Born and raised on a farm in Michigan in 1890, Irish-American character actor Harry Shannon had the credentials for becoming a staple player in westerns. He started off his career traveling around with repertory and stock companies and developed his musical abilities in tent shows, burlesque houses and such tuneful Broadway shows as Oh, Kay! (1926), Hold Everything (1928), Simple Simon (1931), and Pardon My English (1933). A company member of Joseph Schildkrauts Hollywood Theater Guild, Shannon broke into films at the advent of sound and started things off in comedy film shorts opposite such celebrated players as Bert Lahr, Shemp Howard, and Leon Errol. In the 1940s Shannon established himself in feature-length movies and although he remained a minor, second-string player, he proved himself a durable presence in westerns usually remaining on the good side of the law as sheriffs and bucolic dads. In lighthearted entertainment he could be found as a friendly Irish cop or bartender. He made a slight but memorable impression as Kanes alcoholic father in the classic Citizen Kane (1941), while his last role would be as the grandfather in the musical Gypsy (1962). In between were small parts in such notable films as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), The Jolson Story (1946), High Noon (1952), Touch of Evil (1958), and The Buccaneer (1958). 1950s TV westerns such as Cheyenne (1955), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), and Gunsmoke (1955) made consistent use of his rustic demeanor. Shannon died in 1964 at age 74.
Jim Kane
Film 1941
Cooper
Film 1952
Chief Gould
Film 1958
Film 1948
Cab Driver
Film 1947
Dr. Maynard
Film 1950
Dr. Jonathan Byrne
Film 1947
John (Policeman)
Film 1951
Police Officer Houlihan
Film 1950
Tesander
Film 1948
San Francisco Homicide Lieutenant
Film 1947
Sheriff Brown
Film 1953
Capt. Lawrence
Film 1946
Film 1934
George Parker
Film 1950
Police Commissioner Collins
Film 1945
Asylum Warden Anderson
Film 1951
Detective Owens, San Diego Police
Film 1947
Dr. Fisher
Film 1957
Charlie
Film 1950
Mr. Holstrom
Film 1947
Captain Donnelly
Film 1954
Passline
Film 1940
Steve Finnerty
Film 1942
Wallace Bennett
Film 1950
Det. Capt. R.W. Davis
Film 1947
Grandpa
Film 1962
Hoak Wayne
Film 1956
Police Sergeant Garrett
Film 1949
Police Lieutenant Blake
Film 1946
Captain of the Far West (uncredited)
Film 1959
Chief R.L. Graves
Film 1941
Mike Callan
Film 1952
Nelse Lansing
Film 1949
Severance
Film 1947
Marshal Pete MacKay
Film 1955
Film 1933
Railroad Detective
Film 1937
Tom Cary
Film 1944
Sam Weston
Film 1944
Sam Bennett
Film 1943
Judge Waller
Film 1950
The Landlord
Film 1934
Judge John Grey
Film 1943
Wayne Shattuck
Film 1957
John Rutherford
Film 1955
Clay
Film 1950
Capt. Mahoney
Film 1940
Judge Pierce
Film 1954
Pinky Dolan
Film 1942
Tom Carter
Film 1953
Vice Admiral Williams
Film 1950
Mr. Mason
Film 1943
Pat McGowan
Film 1952
Purdue
Film 1955
Mr. Totter
Film 1956
Fred Salter
Film 1951
Clanahan
Film 1950
Sam Tyler (uncredited)
Film 1961
Mr. Tim Wiggs
Film 1942
Capt. Rogers
Film 1947
Thomas Lee
Film 1948
Capt. Denny
Film 1930
Mr. Hendricks
Film 1943
Dr. Burke (uncredited)
Film 1961
Judge Raymond
Film 1947
Ed Cumberland
Film 1942
John 'Pop' Ormsby
Film 1943
Father McGann
Film 1940
Father
Film 1939
Shannon
Film 1946
Macbeth
Film 1936
Michael Reilly
Film 1954
Police Captain Henry (uncredited)
Film 1948
The Sheriff (archive footage)
Film 1968
Randall
Film 1940
Pop Middleton (archive footage)
Film 1984
Army Captain Brackett
Film 1940
American Immigration Official (uncredited)
Film 1941
Chauncey
Film 1948
Chuck (uncredited)
Film 1950
Sheriff Harmon
Film 1949
Mr. Carlin
Film 1942
Mr. Casey
Film 1940
Lew
Film 1949
Grogan
Film 1933
Tom Gibbons
Film 1943
Sandy Reeves
Film 1950
Bartender
Film 1933
Larry
Film 1929
Harry Wart
Film 1933
Dynamite Dan
Film 1929
Sheriff Elwood
Film 1944
Sam
Film 1955
Drunken Cowpuncher
Film 1956
Ed, Chief of Police
Film 1940
Bank Robber
Film 1934
Lieutenant Sullivan
Film 1940
McDermott
Film 1940
Charlie Witherspoon
Film 1943
Albert Ness
Film 1943
Detective Grimes (Uncredited)
Film 1942
Mr. Buchanan
Film 1951
Simmons
Film 1945
Barnes
Film 1942
Mr. Yaeger
Film 1950
Sam 'Pop' Tracy
Film 1953
Kelsey Bunker
Film 1950
Ed Benedeck
Film 1954
Florida Doctor (Uncredited)
Film 1942
Cop (Uncredited)
Film 1946
Timson
Film 1940
Policeman
Film 1942
Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian
Film 1958
Uncle Ralph
Film 1945
Henry McLane (uncredited)
Film 1946
Tv 1955
Bowers
Tv 1955
Tv 1954
Tv 1960
Dr. Harner
Tv 1955
Claggert
Tv 1959
Jesse
Tv 1957
Judge William Jennings Westholme
Tv 1955
Uncle Josh
Tv 1962
Big Jim Heywood
Tv 1951
Tv 1957
Tv 1957
Tv 1955
Tv 1959
Tv 1963
Henry Shipman
Tv 1957
Jobe Crail
Tv 1958
Harris Ellerby
Tv 1956
Tv 1958
Tv 1952
Tv 1956
Tv 1957
Tv 1953
Tom
Tv 1953
Sheriff Blanton
Tv 1959
Kilo
Tv 1959
Samuel Morse
Tv 1952