From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Tom Fadden Born January 6, 1895 Bayard, Iowa, United States Died April 14, 1980 (aged 85) Vero Beach, Florida, United States Occupation Actor Years active 1915–1977 Robert Walker and Tom Fadden (right) in Vengeance Valley (1951) Tom Fadden (January 6, 1895 – April 14, 1980) was an American actor. He performed on the legitimate stage, vaudeville, in films and on television during his long career. He would make his film debut with a small role in 1939's I Stole a Million, which stars George Raft and Claire Trevor. He would have his first memorable bit in his next film, Destry Rides Again, starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart, where in the opening scene he is playing cards, and is cheated when Dietrich distracts him by spilling coffee in his lap. His film career would span almost forty years, and encompass over 90 films, mostly in small or supporting roles, although with an occasional starring role, as in 1940's Zanzibar. The 1940s would see him appear in other classic and notable films such as: the Bob Hope comedy, My Favorite Blonde (1942); Pardon My Sarong (1942), starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello; The Naughty Nineties (1945), again starring Abbott and Costello; the film noir, The Big Sleep (1946), starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall; and 1946's It's a Wonderful Life, where he had a particularly memorable scene as the Tollhouse Keeper on the bridge, who reacts to Clarence's (the angel) explanation of who he is to George Bailey (James Stewart). The 1950s would see Fadden continue to appear in several notable films, including: Dallas (1950), starring Gary Cooper and Ruth Roman; 1956's Invasion of the Body Snatchers, where his character is one of the first victims to succumb to the alien invaders; and Baby Face Nelson (1957), starring Mickey Rooney and Carolyn Jones. Fadden would also begin forays into the acting world of the small screen. One of his first television roles was that of Eben Kent, the earthman who adopts Kal-El on the inaugural episode of The Adventures of Superman. He would appear in numerous other television shows during the decade, including recurring roles on Broken Arrow (1956–58) and Cimarron City (1958–59). Although he would appear in only a handful of films in the 1960s, he would work regularly on television during the decade, including a recurring role on Petticoat Junction. His final acting credit was the 1977 science fiction horror film, Empire of the Ants, starring Joan Collins. Fadden died of natural causes on April 14, 1980 in Vero Beach, Florida, and survived by his second wife, Jane.
Movie | Empire of the Ants | Sam Russell | 1977-06-29 |
Movie | Dirty Dingus Magee | Trooper | 1970-11-18 |
Movie | Flareup | Mr. Willows | 1969-11-10 |
Series | Mister Ed | Unknown | 1961-01-05 |
Movie | Pocketful of Miracles | Herbie (uncredited) | 1961-12-18 |
Movie | Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus | Uncle Daniel | 1960-01-21 |
Movie | The Slowest Gun in the West | Jedd Slocum | 1960-05-07 |
Series | The Tall Man | Unknown | 1960-09-10 |
Movie | Flaming Star | Man #1 at Crossing (uncredited) | 1960-12-20 |
Movie | Edge of Eternity | Eli Jones | 1959-11-02 |
Series | Cimarron City | Silas Perry | 1958-09-27 |
Movie | Baby Face Nelson | Postman Harkins | 1957-12-11 |
Movie | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Uncle Ira Lentz | 1956-02-05 |
Series | Broken Arrow | 1956-09-25 | |
Series | Gunsmoke | Unknown | 1955-09-10 |
Movie | The Tall Men | Hank - Livery Stable Owner (uncredited) | 1955-09-22 |
Movie | Thy Neighbor's Wife | Honza Kratky | 1953-09-23 |
Movie | Kansas Pacific | Gus Gustavson the Train Fireman | 1953-02-22 |
Movie | Toughest Man in Arizona | 1952-10-10 | |
Movie | The Lawless Breed | Chick Noonan - Undertaker | 1952-12-28 |
Movie | Drums in the Deep South | Purdy | 1951-09-01 |
Movie | Singing Guns | Express Agent | 1950-02-28 |
Movie | Devil's Doorway | Bob, the Big Horn Saloon Bartender | 1950-09-15 |
Movie | The Hunted | Bus Passenger | 1948-04-07 |
Movie | Panhandle | Mac - Horse Seller (uncredited) | 1948-02-22 |
Movie | State of the Union | Waiter | 1948-04-30 |
Movie | The Inside Story | Ab Follansbee | 1948-03-14 |
Movie | Raw Deal | 1948-05-21 | |
Movie | Whispering Smith | 1948-12-09 | |
Movie | Moonrise | Homer Blackstone | 1948-10-01 |
Movie | Cheyenne | Charlie | 1947-06-06 |
Movie | Pursued | The Minister (uncredited) | 1947-03-02 |
Movie | Dragnet | Amos Wright | 1947-08-16 |
Movie | Dark Passage | Diner Counterman Serving Parry (uncredited) | 1947-09-05 |
Movie | That Hagen Girl | Village Loafer | 1947-11-01 |
Movie | The Judge Steps Out | Sheriff (uncredited) | 1947-12-15 |
Movie | Dragonwyck | Otto Gebhardt (uncredited) | 1946-04-19 |
Movie | The Well Groomed Bride | Justice of the Peace | 1946-05-17 |
Movie | It's a Wonderful Life | Tollhouse Keeper (uncredited) | 1946-12-20 |
Movie | The Big Sleep | Sidney (uncredited) | 1946-08-23 |
Movie | A Medal for Benny | Eddie Krinch (uncredited) | 1945-04-16 |
Movie | Trail to Vengeance | Horace Glumm | 1945-06-01 |
Movie | The Naughty Nineties | Wounded Gambler (uncredited) | 1945-06-20 |
Movie | The Royal Mounted Rides Again | 'Lode' MacKenzie | 1945-10-23 |
Movie | Murder, He Says | Sheriff Murdock (uncredited) | 1945-06-23 |
Movie | The Hairy Ape | Long | 1944-07-02 |
Movie | Henry Aldrich's Little Secret | Mr. Luther | 1944-06-10 |
Movie | In Society | Fire Chief (uncredited) | 1944-08-16 |
Movie | Tomorrow, the World! | Mr. Clyde - Mailman (uncredited) | 1944-12-29 |
Movie | The Good Fellows | Harvey | 1943-08-11 |
Movie | Edge of Darkness | Hammer | 1943-04-09 |
Movie | A Lady Takes a Chance | Mullen | 1943-08-19 |
Movie | Northern Pursuit | Hobby (uncredited) | 1943-11-07 |
Movie | Sundown Jim | Stagecoach Driver | 1942-03-27 |
Movie | Lone Star Ranger | Sam | 1942-03-20 |
Movie | The Remarkable Andrew | Jake Pearl | 1942-03-05 |
Movie | Blondie Goes to College | Mr. Dill's Brother | 1942-01-15 |
Movie | The Night Before the Divorce | Capt. Walt | 1942-03-06 |
Movie | Wings for the Eagle | Tom 'Cyclone' Shaw | 1942-07-18 |
Movie | My Favorite Blonde | Tom Douglas | 1942-04-02 |
Movie | The Glass Key | Basement Club Waiter (uncredited) | 1942-09-08 |
Movie | Fall In | Zeb Hatfield | 1942-11-20 |
Movie | Pardon My Sarong | Sven (uncredited) | 1942-08-07 |
Movie | The Shepherd of the Hills | Jim Lane | 1941-07-18 |
Movie | Zanzibar | Rhad Ramsey | 1940-03-08 |
Movie | Congo Maisie | Nelson | 1940-01-19 |
Movie | The Captain Is a Lady | Pucey Kintner | 1940-06-21 |
Movie | Winners of the West | Tex Houston | 1940-07-02 |
Movie | When the Daltons Rode | Townsman | 1940-08-23 |
Movie | The Howards of Virginia | Backwoodsman | 1940-09-19 |
Movie | I Stole a Million | Verne | 1939-08-01 |
Movie | Destry Rides Again | Lem Claggett | 1939-11-30 |
Movie | Held For Ransom | Jalopy Driver | 1938-06-17 |
Movie | Hard to Get | Gas Station Attendant (uncredited) | 1938-11-05 |