Joseph Crehan


Joseph A. Creaghan was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 300 films between 1916 and 1965, and notably played Ulysses S. Grant nine times between 1939 and 1958, most memorably in Union Pacific and They Died with Their Boots On.

Early life

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mathew Crehan. He attended Calvert Hall College and Kent College of Law but left the latter because of his stronger interest in drama. Early in his career, Crehan worked in light comedy. He was in his late 30s when he began doing character roles.

Career

Crehan's Broadway credits include Twentieth Century, Lilly Turner, Angels Don't Kiss, Those We Love, Sweet Land of Liberty, Merry Andrew, Ringside, and Yosemite. Crehan often played alongside Charles C. Wilson with whom he is sometimes confused.
In 1961, credited as "Joe Crehan", he appeared as "Thomas Boland" in the TV Western series Bat Masterson.

Death

On April 15, 1966, Crehan died of a stroke in Hollywood, California.

Selected filmography

  • Under Two Flags as Rake
  • Stolen Heaven as Henry, Steve's Butler
  • Secrets of a Secretary as Reporter
  • Before Midnight as Police Captain Frank Flynn
  • Beyond the Law as Chief Anderson
  • Among the Missing as Detective O'Malley
  • Against the Law as Captain Elliott
  • The Line-Up as Police Captain Daniel McGrath
  • It Happened One Night as Detective
  • Traveling Saleslady as Murdock
  • Black Fury as Farrell
  • Go into Your Dance as H.P. Jackson
  • Oil for the Lamps of China as Clements
  • Stranded as Johnny Quinn
  • Front Page Woman as Spike Kiley
  • Page Miss Glory as Detective Chief
  • Bright Lights as Post Office Attendant
  • Special Agent as Police Commissioner
  • The Case of the Lucky Legs as Detective Johnson
  • The Payoff as Harvey
  • Frisco Kid as McClanahan
  • Bengal Tiger as Bill Hinsdale
  • Bullets or Ballots as Grand Jury Spokesman
  • Earthworm Tractors as Mr. Henderson
  • Trailin' West as Colonel Douglas
  • Anthony Adverse as Captain Elisha Jorham
  • China Clipper as Jim Horn
  • Cain and Mabel as Tom Reed's Boxing Manager
  • Road Gang as Harry Shields
  • Gold Diggers of 1937 as Chairman
  • Smart Blonde as 'Tiny' Torgenson
  • Talent Scout as A.J. Lambert
  • There Goes My Girl as Sergeant Wood
  • The Go Getter as Karl Stone
  • Kid Galahad as Brady
  • This Is My Affair as Priest
  • The Case of the Stuttering Bishop as Paul Drake
  • Born Reckless as District Attorney
  • The Wrong Road as District Attorney
  • Here's Flash Casey as Blaine
  • Happy Landing as Agent
  • Night Spot as Inspector Wayland
  • Alexander's Ragtime Band as Stage Manager
  • Four's a Crowd as Butler Pierce
  • Billy the Kid Returns as U.S. Marshal Dave Conway
  • Girls on Probation as Todd
  • Gang Bullets as Wallace
  • Star Reporter as Gordon, Newspaper Editor
  • Whispering Enemies as George Harley
  • Society Lawyer as City Editor
  • You Can't Get Away with Murder as Warden
  • Union Pacific as General Ulysses S. Grant
  • Tell No Tales as Chalmers
  • Maisie as Defense Attorney Wilcox
  • Babes in Arms as Mr. Essex
  • Hollywood Cavalcade as Attorney
  • The Roaring Twenties as Mr. Fletcher, the Foreman
  • The Return of Doctor X as Editor
  • Navy Secrets as Captain Daly, Navy Intelligence Officer
  • Music in My Heart as Mark C. Gilman
  • Emergency Squad as H. Tyler Joyce, Editor
  • The Green Hornet as Judge Stanton
  • The House Across the Bay as Federal Man
  • Gaucho Serenade as Edward Martin
  • Brother Orchid as Brother MacEwen
  • Colorado as General Ulysses S. Grant
  • City for Conquest as Doctor
  • South to Karanga as Ridgley
  • The Secret Seven as Police Chief Hobbs
  • Texas Rangers Ride Again as Johnson
  • Scattergood Baines as Keith
  • Andy Hardy's Private Secretary as Peter Dugan
  • Washington Melodrama as Phil Sampson
  • Love Crazy as Judge
  • Nevada City as Mark Benton
  • Manpower as Sweeney
  • Nine Lives Are Not Enough as Yates
  • Texas as Dusty King
  • Three Girls About Town as Labor Leader
  • They Died with Their Boots On as President Ulysses S. Grant
  • The Courtship of Andy Hardy as Peter Dugan
  • Junior Army as Mr. Jeffrey Ferguson
  • Eyes of the Underworld as Assistant Police Chief Kirby
  • Sealed Lips as Chief Charles R. Dugan
  • Gang Busters as Police Chief Martin O'Brien
  • Murder in the Big House as Jim F. Ainslee
  • Larceny, Inc. as Warden
  • Adventures of the Flying Cadets as Colonel George Bolton
  • Mystery Broadcast as Chief Daniels
  • She Has What It Takes as George Clarke
  • Hands Across the Border as Jeff Adams
  • Phantom Lady as Detective
  • The Navy Way as Chaplain Benson
  • The Great Alaskan Mystery as Bill Hudson
  • The Adventures of Mark Twain as Ulysses S. Grant / Riverboat Captain
  • Black Magic as Police Sergeant Matthews
  • Man Alive as Dr. James P. Whitney
  • Dick Tracy as Police Chief Brandon
  • The Shadow Returns as Police Inspector Cardona
  • Deadline at Dawn as Lieutenant Kane
  • Strange Journey as Thompson
  • The Phantom Thief as 'Jumbo' Madigan, Pawnbroker
  • O.S.S. as General Donovan
  • The Big Sleep as Medical Examiner
  • Dangerous Money as Captain Black
  • Dick Tracy vs. Cueball as Chief Brandon
  • The Falcon's Adventure as Inspector Cavanaugh
  • Behind the Mask as Police Inspector Cardonna
  • Monsieur Verdoux as Broker
  • Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome as Chief Brandon
  • Louisiana as Neilson
  • Philo Vance's Gamble as District Attorney Ellis Mason
  • Adventures in Silverado as McHugh
  • The Hunted as Police Captain
  • Night Time in Nevada as Engineer Casey
  • The Countess of Monte Cristo as Joe
  • Street Corner as Dr. James Fenton
  • The Last Bandit as Local Number 44 Engineer
  • Prejudice as J. P. Baker
  • Triple Trouble as Warden Burnside
  • Pride of Maryland as Mr. Herndon
  • Roadblock as Thompson
  • The Family Secret as Bailiff
  • Deadline - U.S.A. as City Editor
  • Crazylegs as Hank Hatch
  • Highway Dragnet as Elderly Border Inspection Officer
  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Juror
  • Judgment at Nuremberg as Courtroom Spectator at verdict