Horace McMahon

Horace McMahon (May 17, 1907 – August 17, 1971) was an American actor. He was one of Hollywood's favorite heavies.

McMahon began his acting career on Broadway, then appeared in many films and television series. In 1962, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the series Naked City (1958–1963).

Early years McMahon was born in South Norwalk, Connecticut. He became interested in acting when he was a student at Fordham University School of Law.

Career In his early career McMahon mostly played gangsters and criminals, but in 1949 he starred in his most acclaimed role as Lieutenant Monaghan in the drama Detective Story. In 1951 he reprised his character in Paramount Pictures' film version Detective Story with Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker.

McMahon also starred on television in the ABC police series Naked City as Lt. Mike Parker, a gruff but warmhearted police officer, interested only in justice and doing the job according to the proper rules of the game. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for this role.

In 1964, McMahon played Hank McClure, a police contact in the CBS drama series, Mr. Broadway.

On 5 October 1967, McMahon performed as "Glu Gluten" in Season 3, Episode 4's "The Sport of Penguins" on ABC's Batman television series.

In 1968, he played police Captain Tom Farrell in The Detective starring Frank Sinatra.

McMahon also did voice-overs for commercials, including those for Close-Up toothpaste and Armstrong tires. Their daughter Martha McMahon also became an actress.

Selected filmography

Bulldog Edition (1936) – Horace Boyd (uncredited) Navy Blues (1937) – Gateleg They Gave Him a Gun (1937) – Prison Inmate (uncredited) Kid Galahad (1937) – Reporter at Press Conference (uncredited) Public Wedding (1937) – Reporter Exclusive (1937) – Beak McArdle Bad Guy (1937) – Malone the Informer (uncredited) The Wrong Road (1937) – Blackie Clayton A Girl with Ideas (1937) – Al The Last Gangster (1937) – Limpy (uncredited) Paid to Dance (1937) – LaRue When G-Men Step In (1938) – Jennings King of the Newsboys (1938) – Lockjaw Ladies in Distress (1938) – 2nd Thug Fast Company (1938) – Danny Scolado Marie Antoinette (1938) – Rabblerouser (uncredited) The Crowd Roars (1938) – Rocky Simpson (uncredited) Tenth Avenue Kid (1938) – Max Hooker I Am the Law (1938) – Prisoner (uncredited) Wanted by the Police (1938) – Russo's Chief Henchman Broadway Musketeers (1938) – Gurk, Vince's Henchman Secrets of a Nurse (1938) – Larry Carson Newsboys' Home (1938) – Bartsch Federal Man-Hunt (1938) – Snuffy Deegan Pride of the Navy (1939) – Gloomey Kelly Pirates of the Skies (1939) – Henchman Artie (uncredited) I Was a Convict (1939) – Missouri Smith Sergeant Madden (1939) – Philadelphia For Love or Money (1939) – Dead Eyes Calling Dr. Kildare (1939) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy – Taxi Driver (uncredited) Big Town Czar (1939) – Punchy Rose of Washington Square (1939) – Irving The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) – Gus (uncredited) 6,000 Enemies (1939) – Prisoner Boxcar (uncredited) Bachelor Mother (1939) – Dance Floor Official (uncredited) She Married a Cop (1939) – Joe Nash Quick Millions (1939) – Floyd 'Bat' Douglas Sabotage (1939) – Art Kruger Another Thin Man (1939) – MacFay's Chauffeur (uncredited) That's Right—You're Wrong (1939) – Hood (uncredited) Laugh It Off (1939) – Phil Ferrranti Oh Johnny, How You Can Love (1940) – 'Lefty' Hodges – Bank Robber The Marines Fly High (1940) – Sgt. Monk O'Hara The Ghost Comes Home (1940) – Dave – the Nightclub Manager (uncredited) Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy My Favorite Wife (1940) – Truck Driver Giving Lift to Ellen (uncredited) Gangs of Chicago (1940) – Cry-Baby I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (1940) – Bugs Millionaires in Prison (1940) – Sylvester Odgen 'SOS' Schofield We Who Are Young (1940) – Foreman The Golden Fleecing (1940) – Process Server (uncredited) Dr. Kildare Goes Home (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy (uncredited) The Leather Pushers (1940) – Slugger Mears The Bride Wore Crutches (1940) – Brains Margie (1940) – Detective Melody Ranch (1940) – Bud Wildhack Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy Come Live with Me (1941) – Taxi Driver Rookies on Parade (1941) – Tiger Brannigan Lady Scarface (1941) – Mullen Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941) – J. Harold 'Fog Horn' Murphy (uncredited) Buy Me That Town (1941) – Fingers Flint The Stork Pays Off (1941) – 'Ears-to-the-Ground' Hinkle Birth of the Blues (1941) – Wolf Jail House Blues (1942) – Swifty Stage Door Canteen (1943) – Himself Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) – Truck Driver (uncredited) Dangerous Blondes (1943) – Hoodlum (uncredited) Timber Queen (1944) – Rodney The Navy Way (1944) – Sailor Saxon (uncredited) Roger Touhy, Gangster (1944) – Maxie Sharkey (uncredited) 13 Rue Madeleine (1946) – Burglary Instructor (scenes deleted) Joe Palooka in Fighting Mad (1948) – Looie Smart Woman (1948) – Lefty (uncredited) Waterfront at Midnight (1948) – Hank Bremmer The Return of October (1948) – Big Louie (uncredited) Detective Story (1951) – Lt. Monaghan Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) – Mugsy Man in the Dark (1953) – Arnie Fast Company (1953) – 'Two Pair' Buford Champ for a Day (1953) – Sam Benton Duffy of San Quentin (1954) – Pierson Susan Slept Here (1954) – Sergeant Monty Maizel Blackboard Jungle (1955) – Detective My Sister Eileen (1955) – Police Officer Lonigan Texas Lady (1955) – Stringer Winfield The Delicate Delinquent (1957) – Police Captain Riley Beau James (1957) – Prosecutor Never Steal Anything Small (1959) – O. K. Merritt The Swinger (1966) – Detective Sergeant Hooker The Detective (1968) – Farrell