the American Civil War, the New Mexico Territory is full of spies and guerrillas for both sides. ...

'' (1951) as Capt. Andrews * '' Lightning Strikes Twice'' (1951) as Jack Ross, Hair Tonic Salesman on Bus (uncredited) * '' Double Crossbones'' (1951) as Will - Debtor (uncredited) * ''

Close to My Heart ''Close to My Heart'' is a 1951 American drama (film and television), drama film directed by William Keighley, written by James R. Webb (based on his novel ''A Baby for Midge''), and starring Ray Milland and Gene Tierney. Plot Brad Sheridan (Mill ...

'' (1951) as Charlie (uncredited) * '' My Favorite Spy'' (1951) as Official (uncredited) * '' Bugles in the Afternoon'' (1952) as First officer (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Byrd, Ralph American male film actors Male film serial actors 1909 births 1952 deaths Male actors from Dayton, Ohio 20th-century American male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)