Pierre Watkin

Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1887 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor best known for playing distinguished authority figures throughout the Golden Age of Hollywood. He is best remembered for his roles of Mr. Skinner the bank president in The Bank Dick; Lou Gehrig's father-in-law Mr. Twitchell in Pride of the Yankees (1942); and the first actor to portray Perry White in the Superman serials Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950).

Early life Watkin was born on December 29, 1887, in Afton Township, Iowa, the third of four sons born to Charles Henry Watkin and Elizabeth Jeannette (née Scoles) Watkin.

When Watkin was a young child, his family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where his parents ran a boarding house for actors. This environment influenced Watkin to go into acting. When he was a teenager, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he began acting in theater.

Career Watkin began his career touring the Midwest with various theatrical troupes, including with the company of Morgan Wallace. In 1918, he formed his own theatrical troupe, the Pierre Watkin Players, which was first headquartered in Sioux City, before moving to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1927. Among those in his troupe included Lyle Talbot (under his birth name "Lysle Talbot"); Georgia Neese Clark and her first husband George Clark; and Roy Hillard, the father of Harriet Nelson. However, the troupe disassembled when Watkin went East to pursue a Broadway career. The next year, Watkin made his made his Broadway debut in the 1928 play Possession.

Following a string of unsuccessful plays on Broadway, and with many actors moving out West, Watkin moved to California in 1935 to pursue a film career. Shortly after arriving, he made his film debut in the Bette Davis film Dangerous, having been offered a role by the film's director Alfred E. Green, an acquaintance of his from Broadway. Over his 25 year career, Watkin became well-known as a freelance actor, often appearing in bit roles — many uncredited — as wealthy distinguished authority figures such as bankers and judges. Watkin was a favorite of Davis and director Frank Capra, who dubbed Watkin his "one-man stock company". Although known as a character actor, he did obtain some major roles, such as bank president Mr. Skinner in The Bank Dick with W.C. Fields, and opposite Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright as Mr. Twitchell in the Lou Gehrig biographical drama film The Pride of the Yankees.

In 1940, Watkin made his first serial, portraying the main antagonist in the Universal film serial The Green Hornet Strikes Again!. Watkin would attain more prominent roles in film serials, such as the role of Uncle Jim Fairfield in the 1947 Columbia serial Jack Armstrong. The following year, the studio cast him in the role of Perry White in their adaption of Superman. The serial was a success, leading to Watkin reprising his role in a follow-up, Atom Man vs. Superman, in 1950. Watkin also received prominent roles from low-budget poverty row studios, appearing in several Western films for Republic Pictures.

At the turn of the decade, Watkin began to segue into television as the medium began gaining popularity. Watkin appeared in several series, such as The Lone Ranger, Cheyenne, The Jack Benny Program, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. He also made an appearance on I Love Lucy in 1954, portraying book editor Mr. Dorrance in the episode "Lucy Writes a Novel". Watkin appeared as several minor characters in different episodes of Adventures of Superman. When producers were looking to revive the series after its cancellation in 1958, Watkin was cast in the role of Perry White again, replacing the late John Hamilton. However, these plans never came to fruition after the death of series star George Reeves in June 1959.

Personal life Watkin first married Christie E. McLennan on August 21, 1909, in Ottawa, Kansas; the two had met while they were a part of a troupe together. They remained married until her death on April 4, 1930. Watkin remarried Mary Hart in Reading, Pennsylvania on September 25, 1932.

Watkin died on February 3, 1960, at age 72, at his home in Hollywood, California, from pneumonia and complications of diabetes. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery, Burbank, California. Wanted! Jane Turner Andrew Norris Uncredited King of Hockey Thomas A. White Uncredited

Larceny on the Air Kennedy Dangerous Number Mr. Stark Uncredited The Devil's Playground Submarine Commander She's Dangerous H.J. Conrad Uncredited Breezing Home Steward Uncredited Green Light Dr. Booth Sea Devils USS Taroe Commander History Is Made at Night Commodore Eldridge Uncredited Bill Cracks Down William "Bill" Reardon, Sr. Waikiki Wedding John Durkin Uncredited Racketeers in Exile Chief G-Man Uncredited Marked Woman Judge at 2nd trial Uncredited Internes Can't Take Money Dr. Fearson Mountain Justice The Governor Uncredited The Hit Parade J.B. Hawley Michael O'Halloran Mark Grave The Go Getter Browne Married Before Breakfast Mr. Potter Uncredited Ever Since Eve Barton The Singing Marine General The Californian Miller Paradise Isle Steinmeyer The Life of Emile Zola Prefect of Police Uncredited Reported Missing Reynolds Uncredited Confession Lawyer Stagoff Uncredited The Man Who Cried Wolf The Governor Uncredited Stage Door Richard Carmichael Breakfast for Two Gordon Faraday Thoroughbreds Don't Cry Judge Dobson Uncredited Daughter of Shanghai Mr. Yorkland Uncredited Rosalie Academy Superintendent Uncredited

Midnight Intruder Peter Winslow Arsène Lupin Returns Mr. Carter Uncredited Dangerous to Know Senator Carson Uncredited State Police Colonel C.B. Clarke Mr. Moto's Gamble District Attorney Tip-Off Girls George Murkil There's Always a Woman Mr. Ketterling A Trip to Paris Baxter Uncredited The Chaser Mr. Beaumont Smashing the Rackets John Nelson Davis Uncredited Boy Meets Girl B.K. Whitacre Uncredited You Can't Take It with You Kirby's Attorney Uncredited Valley of the Giants Banker #2 Uncredited Mr. Doodle Kicks Off Mr. Wondel Uncredited King of Alcatraz Ship Doctor Uncredited Girls' School Mr. Simpson The Mad Miss Manton Mr. Fenton Uncredited The Lady Objects Mr. Harper Young Dr. Kildare Robert Candler Girls on Probation Mr. Storm Uncredited Illegal Traffic Jigger There's That Woman Again Mr. Nacelle

King of the Underworld District Attorney The Mysterious Miss X Winslow Risky Business Abernathy Off the Record Barton Wings of the Navy Captain March Fast and Loose Victor Stockton Uncredited Secret Service of the Air Chief Morrow Uncredited The Spirit of Culver Captain Wharton King of Chinatown District Attorney Philips Uncredited The Adventures of Jane Arden Albert Thayer Society Lawyer Henry V. Adams They Made Her a Spy Colonel Wilson First Offenders Mr. Blakeley Outside These Walls Hewitt Bronson The Jones Family in Hollywood Producer Wall Street Cowboy Roger Hammond Death of a Champion Albert Deacon Everything's on Ice Hotel Manager Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Senate Minority Leader (Senator Barnes) Rulers of the Sea Mr. Caldwell Uncredited The Covered Trailer Horace Cartwright Geronimo Colonel White The Great Victor Herbert Albert Martin

The Earl of Chicago Warden Uncredited Road to Singapore Morgan Wycott Uncredited Gangs of Chicago Shady Businessman Uncredited The Saint Takes Over Ben Eagan Earthbound President of the Court Uncredited Queen of the Mob Torey Uncredited Out West with the Peppers Mr. King Sailor's Lady Captain Golden Gloves A.P. Barton Uncredited Mystery Sea Raider Straker Uncredited I Love You Again Mr. Sims Captain Caution American Consul Rhythm on the River Uncle John Uncredited Five Little Peppers in Trouble Mr. King Hired Wife Charlie Uncredited No Time for Comedy First-Nighter Uncredited Yesterday's Heroes Harvey Mason Knute Rockne All American Hearing Commissioner Uncredited Life with Henry Mr. Anderson Street of Memories Dr. Thornton Father Is a Prince Mr. Lee The Bank Dick Mr. Skinner Dr. Kildare's Crisis Robert Chandler Uncredited The Green Hornet Strikes Again! Boss Crogan Serial

Cheers for Miss Bishop President Crowder Petticoat Politics Alfred Wilcox The Trial of Mary Dugan Judge Nash A Man Betrayed Governor Meet John Doe Hammett She Knew All the Answers George Wharton Adventure in Washington Frank Conroy Naval Academy Captain Davis For Beauty's Sake Middlesex Nevada City Amos Norton The Big Store Bedding Department Manager Uncredited Cracked Nuts Mr. Benson Uncredited Life Begins for Andy Hardy Bob Waggoner Uncredited Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day Robert Chandler Uncredited Unfinished Business Lawyer Uncredited Father Takes a Wife William "Bill" Fowler Uncredited Lydia Speaker Uncredited Buy Me That Town Carlton Williams Great Guns Colonel Wayburn Jesse James at Bay Phineas Krager Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring Crothers Bedtime Story Eccles Uncredited

Lady for a Night District Attorney Logan Uncredited Nazi Agent Grover Blaine McHenry Obliging Young Lady John Markham The Adventures of Martin Eden Amos Morley Heart of the Rio Grande Randolph Lane Yokel Boy Johnson We Were Dancing Tom Bentley Uncredited Meet the Stewarts Lunch Guest Uncredited The Magnificent Dope Bill Carson The Pride of the Yankees Mr. Twitchell Wildcat Banker Uncredited Stand By All Networks Grant Neeley Secrets of the Underground District Attorney Winton Uncredited Ice-Capades Revue Wiley Stone Whistling in Dixie Doctor

Cinderella Swings It Brock Harris It Ain't Hay Major Harper Uncredited Mission to Moscow Naval Attache Uncredited A Stranger in Town Supreme Court Justice Uncredited Du Barry Was a Lady Ambrose Uncredited Good Luck, Mr. Yates Enlistment Officer Uncredited This Is the Army Audience Member Uncredited Destroyer Admiral Uncredited Fired Wife Doctor Uncredited Swing Shift Maisie Judge Crazy House Prosecutor Uncredited The Iron Major Colonel White Uncredited The Chance of a Lifetime Governor Rutledge Uncredited Riding High Masters Uncredited Jack London American Consul Uncredited What a Woman! Senator Uncredited How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines British Agent Z Uncredited

Weekend Pass John James "J.J." Kendall My Best Gal Uncredited Bermuda Mystery Herbert Bond Once Upon a Time Radio Stage Manager Uncredited Ladies of Washington Dr. John Crane Uncredited Jungle Woman Dr. Meredith South of Dixie Dean Williamson Wing and a Prayer Admiral Uncredited Atlantic City Senator Hodges Three Little Sisters Mr. Davenport Uncredited Oh, What a Night! Tom Gordon Shadow of Suspicion Frank J. Randall End of the Road District Attorney Dead Man's Eyes Attorney The Great Mike Colonel Whitley Meet Miss Bobby Socks Quinlan

She Gets Her Man Johnson Uncredited Roughly Speaking Financier Uncredited Here Come the Co-Eds Police Chief Uncredited Docks of New York Captain Jacobs Keep Your Powder Dry Mr. Lorrison Strange Illusion Wallace Armstrong I'll Remember April Dr. Armitage The Phantom Speaks Charlie Davis Honeymoon Ahead Warden Lawlor Uncredited Three's a Crowd Marcus Pett Thrill of a Romance Tycoon Uncredited I'll Tell the World Dr. Mullins Mr. Muggs Rides Again Dr. Fletcher Over 21 Joel I. Nixon Uncredited Incendiary Blonde Otto Hummel Uncredited Secrets of a Sorority Girl Dr. Harlan Johnson Divorce John B. Carter I Love a Bandleader Dr. Gardiner Apology for Murder Craig Jordan Dakota Wexton Geary Captain Tugboat Annie Dr. Turner Follow That Woman J.B. Henderson The Stork Club Mr. Gray Uncredited Adventure Mr. Buckley Uncredited

Shock Hotel Manager Uncredited Miss Susie Slagle's Superintendent Uncredited The Shadow Returns Police Commissioner J.R. Weston Uncredited The Madonna's Secret District Attorney Little Giant P.S. Van Loon Claudia and David Hartley Naughton Uncredited I Ring Doorbells G.B. Barton Murder Is My Business Arnold Ramsey The Kid from Brooklyn E. Winthrop LeMoyne Uncredited So Goes My Love Committee Man Uncredited Behind the Mask Police Commissioner Weston Our Hearts Were Growing Up Producer Uncredited G.I. War Brides Editor The Missing Lady Police Commissioner Weston Earl Carroll Sketchbook John Clark Swamp Fire P.T. Hilton High School Hero Governor Huffington Two Years Before the Mast Staunton Uncredited Plainsman and the Lady Senator Allen Uncredited Sioux City Sue G.W. Rhodes Magnificent Doll Harper Uncredited

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim Wendell Paige Uncredited Jack Armstrong Uncle Jim Fairfield Serial Cigarette Girl District Attorney Uncredited The Ghost Goes Wild Murgatroyd Uncredited Monsieur Verdoux Prison Official Uncredited Violence Ralph Borden Danger Street Turlock's Publisher Friend Uncredited Hard Boiled Mahoney Dr. Rolfe Carter The Web Mr. Porter Uncredited Seven Keys to Baldpate Mr. Bentley Uncredited Living in a Big Way Hausman Uncredited The Red Stallion Richard Moresby The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Reverend Uncredited The Wild Frontier Marshal Frank Lane Song of Love Duke of X Uncredited The Fabulous Texan Citizen Uncredited Beyond Our Own Dr. Blake Her Husband's Affairs Vice President Beitler Road to the Big House Uncredited Brick Bradford Professor Salisbury Serial

Glamour Girl T.J. Hopkins Mary Lou Airline President B.F.'s Daughter Joe Stewart Uncredited The Hunted Simon Rand State of the Union Senator Lauterback Money Madness Judge Uncredited Trapped by Boston Blackie Dunn Uncredited The Counterfeiters Carter Shanghai Chest Judge Wesley Armstrong Superman Perry White Serial Daredevils of the Clouds Douglas Harrison The Arkansas Swing Horse Vet Fighting Back Colonel A Southern Yankee Major (scenes deleted) Lady at Midnight John Featherstone Uncredited The Gentleman from Nowhere Hoffman Uncredited An Innocent Affair T.D. Hendricks The Strange Mrs. Crane Clinton Crane The Gallant Blade Governor Uncredited Incident C.W. Sloan

Alaska Patrol Mr. Sigmund Siren of Atlantis Colonel Slightly French Publicity Man Uncredited Miss Mink of 1949 Cranston Uncredited Knock on Any Door Purcell Uncredited El Paso Mr. Seton Uncredited Make Believe Ballroom Program Director Uncredited Tulsa Winters Uncredited Flamingo Road Senator on Power Commission Uncredited Neptune's Daughter Mr. Canford Uncredited Look for the Silver Lining Theater Goer Uncredited The Fountainhead Cortlandt Official Uncredited Hold That Baby! John Winston Barbary Pirate John Adams Uncredited Zamba Benton Mary Ryan, Detective Commissioner Ward Uncredited The Story of Seabiscuit Charles S. Howard Samson and Delilah 2nd Priest of Dagon Uncredited Life of St. Paul Series Caiaphas

Blue Grass of Kentucky Head Steward Radar Secret Service Mr. Hamilton Key to the City Mayor Cabot Uncredited Nancy Goes to Rio Michael Uncredited Over the Border Rand Malloy Rock Island Trail Major Shadow on the Wall Dr. Dan Hodge Uncredited The Big Hangover Samuel C. Lang Three Little Words Philip Goodman Uncredited Atom Man vs. Superman Perry White Serial Redwood Forest Trail Arthur Cameron Sunset in the West Gordon MacKnight Last of the Buccaneers Governor Claiborne Uncredited Emergency Wedding Doctor Uncredited Southside 1-1000 Police Commissioner Frontier Outpost Colonel Warrick Uncredited The Second Face Mr. Hamilton The Du Pont Story Colonel Henry du Pont

Two Lost Worlds Magistrate Jeffries Belle Le Grand Parkington's Associate Uncredited In Old Amarillo George B. Hills Mysterious Island Confederate Officer Serial, Uncredited

Scandal Sheet Baxter Uncredited Hold That Line Morgan T. Stanhope A Yank in Indo-China Kingston Lovely to Look At Prospective Investor Uncredited Thundering Caravans Head Marshal Francis Goes to West Point Colonel Hedley Uncredited

The Lost Planet Ned Hilton Serial Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders Commissioner Morrison Serial, [Chs.1,10-12] The Stranger Wore a Gun Jason Conroy The Flaming Urge Albert Cruickshank

Johnny Dark Ed J. Winston About Mrs. Leslie Lewis

The Eternal Sea General Uncredited The Big Bluff Winthrop Lay That Rifle Down Mr. Coswell Uncredited Creature with the Atom Brain Mayor Bremer Sudden Danger George Caldwell

The Maverick Queen McMillan Thunder Over Arizona Dr. E. Peterson Uncredited Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! Investor Uncredited Shake, Rattle & Rock! Armstrong Don't Knock the Rock Mayor George Bagley

Spook Chasers Dr. Moss Calypso Heat Wave Thornwall Uncredited Pal Joey Mr. Forsythe Scenes deleted

Marjorie Morningstar Civil Official Uncredited High School Confidential David Wingate Uncredited The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin It! The Terror from Beyond Space Spokesman Uncredited 1959 The Flying Fontaines Doctor Uncredited

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Silver Theatre Episode: "Bad Guy" Colgate Theatre Episode: "Satan's Waitin'" The Cisco Kid Various roles 3 episodes 1950-1951 Dick Tracy Police Chief Pat Patton Recurring role; 4 episodes 1950-1955 The Lone Ranger Various roles 6 episodes 1951 Amos 'n' Andy Traffic Court Judge #1 Episode: "Traffic Violation" 1951-1953 Racket Squad Various roles 3 episodes 1951-1955 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Various roles 5 episodes 1952 The Range Rider Dr. ChancellorDad Harris Episode: "Blind Canyon"Episode: "The Bandit Stallion" The Gene Autry Show ColonelSheriff Episode: "Blazeaway"Episode: "Six Gun Romeo" The Unexpected J.B. Crane Episode: "Split Second" Life with Luigi Episode: "Citizenship" Boston Blackie Episode: "Black Widow" 1952-53 The Roy Rogers Show PrescottProfessor Petrie Episode: "Peril from the Past"Episode: "Outlaws of Paradise Valley" Fireside Theatre Various roles 4 episodes 1952-1958 Adventures of Superman Various roles 4 episodes The Jack Benny Program Various roles 5 episodes Sky King Various roles 3 episodes 1953 Chevron Theatre Episode: "Goodbye to the Clown" Your Favorite Story Episode: "A Tale of Negative Gravity" Hopalong Cassidy Henry Warren Episode: "Frontier Law" The Adventures of Kit Carson Sheriff Episode: "Ambush" 1953-1954 The Ford Television Theatre Various roles 3 episodes 1953-1956 The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok PorterDr. Wells Episode: "Grandpa and Genie"Episode: "The Missing Diamonds" 1954 I Love Lucy Mr. Dorrance Episode: "Lucy Writes a Novel" Duffy's Tavern Fenston Episode: "The Heir" Captain Midnight Dr. Morgan Episode: "The Deadly Project" The Red Skelton Show Episode: "The Cop and the Anthem" 1954-1955 Public Defender Dr. MorseChester Lamont Episode: "Color Blind"Episode: "Gunpoint" 1954-1957 Lux Video Theatre Various roles 4 episodes The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Dr. Hyer Recurring role; 4 episodes 1955 Stories of the Century Judge Isaac C. Parker UncreditedEpisode: "Cherokee Bill" The Whistler Roarke Episode: "Favor for a Friend" The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse Episode: "The Quiet Wife" City Detective Davis Episode: "The Hypnotic Wife" Schlitz Playhouse of Stars J. Harrison Hardesty Episode: "Visitor in the Night" The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre Episode: "The Wizard" Front Row Center Hatfield Episode: "Dinner at Eight" Damon Runyon Theater Episode: "The Mink Doll" The Man Behind the Badge Tremont Episode: "The Case of the Phoney Paper" Four Star Playhouse Mr. Morgan Episode: "Let the Chips Fall" Climax! Family Friend UncreditedEpisode: "A Promise to Murder" Fury Ellis Episode: "Joey and the Gypsies" 1955-1956 Brave Eagle Colonel Matt MatthewsColonel Bond Episode: "Moonfire"Episode: "Death Trap" TV Reader's Digest Various roles 3 episodes Annie Oakley Henry LormierReverend Mills Episode: "Dead Man's Stuff"Episode: "The Reckless Press" 1955-1957 The Millionaire Jonathan JeffriesGovernor Episode: "The Margaret Browning Story"Episode: "The Hugh Waring Story" 1955-1958 December Bride Various roles 3 episodes 1956 The Count of Monte Cristo Charcot Episode: "Return to the Chateau D'if Jungle Jim Horatio Erskine Episode: "Power of Darkness" It's a Great Life JasonGeneral Episode: "Screen Test"Episode: "Old Soldiers Never Die" Cheyenne The ColonelHarvey Sinclair Episode: "Decision" (uncredited)Episode: "The Law Man" The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu Secretary of Commerce Episode: "The Satellites of Dr. Fu Manchu" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Porter Season 2 Episode 9: "Crack of Doom" The Bob Hope Show Himself Episode: "The Awful Truth" (March 21) 1957 Crossroads Judge RichterGovernor Episode: "Call for Help"Episode: "Convict 1321, Age 21" The Sheriff of Cochise Judge Episode: "Stepfather" The Gale Storm Show Episode: "For Money or Love" Sergeant Preston of the Yukon Inspector Episode: "The Jailbreaker" Tales of Wells Fargo Doctor Episode: "Laredo" 1957-1958 Perry Mason Judge Keetley Recurring role; 3 episodes The Restless Gun Various roles 3 episodes 1957-1959 Highway Patrol Thomas CorbinMr. Larson Episode: "Dead Hunter"Episode: "Diversion Robbery" 1958 Death Valley Days David Dows Episode: "Empire of Youth" Colt .45 Colonel Duncan Episode: "Decoy" The Life of Riley Teasdale Episode: "The Letter" The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Colonel Bankhead Episode: "When Sherman Marched Through Kansas" Dragnet Episode: "The Big Eyes" Frontier Doctor Dr. Breen Episode: "San Francisco Story" Tales of the Texas Rangers Ross Oliver Episode: "Jace and Clay" 1959 The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour Mr. Robinson Episode: "Lucy Wants a Career" Tombstone Territory Mr. Starr Episode: "The Black Diamond" Bronco Judge Blair Episode: "Bodyguard" 1960 77 Sunset Strip Plastics Executive UncreditedEpisode: "Collector's Item" Bat Masterson Judge Smith Episode: "A Picture of Death" Wagon Train Doctor Samuel Caldwell UncreditedEpisode: "The Larry Hanify Story" Wanted Dead or Alive Dr. Bowers Episode: "Jason", (final appearance)