Actor. Born in New York City, he was a popular performer best remembered for the lead role in the Boston Blackie detective films series of the 1940s. He made his Broadway stage debut as a teenager in 1918 and his big screen debut in "The Face in the Fog" (1922). He was one of the first actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for "Alibi" (1929), but it was his appearance in "The Big House" (1930), for which he broke through to stardom. In 1941, Columbia Pictures contracted him for the lead in the Boston Blackie series and he appeared in 14 pictures as the detective, starting with "Meet Boston Blackie" (1941). A veteran of over a 120 films, his other credits include "The Miracle Man" (1932), "I've Been Around" (1934), "I Live for Danger" (1942), "Blind Spot" (1947) and "Unchained" (1955). He also appeared on many TV series such as "Tales of Tomorrow", "Kraft Theatre", "Route 66", "Alcoa Premiere" and "The Defenders". He died at age 69 in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Actor. Born in New York City, he was a popular performer best remembered for the lead role in the Boston Blackie detective films series of the 1940s. He made his Broadway stage debut as a teenager in 1918 and his big screen debut in "The Face in the Fog" (1922). He was one of the first actors to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for "Alibi" (1929), but it was his appearance in "The Big House" (1930), for which he broke through to stardom. In 1941, Columbia Pictures contracted him for the lead in the Boston Blackie series and he appeared in 14 pictures as the detective, starting with "Meet Boston Blackie" (1941). A veteran of over a 120 films, his other credits include "The Miracle Man" (1932), "I've Been Around" (1934), "I Live for Danger" (1942), "Blind Spot" (1947) and "Unchained" (1955). He also appeared on many TV series such as "Tales of Tomorrow", "Kraft Theatre", "Route 66", "Alcoa Premiere" and "The Defenders". He died at age 69 in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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