Actor, Singer. He was considered good-looking, rather than handsome, and had a strong, rich speaking voice. He was best known for playing the character roles of lieutenants, captains, presidents, lords, reporters, military men, majors, nightclub singers, doctors, car salesmen, generals, butlers, businessmen, ambassadors, television personalities, judges, colonels, card players, admirals, druggists, clothing salesmen, managers, executives, and historical personalities, usually in comedy films, western films, adventure films, and horror films, or Paramount Studios and Fox Studios. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Lord Byron' in the classic horror film, "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935). The film which was directed by James Whale, which was written for the screen by William Hurlbut and John L. Balderston, which was based on characters created by Mary Shelley, and which also starred Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, and Colin Clive, tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein, who is goaded by an even madder scientist, who builds his monster a mate. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Roland Weatherby' in the episode entitled, "The Best Laid Plans," of the classic family television comedy series, "Green Acres," which originally aired on October 6, 1965, and which also starred Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, and Pat Buttram. He was born one of three children as Fred Gavin Gordon to S.N. Gordon (1853-1905), and his wife Arsenia Cebell DuBose Gordon (1862-1926), in Chicora, Mississippi, on April 7, 1901. He was educated locally, he worked as a railway clerk, and took acting lessons in his spare time, before pursuing a professional acting career. He began his acting career on the stage landing his first part when he was nineteen years old. He then made several other stage appearances including on Broadway in New York City, New York, where he appeared in several productions of such plays as, 'Harry Murchison' in "Annie Dear" (November 04, 1924, to January 31, 1925), as 'Bragdon' in "A Lady In Love" (February 21, 1927, to March 1927), as 'Barry Regan' in "Celebrity" (December 26, 1927, to January 1928), as 'Paul Morgan' in "Sh, The Octopus" (February 21, 1928, to April 1928), as 'Christopher Manson' in "Crashing Through" (October 29, 1928, to December 1928), as 'Big Ed Lawrence' in "The Gentleman From Athens" (December 09, 1947, to December 13, 1947), as 'Major Swindon' in "The Devil's Disciple (February 21, 1950, to May 27, 1950), and as 'Victor Hatfield' in "Buy Me Blue Ribbons" (October 17, 1951, to October 27, 1951). During his time on the stage, he worked with the likes of Alexander Gray, Ernest Truex, May Vokes, Bobby Watson, Liane Held Carrera, Dorothy Estabrook, Sydney Greenstreet, Alf Helton, Walter Jones, Allyn Joslyn, Paul Lester, Rollo Lloyd, Dennie Moore, Natalie Moorhead, Julian Noa, Jane Salisbury, Peggy Wood, Beatrice Allen, Luigi Balestro, Lynne Clarke, Cliford Dempsey, Gavin Gordon, John Jones, Harry Kelly, James B. Linhart, Ignacio Martinetti, Bernard J. McOwen, Francis M. Verdi, Adele Windsor, Irene Hubbard, Hale Norcross, Nancy Sheridan, Crane Wilbur, and Philip Wood, among many others. During this time, he also made the transition to appearing in films and on television. He made his actual film debut by playing a role in the short film, "The Medicine Men" (1929). The film which was directed by Norman Taurog, which was written for the screen by Bobby Clark, Paul McCullough, and Paul Gerard Smith, also starred Sylvia Field, Bobby Barber, Clifford Dempsey, Frederick H. Graham, Symona Boniface, and James Bradbury Jr. Besides, playing a role in the short film, "The Medicine Men" (1929), and playing the role of 'Lord Byron' in the classic horror film, "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935), his many other film credits include, "Knights Out" (1929), "All Steamed Up" (1929), "Chasing Through Europe" (1929), "His First Command" (1929), "Romance" (1930, He played Greta Garbo's leading man in the film and was sidelined by a car accident shortly before filming was to have begun, but the actress insisted he keep the part and filming would resume when he was better. He also performed the song, ""Annie Laurie," in the film), "The Silver Horde" (1930), "The Great Meadow" (1931), "Shipmates" (1931), "Secret Service" (1931), "Hollywood Halfbacks" (1931), "American Madness" (1932), "Two Against The World" (1932), "The Phantom Of Crestwood" (1932), "Man Against Woman" (1932), "The Bitter Tea Of General Yen" (1932), "Hard To Handle" (1933), "Mystery Of The Wax Museum" (1933), "Black Beauty" (1933), "Female" (1933), "I Adore You" (1933), "Lone Cowboy" (1933), "The Scarlet Empress" (1934), "Wake Up And Dream" (1934), "Happiness Ahead" (1934), "Bordertown" (1935), "Grand Old Girl" (1935), "The Good Fairy" (1935), "Women Must Dress" (1935), "Red Hot Tires" (1935), "Stranded" (1935), "Love Me Forever" (1935), "Page Miss Glory" (1935), "The Leavenworth Case" (1936), "Ticket To Paradise" (1936), "High Hat" (1937), "Servant Of The People: The Story Of The Constitution Of The United States" (1937), "They Gave Him A Gun" (1937), "The Toast Of New York" (1937), "Windjammer" (1937), "I See Ice!" (1938), "Paper Bullets" (1941), "Murder By Invitation" (1941), "Mr. Celebrity" (1941), "Suspicion" (1941), "I Killed That Man" (1941), "The Lone Star Vigilantes" (1942), "Centennial Summer" (1946), "Notorious" (1946), "Three On A Ticket" (1947), "Philo Vance's Gamble" (1947), "Knock On Wood" (1954), "White Christmas" (1954), "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), "A Life At Stake" (1955), "High Society" (1955), "Pardners" (1956), "The Vagabond King" (1956), "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "Johnny Tremain" (1957), "Chicago Confidential" (1957), "Here Comes Tobor" (1957), "King Creole" (1958), "The Matchmaker" (1958), "The Bat" (1959), "All In Night's Work" (1961), "A Pocketful of Miracles" (1961), "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962), "The Nutty Professor" (1963), and "The Patsy" (1964). Besides, playing the role of 'Roland Weatherby' in the episode entitled, "The Best Laid Plans," of the classic television comedy series, "Green Acres," which originally aired on October 6, 1965, and which also starred Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, and Pat Buttram, his many other television credits include, "The Clock," "Cameo Theatre," "Lights Out," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Hallmark Hall Of Fame," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "The Jack Benny Program," "The Pride Of The Family," "The Ray Milland Show," "Big Town," "TV Reader's Digest," "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre," "Front Row Center," "The Johnny Carson Show," "Crusader," "The Millionaire," "The Box Brothers," "The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial," "Date With The Angels," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The O. Henry Playhouse," "Studio 57," "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet," "M Squad," "General Electric Theater," "December Bride," "Perry Mason," "Bachelor Father," "One Step Beyond," "Playhouse 90," "How To Marry A Millionaire," "The Real McCoys," "The Red Skelton Hour," "The Young Marrieds," "The Beverly Hillbillies," and "Petticoat Junction." His last film role was playing an uncredited role of a 'Butler' in the film drama, "Sylvia" (1965). The film which was directed by Gordon Douglas, which was written for the screen by Sydney Boehm and Howard Fast, and which also starred Carroll Baker, George Maharis, Joanne Dru, Aldo Ray, and Ann Sothern, tells the story of a millionaire with a mysterious fiancee who hires a detective to discover the truth about her past. He retired from acting following one more role on television in 1968. He never married nor had any children, but reputedly was a gay man who had a long-term "and happy" relationship with the actor Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970), for fifteen years. He passed away from undisclosed causes in Canoga, Park, California, on April 6, 1983, at the age of 81. Following his death, he was cremated at Live Oak Memorial Park in Monrovia, California, and his ashes were buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. On an interesting note, he donated a horse sculpture he had owned and never authenticated to the Mobile Museum of Art in Mobile, Alabama, shortly before his death. It was later determined to be from the Tang Dynasty. He should not be confused with the Scottish composer and stage actor Gavin Gordon (1901-1970), who shares the same name.
Actor, Singer. He was considered good-looking, rather than handsome, and had a strong, rich speaking voice. He was best known for playing the character roles of lieutenants, captains, presidents, lords, reporters, military men, majors, nightclub singers, doctors, car salesmen, generals, butlers, businessmen, ambassadors, television personalities, judges, colonels, card players, admirals, druggists, clothing salesmen, managers, executives, and historical personalities, usually in comedy films, western films, adventure films, and horror films, or Paramount Studios and Fox Studios. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Lord Byron' in the classic horror film, "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935). The film which was directed by James Whale, which was written for the screen by William Hurlbut and John L. Balderston, which was based on characters created by Mary Shelley, and which also starred Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, and Colin Clive, tells the story of Dr. Frankenstein, who is goaded by an even madder scientist, who builds his monster a mate. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Roland Weatherby' in the episode entitled, "The Best Laid Plans," of the classic family television comedy series, "Green Acres," which originally aired on October 6, 1965, and which also starred Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, and Pat Buttram. He was born one of three children as Fred Gavin Gordon to S.N. Gordon (1853-1905), and his wife Arsenia Cebell DuBose Gordon (1862-1926), in Chicora, Mississippi, on April 7, 1901. He was educated locally, he worked as a railway clerk, and took acting lessons in his spare time, before pursuing a professional acting career. He began his acting career on the stage landing his first part when he was nineteen years old. He then made several other stage appearances including on Broadway in New York City, New York, where he appeared in several productions of such plays as, 'Harry Murchison' in "Annie Dear" (November 04, 1924, to January 31, 1925), as 'Bragdon' in "A Lady In Love" (February 21, 1927, to March 1927), as 'Barry Regan' in "Celebrity" (December 26, 1927, to January 1928), as 'Paul Morgan' in "Sh, The Octopus" (February 21, 1928, to April 1928), as 'Christopher Manson' in "Crashing Through" (October 29, 1928, to December 1928), as 'Big Ed Lawrence' in "The Gentleman From Athens" (December 09, 1947, to December 13, 1947), as 'Major Swindon' in "The Devil's Disciple (February 21, 1950, to May 27, 1950), and as 'Victor Hatfield' in "Buy Me Blue Ribbons" (October 17, 1951, to October 27, 1951). During his time on the stage, he worked with the likes of Alexander Gray, Ernest Truex, May Vokes, Bobby Watson, Liane Held Carrera, Dorothy Estabrook, Sydney Greenstreet, Alf Helton, Walter Jones, Allyn Joslyn, Paul Lester, Rollo Lloyd, Dennie Moore, Natalie Moorhead, Julian Noa, Jane Salisbury, Peggy Wood, Beatrice Allen, Luigi Balestro, Lynne Clarke, Cliford Dempsey, Gavin Gordon, John Jones, Harry Kelly, James B. Linhart, Ignacio Martinetti, Bernard J. McOwen, Francis M. Verdi, Adele Windsor, Irene Hubbard, Hale Norcross, Nancy Sheridan, Crane Wilbur, and Philip Wood, among many others. During this time, he also made the transition to appearing in films and on television. He made his actual film debut by playing a role in the short film, "The Medicine Men" (1929). The film which was directed by Norman Taurog, which was written for the screen by Bobby Clark, Paul McCullough, and Paul Gerard Smith, also starred Sylvia Field, Bobby Barber, Clifford Dempsey, Frederick H. Graham, Symona Boniface, and James Bradbury Jr. Besides, playing a role in the short film, "The Medicine Men" (1929), and playing the role of 'Lord Byron' in the classic horror film, "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (1935), his many other film credits include, "Knights Out" (1929), "All Steamed Up" (1929), "Chasing Through Europe" (1929), "His First Command" (1929), "Romance" (1930, He played Greta Garbo's leading man in the film and was sidelined by a car accident shortly before filming was to have begun, but the actress insisted he keep the part and filming would resume when he was better. He also performed the song, ""Annie Laurie," in the film), "The Silver Horde" (1930), "The Great Meadow" (1931), "Shipmates" (1931), "Secret Service" (1931), "Hollywood Halfbacks" (1931), "American Madness" (1932), "Two Against The World" (1932), "The Phantom Of Crestwood" (1932), "Man Against Woman" (1932), "The Bitter Tea Of General Yen" (1932), "Hard To Handle" (1933), "Mystery Of The Wax Museum" (1933), "Black Beauty" (1933), "Female" (1933), "I Adore You" (1933), "Lone Cowboy" (1933), "The Scarlet Empress" (1934), "Wake Up And Dream" (1934), "Happiness Ahead" (1934), "Bordertown" (1935), "Grand Old Girl" (1935), "The Good Fairy" (1935), "Women Must Dress" (1935), "Red Hot Tires" (1935), "Stranded" (1935), "Love Me Forever" (1935), "Page Miss Glory" (1935), "The Leavenworth Case" (1936), "Ticket To Paradise" (1936), "High Hat" (1937), "Servant Of The People: The Story Of The Constitution Of The United States" (1937), "They Gave Him A Gun" (1937), "The Toast Of New York" (1937), "Windjammer" (1937), "I See Ice!" (1938), "Paper Bullets" (1941), "Murder By Invitation" (1941), "Mr. Celebrity" (1941), "Suspicion" (1941), "I Killed That Man" (1941), "The Lone Star Vigilantes" (1942), "Centennial Summer" (1946), "Notorious" (1946), "Three On A Ticket" (1947), "Philo Vance's Gamble" (1947), "Knock On Wood" (1954), "White Christmas" (1954), "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), "A Life At Stake" (1955), "High Society" (1955), "Pardners" (1956), "The Vagabond King" (1956), "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "Johnny Tremain" (1957), "Chicago Confidential" (1957), "Here Comes Tobor" (1957), "King Creole" (1958), "The Matchmaker" (1958), "The Bat" (1959), "All In Night's Work" (1961), "A Pocketful of Miracles" (1961), "Girls! Girls! Girls!" (1962), "The Nutty Professor" (1963), and "The Patsy" (1964). Besides, playing the role of 'Roland Weatherby' in the episode entitled, "The Best Laid Plans," of the classic television comedy series, "Green Acres," which originally aired on October 6, 1965, and which also starred Eddie Albert, Eva Gabor, and Pat Buttram, his many other television credits include, "The Clock," "Cameo Theatre," "Lights Out," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Hallmark Hall Of Fame," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "The Jack Benny Program," "The Pride Of The Family," "The Ray Milland Show," "Big Town," "TV Reader's Digest," "Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre," "Front Row Center," "The Johnny Carson Show," "Crusader," "The Millionaire," "The Box Brothers," "The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial," "Date With The Angels," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The O. Henry Playhouse," "Studio 57," "The Adventures Of Ozzie And Harriet," "M Squad," "General Electric Theater," "December Bride," "Perry Mason," "Bachelor Father," "One Step Beyond," "Playhouse 90," "How To Marry A Millionaire," "The Real McCoys," "The Red Skelton Hour," "The Young Marrieds," "The Beverly Hillbillies," and "Petticoat Junction." His last film role was playing an uncredited role of a 'Butler' in the film drama, "Sylvia" (1965). The film which was directed by Gordon Douglas, which was written for the screen by Sydney Boehm and Howard Fast, and which also starred Carroll Baker, George Maharis, Joanne Dru, Aldo Ray, and Ann Sothern, tells the story of a millionaire with a mysterious fiancee who hires a detective to discover the truth about her past. He retired from acting following one more role on television in 1968. He never married nor had any children, but reputedly was a gay man who had a long-term "and happy" relationship with the actor Edward Everett Horton (1886-1970), for fifteen years. He passed away from undisclosed causes in Canoga, Park, California, on April 6, 1983, at the age of 81. Following his death, he was cremated at Live Oak Memorial Park in Monrovia, California, and his ashes were buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. On an interesting note, he donated a horse sculpture he had owned and never authenticated to the Mobile Museum of Art in Mobile, Alabama, shortly before his death. It was later determined to be from the Tang Dynasty. He should not be confused with the Scottish composer and stage actor Gavin Gordon (1901-1970), who shares the same name.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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