Victor Jory

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Victor Jory
Jory in 1962
Born(1902-11-23)November 23, 1902
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada
DiedFebruary 12, 1982(1982-02-12) (aged 79)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1930–1980
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1928; died 1978)​
Children2

Victor Jory (November 23, 1902 – February 12, 1982) was a Canadian-American actor of stage, film, and television.[1] He initially played romantic leads, but later was mostly cast in villainous or sinister roles, such as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) and carpetbagger Jonas Wilkerson in Gone with the Wind (1939). From 1959 to 1961, he had a lead role in the 78-episode television police drama Manhunt. He also recorded numerous stories for Peter Pan Records and was a guest star in dozens of television series as well as a supporting player in dozens of theatrical films, occasionally appearing as the leading man.

Biography[edit]

Born in Dawson City, Yukon, to American parents, he was the boxing and wrestling champion of the U.S. Coast Guard during his military service, and he kept his burly physique.[2] He graduated from the Martha Oatman School of the Theater in Los Angeles.[3]

Jory toured with theatre troupes and appeared on Broadway, before making his Hollywood debut in 1930. He initially played romantic leads, but later was mostly cast as the villain, probably due to his distinctive, seemingly coal-black eyes that might be perceived as 'threatening'.[4] He made over 150 films and dozens of TV episodes, as well as writing two plays. His long career in radio included starring in the series Dangerously Yours.[5]

Victor Jory as Oberon in an outtake from the film A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)

He is remembered for his roles as malevolent Injun Joe in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Jonas Wilkerson, the opportunistic overseer of the slaves at Tara in Gone with the Wind,[2] and as Lamont Cranston, or 'The Shadow', in the 1940 serial film The Shadow.[6][7] He also portrayed Oberon in Max Reinhardt's film adaptation of Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)[2] starring James Cagney, Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland.

He co-starred in seven Hopalong Cassidy films between 1941 and 1943, usually cast in the role of a villain with the exception of his role as a broad-shouldered lumberjack in the film Riders of the Timberline (1941).

He starred in the radio series Dangerously Yours beginning in mid-1944. The series was retitled Matinee Theater in October 1944 and ran through April 1945. Each episode was a dramatic reworking of famous literary works. The first episode dated July 2, 1944, was "The Highwayman", a dramatic interpretation of the Alfred Noyes poem.

In 1946, he narrated "Tubby the Tuba" for children, which was inducted in 2005 in the National Recording Registry and also introduces the orchestra to young listeners.[8] The disc sold over one million copies.[9] The story tells of a tuba who does not fit in. He also narrated "Bumpo the Ballerina", whose title character is an elephant.

From 1959 to 1961, he appeared with Patrick McVey in the 78-episode syndicated television police drama Manhunt. Jory played the lead role of Detective Lieutenant Howard Finucane. McVey was cast as police reporter Ben Andrews.[10]

In 1957, Jory was cast in the role of the Southern Baptist pastor George Washington Truett of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, in the episode "Lone Star Preacher" of the syndicated religion anthology series Crossroads.[11] In 1960 he portrayed the aging, malevolent husband of Anna Magnani’s character in The Fugitive Kind, adapted from a play by Tennessee Williams.

In 1962, he was cast as Deacon Lee in the two-part episode "Policemen Die Alone" of Leslie Nielsen's ABC crime drama The New Breed. That same year, Jory guest-starred as Mike Dahlback in the episode "Ride to a Fall" in the NBC modern Western series Empire, which featured Richard Egan as rancher Jim Redigo. He also played Helen Keller's father in The Miracle Worker,[2] for which his co-stars Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke won Academy Awards.

In 1964, along with actresses Coleen Gray and Susan Seaforth, Jory testified before the United States Congress as part of "Project Prayer", arguing in favor of an amendment to the United States Constitution to restore school prayer, which the United States Supreme Court struck down in two decisions in 1962 and 1963.[12]

Jory was on the faculty of the University of Utah, teaching acting in the Department of Theater. He endowed a scholarship for junior/senior students in the department known as the Victor Jory Scholarship, which continues to the current day.[13]

The High Chaparral television episode "The Peacemaker" in 1968 featured Jory as a peace envoy attempting to negotiate a treaty with Apache Native American chief Cochise.

In the private-eye series Mannix, which starred Mike Connors as the title character, Jory played the Armenian-American detective's widowed father, Stefan Mannix—a grape farmer in "Summer Grove", a fictitious town in California's Central Valley near Fresno (which continues to have a large Armenian population). He appeared in two episodes,"Return to Summer Grove" (1969) and "Wine from These Grapes" (1971).[14][15][16]

In 1977, near the end of his career, Jory guest starred as an aging Federal Bureau of Investigation agent in James Garner's The Rockford Files episode "The Attractive Nuisance".[17]

Jory died on February 12, 1982, at the age of 79, from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California.[1]

Jory's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6605 Hollywood Blvd

For his contribution to the motion-picture industry, Victor Jory was honored in 1960 with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6605 Hollywood Blvd.[18]

Family[edit]

Jory married actress Jean Inness in 1929. They had two children, Jon and Jean. Jon Jory headed the Actors Theater of Louisville, Kentucky, for 31 years, which he helped to build into one of America's most respected regional theater companies.[19] He left the job in 2000 to become professor of drama at the University of Washington in Seattle.[20] His daughter Jean Jory Anderson was a public-relations director of the theater department at Utah State University in Logan.[21]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1930 Renegades Officer Belonge Uncredited
1932 The Pride of the Legion Jerry Brewster
1932 Handle with Care 1st Public Enemy
1933 Second Hand Wife Lotzi Vajda
1933 State Fair Hoop Toss Barker
1933 Sailor's Luck Baron Portola - aka Darrow
1933 Infernal Machine Alfred Doreen
1933 Trick for Trick La Tour
1933 I Loved You Wednesday Randall Williams
1933 The Devil's in Love Dr. Andre Morand / Paul Vernay
1933 My Woman John Bradley
1933 Smoky Clint Peters
1934 I Believed in You Jim Crowl
1934 Murder in Trinidad Howard Sutter
1934 He Was Her Man Nick Gardella
1934 Madame Du Barry Duc Armand d'Aiguillon
1934 Pursued Beauregard
1934 Mills of the Gods Jim Devlin
1934 White Lies Terry Condon
1935 Party Wire Matthew Putnam
1935 Streamline Express Jimmy Hart
1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream Oberon - King of the Fairies
1935 Escape from Devil's Island Dario
1935 Too Tough to Kill John O'Hara
1936 Hell-Ship Morgan Jim Allen
1936 The King Steps Out Captain Palfi
1936 Meet Nero Wolfe Claude Roberts
1936 Rangle River Dick Drake
1937 Bulldog Drummond at Bay Gregoroff
1937 Glamorous Night Baron Lyadeff
1937 First Lady Gordon Keane
1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Injun Joe
1939 Blackwell's Island Commissioner Thomas MacNair
1939 Wings of the Navy Lieutenant Parsons
1939 Dodge City Yancey
1939 Women in the Wind Doc
1939 Man of Conquest William B. Travis
1939 Susannah of the Mounties Wolf Pelt
1939 Each Dawn I Die W. J. Grayce
1939 I Stole a Million Patian
1939 Call a Messenger Ed Hogan
1939 Gone with the Wind Jonas Wilkerson - Field Overseer
1940 The Shadow Lamont Cranston / The Shadow
1940 Knights of the Range Malcolm Lascalles
1940 The Light of Western Stars Gene Stewart
1940 The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady Clay Beaudine
1940 River's End Norman Talbot
1940 Girl from Havana Tex Moore
1940 Cherokee Strip Coy Barrett Alternative title: The Indian Nation
1940 The Green Archer Spike Holland
1940 Give Us Wings Mr. Arnold Carter
1940 Lady with Red Hair Mr. Clifton
1941 Border Vigilantes Henry Logan
1941 Hoola Boola Narrator Voice, Short
1941 Bad Men of Missouri William Merrick
1941 Wide Open Town Steve Fraser
1941 Charlie Chan in Rio Marana / Alfredo Cardozo
1941 The Gay Knighties Narrator Voice, Short
1941 Riders of the Timberline Baptiste Deschamp
1941 The Stork Pays Off Deak Foster
1941 Secrets of the Lone Wolf Dapper Dan Streever
1942 Shut My Big Mouth Buckskin Bill
1942 Jasper and the Watermelons Voice, Short
1942 Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die Ike Clanton
1942 Tulips Shall Grow Narrator Voice, Short
1943 Power of the Press Oscar Trent
1943 Hoppy Serves a Writ Tom Jordan
1943 Buckskin Frontier Champ Clanton
1943 The Leather Burners Dan Slack
1943 Colt Comrades Jeb Hardin
1943 The Kansan Jeff Barat
1943 Bar 20 Mark Jackson
1943 The Unknown Guest Charles 'Chuck' Williams
1944 Jasper's Paradise Voice, Short
1945 Hot Lips Jasper Voice, Short
1945 Jasper Tell Voice, Short
1947 Shoe Shine Jasper Voice, Short
1947 Tubby the Tuba Narrator Short
1948 The Loves of Carmen García
1948 The Gallant Blade Marshal of France Mordore
1949 A Woman's Secret Brook Matthews
1949 South of St. Louis Luke Cottrell
1949 Canadian Pacific Dirk Rourke
1949 Fighting Man of the Plains Dave Oldham
1950 The Capture Father Gomez
1950 The Cariboo Trail Frank Walsh
1951 The Highwayman Lord Douglas
1951 Cave of Outlaws Ben Cross
1952 Flaming Feather Lucky Lee / The Sidewinder
1952 Son of Ali Baba Caliph
1952 Toughest Man in Arizona Frank Girard
1953 The Man from the Alamo Jess Wade
1953 Cat-Women of the Moon Kip Reissner
1954 Valley of the Kings Tuareg Chief
1954 Sabaka Ashok
1956 Manfish 'Professor' Walter Fenton
1956 Blackjack Ketchum, Desperado Jared Tetlow
1956 Death of a Scoundrel Leonard Wilson
1957 The Man Who Turned to Stone Dr. Murdock
1957 The Last Stagecoach West Rand McCord
1958 Sierra Baron Closing narrator Uncredited
1960 The Fugitive Kind Jabe M. Torrance
1961 Operation Glen Canyon Narrator Documentary
1962 The Miracle Worker Captain Arthur Keller
1964 Cheyenne Autumn Tall Tree
1968 Jigsaw Edward Arkroyd
1969 Mackenna's Gold The Narrator
1969 A Time for Dying Judge Roy Bean
1970 Trail of the Hunter Himself Documentary
1970 Flap Wounded Bear Mr. Smith (Attorney at Law) Alternative title: The Last Warrior
1973 Frasier, the Sensuous Lion Frasier's Voice Voice
1973 Papillon Indian Chief
1975 The Boy Who Talks to Whales
1977 Mission to Glory: A True Story Father Zaya
1980 The Mountain Men Iron Belly (final film role)
1987 The Puppetoon Movie Voice

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1950 The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre Publisher Episode: "Oropalo"
1950 The Philco Television Playhouse Episode: "The Second Oldest Profession"
1950 Armstrong Circle Theatre Episode: "The First Formal"
1950 Sure as Fate Episode: "Child's Play"
1951 The Bigelow Theatre College Professor Episode: "The Sum of Seven"
1952 Tales of Tomorrow Dr. Alden / Dr. Kramer 2 episodes
1952 Studio One Dr. Kane / Interrogator / Gangster 3 episodes
1952–1953 Broadway Television Theatre Manningham 2 episodes
1953 Medallion Theatre Jean Valjean Episode: "The Bishop's Candlesticks"
1953–1956 Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Ferdie Shiff / Andrew Duquette 3 episodes
1954 Moby Dick Captain Ahab Television film
1954 General Electric Theater Andrew Perry Episode: "Exit for Margo"
1954 Pond's Theater Merlin Episode: "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
1955 Producers' Showcase Aristides Argamonte Episode: "Yellow Jack"
1955 Warner Bros. Presents Dr. Tower Episode: "King's Row"
1955–1956 Kings Row Dr. Tower
1955–1957 Climax! John Coulter / Sam Bellows / Robert 3 episodes
1956 TV Reader's Digest Antonio Rosas / Movie Producer Stanley 2 episodes
1956 Science Fiction Theatre Detective Lieutenant William Kiel Episode: "The Flicker"
1956 Telephone Time Stypulkowski Episode: "I Am Not Alone"
1956 The Alcoa Hour D'Alcala Episode: "Key Largo"
1956–1957 Omnibus Captain Kidd 2 episodes
1956–1957 Kraft Television Theatre Joe Carpenter / Frankie Sorrano / Rancher / Everett 6 episodes
1956–1957 Matinee Theatre Edward Hicks / Molara 4 episodes
1956–1959 Playhouse 90 George Bavister / Himself - Host / Captain Hume / Reverend Mr. Powell / Rear Admiral Batt 5 episodes
1957 Crossroads Reverend George Truett Episode: "Lone Star Preacher"
1957 The 20th Century Fox Hour Major Kenniston Episode: "The Still Trumpet"
1957 Ford Television Theatre Harry Bond Episode: "Moment of Decision"
1958 Studio 57 Jeweler Episode: "The Queen's Bracelet"
1958 Johnny Belinda Black McDonald TV movie
1958 Target Episode: "Counterfeit Coin"
1958 Pursuit Cop Episode: "The Silent Night"
1959 Wanted Dead or Alive Sam McGarrett Episode: "The Legend"
1959 The United States Steel Hour Fernand Episode: "Night of Betrayal"
1959–1961 Manhunt Police Lieutenant Howard Finucane / Detective Lieutenant Howard Finucane 78 episodes
1959–1962 Rawhide Hosea Brewer / Jess Hode 2 episodes
1962 Dr. Kildare Dr. Oscar Whalen Episode: "Oh, My Daughter"
1962 The New Breed Deacon Lee 2 episodes
1962 Insight Episode: "IOU, My Brother"
1962 The Untouchables Arnold Stegler Episode: "Element of Danger"
1962 87th Precinct Mike Power Episode: "The Last Stop"
1962 Empire Mike Dahlback Episode: "Ride to a Fall"
1963 Wide Country Johnny Prewitt Episode: "Step Over the Sky"
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Detective Paul Reardon Season 1 Episode 32: "Death of a Cop"
1963 Temple Houston Claude Boley Episode: "The Twisted Rope"
1964 The Great Adventure Andrew Jackson Episode: "The Testing of Sam Houston"
1964 Suspense Sheriff Episode: "I, Bradford Charles"
1964 Burke's Law Jim Clover Episode: "Who Killed Lenore Wingfield?"
1964 Profiles in Courage Charles Carlin Episode: "Oscar W. Underwood"
1964 The Farmer's Daughter Sultan Episode: "Big Sultan, Little Sultan"
1964–1969 The Virginian Luke Nichols / Jim Kohler / Tom Brant / Carl Hendricks 5 episodes
1965 Gunsmoke Chief Joseph Episode: "Chief Joseph"
1965 Kraft Suspense Theatre Conrad Easter Episode: "That Time in Havana"
1965 Who Has Seen the Wind? Peraltor TV movie
1966 Bonanza Charles Ludlow Episode: "Ride the Wind: Part 1"
1966 Hazel Mr. Woods Episode: "How to Find Work Without Really Trying"
1966 I Spy Rafael Ortiz Episode: "Return to Glory"
1966 The Loner Old Man Ridley Episode: "The Burden of the Badge"
1966 The Legend of Jesse James Judge Parker Episode: "Things Don't Just Happen"
1966 F Troop Chief Mean Buffalo Episode: "Indian Fever"
1966 The Green Hornet Charles Delaclaire Episode: "The Frog Is a Deadly Weapon"
1966 Iron Horse Captain Anderson Episode: "The Pride of the Bottom of the Barrel"
1967 The Road West Collier Episode: "Beyond the Hill"
1967 The Time Tunnel Captain Beal Episode: "Pirates of Deadman's Island"
1967 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Dr. Turner Episode: "Fires of Death"
1967 Ironside Wally Stowe Episode: "The Past Is Prologue"
1968 The High Chaparral Mr. Kelly Episode: "The Peacemaker"
1968 The Name of the Game Victor Foss Episode: "Witness"
1969–1971 Mannix Stefan Mannix 2 episodes
1971 Longstreet Fred Hornbeck Episode: "So, Who's Fred Hornbeck?"
1972 Banacek Paul Andros Episode: "No Sign of the Cross"
1973 Circle of Fear Old Man Episode: "The Phantom of Herald Square"
1974 Nakia Ben Redearth 3 episodes
1974 Kung Fu Fred Episode: "Cry of the Night Beast"
1974 McCloud Joseph Rhigas Episode: "The Concrete Jungle Caper"
1974 Kolchak: The Night Stalker Charles Rolling Thunder Episode: "Bad Medicine"
1976 Perilous Voyage Dr. Henry Merrill TV movie
1977 Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected Leon Davidian Episode: "The Mask of Adonis"
1977 Alice Billy 'The Scam' Williams Episode: "The Indian Taker"
1978 The Rockford Files Eddie LaSalle Episode: "The Attractive Nuisance"
1978 Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell Shaman TV movie
1978–1979 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Narrator / Horaz 15 episodes
1979 Grandpa Goes to Washington Meyer Brockman Episode: "The Union Boys"
1980 Young Maverick Pony That Waits Episode: "Makin' Tracks"
1980 Power Hillman TV movie

Radio appearances[edit]

Year Program Episode/source
1953 Grand Central Station Lost Year (with daughter Jean)[22]
1959 Suspense Death Notice

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Jones, Jack (February 13, 1982). "Victor Jory - Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d "VICTOR JORY, ACTOR, 79, DEAD; OFTEN PLAYED VILLIAN [sic] IN FILMS". The New York Times. February 13, 1982. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  3. ^ "Oatman School offers new class". Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. July 15, 1928. p. 45. Retrieved June 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "AMERICAN ACTOR FOR AUSTRALIAN FILM." The Sydney Morning Herald 2 Jun 1936: 24 Supplement: Women's Supplement accessed December 26, 2011
  5. ^ The Definitive Dangerously Yours Radio Log
  6. ^ Gates, Michael (January 27, 2017). "The jury is still out on Victor Jory". Yukon News. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  7. ^ Shimeld, Thomas J. (2003). Walter B. Gibson and The Shadow. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 86. ISBN 0-7864-1466-9.
  8. ^ "The Billboard Jan 17, 1948". Billboard. January 17, 1948. p. 36.
  9. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 36. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  10. ^ "Victor Jory 'Shot' by Western Actor". Los Angeles Times. November 11, 1961. p. 19. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2017. Observers said a gun in the hands of actor Adam Williams discharged accidentally at a range of 6 inches, inflicting powder burns.
  11. ^ "San Bernardino Sun, Volume 63, Number 168, 15 March 1957". The San Bernardino Sun. March 15, 1957. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  12. ^ "3 IN FILMS BACK SCHOOL PRAYERS; Victor Jory Urges Committee to Clear Amendment". The New York Times. May 15, 1964. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  13. ^ "Victor Jory Scholarship". University of Utah. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Paul, JoAnn M. (2014). "1". And Now, Back to Mannix. Duncan, Oklahoma: BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-59393-565-8.
  15. ^ Bowie, Stephen (May 27, 2014). "The long-running private eye series Mannix was brutal, stylish comfort food". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  16. ^ "The six greatest 'Mannix' episodes, according to a superfan". MeTV. January 27, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  17. ^ Robertson, Ed (2005). Thirty Years of The Rockford Files: An Inside Look at America's Greatest Detective Series. Lincoln, Nebraska: iUniverse. p. 260. ISBN 0-595-34244-2.
  18. ^ "Victor Jory". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  19. ^ "Actor Victor Jory dies". United Press International. February 12, 1982. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  20. ^ Roseth, Bob (January 19, 2000). "Jon Jory joins faculty at UW School of Drama". University of Washington. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  21. ^ Magers, Boyd. "Characters and Heavies: Victor Jory". Western Clippings. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  22. ^ Kirby, Walter (May 17, 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved June 27, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

External links[edit]

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