Paul Hurst
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Oct 14, 1888
- Died
- Feb 27, 1953 (aged 64)
- Place of birth
- Traver, California, USA
- Credits
- 214
Paul Hurst (October 15, 1888 - February 27, 1953) was an American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his early work was in low budget western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the emerging film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well (some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect).
In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. He proved adept at working as a director for some of the cheapest producers along Gower Gulch, where movies were normally shot on location in a week or less and where stunt men were often the highest paid folks on the set. Within a few years, he focused all of his energies into acting, notably becoming one of the few successes to emerge from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Hurst quickly became one of the more prolific and familiar characters in American movies. With his blocky build and squinty demeanor, and with a raspy voice that enhanced his memorability once sound pictures came in, Hurst played villains and cops and comedy sidekicks in more than 250 films. His most famous role was that of the deserter shot dead on the stairway of Tara by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Hurst was the sidekick to Monte Hale in a number of B-Westerns. Former Gower Gulch veteran John Wayne hired Hurst for Big Jim McLain (1952) knowing that Hurst was ill with terminal cancer. In 1953, at the age of 64, due to his health problems, Paul Hurst committed suicide.
Date of Death: 27 February 1953, Hollywood, California (suicide)
Known for
Gone with the Wind
1939Movie
Yankee Deserter
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943Movie
Monty Smith
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936Movie
1st Deputy (uncredited)
Island of Lost Souls
1932Movie
Capt. Donahue
Queen Christina
1934Movie
Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1923Movie
Emeralda's Torturer (uncredited)
Filmography
The Sun Shines Bright
1953Movie
Jimmy Bagby
Toughest Man in Arizona
1952Movie
Big Jim McLain
1952Movie
Mr. Lexiter
Million Dollar Pursuit
1951Movie
Ray Harvey
The Missourians
1950Movie
John X. Finn
The Old Frontier
1950Movie
Skipper Horton
The Vanishing Westerner
1950Movie
Waldorf Worthington
Pioneer Marshal
1949Movie
Huck Homer
Ranger of Cherokee Strip
1949Movie
Sheriff Jug Mason
San Antone Ambush
1949Movie
Happy Daniels
South of Rio
1949Movie
Andy Weems
Outcasts of the Trail
1949Movie
Doc Meadowlark
Law of the Golden West
1949Movie
Otis Ellis
Prince of the Plains
1949Movie
Sheriff Hank Hartley
Gun Smugglers
1948Movie
Sergeant Hasty Jones
Yellow Sky
1948Movie
Drunk (uncredited)
Son of God’s Country
1948Movie
Eli Walker
The Arizona Ranger
1948Movie
Ben Riddle
Heart of Virginia
1948Movie
Whit Galtry
Who Killed Doc Robbin?
1948Movie
Jailer
California Firebrand
1948Movie
Chuck Waggoner
Madonna of the Desert
1948Movie
Pete Connors
Under Colorado Skies
1947Movie
Lucky John Hawkins
Angel and the Badman
1947Movie
Frederick Carson
The Plainsman and the Lady
1946Movie
Al
Death Valley
1946Movie
Sergeant Dailey
In Old Sacramento
1946Movie
Stagecoach Driver
The Virginian
1946Movie
Murder in the Music Hall
1946Movie
Hobarth
Dakota
1945Movie
Captain Spotts
Midnight Manhunt
1945Movie
Murphy
Steppin' in Society
1945Movie
Cookie
Scared Stiff
1945Movie
Sheriff
The Big Show-Off
1945Movie
Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
Something for the Boys
1944Movie
Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
Girl Rush
1944Movie
Muley
Barbary Coast Gent
1944Movie
Jake Compton
Summer Storm
1944Movie
Orloff
The Ghost That Walks Alone
1944Movie
Sheriff Slim Carson
The Sky's the Limit
1943Movie
Dock Foreman (uncredited)
Coney Island
1943Movie
Louie
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943Movie
Monty Smith
December 7th
1943Movie
World War I Ghost Soldier
Hi'ya, Chum
1943Movie
Archie Billings
Calaboose
1943Movie
Ed the bartender
Night in New Orleans
1942Movie
Sergeant Casper Riordan
Sundown Jim
1942Movie
Broderick
Dudes Are Pretty People
1942Movie
Two-Gun
Pardon My Stripes
1942Movie
Feets
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941Movie
Page
This Woman Is Mine
1941Movie
Second Mate Mumford
The Parson of Panamint
1941Movie
Jake Waldren
Caught in the Draft
1941Movie
Sgt. Burns
The Great Mr. Nobody
1941Movie
Michael O'Connor
Petticoat Politics
1941Movie
Slats O'Dell
Virginia
1941Movie
Thomas
Tall, Dark and Handsome
1941Movie
Biff Sage
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
1940Movie
Pete
Goin' Fishin'
1940Movie
Spring Parade
1940Movie
Headwaiter
The Westerner
1940Movie
Chickenfoot
South to Karanga
1940Movie
Slats
They Drive by Night
1940Movie
Pete Haig (uncredited)
Torrid Zone
1940Movie
Daniels
Edison, the Man
1940Movie
Sheriff
Star Dust
1940Movie
Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
Castle on the Hudson
1940Movie
Guard (uncredited)
Remember?
1939Movie
Policeman
Gone with the Wind
1939Movie
Yankee Deserter
Glove Slingers
1939Movie
Chuck Brenner
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
1939Movie
Empire State Building Guard
On Your Toes
1939Movie
Variety Club Bartender
Bad Lands
1939Movie
Curly Tom
Quick Millions
1939Movie
Sheriff
Each Dawn I Die
1939Movie
Garsky
It Could Happen to You
1939Movie
Sandy
Broadway Serenade
1939Movie
Reynolds, a Drunk
Cafe Society
1939Movie
Bartender
Topper Takes a Trip
1938Movie
Charlie - the Bartender
Secrets of a Nurse
1938Movie
Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
The Last Express
1938Movie
Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
Hold That Co-ed
1938Movie
Slapsy
My Lucky Star
1938Movie
Louie
Prison Break
1938Movie
Soapy
Josette
1938Movie
A. Adolphus Heyman
Alexander's Ragtime Band
1938Movie
Bill Mulligan
In Old Chicago
1938Movie
Mitch
Island in the Sky
1938Movie
Happy
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
1938Movie
Mug
No Time to Marry
1938Movie
Sergeant
Second Honeymoon
1937Movie
Dennis Huggins
Ali Baba Goes to Town
1937Movie
Captain
The Lady Fights Back
1937Movie
Maloney
Danger – Love at Work
1937Movie
NYC policeman
Wife, Doctor and Nurse
1937Movie
Bill
Wake Up and Live
1937Movie
McCabe
She's No Lady
1937Movie
Cop
You Can't Have Everything
1937Movie
Truck Driver (uncredited)
The Legion of Missing Men
1937Movie
Muggsy
Super-Sleuth
1937Movie
Motorcycle Cop
You Can't Beat Love
1937Movie
Foreman Butch Mehaffey
Slave Ship
1937Movie
Drunk
Angel's Holiday
1937Movie
Sgt. Murphy
Fifty Roads to Town
1937Movie
Tom
This Is My Affair
1937Movie
Bowler
Trouble in Morocco
1937Movie
Tiger Malone
We Who Are About to Die
1937Movie
Tip Fuller
North of Nome
1936Movie
Carlson
The Gay Desperado
1936Movie
American Detective
I'd Give My Life
1936Movie
"Sport" Conly
To Mary - with Love
1936Movie
Drunk
Blackmailer
1936Movie
Inspector Killian
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936Movie
1st Deputy (uncredited)
Robin Hood of El Dorado
1936Movie
Wilson
Riffraff
1936Movie
Belcher
The Gay Deception
1935Movie
Bell Captain
Wilderness Mail
1935Movie
Jules
The Daring Young Man
1935Movie
Prison Guard
Calm Yourself
1935Movie
Detective Roscoe
Public Hero Number 1
1935Movie
Rufe Parker
The Case of the Curious Bride
1935Movie
Fibo Morgan (uncredited)
Mississippi
1935Movie
Hefty
Shadow of Doubt
1935Movie
Lt. Sackville
Carnival
1935Movie
Policeman
Sequoia
1935Movie
Bergman
Maybe It's Love
1935Movie
Expressman (uncredited)
The Ballad of Paducah Jail
1934Movie
Escaped Felon
Tomorrow's Youth
1934Movie
Detective
Among the Missing
1934Movie
Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
Take the Stand
1934Movie
Denny O'Brien
Midnight Alibi
1934Movie
Babe the Butcher
Charlie Chan's Courage
1934Movie
Undetermined Role
A Very Honorable Guy
1934Movie
Butler
The Line-Up
1934Movie
Detective Sgt. Doyle
The Big Race
1934Movie
Skipper O'Neal
Queen Christina
1934Movie
Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
The Women in His Life
1933Movie
Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
Day of Reckoning
1933Movie
Harry
Saturday's Millions
1933Movie
Doc Maloney, Trainer
Tugboat Annie
1933Movie
Sam
Hold Your Man
1933Movie
Aubrey C. Mitchell (uncredited)
The Sphinx
1933Movie
Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
Terror Aboard
1933Movie
Boatswain
Grand Slam
1933Movie
Man Who Speaks Final Line of the Film
Island of Lost Souls
1932Movie
Capt. Donahue
Men Are Such Fools
1932Movie
Stiles
The Big Stampede
1932Movie
'Arizona' Frank Bailey
The Phantom President
1932Movie
Sailor (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Jail
1932Movie
Butch
The Thirteenth Guest
1932Movie
Detective Grump
State's Attorney
1932Movie
Police Captain Morgan
My Pal, the King
1932Movie
Red
Panama Flo
1932Movie
Al
The Secret Witness
1931Movie
Officer Brannigan
Bad Company
1931Movie
Paul Hurst
Maker of Men
1931Movie
Gabby
The Public Defender
1931Movie
Doc
That's My Line
1931Movie
Mexican Bandit
Sweepstakes
1931Movie
Bartender
Kick In
1931Movie
Detective Whip Fogarty
The Secret Six
1931Movie
Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
The Single Sin
1931Movie
Slug
The Third Alarm
1930Movie
'Beauty' Johnson
Borrowed Wives
1930Movie
Bull Morgan
Paradise Island
1930Movie
Beauty
Hot Curves
1930Movie
'Slug', Baseball Player
Shadow of the Law
1930Movie
Pete Shore
The Runaway Bride
1930Movie
Sergeant Daly
Mountain Justice
1930Movie
Lem Harland
Swellhead
1930Movie
Mugsy
Officer O'Brien
1930Movie
Captain Antrim
Lucky Larkin
1930Movie
Pete Brierson
His First Command
1929Movie
Sgt. Westbrook
The Racketeer
1929Movie
Mehaffy - Policeman
Oh, Yeah!
1929Movie
Railroad-Yard Superintendent
Sailor's Holiday
1929Movie
Jimmylegs
The California Mail
1929Movie
Rowdy Ryan
Tide of Empire
1929Movie
Poppy
The Lawless Legion
1929Movie
Ramirez
The Rainbow
1929Movie
Pat
Lilac Time
1928Movie
(uncredited)
The Cossacks
1928Movie
Sitchi
Buttons
1927Movie
Slugger McGlue
The Valley of the Giants
1927Movie
Randeau
The Red Raiders
1927Movie
Sergeant Murphy
The Devil's Saddle
1927Movie
'Swig' Moran
Outlaw's Paradise
1927Movie
McDonald
Blue Streak O'Neil
1926Movie
The Fighting Ranger
1926Movie
Roaring Road
1926Movie
Checking Board Tabulator (uncredited)
The Man Who Would Not Die
1924Movie
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1923Movie
Emeralda's Torturer (uncredited)
Lightning Bryce
1919Movie
Powder Solvang
Smashing Through
1918Movie
Stevens
Rimrock Jones
1918Movie
Ike Bray
The Further Adventures of Stingaree
1917Movie
Howie
The Railroad Raiders
1917Movie
Steve Arnold (as Paul C. Hurst)
The Hazards of Helen
1917Movie
Benton - a Foreman
The Manager of the B & A
1916Movie
Roger Oakley (as Paul C. Hurst)
The Diamond Runners
1916Movie
Paul - the Brains of the I.D.B.
Judith of the Cumberlands
1916Movie
Blatchley Turrentine
Medicine Bend
1916Movie
Murray Sinclair
Whispering Smith
1916Movie
Murray Sinclair
A Lass of the Lumberlands
1916Movie
Stingaree
1915Movie
Howie - Stingaree's Partner
The Vivisectionist
1915Movie
Bart - Jardine's Servant
The Red Signal
1915Movie
Chief Dispatcher
The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight
1915Movie
A Trainman
The Girl Detective
1915Movie
Blair / Thompson / Michaels / Snake Henely / Mike Donegal / Bat Dorgan / Kelly / Dalton / Blake
The Plot at the Railroad Cut
1914Movie
Benton, the Foreman
The Chief of Police
1914Movie
Daniels
The Quicksands
1914Movie
Captain Lanning - Osborn's Rival
The Cave Men's War
1913Movie
Red Axe
The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach
1912Movie
Bad Bill - a Desperado