Tom London

For the British magician, see Tom London (magician).
Tom London

Tom London and Virginia Brown Faire from a 1920 magazine
Born Leonard Clapham
(1889-08-24)August 24, 1889
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died December 5, 1963(1963-12-05) (aged 74)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1915–1962

Tom London (August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American veteran actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to The Guinness Book of Movie Records, London is credited with appearing in the most films in the history of Hollywood, this according to the 2001 book Film Facts, where it states that he was the performer who played in the most films was "Tom London, who made his first of over 2000 appearances in The Great Train Robbery.[1]

Life and career

Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois. His debut was in 1915 in the Western Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent films, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock". London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. In the silent film era he often played villainous roles, while in later years he often appeared as the sidekick to Western stars like Sunset Carson in several films.

One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films. London made many guest appearances in television shows through the 1950s, such as The Range Rider, with Jock Mahoney and Dick Jones. He also played Sam, the attendant of Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) in High Noon. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A. in 1961, and his final roles on TV were in Lawman and The Dakotas.

Tom London died in North Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Patrick Robertson: Film Facts (2001), p. 97
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