Another tough, two-fisted, Hollywood Thirties/Forties supporting actor, in more ways than one, was Irish-American Paul Kelly.
Kelly was, in real life, sentenced for manslaughter and sent to San Quentin for one to ten years.
He was the unmarried part of an "eternal triangle" and beat up Ray Raymond, husband of Dorothy Mackaye, so badly that he died two days later.
Due to good behavour, Kelly only served two years of his sentence.
Remember him as the Myopic fighter pilot in Flying Tigers (Columbia Studios 1942), starring John Wayne?
He also excelled himself as a villain in San Antonio (Warner Brothers 1945), starring Errol Flynn and Alexis Smith.
By far and away his finest performance, though, was as Gloria Grahame's weird boyfriend in the anti-semetic film Crossfire (RKO Studios 1947), starring Robert Ryan.
Kelly died of a heart attack in 1956.
-Gorden Dean, Barfield Park, Lancing
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article