John Doucette
John Arthur Doucette was an American character actor who performed in more than 280 film and television productions between 1941 and 1987. A man of stocky build who possessed a deep, rich voice, he proved equally adept at portraying characters in Shakespearean plays, Westerns, and modern crime dramas. He is perhaps best remembered, however, for his villainous roles as a movie and television "tough guy".
Early years
John Doucette was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, the eldest of three children of Nellie S. and Arthur J. Doucette. During his childhood, his family moved frequently, as his father sought work during the Great Depression. He completed grammar school in Haverhill, Massachusetts; graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, California; and later, in April 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Europe as an infantry rifleman during World War II. With regard to Doucette's early experience and training as an actor, he began to perform on stage at the age of 15 in plays at his high school. He subsequently performed at the Pasadena Playhouse before being cast in Hollywood films in the early 1940s.
Film career
Doucette's film debut, in an uncredited role as a reporter, was in Footsteps in the Dark in 1941. He appeared uncredited in at least two other movies before his budding film career was interrupted by his military service during World War II. Following his discharge, he resumed acting in Hollywood, where he soon began to receive more substantial, credited roles in releases by smaller production companies, such as The Burning Cross and The Road to the Big House for Somerset Pictures Corporation in 1947. Doucette continued to progress in obtaining dramatic roles for larger studios, including a small part as an architect in The Fountainhead in 1949. His other notable performances include bit parts in High Noon, The Robe, Sierra, and the mega-budget Cleopatra. Doucette also appeared in the John Wayne films The Sea Chase, The Sons of Katie Elder, True Grit, and Big Jake as well as portraying Gen. Lucian Truscott in the 1970 epic [Patton (film)|Patton].
Television
Many baby boomers first saw Doucette as the bad guy on television in several episodes of The Lone Ranger. Performing as an outlaw proved to be a natural role for him, considering his rough looks, commanding presence, and skill with a gun. He was considered by many to be among the fastest draws in Hollywood. His roles, however, went well beyond that stereotype. He appeared on a variety of television shows, including The Time Tunnel, Racket Squad, The Range Rider, Wagon Train, The Roy Rogers Show, The Fugitive, The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Cisco Kid, City Detective, Annie Oakley, The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial, My Friend Flicka, Sky King, The Californians, Broken Arrow, The People's Choice, Sheriff of Cochise, Bat Masterson,
Behind Closed Doors, The Texan, Lawman, The Everglades, Mackenzie's Raiders, Bonanza, The Wild Wild West, The Virginian, Have Gun - Will Travel, Kung Fu, The Rat Patrol, Hogan's Heroes, Adventures of Superman, Sea Hunt, Science Fiction Theatre, ''Walt Disney Presents, and Tales of Wells Fargo.
Doucette portrayed a police lieutenant, Tom Gregory, on the television version of Big Town. Between 1959 and 1961, he also played Lieutenant Weston on the series Lock-Up, Aaron William Andrews in the comedy The Partners, and bounty hunter Lou Gore in the episode "Dead Aim" on the series Colt.45
Doucette was cast on television as the Apache Chief Geronimo for the 1958 episode "Geronimo" on the Western series Tombstone Territory. He was also cast in 1961 as Captain Cardiff in The Americans, a 17-episode NBC series, starring Darryl Hickman, about how the American Civil War divided families. In 1963 he played "Michael McGoo", a proud & lovable storytelling Irish sailor in the S6E26 edition of Wagon Train''.
Doucette in 1948 married opera singer Katherine Sambles, with whom he had five daughters and three sons. Katherine died in 1991; and three years later, on August 16, 1994, John died of cancer at age 73 at his home in Banning, California. His mausoleum is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Selected filmography
Films
Footsteps in the Dark as Reporter King of the Mounties as Boat Henchman Two Tickets to London as Larsen The Burning Cross as Toby MasonRide the Pink Horse as Thug The Foxes of Harrow as Crew Member Road to the Big House as DannyI Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes as PrisonerTrain to Alcatraz as McHenry Canon City as George BauerStation West as BartenderIn This Corner as Dunkle Rogues' Regiment as Foreign Legion recruit found to have Nazi tattoo The Fighting O'Flynn as JackCriss Cross as WaltOutpost in Morocco as Card-playing Soldier The Crooked Way as Sgt. BarrettRed Stallion in the Rockies as Ivan Batman and Robin as Henchman Lust for Gold as Man in Barber Shop The Fountainhead as Gus Webb Reign of Terror as Pierre Blanchard Bandits of El Dorado as Henchman Tucker And Baby Makes Three as Husband The Pilgrimage Play as Lord ZadokSinging Guns as MinerThe Vicious Years as GiorgioJohnny One-Eye as Police Detective Customs Agent as Hank Return of the Frontiersman as EvansLove That Brute as Gangster in Big Ed's Cellar Sierra as Jed CoulterWinchester '73 as Roan Daley The Iroquois Trail as Sam GirtyBroken Arrow as Mule Driver Convicted as Convict Tex Border Treasure as Bat The Fuller Brush Girl as Police Radio Dispatcher The Breaking Point as Gotch Goten Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard as Larry – a thugThe Flying Missile as Air Base Civilian Security Officer Sierra Passage as Sutter's Creek Poker Player Up Front as Walsh The Lemon Drop Kid as Muscleman Thunder in God's Country as Slack BreedonOnly the Valiant as Sergeant Tales of Robin Hood as WilfredCavalry Scout as VarneyThe Texas Rangers as Butch Cassidy Mask of the Avenger as Sentry Strangers on a Train as Det. Hammond Yukon Manhunt as Charles BensonCorky of Gasoline Alley as 'Rocky' Bobbie The Lady Pays Off as Cab DriverFixed Bayonets! as Colonel – 18th Infantry Rose of Cimarron as DrunkPhone Call from a Stranger as Arthur The Treasure of Lost Canyon as GyppoRancho Notorious as Whitey Bugles in the Afternoon as Bill Deadline - U.S.A. as Hal Carbine Williams as Gavrey – Prisoner at chain-gang camp High Noon as Trumbull The Pride of St. Louis as Benny The San Francisco Story as Slade Desert Pursuit as KafanGlory Alley as Thug in Alley Back at the Front as Military Police Sergeant in bar Toughest Man in Arizona as Sgt. Wayne Woman in the Dark as 'Dutch' BenderThe Silver Whip as Josh – Red Rock citizen Perils of the Jungle as GormanAmbush at Tomahawk Gap as Burt – Twin Forks bartender Julius Caesar – as Carpenter, citizen of RomeGoldtown Ghost Riders as Bailey War Paint as Trooper CharnofskyCity of Bad Men as Cinch The Robe as Ship's Mate The Big Heat as Mark Reiner All the Brothers Were Valiant as George Flight to Tangier as TireraThe Wild One as Sage Valley race steward Beachhead as Maj. ScottCasanova's Big Night as Mounted Guard Executive Suite as Detective River of No Return as Man in Saloon The Forty-Niners as Ernie WalkerThe Far Country as Miner who spills gold dust Return from the Sea as JimmyThe Last Time I Saw Paris as CampbellCry Vengeance as Red MillerDestry as CowhandThere's [No Business Like Show Business (film)|There's No Business Like Show Business] as Stage Manager Prince of Players as Man Who Starts Clapping New York Confidential as ShortyAn Annapolis Story as Boxing CoachThe Sea Chase as Bos'n House of Bamboo as Skipper Seven [Cities of Gold (film)|Seven Cities of Gold] as Juan CoronelThe Bottom of the Bottle as Patrolman Red Sundown as Billy—Wagon Guard Ghost Town as Doc ClawsonQuincannon, Frontier Scout as Sgt. CalvinThe Maverick Queen as LoudmouthThe Fastest Gun Alive as Ben BuddyDakota Incident as Rick LargoThunder Over Arizona as Deputy RandThe Burning Hills as Bartender The True Story of Jesse James as Sheriff HillstromLast of the Badmen as JohnsonThe Big Land as Hagan – Livery Stableman The Phantom Stagecoach as Harry FarrowThe Lawless Eighties as Art 'Pig' CorbinThe Lonely Man as Sundown WhippleThe Crooked Circle as Larry EllisBombers B-52 as Nielson Sabu and the Magic Ring as Kimal Kiss Them for Me as Shore Patrol Lieutenant Peyton Place as Army Sergeant Gunfire at Indian Gap as LoderToo Much, Too Soon as Crowley Gang War as Maxie MeadowsThe Hunters as Chief Master Sergeant A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed as Grayson Here Come the Jets as RandallCleopatra as Achillas7 Faces of Dr. Lao as LucasThe Sons of Katie Elder as Hyselman Paradise, Hawaiian Style as Mr. BeldenNevada Smith as Uncle Ben McCanlesWinchester 73 as Jake StarretThe Fastest Guitar Alive as MaxAlexander the Great as KleitosJourney to Shiloh as Gen. Braxton BraggTrue Grit as SheriffPatton as Major General Lucian K. TruscottOne More Train to Rob as Sheriff MonteBig Jake as Buck Duggan One Little Indian as Sgt. WallerThe Last of the Mohicans as Chingachgook Fighting Mad as Jeff HunterCharge of the Model T's as Captain MundyThe Time Machine as Sheriff FinleyEvery Girl Should Have One as PolicemanOff the Mark as Jenell's men
Television
The Lone Ranger – episode – The Masked Rider – Dirk Nelson The Lone Ranger – episode – Gold Fever – Ox Martin The Lone Ranger – episode – Thieves' Money – Pierre Dumont The Lone Ranger – episode – Sheriff at Gunstock – Rocky Hanford The Lone Ranger – episode – The Hooded Men – Flack, Gang Leader Dick Tracy – episode – The Case of the Dangerous Dollars Racket Squad – episode – Accidentally on Purpose – Danny Dangerous Assignment – episode – The Perfect Alibi – Ratko The Roy Rogers Show – episode – Perils From the Past Adventures of Superman – episode – The Birthday Letter – Slugger The Lone Ranger – episode – Bandits in Uniform – Andrew Gage The Lone Ranger – episode – Rendezvous at Whipsaw – Henchman Kelso The Lone Ranger – episode – The Fugitive – Blaze Adventures of Superman – episode – Lady in Black – Joe The Lone Ranger – episode – Counterfeit Redskins – Beau Slate Adventures of Superman – episode – Clark Kent, Outlaw – Foster The Lone Ranger – episode – Trapped – Deputy Sawyer The Lone Ranger – episode – The School Story – Lew Cates Cheyenne – episode – Mountain Fortress – Sgt. Cap Daniels Science Fiction Theatre – episode – Barrier of Silence – Nielsen Science Fiction Theatre – episode – Target Hurricane – Col. Stewart Treasury Men in Action – episode – The Case of the Black Sheep – Marty Hinton The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – episode – Wichita Is Civilized – Orry Taylor Cheyenne – episode – Town of Fear – Bill Jenkins Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color – episode – The Saga of Andy Burnett: Andy's Initiation – Mountain man The True Story of Jesse James – Sheriff Hillstrom Tales of Wells Fargo – episode – Alder Gulch – Boone Helm Broken Arrow – episode – The Broken Wire – Bobo Conway Gunsmoke – episode – Liar from Blackhawk – Al Janes Richard Diamond, Private Detective – episode – The Torch Carriers – CorkyTombstone Territory As Geronimo in a laughable fiction. Plays pool in Tombstone and is chased by the town marshall, a deputy and 1 US Army man, a Lt. In this silliness Geronimo has a white squaw played by Angie Dickinson Zorro – episode – Slaves of the Eagle – Antonio Azuela The Rough Riders – episode – The Murderous Sutton Gang – Wes Sutton Have Gun - Will Travel – episode – The O'Hare Story – Joe Marsh The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – episode – Little Brother – Smiley Dunlap Broken Arrow – episode – War Trail – Cagle The Thin Man – episode – Unlucky Lucky Number – Hank Official Detective "The Policeman's Bullet" – Longo Sardinia Steve Canyon – – Season 1/Episode 4: "Project Heartbeat" U.S. Marshal – episode – Inside Job Bat Masterson – episode – Buffalo Kill – Luke Simes Have Gun - Will Travel – episode – Lady on the Stagecoach – Ed Rance Lock Up – Lt. John Weston – 78 episodes Bat Masterson – episode – A Grave Situation – Lemuel Carstairs Wagon Train – episode – The Jim Bridger Story – Gen. Jameson Wagon Train – episode – The Orly French Story – Marshal Jason Hartman Bonanza – Episode: "Knight Errant" – Walter PrescottLaramie – episode – Naked Steel – Sheriff Tate Wagon Train – episode – The Fort Pierce Story – Col. Wayne Lathrop Wagon Train – episode – The Michael McGoo Story – Michael McGoo The Lieutenant – episode – A Million Miles From Clary – GySgt Clintock Wagon Train – episode – Little Girl Lost – Boone Gilla Wagon Train – episode – The Ben Engel Story – Ben Engel Wagon Train – episode – The Isaiah Quickfox Story – Burt Enders Wagon Train – episode – The Chottsie Gubenheimer Story – Chandler Ames The Virginian – episode – The Awakening – Calder The Virginian – episode – Six Graves at Cripple Creek – Sheriff Goodbody Bonanza – Episode: "Devil on Her Shoulder" – Reverend Evan MorganRat Patrol – Episode: "The Deadly Double Raid" - Joe Marston Hogan's Heroes – episode – Some of Their Planes Are Missing – Colonel Richard Leman The Virginian – episode – Requiem for a Country Doctor – Lumberfield The Wild Wild West - episode - The Night of The Surreal McCoy Bonanza – Episode: "The Price of Salt" – Sid TalbottThe Big Valley – episode – Devil's Masquerade Get Smart – episodes -The King Lives?, & To Sire, with Love: Parts 1 & 2 – Colonel Von Klaus Here's Lucy – episode – Lucy and Mannix Are Held Hostage – Vernon The Partners – 20 episodes – Capt. Aaron William Andrews Mannix – episode – Desert Run – Ward Gillis Kung Fu – episode – The Soul Is the Warrior – Ed Rankin Tenafly – episode – Man Running – Wilson Harry O – episode – Mortal Sin – Bishop Monaghan Kolchak: The Night Stalker – episode – Vampire – Officer Sample Ironside – episode – Mind for Murder – Ralph Hanson Greatest Heroes of the Bible – episode – Joshua and the Battle of Jericho – Reuben How the West Was Won – episode – The Slavers – Sheriff Boland