Douglas Spencer (born July 4, 1910 – March 5, 1960) was an American actor, best known for his roles in classic science fiction films and film noirs during the 1940s and 1950s.
Douglas Spencer (born July 4, 1910 – March 5, 1960) was an American actor, best known for his roles in classic science fiction films and film noirs during the 1940s and 1950s.
Spencer was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was drawn to the entertainment industry early on and began his career in theater before transitioning to films. He often played characters with a tough, no-nonsense edge, making him a popular choice for a variety of roles in films of the time.
Spencer's big break came when he landed a role in the influential science fiction film The Thing from Another World (1951), directed by Christian Nyby and produced by Howard Hawks. In the film, Spencer played the role of a reporter named Ned Scott, who is among the group of scientists and military personnel investigating a mysterious alien threat in the Arctic. The Thing from Another World became a classic of the genre and remains one of Spencer’s most memorable roles.
In addition to his work in science fiction, Spencer appeared in several other films across a range of genres. He was frequently cast in supporting roles in film noirs, thrillers, and dramas, and his distinctive, gravelly voice and sharp screen presence made him a recognizable face in Hollywood.
Other notable films he appeared in include The Big Clock (1948), a crime thriller directed by John Farrow, and The Green Glove (1952), a suspenseful drama.
Douglas Spencer was married to actress Ann Wedgeworth, and their marriage lasted for several years. After the height of his film career, Spencer continued working in television and on stage, although he never achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries.
Spencer’s career was cut short when he died from cancer at the age of 49, on March 5, 1960. Despite his relatively brief career, he remains fondly remembered by fans of classic sci-fi and noir films.
Douglas Spencer's legacy is primarily tied to his memorable performance in The Thing from Another World, but his work across various genres helped solidify him as a dependable and versatile character actor in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His contributions to the sci-fi and noir genres continue to be appreciated by film enthusiasts today.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0817930
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1252512
Facebook: No data
Instagram: No data
X: No data
Filmography (Movies)
The Sins of Rachel Cade
Character:Doctor Bikel
Release Date:02/04/1961
The Diary of Anne Frank
Character:Kraler
Release Date:18/03/1959
Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Character:Marshal Fred Woodruff
Release Date:30/03/1958
Saddle the Wind
Character:Hemp Scribner
Release Date:20/03/1958
The Three Faces of Eve
Character:Mr. Black
Release Date:19/12/1957
Short Cut to Hell
Character:Train Conductor
Release Date:01/09/1957
Omar Khayyam
Character:Pigeon Keeper
Release Date:23/08/1957
The Unholy Wife
Character:Judge
Release Date:24/06/1957
Man from Del Rio
Character:Sheriff Jack Tillman
Release Date:30/10/1956
Pardners
Character:Smith
Release Date:01/08/1956
A Man Alone
Character:Henry Slocum
Release Date:17/10/1955
The Kentuckian
Character:Frome Brother (uncredited)
Release Date:22/07/1955
This Island Earth
Character:The Monitor of Metaluna
Release Date:10/06/1955
Smoke Signal
Character:Garode
Release Date:01/03/1955
The Raid
Character:Rev. Douglas
Release Date:04/08/1954
River of No Return
Character:Sam Benson
Release Date:30/04/1954
Houdini
Character:Simms
Release Date:02/07/1953
Shane
Character:Axel 'Swede' Shipstead
Release Date:23/04/1953
Trouble Along the Way
Character:Father Procurator aka George
Release Date:04/04/1953
The Glass Wall
Character:Inspector Bailey
Release Date:19/03/1953
She's Back on Broadway
Character:Lew Ludlow
Release Date:14/03/1953
Monkey Business
Character:Dr. Brunner
Release Date:03/09/1952
Untamed Frontier
Character:Clayton Vance
Release Date:23/07/1952
Something to Live For
Character:Joey (uncredited)
Release Date:07/03/1952
Warpath
Character:Kelso
Release Date:22/11/1951
Come Fill the Cup
Character:Ike Bashaw
Release Date:24/10/1951
A Place in the Sun
Character:Boatkeeper (uncredited)
Release Date:12/06/1951
The Thing from Another World
Character:Ned 'Scotty' Scott
Release Date:05/04/1951
The Redhead and the Cowboy
Character:Perry (Union agent)
Release Date:15/03/1951
Union Station
Character:Stationmaster (uncredited)
Release Date:04/10/1950
Father of the Bride
Character:Fritz the Organist (uncredited)
Release Date:18/05/1950
My Friend Irma
Character:Interior Decorator (uncredited)
Release Date:14/10/1949
The Heiress
Character:Minister (uncredited)
Release Date:06/10/1949
Trapped
Character:Sam Hooker (uncredited)
Release Date:27/09/1949
Red, Hot and Blue
Character:Actor in Theatre Group (uncredited)
Release Date:05/09/1949
Follow Me Quietly
Character:Phony Judge
Release Date:07/07/1949
It Happens Every Spring
Character:Train Conductor (uncredited)
Release Date:10/06/1949
Bride of Vengeance
Character:False Physician
Release Date:07/04/1949
Alias Nick Beal
Character:Henry T. Finch
Release Date:04/03/1949
Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Character:Dr. Ramsdell
Release Date:20/08/1948
The Sainted Sisters
Character:Townsman (uncredited)
Release Date:30/04/1948
The Big Clock
Character:Bert Finch
Release Date:18/03/1948
Adventure Island
Character:Prisoner sharing cell with Herrick and Lochlin (uncredited)
Release Date:13/08/1947
The Dark Corner
Character:Deli Customer (uncredited)
Release Date:09/04/1946
The Lost Weekend
Character:Hospital Patient Seeing Imaginary Beetles (uncredited)
Release Date:29/11/1945
Kitty
Character:Guest (uncredited)
Release Date:16/10/1945
Incendiary Blonde
Character:New Years Eve Party Patron (uncredited)
Release Date:25/07/1945
Double Indemnity
Character:Lou Schwartz (uncredited)
Release Date:06/07/1944
Princess O'Rourke
Character:Pilot (uncredited)
Release Date:23/10/1943
Fall In
Character:Military Policeman
Release Date:20/11/1942
A Date with the Falcon
Character:Witness at Accident (uncredited)
Release Date:16/01/1942
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Character:Hotel Guest
Release Date:28/11/1941
Lady Scarface
Character:Police Secretary
Release Date:26/09/1941
Little Nellie Kelly
Character:Policeman in Dance Line (uncredited)
Release Date:22/11/1940
Christmas in July
Character:Man Listening to Radio (uncredited)
Release Date:25/10/1940
Men Against the Sky
Character:Mechanic
Release Date:06/09/1940
Lucky Partners
Character:Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Release Date:02/08/1940
Allegheny Uprising
Character:Prisoner in Irons
Release Date:10/11/1939
The Day the Bookies Wept
Character:Auction Spectator (uncredited)
Release Date:13/09/1939
Television Appearances
Images
