Joe Downing

Joe Downing (June 26, 1903 – October 16, 1975) was an American stage, TV and B-movie actor who made more than 70 appearances.

Joe Downing
Downing in The Devil's Party (1938)
Born	(1903-06-26)June 26, 1903 New York City, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1975(1975-10-16) (aged 72) Canoga Park, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1935–1963

Career

Downing's early acting experience included work with the Theatre Guild, particularly dancing in The Garrick Gaieties.^[1] His Broadway credits include Ramshackle Inn (1944), Cross-town (1937), Dead End (1935), Ceiling Zero (1935), Page Miss Glory (1934), The Drums Begin (1933), Heat Lightning (1933), Shooting Star (1933), and A Farewell to Arms (1930).^[2]

Downing's film debut came in Doctor Socrates.^[3] Often cast as gangsters, his film credits include A Slight Case of Murder, Danger on the Air, Racket Busters, Each Dawn I Die, and The Big Shot. His television credits include three appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents from 1956 to 1958, as well as other anthology series popular during the era.

Partial filmography

• The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935) as George Sanborne
• Dr. Socrates (1935) as Cinq Laval
• Borrowing Trouble (1937) as Charlie
• A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Innocence
• Wide Open Faces (1938) as Stretch
• The Lady in the Morgue (1938) as Steve Collins
• The Devil's Party (1938) as Frank Diamond
• Danger on the Air (1938) as Joe Carney
• Racket Busters (1938) as Joe Pender, Martin's Henchman
• I Am the Law (1938) as Tom Cronin (uncredited)
• The Night Hawk (1938) as Lefty
• Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) as Steve (uncredited)
• North of Shanghai (1939) as Chandler
• You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939) as Smitty
• Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) as Spuds O'Brien
• The Forgotten Woman (1939) as Johnny Bradshaw
• Each Dawn I Die (1939) as Limpy Julien
• Smashing the Money Ring (1939) as Dice Mathews
• Beware Spooks! (1939) (uncredited)
• Missing Evidence (1939) as Marty Peters
• Another Thin Man (1939) as Hoodlum (uncredited)
• Invisible Stripes (1939) as Johnny
• Oh Johnny, How You Can Love (1940) as 'Doc' Kendrick, Bank Robber
• Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Gangster in Car (uncredited)
• Sandy Is a Lady (1940) as Nick Case
• The Secret Seven (1940) as Lou Bodie
• The San Francisco Docks (1940) as Cassidy
• Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941) as Cigar Store Killer (uncredited)
• Double Date (1941) as Burglar
• Strange Alibi (1941) as Benny McKaye
• Belle Starr (1941) as Jim Cole
• Unholy Partners (1941) as Jerry, Henchman
• Johnny Eager (1941) as Ryan
• Sealed Lips (1942) as Trigger Dolan (uncredited)
• Larceny, Inc. (1942) as Smitty
• My Gal Sal (1942) as Slip (uncredited)
• The Big Shot (1942) as Frenchy (credited as Joseph Downing)
• You Can't Escape Forever (1942) as Varney (uncredited)
• Lucky Jordan (1942) as Harrison (uncredited)
• Las Vegas Shakedown (1955) as Henchman Matty
• Fighting Trouble (1956) as Handsome Hal Lomax
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 1 Episode 15: "The Big Switch") (1956) as Lieutenant Al Hawkshaw (credited as Joseph Downing)
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 1 Episode 22: "Place of Shadows") (1956) as Floyd Unser (credited as Joseph Downing)
• Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) as Eddie 'Cockeye' Cook
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 3 Episode 26: "Bull in a China Shop") (1958) as Detective Kramer (credited as Joseph Downing)

References

1. "Meet Joe Downing, On Stage Gunman, Off Stage Papa". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. January 23, 1944. p. 29. Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Joseph Downing". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
3. "Earns Living Getting Killed". Lansing State Journal. Michigan, Lansing. August 18, 1938. p. 19. Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

• Joe Downing at IMDb
• Joe Downing at the Internet Broadway Database