Jerome Cowan

Jerome Palmer Cowan (October 6, 1897 – January 24, 1972) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Early life Cowan was born in New York City, the son of William Cowan, a confectioner of Scottish descent, and Julia Cowan, née Palmer.

Career Stage Cowan's Broadway debut was in We've Got to Have Money (1923). His other Broadway credits include Frankie and Johnnie (1930), Just to Remind You (1931), Rendezvous (1932), The Little Black Book (1932), Marathon (1933), Both Your Houses (1933), As Thousands Cheer (1933), Ladies' Money (1934), Paths of Glory (1935), Boy Meets Girl (1935), My Three Angels (1953), Lunatics and Lovers (1954), Rumple (1957), and Say, Darling (1958).

Film Cowan was spotted by Samuel Goldwyn and was given a film contract, his first film being Beloved Enemy.

He appeared in more than one hundred films, but is probably best remembered for two roles in classic films: Miles Archer, the doomed private eye partner of Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon and Thomas Mara, the hapless district attorney who has to prosecute Santa Claus in Miracle on 34th Street.

Cowan also played Dagwood Bumstead's boss Mr. Radcliffe in several installments of Columbia Pictures' Blondie series. He also appeared in Deadline at Dawn, June Bride, and High Sierra.

Television Cowan starred in Not for Publication on the DuMont Television Network in 1952. In 1959 he played Horatio Styles in the episode "Winter Song" of The Alaskans, with Roger Moore. That same year, he made two guest appearances in Perry Mason, starring Raymond Burr. He played murdered playwright Ernest Royce in "The Case of the Lost Last Act" and then Victor Latimore in "The Case of the Artful Dodger." He also appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine" and guest-starred on Richard Diamond, Private Detective.

In the 1960–1961 television season, Cowan starred as John Larsen, the owner of Comics, Inc., and the boss of Paul Morgan, a young cartoonist portrayed by Tab Hunter in The Tab Hunter Show. In 1962, he guest starred on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He also appeared on Daniel Boone and Going My Way, starring Gene Kelly.

In 1964 and 1965, Cowan appeared as the demanding Herbert Wilson in The Tycoon. Earlier in 1963, he appeared on The Real McCoys in its final season on CBS.

In 1968 Cowan played a movie producer on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Death On January 24, 1972, Cowan died of a heart attack at Encino Hospital Medical Center in Encino, California at age 74. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

Recognition Cowan has a star at 6251 Hollywood Boulevard in the Television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was dedicated on February 8, 1960.

Filmography

Beloved Enemy (1936) as Tim O'Rourke You Only Live Once (1937) as Dr. Hill Shall We Dance (1937) as Arthur Miller New Faces of 1937 (1937) as Robert Hunt Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938 (1937) as W. Brockton The Hurricane (1937) as Captain Nagle The Goldwyn Follies (1938) as Director There's Always a Woman (1938) as Nick Shane St. Louis Blues (1939) as Ivan DeBrett The Saint Strikes Back (1939) as Cullis East Side of Heaven (1939) as Claudius De Wolfe Exile Express (1939) as Paul Brandt The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939) as Daniel Mirche She Married a Cop (1939) as Bob Adams The Old Maid (1939) as Joe Ralston The Great Victor Herbert (1939) as Barney Harris Wolf of New York (1940) as Cosgrave Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Ed Crowley Framed (1940) as Monty de Granville Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me (1940) as Ted Carter Torrid Zone (1940) as Bob Anderson City for Conquest (1940) as 'Dutch' The Quarterback (1940) as Townley Meet the Wildcat (1940) as Digby Vanderhood III Melody Ranch (1940) as Tommy Summerville Street of Memories (1940) as Mr. Gower Victory (1940) as Martin Ricardo High Sierra (1941) as Healy The Round up (1941) as Wade McGee The Great Lie (1941) as Jock Thompson Affectionately Yours (1941) as Cullen Singapore Woman (1941) as Jim North Too Many Blondes (1941) as Ted Bronson Out of the Fog (1941) as Assistant D.A. Kisses for Breakfast (1941) as Lucius Lorimer Rags to Riches (1941) as Marshall Abbott Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1941) as Bert Fisher One Foot in Heaven (1941) as Dr. Horrigan The Maltese Falcon (1941) as Miles Archer The Bugle Sounds (1942) as Mr. Nichols A Gentleman at Heart (1942) as Finchley Mr. and Mrs. North (1942) as Ben Wilson Frisco Lil (1942) as Vince Warren The Girl from Alaska (1942) as Ravenhill Moontide (1942) as Dr. Frank Brothers Thru Different Eyes (1942) as Jim Gardner Joan of Ozark (1942) as Phillip Munson Street of Chance (1942) as Bill Diedrich Who Done It? (1942) as Marco Heller No Place for a Lady (1943) as Eddie Moore Ladies' Day (1943) as Updyke (banker) Mission to Moscow (1943) as Spendler (uncredited) Silver Spurs (1943) as Jerry Johnson Hi'ya, Sailor (1943) as Lou Asher Find the Blackmailer (1943) as D.L. Trees The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case (1943) as Mallory Cartwright The Song of Bernadette (1943) as Emperor Louis Napoleon III Sing a Jingle (1944) as Andrews Mr. Skeffington (1944) as Edward Morrison South of Dixie (1944) as Bill 'Brains' Watson Minstrel Man (1944) as Bill Evans Crime by Night (1944) as Sam Campbell Guest in the House (1944) as Mr. Hackett Fog Island (1945) as Kavanaugh The Crime Doctor's Courage (1945) as Jeffers 'Jeff' Jerome G. I. Honeymoon (1945) as Ace Renaldo Blonde Ransom (1945) as Ice Larson The Jungle Captive (1945) as Detective W.L. Harrigan Hitchhike to Happiness (1945) as Tony Riggs Divorce (1945) as Jim Driscoll Behind City Lights (1945) as Perry Borden Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) as Billy One Way to Love (1946) as A.J. Gunther My Reputation (1946) as George Van Orman Deadline at Dawn (1946) as Lester Brady Claudia and David (1946) as Brian O'Toole The Kid from Brooklyn (1946) as Fight Announcer Murder in the Music Hall (1946) as George Morgan Night in Paradise (1946) as Scribe One Exciting Week (1946) as Al Carter Deadline for Murder (1946) as Lynch Mr. Ace (1946) as Peter Craig Flight to Nowhere (1946) as Gerald Porter Blondie Knows Best (1946) as Charles Peabody Blondie's Big Moment (1947) as George M. Radcliffe (uncredited) The Perfect Marriage (1947) as Addison Manning The Unfaithful (1947) as Prosecuting Attorney Blondie's Holiday (1947) as George M. Radcliffe Miracle on 34th Street (1947) as Dist. Atty. Thomas Mara Riffraff (1947) as Walter F. Gredson Cry Wolf (1947) as Sen. Caldwell Driftwood (1947) as Mayor Snyder Blondie in the Dough (1947) as George Radcliffe Dangerous Years (1947) as Weston Blondie's Anniversary (1947) as George M. Radcliffe Arthur Takes Over (1948) as George Bradford So This Is New York (1948) as Francis Griffin Blondie's Reward (1948) as George M. Radcliffe Wallflower (1948) as Robert 'Bob' James Night Has a Thousand Eyes (1948) as Whitney Courtland June Bride (1948) as Carleton Towne Blondie's Secret (1948) as George Radcliffe Life of St. Paul Series (1949) as Demetrius Blondie's Big Deal (1949) as George M. Radcliffe The Fountainhead (1949) as Alvah Scarret The Girl from Jones Beach (1949) as Mr. Graves – Ruth's Attorney Scene of the Crime (1949) as Arthur Webson Blondie Hits the Jackpot (1949) as George Radcliffe Always Leave Them Laughing (1949) as Elliott Montgomery Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey (1950) as Belden Young Man with a Horn (1950) as Phil Morrison Peggy (1950) as Fred Collins When You're Smiling (1950) as Herbert Reynolds The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) as Harvey Simpson The West Point Story (1950) as Mr. Jocelyn Dallas (1950) as Matt Coulter The Fat Man (1951) as Police Lieutenant Stark Criminal Lawyer (1951) as Walter Medford Disk Jockey (1951) as Marley Magnificent Adventure (1952) The System (1953) as Barry X. Brady Have Rocket, Will Travel (1959) as J.P. Morse Visit to a Small Planet (1960) as George Abercrombie Private Property (1960) as Ed Hogate All in a Night's Work (1961) as Sam Weaver Pocketful of Miracles (1961) as Mayor Critic's Choice (1963) as Joe Rosenfield Black Zoo (1963) as Jerry Stengel The Patsy (1964) as Business Executive (uncredited) John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965) as Ambassadaor Brinkley Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Joe Wilbur (uncredited) Penelope (1966) as Bank Manager The Gnome-Mobile (1967) as Dr. Ramsey The Comic (1969) as Lawrence Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1968) as Dan Curtis