Paul Hurst
Paul Hurst (October 15, 1888 - February 27, 1953) was an American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his early work was in low budget western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the emerging film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well (some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect). In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. He proved adept at working as a director for some of the cheapest producers along Gower Gulch, where movies were normally shot on location in a week or less and where stunt men were often the highest paid folks on the set. Within a few years, he focused all of his energies into acting, notably becoming one of the few successes to emerge from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Hurst quickly became one of the more prolific and familiar characters in American movies. With his blocky build and squinty demeanor, and with a raspy voice that enhanced his memorability once sound pictures came in, Hurst played villains and cops and comedy sidekicks in more than 250 films. His most famous role was that of the deserter shot dead on the stairway of Tara by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Hurst was the sidekick to Monte Hale in a number of B-Westerns. Former Gower Gulch veteran John Wayne hired Hurst for Big Jim McLain (1952) knowing that Hurst was ill with terminal cancer. In 1953, at the age of 64, due to his health problems, Paul Hurst committed suicide. Date of Death: 27 February 1953, Hollywood, California (suicide)
Filmography
The Sun Shines Bright
as Jimmy Bagby
The Sun Shines Bright
as Jimmy Bagby
Toughest Man in Arizona
Toughest Man in Arizona
Big Jim McLain
as Mr. Lexiter
Big Jim McLain
as Mr. Lexiter
Million Dollar Pursuit
as Ray Harvey
Million Dollar Pursuit
as Ray Harvey
The Missourians
as John X. Finn
The Missourians
as John X. Finn
The Old Frontier
as Skipper Horton
The Old Frontier
as Skipper Horton
The Vanishing Westerner
as Waldorf Worthington
The Vanishing Westerner
as Waldorf Worthington
Pioneer Marshal
as Huck Homer
Pioneer Marshal
as Huck Homer
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
as Sheriff Jug Mason
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
as Sheriff Jug Mason
San Antone Ambush
as Happy Daniels
San Antone Ambush
as Happy Daniels
South of Rio
as Andy Weems
South of Rio
as Andy Weems
Outcasts of the Trail
as Doc Meadowlark
Outcasts of the Trail
as Doc Meadowlark
Law of the Golden West
as Otis Ellis
Law of the Golden West
as Otis Ellis
Prince of the Plains
as Sheriff Hank Hartley
Prince of the Plains
as Sheriff Hank Hartley
Gun Smugglers
as Sergeant Hasty Jones
Gun Smugglers
as Sergeant Hasty Jones
Yellow Sky
as Drunk (uncredited)
Yellow Sky
as Drunk (uncredited)
Son of God’s Country
as Eli Walker
Son of God’s Country
as Eli Walker
The Arizona Ranger
as Ben Riddle
The Arizona Ranger
as Ben Riddle
Heart of Virginia
as Whit Galtry
Heart of Virginia
as Whit Galtry
Who Killed Doc Robbin?
as Jailer
Who Killed Doc Robbin?
as Jailer
California Firebrand
as Chuck Waggoner
California Firebrand
as Chuck Waggoner
Madonna of the Desert
as Pete Connors
Madonna of the Desert
as Pete Connors
Under Colorado Skies
as Lucky John Hawkins
Under Colorado Skies
as Lucky John Hawkins
Angel and the Badman
as Frederick Carson
Angel and the Badman
as Frederick Carson
The Plainsman and the Lady
as Al
The Plainsman and the Lady
as Al
Death Valley
as Sergeant Dailey
Death Valley
as Sergeant Dailey
In Old Sacramento
as Stagecoach Driver
In Old Sacramento
as Stagecoach Driver
The Virginian
The Virginian
Murder in the Music Hall
as Hobarth
Murder in the Music Hall
as Hobarth
Dakota
as Captain Spotts
Dakota
as Captain Spotts
Midnight Manhunt
as Murphy
Midnight Manhunt
as Murphy
Steppin' in Society
as Cookie
Steppin' in Society
as Cookie
Scared Stiff
as Sheriff
Scared Stiff
as Sheriff
The Big Show-Off
as Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
The Big Show-Off
as Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
Something for the Boys
as Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
Something for the Boys
as Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
Girl Rush
as Muley
Girl Rush
as Muley
Barbary Coast Gent
as Jake Compton
Barbary Coast Gent
as Jake Compton
Summer Storm
as Orloff
Summer Storm
as Orloff
The Ghost That Walks Alone
as Sheriff Slim Carson
The Ghost That Walks Alone
as Sheriff Slim Carson
The Sky's the Limit
as Dock Foreman (uncredited)
The Sky's the Limit
as Dock Foreman (uncredited)
Coney Island
as Louie
Coney Island
as Louie
The Ox-Bow Incident
as Monty Smith
The Ox-Bow Incident
as Monty Smith
December 7th
as World War I Ghost Soldier
December 7th
as World War I Ghost Soldier
Hi'ya, Chum
as Archie Billings
Hi'ya, Chum
as Archie Billings
Calaboose
as Ed the bartender
Calaboose
as Ed the bartender
Night in New Orleans
as Sergeant Casper Riordan
Night in New Orleans
as Sergeant Casper Riordan
Sundown Jim
as Broderick
Sundown Jim
as Broderick
Dudes Are Pretty People
as Two-Gun
Dudes Are Pretty People
as Two-Gun
Pardon My Stripes
as Feets
Pardon My Stripes
as Feets
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
as Page
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
as Page
This Woman Is Mine
as Second Mate Mumford
This Woman Is Mine
as Second Mate Mumford
The Parson of Panamint
as Jake Waldren
The Parson of Panamint
as Jake Waldren
Caught in the Draft
as Sgt. Burns
Caught in the Draft
as Sgt. Burns
The Great Mr. Nobody
as Michael O'Connor
The Great Mr. Nobody
as Michael O'Connor
Petticoat Politics
as Slats O'Dell
Petticoat Politics
as Slats O'Dell
Virginia
as Thomas
Virginia
as Thomas
Tall, Dark and Handsome
as Biff Sage
Tall, Dark and Handsome
as Biff Sage
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
as Pete
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
as Pete
Goin' Fishin'
Goin' Fishin'
Spring Parade
as Headwaiter
Spring Parade
as Headwaiter
The Westerner
as Chickenfoot
The Westerner
as Chickenfoot
South to Karanga
as Slats
South to Karanga
as Slats
They Drive by Night
as Pete Haig (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
as Pete Haig (uncredited)
Torrid Zone
as Daniels
Torrid Zone
as Daniels
Edison, the Man
as Sheriff
Edison, the Man
as Sheriff
Star Dust
as Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
Star Dust
as Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
Castle on the Hudson
as Guard (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
as Guard (uncredited)
Remember?
as Policeman
Remember?
as Policeman
Gone with the Wind
as Yankee Deserter
Gone with the Wind
as Yankee Deserter
Glove Slingers
as Chuck Brenner
Glove Slingers
as Chuck Brenner
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
as Empire State Building Guard
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
as Empire State Building Guard
On Your Toes
as Variety Club Bartender
On Your Toes
as Variety Club Bartender
Bad Lands
as Curly Tom
Bad Lands
as Curly Tom
Quick Millions
as Sheriff
Quick Millions
as Sheriff
Each Dawn I Die
as Garsky
Each Dawn I Die
as Garsky
It Could Happen to You
as Sandy
It Could Happen to You
as Sandy
Broadway Serenade
as Reynolds, a Drunk
Broadway Serenade
as Reynolds, a Drunk
Cafe Society
as Bartender
Cafe Society
as Bartender
Topper Takes a Trip
as Charlie - the Bartender
Topper Takes a Trip
as Charlie - the Bartender
Secrets of a Nurse
as Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
Secrets of a Nurse
as Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
The Last Express
as Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
The Last Express
as Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
Hold That Co-ed
as Slapsy
Hold That Co-ed
as Slapsy
My Lucky Star
as Louie
My Lucky Star
as Louie
Prison Break
as Soapy
Prison Break
as Soapy
Josette
as A. Adolphus Heyman
Josette
as A. Adolphus Heyman
Alexander's Ragtime Band
as Bill Mulligan
Alexander's Ragtime Band
as Bill Mulligan
In Old Chicago
as Mitch
In Old Chicago
as Mitch
Island in the Sky
as Happy
Island in the Sky
as Happy
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
as Mug
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
as Mug
No Time to Marry
as Sergeant
No Time to Marry
as Sergeant
Second Honeymoon
as Dennis Huggins
Second Honeymoon
as Dennis Huggins
The Lady Fights Back
as Maloney
The Lady Fights Back
as Maloney
Danger – Love at Work
as NYC policeman
Danger – Love at Work
as NYC policeman
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
as Bill
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
as Bill
Wake Up and Live
as McCabe
Wake Up and Live
as McCabe
She's No Lady
as Cop
She's No Lady
as Cop
You Can't Have Everything
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
You Can't Have Everything
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
The Legion of Missing Men
as Muggsy
The Legion of Missing Men
as Muggsy
Super-Sleuth
as Motorcycle Cop
Super-Sleuth
as Motorcycle Cop
You Can't Beat Love
as Foreman Butch Mehaffey
You Can't Beat Love
as Foreman Butch Mehaffey
Slave Ship
as Drunk
Slave Ship
as Drunk
Angel's Holiday
as Sgt. Murphy
Angel's Holiday
as Sgt. Murphy
Fifty Roads to Town
as Tom
Fifty Roads to Town
as Tom
This Is My Affair
as Bowler
This Is My Affair
as Bowler
Trouble in Morocco
as Tiger Malone
Trouble in Morocco
as Tiger Malone
We Who Are About to Die
as Tip Fuller
We Who Are About to Die
as Tip Fuller
North of Nome
as Carlson
North of Nome
as Carlson
The Gay Desperado
as American Detective
The Gay Desperado
as American Detective
I'd Give My Life
as "Sport" Conly
I'd Give My Life
as "Sport" Conly
To Mary - with Love
as Drunk
To Mary - with Love
as Drunk
Blackmailer
as Inspector Killian
Blackmailer
as Inspector Killian
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
as 1st Deputy (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
as 1st Deputy (uncredited)
Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Wilson
Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Wilson
Riffraff
as Belcher
Riffraff
as Belcher
The Gay Deception
as Bell Captain
The Gay Deception
as Bell Captain
Wilderness Mail
as Jules
Wilderness Mail
as Jules
The Daring Young Man
as Prison Guard
The Daring Young Man
as Prison Guard
Calm Yourself
as Detective Roscoe
Calm Yourself
as Detective Roscoe
Public Hero Number 1
as Rufe Parker
Public Hero Number 1
as Rufe Parker
The Case of the Curious Bride
as Fibo Morgan (uncredited)
The Case of the Curious Bride
as Fibo Morgan (uncredited)
Mississippi
as Hefty
Mississippi
as Hefty
Shadow of Doubt
as Lt. Sackville
Shadow of Doubt
as Lt. Sackville
Carnival
as Policeman
Carnival
as Policeman
Sequoia
as Bergman
Sequoia
as Bergman
Maybe It's Love
as Expressman (uncredited)
Maybe It's Love
as Expressman (uncredited)
The Ballad of Paducah Jail
as Escaped Felon
The Ballad of Paducah Jail
as Escaped Felon
Tomorrow's Youth
as Detective
Tomorrow's Youth
as Detective
Among the Missing
as Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
Among the Missing
as Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
Take the Stand
as Denny O'Brien
Take the Stand
as Denny O'Brien
Midnight Alibi
as Babe the Butcher
Midnight Alibi
as Babe the Butcher
Charlie Chan's Courage
as Undetermined Role
Charlie Chan's Courage
as Undetermined Role
A Very Honorable Guy
as Butler
A Very Honorable Guy
as Butler
The Line-Up
as Detective Sgt. Doyle
The Line-Up
as Detective Sgt. Doyle
The Big Race
as Skipper O'Neal
The Big Race
as Skipper O'Neal
Queen Christina
as Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
Queen Christina
as Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
The Women in His Life
as Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
The Women in His Life
as Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
Day of Reckoning
as Harry
Day of Reckoning
as Harry
Saturday's Millions
as Doc Maloney, Trainer
Saturday's Millions
as Doc Maloney, Trainer
The Sphinx
as Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
The Sphinx
as Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
Terror Aboard
as Boatswain
Terror Aboard
as Boatswain
Island of Lost Souls
as Capt. Donahue
Island of Lost Souls
as Capt. Donahue
The Phantom President
as Sailor (uncredited)
The Phantom President
as Sailor (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Jail
as Butch
Hold 'Em Jail
as Butch
State's Attorney
as Police Captain Morgan
State's Attorney
as Police Captain Morgan
My Pal, the King
as Red
My Pal, the King
as Red
Maker of Men
as Gabby
Maker of Men
as Gabby
Sweepstakes
as Bartender
Sweepstakes
as Bartender
Kick In
as Detective Whip Fogarty
Kick In
as Detective Whip Fogarty
The Runaway Bride
as Sergeant Daly
The Runaway Bride
as Sergeant Daly
Mountain Justice
as Lem Harland
Mountain Justice
as Lem Harland
Swellhead
as Mugsy
Swellhead
as Mugsy
Officer O'Brien
as Captain Antrim
Officer O'Brien
as Captain Antrim
The Racketeer
as Mehaffy - Policeman
The Racketeer
as Mehaffy - Policeman
Oh, Yeah!
as Railroad-Yard Superintendent
Oh, Yeah!
as Railroad-Yard Superintendent
Sailor's Holiday
as Jimmylegs
Sailor's Holiday
as Jimmylegs
The California Mail
as Rowdy Ryan
The California Mail
as Rowdy Ryan
Tide of Empire
as Poppy
Tide of Empire
as Poppy
The Lawless Legion
as Ramirez
The Lawless Legion
as Ramirez
Lilac Time
as (uncredited)
Lilac Time
as (uncredited)
The Cossacks
as Sitchi
The Cossacks
as Sitchi
The Devil's Saddle
as 'Swig' Moran
The Devil's Saddle
as 'Swig' Moran
The Fighting Ranger
The Fighting Ranger
Smashing Through
as Stevens
Smashing Through
as Stevens
Medicine Bend
as Murray Sinclair
Medicine Bend
as Murray Sinclair
Stingaree
as Howie - Stingaree's Partner
Stingaree
as Howie - Stingaree's Partner
The Vivisectionist
as Bart - Jardine's Servant
The Vivisectionist
as Bart - Jardine's Servant
The Plot at the Railroad Cut
as Benton, the Foreman
The Plot at the Railroad Cut
as Benton, the Foreman