Stuart Erwin
Stuart Erwin was an American actor of stage, film, and television.
Early years
Erwin was born in Squaw Valley, Fresno County, California. He attended Porterville High School and the University of California.
Career
Erwin began acting in college in the 1920s, having first appeared on stage. From there, he acted in stock theater in Los Angeles.
Film career
He broke into films in 1928 in Mother Knows Best. In 1934, he was cast as Joe Palooka in the film Palooka. In 1932, he co-starred with Bing Crosby in the comedy The Big Broadcast, where he played Texas oil tycoon Leslie McWhinney.
In 1936, he was cast in Pigskin Parade, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1940, he played Howie Newsome, the dairy delivery vendor, in the film adaptation of Our Town, based on the Thornton Wilder play.
In Walt Disney's Bambi, Erwin performed the voice of a tree squirrel. Later, Erwin appeared in the Disney films Son of Flubber and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones.
Radio career
In 1946, Erwin starred in Phone Again Finnegan on CBS. He played an apartment house manager in the comedy-drama.
He also played various roles on Theater Guild on the Air, Lux Radio Theatre, The Old Gold Radio Theatre and Cavalcade of America.
Television career
In 1950, Erwin made the transition to television, in which he starred in Trouble with Father, which was retitled The Stu Erwin Show, with his co-star and real-life wife June Collyer. In 1963–1964, he played Otto King on The Greatest Show on Earth.
Erwin guest-starred on Crossroads, Angel, Bonanza, The Donna Reed Show, Straightaway, Gunsmoke and Our Man Higgins.
Erwin made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Clem P. "Sandy" Sandover in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Double-Entry Mind" and Everett Stanton in the 1964 episode "The Case of the Scandalous Sculptor".
Erwin guest-starred on Father Knows Best in the episode titled "Family Contest" in the role of Mr. Hensley and on The Andy Griffith Show, season 1, episode 8, portraying Tom Silby who was presumed dead, but returned to town after a two-year absence.
Personal life
Erwin married actress June Collyer on July 22, 1931, in Yuma, Arizona. Together they had two children, including producer Stuart Erwin Jr..
Death
Erwin died of a heart attack on December 21, 1967, in Beverly Hills, California, at age 64. He was interred at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles.
Recognition
Erwin has a star at 6270 Hollywood Boulevard in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated February 8, 1960.
Partial filmography
Mother Knows Best as BenNew Year's Eve as Landlady's SonSpeakeasy as Cy WilliamsThru Different Eyes as ReporterThe Exalted Flapper as Bimbo MehaffeyDangerous Curves as RotarianThe Sophomore as Radio Broadcast Technician Happy Days as JigThe Cock-Eyed World as BuckleySweetie as Axel BronstrupThe Trespasser as Reporter This Thing Called Love as FredMen Without Women as Radioman JenkinsYoung Eagles as Pudge HigginsParamount on Parade as Marine Dangerous Nan McGrew as Eustace MacyLove Among the Millionaires as Clicker WatsonPlayboy of Paris as Paul MichelOnly Saps Work as OscarAlong Came Youth as AmbroseNo Limit as Ole OlsonDude Ranch as Chester CarrUp Pops the Devil as StrangerThe Magnificent Lie as Elmer GrahamWorking Girls as Pat KellyTwo Kinds of Women as HauserStrangers in Love as Stan KenneyMisleading Lady as BoneyMake Me a Star as Merton GillThe Big Broadcast as Leslie McWhinneyFace in the Sky as LuckyThe Crime of the Century as Dan McKeeHe Learned About Women as Peter Potter Kendall IIUnder the Tonto Rim as 'Tonto' DailyInternational House as Tommy NashHold Your Man as Al SimpsonThe Stranger's Return as Simon BatesBefore Dawn as Dwight WilsonDay of Reckoning as JerryGoing Hollywood as Ernest P. BakerPalooka as Joe PalookaViva Villa! as Jonny SykesBachelor Bait as Mr. William WattsThe Party's Over Chained as John L. 'Johnnie' SmithHave a Heart as Gus AndersonThe Band Plays On as Stuffy WilsonAfter Office Hours as Hank ParrCeiling Zero as Texas ClarkeExclusive Story as Timothy Aloysius HigginsAbsolute Quiet as 'Chubby' RuddWomen Are Trouble as Matt CaseyAll American Chump as Elmer LambPigskin Parade as Amos DoddSlim as StumpyDance Charlie Dance as Andrew 'Andy' TuckerSmall Town Boy as Henry ArmstrongSunday Night at the Trocadero Second Honeymoon as Leo MacTavishI'll Take Romance as 'Pancho' BrownCheckers as Edgar ConnellMr. Boggs Steps Out as Oliver BoggsThree Blind Mice as Mike BrophyPassport Husband as Henry CabotBack Door to Heaven as Jud MasonIt Could Happen to You as Mackinley WinslowHollywood Cavalcade as Pete TinneyThe Honeymoon's Over as Donald ToddOur Town as Howie NewsomeWhen the Daltons Rode as Ben DaltonA Little Bit of Heaven as CottonSandy Gets Her Man as Bill KerryCracked Nuts as Lawrence TrentThe Bride Came C.O.D. as Tommy KeenanThe Adventures of Martin Eden as Joe DawsonDrums of the Congo as Congo JackBlondie for Victory as Pvt. Herschel SmithHe Hired the Boss as Hubert WilkinsThe Great Mike as Jay SpencerPillow to Post as Captain Jack RossKiller Dill as Johnny 'Killer' DillHeaven Only Knows as Sheriff Matt BodineHeading for Heaven as Henry ElkinsDoctor Jim as Dr. James GatesonStrike It Rich as Delbart LaneFather Is a Bachelor as Constable Pudge BarnhamMain Street to Broadway as Stuart Erwin, First Nighter For the Love of Mike as Dr. MillsSon of Flubber as Coach WilsonThe Misadventures of Merlin Jones as Police Captain Loomis