Ewing Mitchell

Ewing Young Mitchell (December 29, 1910 – September 3, 1988) was an American character actor of film and television best known for his role as Sheriff Mitch Hargrove in 26 episodes between 1956 and 1959 of the aviation adventure series with a western theme, Sky King. He also played Sheriff Powers on another western series, The Adventures of Champion.

Early years Mitchell was born in Charleston, South Carolina. His Episcopal minister father headed Porter Military Academy before he was appointed Episcopal Bishop of Arizona, which took the family to that state. In 1938, Mitchell left Arizona to study singing in Hollywood. He attended Hampden–Sydney College and Sewanee: The University of the South. He appeared and sang baritone He also appeared on Broadway in Song of Norway (1944).

Acting career

Mitchell made his television debut at the age of 40 on January 1, 1951, in the syndicated western series, The Range Rider. On that series through January 1, 1953, he made ten other appearances, mostly as a law-enforcement officer, the genre in which he specialized. He was also cast in 1951 as a waiter in the episode "Bad Man of Brisco" of another syndicated western series, The Adventures of Kit Carson. He appeared in that same series twice in 1952, both times as a marshal, in the episodes "Trouble in Tuscarora" and "Golden Trap". He was cast in April 1952 in the episode "The Case of the Cold Neck" of the CBS crime drama Racket Squad, starring Reed Hadley. In 1953, he appeared as Mr. Collins in the episode "Defense Plant Security" of the syndicated Cold War drama, I Led Three Lives. He also had roles in several films, mostly uncredited, before and after those particular television appearances. By 1965, he had appeared in 20 films.

Gloria Winters played Sky King's niece, Penny, and early in its run, Ron Hagerthy was cast as the nephew, Clipper King. The episodes on which Mitchell appeared began with "Manhunt" and "The Neckerchief" and included "Geiger Detective", "Land o'Cotton", "Rodeo Round-up", "Bad Actor", "A Dog Named Barney", "Sky Robbers", "Bounty Hunters", and "Dead Giveaway", his last appearance having been on March 1, 1959. The series filmed 72 total episodes.

Mitchell was one of the Silver Riders, expert equestrians who appeared in parades throughout the American Southwest. In his later years, Mitchell managed several ranches he owned in Southern California. He died in 1988 at the age of 77 of a stroke in La Jolla in San Diego County, where he had resided.

Mitchell was married and had two sons.

Partial filmography

Shades of Gray (1948) - U.S. Army Soldier Life of St. Paul Series (1949) - James the Just Tripoli (1950) - Elroy The Last Outpost (1951) - Maj. Riordan (uncredited) Francis Goes to the Races (1951) - Board Member (uncredited) I'll See You in My Dreams (1951) - Doctor (uncredited) Rancho Notorious (1952) - Suitor (uncredited) Without Warning! (1952) - Mr. Kent (uncredited) Sudden Fear (1952) - Bridge Party Guest (uncredited) Horizons West (1952) - Poker Player (uncredited) Springfield Rifle (1952) - Capt. Spencer (uncredited) Above and Beyond (1952) - Gen. Kenneth Bonner Wolfe (uncredited) The Blazing Forest (1952) - Walt, a Ranger Winning of the West (1953) - Ranger Captain Tom Hickson (uncredited) Those Redheads from Seattle (1953) - Mr. Fawcett (uncredited) Drums Across the River (1954) - The Colonel (uncredited) Black Horse Canyon (1954) - Sheriff Man Without a Star (1955) - Ben Johnson (uncredited) The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) - Court-Martial Judge (uncredited) Behind the High Wall (1956) - Judge Robert Pryor (uncredited) Band of Angels (1957) - Old Gentleman (uncredited) The Restless Gun (1958) - Episode "Gratitude" Gunman's Walk (1958) - Mr. Johnson (uncredited) The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959) - Townsman (uncredited)