Dan Duryea
Dan Duryea was an American actor who was born on January 23, 1907, in White Plains, New York. He began his acting career on Broadway in the 1930s before transitioning to film in the 1940s. He is known for playing villainous characters in film noir and westerns.
Duryea's first major film role was in the 1941 film "The Little Foxes," in which he played a conniving nephew. He went on to play a string of memorable villains in films such as "Scarlet Street," "Criss Cross," and "Winchester '73." He also appeared in a number of westerns, including "The Virginian" and "Black Bart."
Despite his success as a character actor, Duryea never became a leading man. He once said, "I'm the heel, the guy everybody loves to hate." Nevertheless, his performances were often praised by critics, and he remained a popular actor throughout his career.
Duryea continued to work in films and television throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and he appeared in several episodes of "The Twilight Zone." His final film role was in the 1968 film "The Bamboo Saucer."
Duryea was married to his wife, Helen Bryan, for over 35 years until his death from cancer on June 7, 1968, at the age of 61. He left behind three children.
Duryea was married to his wife, Helen Bryan, for over 35 years until his death from cancer on June 7, 1968, at the age of 61. He left behind three children.
Quotes:
[on how he prepared for the obnoxious characters he often played] "At first it was very hard, as I am a very even-tempered guy . . . but I used my past life experiences to motivate me. The one I used when I had to slap a woman around was easy! I was slapping the overbearing teacher who would fail you in their "holier-than-thou" class and enjoy it."
"You can't make a picture without a villain . . . it pays well and you last."
"I suppose a lot of Broadway people will want to kill me for saying it, but I wanted to use Broadway so I could make more money in the movies. Some actors act for art's sake and starve. That's not for me. I can't afford it. My reputation as an actor is a good one, but I've no illusions about it being the world's greatest. A Broadway success would have given it a boost."
- Dan Duryea
Trivia:
In Winchester '73 (1950) he played Waco Johnnie Dean, the nemesis of the protagonist, Lin McAdams. In the made-for-TV remake, Winchester '73 (1967), he played Bart McAdams.
After suffering a heart attack while playing basketball at a picnic, he was advised to go into a profession less pressure-filled than the advertising job he had, so he chose acting.
HIs first professional job was as a walk-on in "Dead End" in 1935. He had asked the author, former classmate Sidney Kingsley, for a job. Duryea eventually replaced Huntz Hall in the cast.
Co-starred with son Peter Duryea in two of his later films, both Westerns: Taggart (1964) and The Bounty Killer (1965).
In marked contrast to his screen persona as a ruthless, merciless, even psychotic killer, he was a passionate gardener, was active in the PTA at his children's school, and was a Scoutmaster for the local Boy Scout troop.
