Walter J. Vernon (May 27, 1905 – March 7, 1970) was an American comic and character actor and dancer.

Early life

Vernon was born in New York City in 1905. He was in show business from the age of three, appearing in vaudeville and stock theater; he made his first Hollywood appearance in 1937's '' Mountain Music''.

Career

He made more than 75 films, almost always playing a Brooklynese wiseguy and/or the hero's assistant. He was a fixture in

Twentieth Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

features of the late 1930s and early 1940s; Vernon is seen as an eccentric dancer in Fox's ''

Alexander's Ragtime Band "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a Tin Pan Alley song by American composer Irving Berlin released in 1911 and is often inaccurately cited as his first global hit. Despite its title, the song is a march as opposed to a rag and contains little sync ...

'' (1938), where he appears as himself. The Man from the Rio Grande (1943) 1

Vernon freelanced at other studios after leaving Fox. He became the sidekick to cowboy star

Don "Red" Barry Donald Barry de Acosta (January 11, 1912 – July 17, 1980), also known as Red Barry and Milton Poimboeuf, was an American film and television actor. He was nicknamed "Red" after appearing as the first Red Ryder in the highly successful 19 ...

at Republic Pictures, and when Barry began producing his own features in 1949, he remembered Vernon and brought him back as his sidekick. Wally Vernon in Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952) trailer

Wally Vernon in Bloodhounds of Broadway (1952) trailer

In 1948

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

producer Jules White paired Vernon with

Eddie Quillan Edward Quillan (March 31, 1907 – July 19, 1990) was an American film actor and singer whose career began as a child on the vaudeville stages and silent film and continued through the age of television in the 1980s. Vaudeville and silent fi ...

, another comedian with a vaudeville background. White emphasized physical comedy in films, and Vernon and Quillan indulged in pratfalling, head-banging, kick-in-the-pants slapstick. The Vernon & Quillan comedies were favorites of White, who kept making them through 1956. In 1961, he appeared as a bartender in the TV Western series ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

'' (S3E18 "The Prescott Campaign").

Death

On March 7, 1970, Vernon died in an ambulance shortly after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in

Hollywood, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

. He was buried in

Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills are a residential neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Geography The Hollywood Hills straddle the Cahuenga Pass within the Santa Monica Mountains. The neighborhood touches Studio City, Univer ...

at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Films

* '' Mountain Music'' (1937) - Odette Potta * ''

You Can't Have Everything ''You Can't Have Everything'' is a 1937 Fox musical film directed by Norman Taurog and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. The film stars Alice Faye and Don Ameche, and was the film debut for Gypsy Rose Lee credited as Louise Hovick part of her bir ...

'' (1937) - Jerry * ''

This Way Please ''This Way Please'' is a 1937 American musical comedy directed by Robert Florey and featuring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, a popular singer from the days of vaudeville entertainment. According to historian Martin Grams, the film was the introduction ...

'' (1937) - Bumps * '' Submarine D-1'' (1937) - Sailor (uncredited) * '' Happy Landing'' (1938) - Al Mahoney * ''

Kentucky Moonshine ''Kentucky Moonshine'' is a 1938 American comedy musical film directed by David Butler and released by 20th Century Fox. Plot Radio star Jerry Wade's program ratings are falling and he suggests to his sponsors a show that is different and he ...

'' (1938) - Gus Bryce * ''

'' (1938) - Wally Vernon * '' Meet the Girls'' (1938) - Delbert Jones * ''

Sharpshooters A sharpshooter is one who is highly proficient at firing firearms or other projectile weapons accurately. Military units composed of sharpshooters were important factors in 19th-century combat. Along with " marksman" and "expert", "sharpshooter" ...

'' (1938) - Waldo * ''

Tail Spin ''Tail Spin'' (also known as ''Tailspin'') is a 1939 aviation film. The screenplay was written by Frank Wead and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It was based on the book, "Women with Wings: A novel of the modern day aviatrix" (Ganesha Publishing, 193 ...

'' (1939) - Chick * ''

Broadway Serenade ''Broadway Serenade'' (also known as ''Serenade'') is a 1939 musical drama film distributed by MGM, produced and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The screenplay was written by Charles Lederer, based on a story by Lew Lipton, John Taintor Foote an ...

'' (1939) - Joey - the Jinx * ''

Chasing Danger ''Chasing Danger'' is a 1939 American adventure film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by Robert Ellis (actor, born 1892), Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. The film stars Preston Foster, Lynn Bari, Wally Vernon, Henry Wilcoxon, Joan Woodbury an ...

'' (1939) - Waldo Winkle FI Name: Waldo Rohrbeck* '' The Gorilla'' (1939) - Seaman * ''

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island ''Charlie Chan at Treasure Island'' is a 1939 American film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, that takes place on Treasure Island during San Francisco's Golden Gate Intern ...

'' (1939) - Elmer Kelner * ''

Sailor's Lady ''Sailor's Lady'', also known as ''Sweetheart of Turret One'', is a 1940 film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Nancy Kelly and Jon Hall. The supporting cast includes Joan Davis, Dana Andrews, and Buster Crabbe. Football player Amby Schindle ...

'' (1940) - Goofer * ''

Margie Margie is a feminine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Margaret, Marjorie or Margarita. Margie may refer to: People * Margie Ackles (born 1939), American retired figure skater * Marjorie Margie Alexander (1948–2013), American ...

'' (1940) - Al * ''

Sandy Gets Her Man ''Sandy Gets Her Man'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Otis Garrett and Paul Gerard Smith and written by Sy Bartlett and Jane Storm. The film stars Baby Sandy, Stuart Erwin, Una Merkel, Edgar Kennedy, William Frawley, Edward Brophy, ...

'' (1940) - Fireman Bagshaw * '' Reveille with Beverly'' (1943) - Stomp McCoy * '' Hit Parade of 1943'' (1943) - Vaudeville Actor (uncredited) * ''

Tahiti Honey ''Tahiti Honey'' is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by John H. Auer and starring Simone Simon, Dennis O'Keefe and Michael Whalen.Martin p.199 The film's sets were designed by the art director Russell Kimball. Premise A new fema ...

'' (1943) - Maxie * ''

Get Going ''Get Going'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Warren Wilson. The film stars Robert Paige, Grace McDonald, Barbara Jo Allen, Walter Catlett, Maureen Cannon, Lois Collier and Milburn Stone. The film was re ...

'' (1943) - Comic Bit * '' Fugitive from Sonora'' (1943) - Jack Pot Murphy * '' Thumbs Up'' (1943) - Comedy Trio Member (uncredited) * ''

Black Hills Express ''Black Hills Express'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by John English and starring Don 'Red' Barry, Wally Vernon and Ariel Heath.Martin p.306 The film's art direction was by Russell Kimball. Partial cast * Don 'Red' Barry as L ...

'' (1943) - Deputy Deadeye * ''

A Scream in the Dark ''A Scream in the Dark'' is an American comedy crime mystery film, mystery directed by George Sherman and written by Anthony Coldeway and Gerald Schnitzer in 1943. The film stars Robert Lowery (actor), Robert Lowery, Marie McDonald, Edward Brophy ...

'' (1943) - Klousky * '' The Man from the Rio Grande'' (1943) - Jimpson Simpson * ''

Here Comes Elmer ''Here Comes Elmer'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and written by Stanley Davis and Jack Townley. The film stars Al Pearce, Dale Evans, Frank Albertson, Gloria Stuart, Wally Vernon and Nick Cockrane. The film was relea ...

'' (1943) - Wally * '' Canyon City'' (1943) - Beauty Bradshaw * ''

Pistol Packin' Mama "Pistol Packin' Mama" was a " Hillbilly"-Honky Tonk record released at the height of World War II that became a nationwide sensation, and the first "Country" song to top the Billboard popular music chart. It was written by Al Dexter of Troup, ...

'' (1943) - The Joker * '' California Joe'' (1943) - Tumbleweed Smith * ''

Outlaws of Santa Fe ''Outlaws of Santa Fe'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Don "Red" Barry, Helen Talbot, Wally Vernon, Twinkle Watts, Charles Morton and Herbert Heyes. The film was rel ...

'' (1944) - Buckshot Peters * ''

Call of the South Seas ''Call of the South Seas'' is a 1944 American action film directed by John English starring Janet Martin, Allan Lane and William Henry.Langman p.172 The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden. Cast * Janet Martin as ...

'' (1944) - Handsome * ''

Silent Partner A silent partner is one who shares in the profits and losses of a business, but is not involved in its management. Silent partner or Silent Partners may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Silent Partner'', a 2005 film starring Tara Reid ...

'' (1944) - Room Service Waiter * ''

Silver City Kid ''Silver City Kid'' is a 1944 American Western film directed by John English and written by Taylor Caven. Starring Allan Lane, Peggy Stewart, Wally Vernon, Twinkle Watts, Harry Woods and Frank Jaquet, it was released on July 20, 1944, by Re ...

'' (1944) - Wildcat Higgens * '' Stagecoach to Monterey'' (1944) - Throckmorton 'Other-Hand' Snodgrass * ''

Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad ''Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad'' is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Reginald Le Borg and starring Leon Errol, Joe Kirkwood, Jr. and Elyse Knox. It was part of the ''Joe Palooka'' series, produced and distributed by Monogram Pictures.Drew p ...

'' (1948) - Archie Stone * ''

King of the Gamblers ''King of the Gamblers'' is a 1948 American crime film directed by George Blair and starring Janet Martin, William Wright and Thurston Hall.Martin p.470 The film's sets were designed by the art director Frank Hotaling. Cast * Janet Martin a ...

'' (1948) - Mike Burns * '' Behind Locked Doors'' (1948) - Maintenance Man (uncredited) * ''

Joe Palooka in Winner Take All ''Joe Palooka in Winner Take All'' is a 1948 American film in the ''Joe Palooka'' series. It was directed by Reginald Le Borg. Cast * Joe Kirkwood, Jr. as Joe Palooka * Elyse Knox as Anne Howe * William Frawley as Knobby Walsh * Stanley Clements ...

'' (1948) - Taxi Driver * ''

He Walked by Night ''He Walked by Night'' is a 1948 American police procedural film noir directed by Alfred L. Werker and an uncredited Anthony Mann. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper accounts of the real-life actions of Erwin ...

'' (1948) - Postman (uncredited) * ''

The Lucky Stiff ''The Lucky Stiff'' is a 1949 American comedy crime film directed by Lewis R. Foster, starring Dorothy Lamour, Brian Donlevy, and Claire Trevor. The film is based on the 1945 novel of the same name by Craig Rice (author), Craig Rice. ''The Lucky ...

'' (1949) - Card Player (uncredited) * ''

Square Dance Jubilee ''Square Dance Jubilee'' is a 1949 American Western (genre), Western musical film directed by Paul Landres starring Don "Red" Barry, Mary Beth Hughes and Wally Vernon. Plot While searching for entertainers to place on a TV show, two talent scou ...

'' (1949) - Seldom Sam Jenks * ''

Always Leave Them Laughing ''Always Leave Them Laughing'' is a 1949 musical comedy-drama film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Milton Berle and Virginia Mayo. Plot Unoriginal comic Kip Cooper meets aspiring showgirl Fay Washburn at a second rate hotel in Asbury Park, ...

'' (1949) - Wally Vernon - Comic * '' Beauty on Parade'' (1950) - Sam Short * ''I Shot Billy the Kid'' (1950) - Vicente * ''

Gunfire A gunshot is a single discharge of a gun, typically a man-portable firearm, producing a visible flash, a powerful and loud shockwave and often chemical gunshot residue. The term can also refer to a ballistic wound caused by such a discharg ...

'' (1950) - Clem * '' Train to Tombstone'' (1950) - Clifton Gulliver * ''Border Rangers'' (1950) - Hungry Hicks * '' Holiday Rhythm'' (1950) - Klaxon * '' What Price Glory?'' (1952) - Lipinsky * '' Bloodhounds of Broadway'' (1952) - Harry 'Poorly' Sammis * ''

Affair with a Stranger ''Affair with a Stranger'' is a 1953 American comedy-drama directed by Roy Rowland and starring Jean Simmons and Victor Mature. It was originally to be released as ''Kiss and Run''. The film centres on the rumoured marital troubles of a succes ...

'' (1953) - Joe, Taxi Driver * ''

Fury at Gunsight Pass ''Fury at Gunsight Pass'' is a 1956 American western film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring David Brian, Neville Brand and Richard Long. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot Bank robbers hold townspeople hostage, t ...

'' (1956) - Okay, Okay aka Johnny Oakes * ''The White Squaw'' (1956) - Faro Bill * ''

What a Way to Go! ''What a Way to Go!'' is a 1964 American black comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman, Robert Mitchum, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, Bob Cummings and Dick Van Dyke. Plot In a dream-like pre-credit sequ ...

'' (1964) - Agent

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vernon, Wally 1905 births 1970 deaths American male film actors Eccentric dancers Male actors from New York City 20th-century American male actors Pedestrian road incident deaths Road incident deaths in California