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).
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)
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0403636
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3371485
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Filmography (Movies)
The Sun Shines Bright
Character:Jimmy Bagby
Release Date:02/05/1953
Toughest Man in Arizona
Character:
Release Date:10/10/1952
Big Jim McLain
Character:Mr. Lexiter
Release Date:30/08/1952
Million Dollar Pursuit
Character:Ray Harvey
Release Date:30/05/1951
The Missourians
Character:John X. Finn
Release Date:25/11/1950
The Old Frontier
Character:Skipper Horton
Release Date:20/07/1950
The Vanishing Westerner
Character:Waldorf Worthington
Release Date:31/03/1950
Pioneer Marshal
Character:Huck Homer
Release Date:24/11/1949
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
Character:Sheriff Jug Mason
Release Date:04/11/1949
San Antone Ambush
Character:Happy Daniels
Release Date:06/10/1949
South of Rio
Character:Andy Weems
Release Date:29/07/1949
Outcasts of the Trail
Character:Doc Meadowlark
Release Date:08/06/1949
Law of the Golden West
Character:Otis Ellis
Release Date:23/05/1949
Prince of the Plains
Character:Sheriff Hank Hartley
Release Date:08/04/1949
Gun Smugglers
Character:Sergeant Hasty Jones
Release Date:28/12/1948
Yellow Sky
Character:Drunk (uncredited)
Release Date:24/12/1948
Son of God’s Country
Character:Eli Walker
Release Date:15/09/1948
The Arizona Ranger
Character:Ben Riddle
Release Date:14/05/1948
Heart of Virginia
Character:Whit Galtry
Release Date:25/04/1948
Who Killed Doc Robbin?
Character:Jailer
Release Date:09/04/1948
California Firebrand
Character:Chuck Waggoner
Release Date:01/04/1948
Madonna of the Desert
Character:Pete Connors
Release Date:23/02/1948
Under Colorado Skies
Character:Lucky John Hawkins
Release Date:15/12/1947
Angel and the Badman
Character:Frederick Carson
Release Date:15/02/1947
The Plainsman and the Lady
Character:Al
Release Date:11/11/1946
Death Valley
Character:Sergeant Dailey
Release Date:15/08/1946
In Old Sacramento
Character:Stagecoach Driver
Release Date:31/05/1946
The Virginian
Character:
Release Date:05/05/1946
Murder in the Music Hall
Character:Hobarth
Release Date:10/04/1946
Dakota
Character:Captain Spotts
Release Date:15/12/1945
Midnight Manhunt
Character:Murphy
Release Date:27/07/1945
Steppin' in Society
Character:Cookie
Release Date:09/07/1945
Scared Stiff
Character:Sheriff
Release Date:22/06/1945
The Big Show-Off
Character:Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
Release Date:22/01/1945
Something for the Boys
Character:Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
Release Date:01/11/1944
Girl Rush
Character:Muley
Release Date:21/10/1944
Barbary Coast Gent
Character:Jake Compton
Release Date:01/09/1944
Summer Storm
Character:Orloff
Release Date:14/07/1944
The Ghost That Walks Alone
Character:Sheriff Slim Carson
Release Date:10/02/1944
The Sky's the Limit
Character:Dock Foreman (uncredited)
Release Date:13/07/1943
Coney Island
Character:Louie
Release Date:18/06/1943
The Ox-Bow Incident
Character:Monty Smith
Release Date:11/03/1943
December 7th
Character:World War I Ghost Soldier
Release Date:01/03/1943
Hi'ya, Chum
Character:Archie Billings
Release Date:25/02/1943
Calaboose
Character:Ed the bartender
Release Date:29/01/1943
Night in New Orleans
Character:Sergeant Casper Riordan
Release Date:01/07/1942
Sundown Jim
Character:Broderick
Release Date:27/03/1942
Dudes Are Pretty People
Character:Two-Gun
Release Date:13/03/1942
Pardon My Stripes
Character:Feets
Release Date:26/01/1942
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Character:Page
Release Date:18/11/1941
This Woman Is Mine
Character:Second Mate Mumford
Release Date:22/08/1941
The Parson of Panamint
Character:Jake Waldren
Release Date:25/07/1941
Caught in the Draft
Character:Sgt. Burns
Release Date:04/07/1941
The Great Mr. Nobody
Character:Michael O'Connor
Release Date:15/02/1941
Petticoat Politics
Character:Slats O'Dell
Release Date:31/01/1941
Virginia
Character:Thomas
Release Date:28/01/1941
Tall, Dark and Handsome
Character:Biff Sage
Release Date:24/01/1941
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Character:Pete
Release Date:26/10/1940
Goin' Fishin'
Character:
Release Date:26/10/1940
Spring Parade
Character:Headwaiter
Release Date:27/09/1940
The Westerner
Character:Chickenfoot
Release Date:18/09/1940
South to Karanga
Character:Slats
Release Date:02/08/1940
They Drive by Night
Character:Pete Haig (uncredited)
Release Date:26/07/1940
Torrid Zone
Character:Daniels
Release Date:18/05/1940
Edison, the Man
Character:Sheriff
Release Date:10/05/1940
Star Dust
Character:Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
Release Date:06/04/1940
Castle on the Hudson
Character:Guard (uncredited)
Release Date:17/02/1940
Remember?
Character:Policeman
Release Date:19/12/1939
Gone with the Wind
Character:Yankee Deserter
Release Date:15/12/1939
Glove Slingers
Character:Chuck Brenner
Release Date:24/11/1939
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Character:Empire State Building Guard
Release Date:03/11/1939
On Your Toes
Character:Variety Club Bartender
Release Date:14/10/1939
Bad Lands
Character:Curly Tom
Release Date:28/08/1939
Quick Millions
Character:Sheriff
Release Date:25/08/1939
Each Dawn I Die
Character:Garsky
Release Date:19/08/1939
It Could Happen to You
Character:Sandy
Release Date:08/06/1939
Broadway Serenade
Character:Reynolds, a Drunk
Release Date:07/04/1939
Cafe Society
Character:Bartender
Release Date:03/03/1939
Topper Takes a Trip
Character:Charlie - the Bartender
Release Date:29/12/1938
Secrets of a Nurse
Character:Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
Release Date:02/12/1938
The Last Express
Character:Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
Release Date:27/10/1938
Hold That Co-ed
Character:Slapsy
Release Date:16/09/1938
My Lucky Star
Character:Louie
Release Date:09/09/1938
Prison Break
Character:Soapy
Release Date:12/07/1938
Josette
Character:A. Adolphus Heyman
Release Date:03/06/1938
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Character:Bill Mulligan
Release Date:24/05/1938
In Old Chicago
Character:Mitch
Release Date:15/04/1938
Island in the Sky
Character:Happy
Release Date:01/04/1938
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Character:Florabelle's Father
Release Date:18/03/1938
No Time to Marry
Character:Sergeant
Release Date:05/02/1938
Second Honeymoon
Character:Dennis Huggins
Release Date:13/11/1937
Ali Baba Goes to Town
Character:Captain
Release Date:29/10/1937
The Lady Fights Back
Character:Maloney
Release Date:01/10/1937
Danger – Love at Work
Character:NYC policeman
Release Date:30/09/1937
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
Character:Bill
Release Date:17/09/1937
Wake Up and Live
Character:McCabe
Release Date:23/08/1937
She's No Lady
Character:Cop
Release Date:20/08/1937
You Can't Have Everything
Character:Truck Driver (uncredited)
Release Date:02/08/1937
The Legion of Missing Men
Character:Muggsy
Release Date:28/07/1937
Super-Sleuth
Character:Motorcycle Cop
Release Date:16/07/1937
You Can't Beat Love
Character:Foreman Butch Mehaffey
Release Date:25/06/1937
Slave Ship
Character:Drunk
Release Date:16/06/1937
Angel's Holiday
Character:Sgt. Murphy
Release Date:07/06/1937
Fifty Roads to Town
Character:Tom
Release Date:03/06/1937
This Is My Affair
Character:Bowler
Release Date:28/05/1937
Trouble in Morocco
Character:Tiger Malone
Release Date:09/03/1937
We Who Are About to Die
Character:Tip Fuller
Release Date:08/01/1937
North of Nome
Character:Carlson
Release Date:14/11/1936
The Gay Desperado
Character:American Detective
Release Date:02/10/1936
I'd Give My Life
Character:"Sport" Conly
Release Date:13/08/1936
To Mary - with Love
Character:Drunk
Release Date:01/08/1936
Blackmailer
Character:Inspector Killian
Release Date:23/07/1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Character:1st Deputy (uncredited)
Release Date:09/04/1936
Robin Hood of El Dorado
Character:Wilson
Release Date:17/03/1936
Riffraff
Character:Belcher
Release Date:03/01/1936
The Gay Deception
Character:Bell Captain
Release Date:13/09/1935
The Daring Young Man
Character:Prison Guard
Release Date:17/07/1935
Calm Yourself
Character:Detective Roscoe
Release Date:28/06/1935
Public Hero Number 1
Character:Rufe Parker
Release Date:31/05/1935
The Case of the Curious Bride
Character:Fibo Morgan (uncredited)
Release Date:13/04/1935
Mississippi
Character:Hefty
Release Date:22/03/1935
Shadow of Doubt
Character:Lt. Sackville
Release Date:15/02/1935
Carnival
Character:Policeman
Release Date:15/02/1935
Sequoia
Character:Bergman
Release Date:16/01/1935
Maybe It's Love
Character:Expressman (uncredited)
Release Date:12/01/1935
The Ballad of Paducah Jail
Character:Escaped Felon
Release Date:20/10/1934
Tomorrow's Youth
Character:Detective
Release Date:14/10/1934
Among the Missing
Character:Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
Release Date:25/09/1934
Take the Stand
Character:Denny O'Brien
Release Date:07/08/1934
Midnight Alibi
Character:Babe the Butcher
Release Date:12/07/1934
Charlie Chan's Courage
Character:Undetermined Role
Release Date:06/07/1934
A Very Honorable Guy
Character:Butler
Release Date:18/04/1934
The Big Race
Character:Skipper O'Neal
Release Date:14/02/1934
Queen Christina
Character:Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
Release Date:09/02/1934
The Women in His Life
Character:Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
Release Date:08/12/1933
Day of Reckoning
Character:Harry
Release Date:26/10/1933
Saturday's Millions
Character:Doc Maloney, Trainer
Release Date:30/09/1933
Tugboat Annie
Character:Sam
Release Date:04/08/1933
Hold Your Man
Character:Aubrey C. Mitchell (uncredited)
Release Date:30/06/1933
The Sphinx
Character:Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
Release Date:01/06/1933
Terror Aboard
Character:Boatswain
Release Date:14/04/1933
Grand Slam
Character:Man Who Speaks Final Line of the Film
Release Date:22/02/1933
Island of Lost Souls
Character:Capt. Donahue
Release Date:23/12/1932
Men Are Such Fools
Character:Stiles
Release Date:18/11/1932
The Big Stampede
Character:'Arizona' Frank Bailey
Release Date:29/09/1932
The Phantom President
Character:Sailor (uncredited)
Release Date:23/09/1932
Hold 'Em Jail
Character:Butch
Release Date:19/08/1932
The Thirteenth Guest
Character:Detective Grump
Release Date:09/08/1932
State's Attorney
Character:Police Captain Morgan
Release Date:20/05/1932
My Pal, the King
Character:Red
Release Date:03/04/1932
Panama Flo
Character:Al
Release Date:19/01/1932
The Secret Witness
Character:Officer Brannigan
Release Date:12/12/1931
Bad Company
Character:Paul Hurst
Release Date:16/10/1931
Maker of Men
Character:Gabby
Release Date:03/08/1931
The Public Defender
Character:Doc
Release Date:01/08/1931
That's My Line
Character:Mexican Bandit
Release Date:13/07/1931
Sweepstakes
Character:Bartender
Release Date:10/07/1931
Kick In
Character:Detective Whip Fogarty
Release Date:22/05/1931
The Secret Six
Character:Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
Release Date:18/04/1931
The Single Sin
Character:Slug
Release Date:23/02/1931
The Third Alarm
Character:'Beauty' Johnson
Release Date:16/11/1930
Borrowed Wives
Character:Bull Morgan
Release Date:20/08/1930
Paradise Island
Character:Beauty
Release Date:15/07/1930
Hot Curves
Character:'Slug', Baseball Player
Release Date:14/06/1930
Shadow of the Law
Character:Pete Shore
Release Date:06/06/1930
The Runaway Bride
Character:Sergeant Daly
Release Date:04/05/1930
Mountain Justice
Character:Lem Harland
Release Date:04/05/1930
Swellhead
Character:Mugsy
Release Date:20/03/1930
Officer O'Brien
Character:Captain Antrim
Release Date:15/02/1930
Lucky Larkin
Character:Pete Brierson
Release Date:01/02/1930
His First Command
Character:Sgt. Westbrook
Release Date:28/12/1929
The Racketeer
Character:Mehaffy - Policeman
Release Date:09/11/1929
Oh, Yeah!
Character:Railroad-Yard Superintendent
Release Date:19/10/1929
Sailor's Holiday
Character:Jimmylegs
Release Date:14/09/1929
The California Mail
Character:Rowdy Ryan
Release Date:07/04/1929
Tide of Empire
Character:Poppy
Release Date:23/03/1929
The Lawless Legion
Character:Ramirez
Release Date:17/02/1929
Lilac Time
Character:(uncredited)
Release Date:18/10/1928
The Cossacks
Character:Sitchi
Release Date:23/06/1928
Buttons
Character:Slugger McGlue
Release Date:24/12/1927
The Valley of the Giants
Character:Randeau
Release Date:04/12/1927
The Red Raiders
Character:Sergeant Murphy
Release Date:27/09/1927
The Devil's Saddle
Character:'Swig' Moran
Release Date:10/07/1927
Outlaw's Paradise
Character:McDonald
Release Date:01/03/1927
Blue Streak O'Neil
Character:
Release Date:15/12/1926
The Fighting Ranger
Character:
Release Date:15/09/1926
Roaring Road
Character:Checking Board Tabulator (uncredited)
Release Date:01/05/1926
The Man Who Would Not Die
Character:
Release Date:03/02/1924
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Character:Emeralda's Torturer (uncredited)
Release Date:06/09/1923
Lightning Bryce
Character:Powder Solvang
Release Date:14/10/1919
Smashing Through
Character:Stevens
Release Date:09/06/1918
Rimrock Jones
Character:Ike Bray
Release Date:21/01/1918
The Further Adventures of Stingaree
Character:Howie
Release Date:01/06/1917
The Railroad Raiders
Character:Steve Arnold (as Paul C. Hurst)
Release Date:09/04/1917
The Hazards of Helen
Character:Benton - a Foreman
Release Date:24/02/1917
The Manager of the B & A
Character:Roger Oakley (as Paul C. Hurst)
Release Date:25/09/1916
The Diamond Runners
Character:Paul - the Brains of the I.D.B.
Release Date:28/08/1916
Judith of the Cumberlands
Character:Blatchley Turrentine
Release Date:31/07/1916
Medicine Bend
Character:Murray Sinclair
Release Date:03/07/1916
Whispering Smith
Character:Murray Sinclair
Release Date:05/06/1916
A Lass of the Lumberlands
Character:
Release Date:02/01/1916
Stingaree
Character:Howie - Stingaree's Partner
Release Date:24/11/1915
The Vivisectionist
Character:Bart - Jardine's Servant
Release Date:23/06/1915
The Red Signal
Character:Chief Dispatcher
Release Date:13/02/1915
The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight
Character:A Trainman
Release Date:06/02/1915
The Girl Detective
Character:Blair / Thompson / Michaels / Snake Henely / Mike Donegal / Bat Dorgan / Kelly / Dalton / Blake
Release Date:02/01/1915
The Plot at the Railroad Cut
Character:Benton, the Foreman
Release Date:21/11/1914
The Chief of Police
Character:Daniels
Release Date:04/08/1914
The Quicksands
Character:Captain Lanning - Osborn's Rival
Release Date:10/06/1914
The Cave Men's War
Character:Red Axe
Release Date:03/12/1913
The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach
Character:Bad Bill - a Desperado
Release Date:07/12/1912
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