Edward Gargan

Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the headstrong O.R. Smith in "Jim Hanvey, Detective" (1937). Born into a traditional working-class family, the eldest of two sons born unto Irish immigrants, following his public education he began his career as a leading man on the Broadway stage. Upon being introduced to director George Cukor while attending a social function at the prestigious Radio City Music Hall, he was so impressed by his blonde good looks, slim physique, and remarkable sense of humor, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Tarnished Lady" (1931). From there, he would go on to flourish as a notable character actor appearing in over 320 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, relatives, bachelors, detectives, reporters, blue-collared guys, foreigners, immigrants, landlords, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, doctors, policemen, city slickers, cowboys, guards, sheriffs, bailiffs, deputies, state troopers, singers, doormen, chauffeurs, waiters, retail clerks, bankers, managers, soda jerks, mailmen, sidekicks, henchmen, philanthropists, sergeants, lieutenants, authority figures, jailbirds, corporals, colonels, conmen, ministers, bartenders, stagehands, sugar daddies, lawyers, politicians, judges, district attorneys, educators, electricians, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Girl Habit" (1931), "Pilgrimage" (1933), "Good Dame" (1934), "Ginger" (1935), "A Son Comes Home" (1936), "Big City" (1937), "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "Honolulu" (1939), "Castle on the Hudson" (1940), "Affectionately Yours" (1941), "Dr. Kildare's Victory" (1942), "Prairie Chickens" (1943), "Once Upon a Time" (1944), "Diamond Horseshoe" (1945), "Little Giant" (1946), "Campus Honeymoon" (1947), "Strike It Rich" (1948), "Love Happy" (1949), "Father of the Bride" (1950), and "Little Egypt" (1951). On television, he appeared in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Our Miss Brooks," "Summer Theatre," "Lights Out," and "Lux Video Theatre". During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, had been a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was a commercial model for the Forbes Agency, presided on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs, had a recurring role on the popular radio program "This is Your FBI", was the elder brother of character actor Willaim Gargan, was the celebrity spokesman for Maxwell House Coffee and Paper Mate Ballpoint Pens, and he was married to mild mannered housewife and baker Catherine Conlan from 1938 until his death (their union produced no children). Upon his 1955 retirement, he spent the remainder of his life living comfortably in the suburbs devoting his time to charitable and religious causes until his death from complications of a brief illness.