OUTLAWS
&
BAD GUYS
James Gregory
Well, you got here a bit too soon. I've just started this page
But email me with your suggestions about who I should add.
Pierce Lyden
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Dan Duryea
Born Howard Ravenscroft on September 7, 1902, in Crab Orchard, Nebraska, "Roy Barcroft" made a tremendous impact on the "B" Westerns and became known as the "King of the Villains." He alternated between Monogram, Universal, Columbia and other studios before Republic signed him to an exclusive 10-year contract in 1943 making him a major player in numerous serial roles averaging ten films per year. For "Night Train To Memphis" critics labeled him the dirtiest, meanest individual on film. He was also a terror in the "Little Beaver" and "Red Ryder" serials.
His best work however came in the "Rocky Lane" Westerns. Their knock down drag out fight scenes are considered classics even by today's standards.
Leo Gordon, a tough guy-turned actor had a career that spanned nearly five decades, over 70 films and dozens of TV shows. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, broad-shouldered actor with steely blue eyes was one of the most recognized character actors of his time. Best known for playing brutally villainous rolls in scores of Westerns from "Hondo" in 1953 to 1994's "Maverick," Gordon was a real-life bad guy before getting into acting.
Born in New York on Dec. 2, 1922, he joined the Army in 1941 but was honorably discharged after two years then finally drifted into Hollywood. Before turning to acting, he robbed a movie theater boxoffice in Culver City and was even shot in the stomach during a bar room brawl. After four years in San Quentin, Gordon returned to New York and decided to use his GI benefits to take acting classes.
During the 50's and 60's he seemed to make an appearance on nearly every TV Western from "Bonanza" to "Gunsmoke." He also became an accomplished screenwriter penning about 50 scripts for such shows as "Bonanza," "Cheyenne," and "Adam-12." Among the many screenplays he wrote was the cult-classic "The Cry Baby Killer" for famed "B" movie king Roger Corman which was Jack Nicholson's film debut.
Gordon shown here with hands in the air died on Dec. 26, 2000
Barcroft died of cancer on Nov. 28, 1969 at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, CA
Charles King was heir to Barcroft's throne.
But unlike Roy, Charlie was never signed to a studio and therefore worked mostly in hundreds of "Poverty Row" Westerns, serials and gangster films. He was comfortable in any genre, even comedy, as he demonstrated many times in films for Gene Autry or as a singing cowhand for Ken Maynard and as a funny badman for Lash LaRue. He was at his best in the Buster Crabbe series with Fuzzy St. John. But his fights with
Bob Steel are legendary
screen events. He
and Bob would break
every piece of furniture
on the set, lose their
hats, tear their clothes
before Charlie would ultimately go down.
Born: Feb.21, 1895 -
Died: May 7, 1957
Click above to see those great Villains from the Spaghetti Westerns
