Junior Durkin
Junior Durkin | |
|---|---|
 from Hell's House (1932) | |
| Born | Trent Bernard Durkin July 2, 1915 |
| Died | May 4, 1935 (aged 19) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Road accident |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Junior Dirkin Trent Durkin |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1923–1935 |
Trent "Junior" Durkin (July 2, 1915 – May 4, 1935) was an American stage and film actor.
Career
Born Trent Bernard Durkin in New York City, he began his acting career in theater as a child. Durkin first appeared in films in 1930, playing the role of Huckleberry Finn in Tom Sawyer (1930) and in Huckleberry Finn (1931), both times with Jackie Coogan playing Tom Sawyer. Under contract to RKO Radio Pictures, he was cast in a series of "B" films in comedy roles that capitalized on his gangly appearance. He co-starred in Hell's House (1932) with then newcomer Bette Davis.
RKO began grooming him for more adult roles. In his final film Chasing Yesterday (1935), he was billed as Trent Durkin.
Death
In 1935, Durkin was returning from a hunting trip in Mexico with Jackie Coogan and three others, including Coogan's father and writer Robert Horner. Coogan's father had to swerve to avoid colliding with a car coming straight at him, and his car left the road, rolling repeatedly until it landed in a creek bed. The accident occurred about 50 miles (80 km) from San Diego, California.[1] Jackie Coogan was the only survivor.
At the time, Durkin was living with agent Henry Willson, and they reportedly were lovers.[2]
Trent Durkin was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Recaptured Love | Henry Parr | Credited as Bernard Durkin |
| 1930 | The Santa Fe Trail | Old Timer | Credited as Bernard Durkin |
| 1930 | Tom Sawyer | Huckleberry Finn | |
| 1931 | Huckleberry Finn | Huckleberry Finn | |
| 1932 | Hell's House | Jimmy Mason | Alternative title: Juvenile Court Credited as Junior Dirkin |
| 1933 | Man Hunt | William 'Junior' Scott, Jr. | |
| 1934 | Big Hearted Herbert | Junior Kalness | Credited as Trent Durkin |
| 1934 | Ready for Love | Joey Burke | |
| 1934 | Little Men | Franz | |
| 1934 | Chasing Yesterday | Henri | Credited as Trent Durkin |
References
- ^ http://www3.gendisasters.com/california/9485/pine-valley-ca-john-coogan-sr-other-killed-may-1935
- ^ Stern and Ian McKellen, Keith (2009). Queers in History. Dallas, Texas. p. 493. ISBN 978-1933771878.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- Male actors from New York City
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
- Road incident deaths in California
- 1915 births
- 1935 deaths
- Gay actors
- LGBT entertainers from the United States
- LGBT people from New York (state)
- 20th-century American male actors