Paul Hurst
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- October 14, 1888
- Died
- February 27, 1953 (aged 64)
- Birthplace
- Traver, California, USA
Biography
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)
Known For
Filmography
The Sun Shines Bright
Movie · as Jimmy Bagby
Toughest Man in Arizona
Movie
Big Jim McLain
Movie · as Mr. Lexiter
Million Dollar Pursuit
Movie · as Ray Harvey
The Missourians
Movie · as John X. Finn
The Old Frontier
Movie · as Skipper Horton
The Vanishing Westerner
Movie · as Waldorf Worthington
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
Movie · as Sheriff Jug Mason
Prince of the Plains
Movie · as Sheriff Hank Hartley
Pioneer Marshal
Movie · as Huck Homer
San Antone Ambush
Movie · as Happy Daniels
South of Rio
Movie · as Andy Weems
Law of the Golden West
Movie · as Otis Ellis
Outcasts of the Trail
Movie · as Doc Meadowlark
Who Killed Doc Robbin?
Movie · as Jailer
The Arizona Ranger
Movie · as Ben Riddle
Madonna of the Desert
Movie · as Pete Connors
Son of God’s Country
Movie · as Eli Walker
Gun Smugglers
Movie · as Sergeant Hasty Jones
California Firebrand
Movie · as Chuck Waggoner
Yellow Sky
Movie · as Drunk (uncredited)
Heart of Virginia
Movie · as Whit Galtry
Angel and the Badman
Movie · as Frederick Carson
Under Colorado Skies
Movie · as Lucky John Hawkins
The Plainsman and the Lady
Movie · as Al
The Virginian
Movie
Death Valley
Movie · as Sergeant Dailey
In Old Sacramento
Movie · as Stagecoach Driver
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie · as Hobarth
Steppin' in Society
Movie · as Cookie
Scared Stiff
Movie · as Sheriff
The Big Show-Off
Movie · as Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
Dakota
Movie · as Captain Spotts
Midnight Manhunt
Movie · as Murphy
Summer Storm
Movie · as Orloff
Girl Rush
Movie · as Muley
Something for the Boys
Movie · as Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
Barbary Coast Gent
Movie · as Jake Compton
The Ghost That Walks Alone
Movie · as Sheriff Slim Carson
The Ox-Bow Incident
Movie · as Monty Smith
Hi'ya, Chum
Movie · as Archie Billings
December 7th
Movie · as World War I Ghost Soldier
Calaboose
Movie · as Ed the bartender
The Sky's the Limit
Movie · as Dock Foreman (uncredited)
Coney Island
Movie · as Louie
Night in New Orleans
Movie · as Sergeant Casper Riordan
Dudes Are Pretty People
Movie · as Two-Gun
Sundown Jim
Movie · as Broderick
Pardon My Stripes
Movie · as Feets
Petticoat Politics
Movie · as Slats O'Dell
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Movie · as Page
Tall, Dark and Handsome
Movie · as Biff Sage
Caught in the Draft
Movie · as Sgt. Burns
Virginia
Movie · as Thomas
The Great Mr. Nobody
Movie · as Michael O'Connor
The Parson of Panamint
Movie · as Jake Waldren
This Woman Is Mine
Movie · as Second Mate Mumford
The Westerner
Movie · as Chickenfoot
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Movie · as Pete
Spring Parade
Movie · as Headwaiter
Edison, the Man
Movie · as Sheriff
Castle on the Hudson
Movie · as Guard (uncredited)
They Drive by Night
Movie · as Pete Haig (uncredited)
Torrid Zone
Movie · as Daniels
Goin' Fishin'
Movie
Star Dust
Movie · as Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
South to Karanga
Movie · as Slats
Gone with the Wind
Movie · as Yankee Deserter
Broadway Serenade
Movie · as Reynolds, a Drunk
It Could Happen to You
Movie · as Sandy
Remember?
Movie · as Policeman
Bad Lands
Movie · as Curly Tom
Cafe Society
Movie · as Bartender
On Your Toes
Movie · as Variety Club Bartender
Each Dawn I Die
Movie · as Garsky
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Movie · as Empire State Building Guard
Glove Slingers
Movie · as Chuck Brenner
Quick Millions
Movie · as Sheriff
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Movie · as Bill Mulligan
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Movie · as Mug
Topper Takes a Trip
Movie · as Charlie - the Bartender
In Old Chicago
Movie · as Mitch
Island in the Sky
Movie · as Happy
Secrets of a Nurse
Movie · as Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
Prison Break
Movie · as Soapy
Hold That Co-ed
Movie · as Slapsy
My Lucky Star
Movie · as Louie
Josette
Movie · as A. Adolphus Heyman
No Time to Marry
Movie · as Sergeant
The Last Express
Movie · as Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
Trouble in Morocco
Movie · as Tiger Malone
Angel's Holiday
Movie · as Sgt. Murphy
Ali Baba Goes to Town
Movie · as Captain
Danger – Love at Work
Movie · as NYC policeman
Second Honeymoon
Movie · as Dennis Huggins
The Legion of Missing Men
Movie · as Muggsy
Wake Up and Live
Movie · as McCabe
The Lady Fights Back
Movie · as Maloney
She's No Lady
Movie · as Cop
Slave Ship
Movie · as Drunk
We Who Are About to Die
Movie · as Tip Fuller
You Can't Have Everything
Movie · as Truck Driver (uncredited)
You Can't Beat Love
Movie · as Foreman Butch Mehaffey
This Is My Affair
Movie · as Bowler
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
Movie · as Bill
Super-Sleuth
Movie · as Motorcycle Cop
Fifty Roads to Town
Movie · as Tom
I'd Give My Life
Movie · as "Sport" Conly
Robin Hood of El Dorado
Movie · as Wilson
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie · as 1st Deputy (uncredited)
North of Nome
Movie · as Carlson
To Mary - with Love
Movie · as Drunk
The Gay Desperado
Movie · as American Detective
Blackmailer
Movie · as Inspector Killian
Riffraff
Movie · as Belcher
The Gay Deception
Movie · as Bell Captain
Sequoia
Movie · as Bergman
Shadow of Doubt
Movie · as Lt. Sackville
Public Hero Number 1
Movie · as Rufe Parker
Maybe It's Love
Movie · as Expressman (uncredited)
The Daring Young Man
Movie · as Prison Guard
Carnival
Movie · as Policeman
Mississippi
Movie · as Hefty
Calm Yourself
Movie · as Detective Roscoe
The Case of the Curious Bride
Movie · as Fibo Morgan (uncredited)
Wilderness Mail
Movie · as Jules
Midnight Alibi
Movie · as Babe the Butcher
A Very Honorable Guy
Movie · as Butler
Tomorrow's Youth
Movie · as Detective
Take the Stand
Movie · as Denny O'Brien
Among the Missing
Movie · as Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
Queen Christina
Movie · as Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
The Big Race
Movie · as Skipper O'Neal
The Ballad of Paducah Jail
Movie · as Escaped Felon
Charlie Chan's Courage
Movie · as Undetermined Role
The Line-Up
Movie · as Detective Sgt. Doyle
The Sphinx
Movie · as Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
Terror Aboard
Movie · as Boatswain
Tugboat Annie
Movie · as Sam
Saturday's Millions
Movie · as Doc Maloney, Trainer
Day of Reckoning
Movie · as Harry
The Women in His Life
Movie · as Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
Grand Slam
Movie · as Man Who Speaks Final Line of the Film
Hold Your Man
Movie · as Aubrey C. Mitchell (uncredited)
Island of Lost Souls
Movie · as Capt. Donahue
The Big Stampede
Movie · as 'Arizona' Frank Bailey
The Thirteenth Guest
Movie · as Detective Grump
State's Attorney
Movie · as Police Captain Morgan
Men Are Such Fools
Movie · as Stiles
My Pal, the King
Movie · as Red
The Phantom President
Movie · as Sailor (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Jail
Movie · as Butch
Panama Flo
Movie · as Al
The Secret Six
Movie · as Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
Bad Company
Movie · as Paul Hurst
That's My Line
Movie · as Mexican Bandit
Sweepstakes
Movie · as Bartender
The Single Sin
Movie · as Slug
The Secret Witness
Movie · as Officer Brannigan
The Public Defender
Movie · as Doc
Maker of Men
Movie · as Gabby
Kick In
Movie · as Detective Whip Fogarty
Paradise Island
Movie · as Beauty
Swellhead
Movie · as Mugsy
Borrowed Wives
Movie · as Bull Morgan
Hot Curves
Movie · as 'Slug', Baseball Player
The Runaway Bride
Movie · as Sergeant Daly
Officer O'Brien
Movie · as Captain Antrim
Lucky Larkin
Movie · as Pete Brierson
Mountain Justice
Movie · as Lem Harland
Shadow of the Law
Movie · as Pete Shore
The Third Alarm
Movie · as 'Beauty' Johnson
The Racketeer
Movie · as Mehaffy - Policeman
The California Mail
Movie · as Rowdy Ryan
The Lawless Legion
Movie · as Ramirez
Tide of Empire
Movie · as Poppy
Sailor's Holiday
Movie · as Jimmylegs
Oh, Yeah!
Movie · as Railroad-Yard Superintendent
His First Command
Movie · as Sgt. Westbrook
The Rainbow
Movie · as Pat
The Cossacks
Movie · as Sitchi
Lilac Time
Movie · as (uncredited)
The Devil's Saddle
Movie · as 'Swig' Moran
The Red Raiders
Movie · as Sergeant Murphy
The Valley of the Giants
Movie · as Randeau
Outlaw's Paradise
Movie · as McDonald
Buttons
Movie · as Slugger McGlue
Roaring Road
Movie · as Checking Board Tabulator (uncredited)
Blue Streak O'Neil
Movie
The Fighting Ranger
Movie
The Man Who Would Not Die
Movie
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Movie · as Emeralda's Torturer (uncredited)
Lightning Bryce
Movie · as Powder Solvang
Rimrock Jones
Movie · as Ike Bray
Smashing Through
Movie · as Stevens
With Hoops of Steel
Movie
The Railroad Raiders
Movie · as Steve Arnold (as Paul C. Hurst)
The Hazards of Helen
Movie · as Benton - a Foreman
The Further Adventures of Stingaree
Movie · as Howie
A Lass of the Lumberlands
Movie
Whispering Smith
Movie · as Murray Sinclair
Judith of the Cumberlands
Movie · as Blatchley Turrentine
The Diamond Runners
Movie · as Paul - the Brains of the I.D.B.
Medicine Bend
Movie · as Murray Sinclair
The Manager of the B & A
Movie · as Roger Oakley (as Paul C. Hurst)
The Girl Detective
Movie · as Blair / Thompson / Michaels / Snake Henely / Mike Donegal / Bat Dorgan / Kelly / Dalton / Blake
Stingaree
Movie · as Howie - Stingaree's Partner
The Red Signal
Movie · as Chief Dispatcher
The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight
Movie · as A Trainman
The Vivisectionist
Movie · as Bart - Jardine's Servant
The Quicksands
Movie · as Captain Lanning - Osborn's Rival
The Chief of Police
Movie · as Daniels
The Plot at the Railroad Cut
Movie · as Benton, the Foreman
The Cave Men's War
Movie · as Red Axe
The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach
Movie · as Bad Bill - a Desperado