Tom London
| Tom London | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leonard Clapham August 24, 1889 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 1963 (aged 74) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1915–1962 |
Tom London (August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American actor who, according to "The Guinness Book of Movie Records," is credited with appearing in the most movies in the history of Hollywood.[citation needed] Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois.
His debut was in 1915 in the Western Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent films, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock".
London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. He appeared as the sidekick to Western star Sunset Carson in several films.
London is credited in several prints of The Great Train Robbery, but since he was only 14 years old when that movie was filmed in 1903, it's unlikely that he actually appeared in it. One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films.
London made many guest appearances in television shows through the 1950s. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A. in 1961.
He died in North Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Liberty (1916)
- The Lion's Claws (1918)
- The Lion Man (1919)
- His Nose in the Book (1920)
- Wolf Tracks (1920)
- Masked (1920)
- 'In Wrong' Wright (1920)
- Nan of the North (1922)
- The Social Buccaneer (1923)
- To the Last Man (1923)
- The Bar-C Mystery (1926)
- Snowed In (1926)
- The Golden Stallion (1927)
- The Return of the Riddle Rider (1927)
- The Yellow Cameo (1928)
- The Black Watch (1929)
- Queen of the Northwoods (1929)
- The Galloping Ghost (1931)
- The Lost Special (1932)
- Mystery Mountain (1934)
- The Miracle Rider (1935)
- The Fighting Marines (1935)
- Zorro Rides Again (1937)
- Outlaws of Sonora (1938)
- The Lone Ranger (1938)
- Santa Fe Stampede (1938)
- The Night Riders (1939)
- Covered Wagon Days (1940)
- Lone Star Raiders (1940)
- Pals of the Pecos (1941)
- Red River Robin Hood (1942)
- Shadows on the Sage (1942)
- Santa Fe Scouts (1943)
- The Cherokee Flash (1945)
- The Phantom Rider (1946)
- Jesse James Rides Again (1947)
- High Noon (1952)
