Harry Cording


Hector William "Harry" Cording was an English actor. He is perhaps best remembered for his roles in the films The Black Cat and The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Life and career

Cording was born Hector William Cording on 26 April 1891 in Wellington, Somerset. He was brought up and was educated at Rugby, and he was a member of the British Army in World War I. In 1919, he became steward for a British steamship line whose ships, such as the Vauban and the Calamares, which he had worked on, frequently called at the Port of New York. After a number of trips, he resigned and decided to stay in the United States. He later settled permanently in Los Angeles, where he began a film career. His first role was as a henchman in The Knockout, followed by similar roles over the next few years. Cording appeared in many Hollywood films from the 1920s to the 1950s. With an imposing six-foot height, stocky build, and perhaps due to his uncomfortable resemblance to veteran film bad guy Oskar Homolka, "Harry the Henchman" usually portrayed thugs, villains' henchmen and policemen.
Cording's most notable roles were probably as the villainous Dickon Malbete, Captain of the Guard in Errol Flynn's Adventures of Robin Hood and as Thamal, the hulking henchman to Bela Lugosi's character in 1934's Black Cat. As a contract player at Universal Pictures in the 1940s, he turned up in tiny parts in many of their horror films, such as The Wolf Man.
Having appeared in a bit role in 20th Century-Fox's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone, he went on to appear in supporting and bit parts in seven of the twelve Universal Studios Sherlock Holmes films in which Rathbone starred.
Cording died on 1 September 1954. The cause of death was not documented. His wife was Margaret Cording, née Fiero,, a native of Michigan; their daughter, Margaret Rose, was born on 7 November 1939. The Cordings lived at 4104 Farmdale Avenue, North Hollywood. Harry Cording was an active member of the Loyal Order of Moose fraternity.
Cording is buried in Glen Haven Memorial Park in Sylmar, California.

Filmography

The Shock Punch - Construction Site Security Guard The Knockout - Steve McKennaBlack Jack - HaskinsTurkish Delight - Daredevil's Reward - Second HeavyThe Last Command - Revolutionist Four Sons - Feel My Pulse - Rum-Running Boatman The Patriot - StefanSins of the Fathers - The HijackerThe Rescue - BelarabThe Squall - PeterThe Isle of Lost Ships - GallagherChristina - Dick TorpeCaptain of the Guard - Le BruinBride of the Regiment - Sgt. DostalWomen Everywhere - Legionnaire in Cafe Rough Romance - Chick CarsonNew Moon - Kirghiz Soldier at Fort Darvaz The Right of Way - Rouge's Henchman The Conquering Horde - Butch DaggettI Like Your Nerve - San Arango Officer Honor of the Family - KouskiThe Sea Ghost - Sailor Who Knocks Out Capt. Winter Over the Hill - Townsman Mata Hari - Ivan Night Beat - Chill ScarpelliTexas Cyclone - Jake FarwellThe World and the Flesh - IvanovitchForgotten Commandments - Officer Merrily We Go to Hell - Fred - Bartender My Pal, the King - Palace Guard Fighting for Justice - Henchman The Cabin in the Cotton - Ross Clinton The Face on the Barroom Floor - Steve the Doorman Scarlet Dawn - Revolutionary Secrets of the French Police - Man Reading Newspaper File 113 - MicheleTonight Is Ours - Assassin #1 The Intruder - CramerSweepings - Customer Trick for Trick - Dredger The Girl in 419 - Henchman Driver The Man Who Dared - Coal Mine Boss Captured! - First OrderlyNarcotic - Dr. William G. DavisTo the Last Man - Colby Man Fred Roman Scandals - Valerius' Soldier The House of Rothschild - Man in 1780 Sequence Viva Villa! - Majordomo The Black Cat - ThamalThe Count of Monte Cristo - Jailer Treasure Island - Henry - Pirate Great Expectations - OrlickWe Live Again - Jailer Strange Wives - TribesmanThe Man Who Reclaimed His Head - French Mechanic The Lives of a Bengal Lancer - Sentry Charlie Chan in Paris - Gendarme Arresting Yvette The Mystery of Edwin Drood - Turke - Opium Addict Naughty Marietta - Pirate Les Misérables - Beam Warder Black Fury - Louie - a Miner Lady Tubbs - Polack The Crusades - Amir Anna Karenina - Officer at Banquet Ladies Love Danger - Stagehand Peter Ibbetson - Guard Mutiny on the Bounty - Soldier Ship Cafe - Stoker Captain Blood - KentRiffraff - Joe - Agitator Road Gang - Sam DawsonSutter's Gold - Seaman Lars The Country Doctor - Logger The White Angel - Hospital Storekeeper Suzy - Madame Eyrelle's Chauffeur The Last of the Mohicans - Trapper The Magnificent Brute - Customer Demetrios Daniel Boone - Joe BurchYou Only Live Once - Guard Maid of Salem - Guard Sea Devils - Sailor The Soldier and the Lady - Peasant The Prince and the Pauper - Second GuardThe Road Back - Attendant Fit for a King - Thug Conquest - Cossack The Adventures of Marco Polo - Kaidu Officer Crime School - Jim - the Second Guard The Adventures of Robin Hood - Dickon MalbeteMarie Antoinette - Executioner Painted Desert - Henchman BurkeValley of the Giants - GreerHeart of the North - Miner Leading Mob A Christmas Carol - Waiter Stand Up and Fight - Bullet Line Blacksmith Devil's Island - Guard Accepting Bribe Son of Frankenstein - Bearded Gendarme Arizona Legion - Whiskey JoeThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Man Stealing Watermelon