Granville Gustavus Withers (January 17, 1905 – March 27, 1959), known professionally as Grant Withers, was an American film actor. He began working in motion pictures during the last years of the silent era. Withers moved into sound films, establishing himself with a list of headlined features as a young and handsome male lead. Historian Terry Rowan writes, "As his career progressed ... his importance diminished, but he did manage a 10-year contract with Republic."[1]

Grant Withers
Withers in Fort Apache (1948)
Born
Granville Gustavus Withers

(1905-01-17)January 17, 1905
DiedMarch 27, 1959(1959-03-27) (aged 54)
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
OccupationActor
Years active1925–1959
Spouses
  • Shirley Paschal
    (m. 192?; div. 192?)
(m. 1930; annul. 1931)
  • Gladys Joyce Walsh
    (m. 1933; div. 19??)
(m. 1953; div. 1955)

His friendships with both John Ford and John Wayne secured him a spot in nine of Wayne's films, but later roles dwindled to supporting roles, mainly as villains in B-movies, serials, and television.

Early life and career

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"Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Withers worked as an oil company salesman and newspaper reporter before breaking into films near the end of the silent era."[1] His more-than-30-year acting career took off in the late 1920s. While in his twenties, he was a leading man over rising talent James Cagney in Other Men's Women (1931).

The comedy short So Long Bill (1926) marked Withers's film debut.[2]

Withers's early work had him opposite actors such as W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, Boris Karloff, Mae West, and Shirley Temple. Appearing in The Red-Haired Alibi (1932) with Temple, he played the role of her first on-screen parent.

Starring roles in major pictures later dwindled to supporting parts, mainly as villains in B-movies and serials. Notable exceptions included two starring roles in serials for Universal, Jungle Jim and Radio Patrol (both 1937); and the recurring role of the brash police captain Bill Street in the five-film Monogram Pictures series Mr. Wong, starring Boris Karloff, beginning in 1938. He was under a Republic Pictures contract from February 1944 through April 1954. Withers's credits at Republic total about 60 films from 1937 to 1957.

After 1940, he was a character actor and tough guy in Westerns. He took numerous supporting roles in television as his popularity in films waned. He guest-starred as baseball coach Whitey Martin in the 1956 episode "The Comeback" on Crossroads. He was cast as Gus Andrews and Miles Breck, respectively, in two episodes, titled "The time for All Good Men" (1957) and "King of the Frontier" (1958), on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, starring Hugh O'Brian.

In 1956, he played “Jed Lardner” (a callous cowboy who left his injured partner to die) in S2E15, “Pucket’s New Year”, on the TV Western Gunsmoke. In 1958, Withers portrayed wealthy rancher Sam Barton in the episode "The Return of Dr. Thackeray" of Have Gun—Will Travel. He also appeared in two other Have Gun—Will Travel episodes.[3] That year, he played Charles Stewart Brent, owner of the Brent Building in Los Angeles, where Perry Mason had his office, and the defendant in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Gilded Lily."

In 1959, shortly before his death, Withers was cast in the episode "Feeling His Oats" on the children's Western series Fury, starring Peter Graves and Bobby Diamond. He also appeared that year as Sheriff Charlie Clayton in the episode "A Matter of Friendship" in John Bromfield's crime drama U.S. Marshal. His last film role was in the 1959 Roger Corman crime drama I Mobster. His last TV role, also in 1959, was as Ed Martin in "The Ringer" episode of the Rory Calhoun Western series The Texan.

In total, Withers appeared in some 200 film and television roles.

Personal life

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In 1930, he eloped to Yuma, Arizona, with 17-year-old actress Loretta Young. The marriage ended in annulment in 1931 just as their second movie together, titled Too Young to Marry, was released.[2] He also was married to Gladys Joyce Walsh.

Some of Withers's later screen appearances were arranged through the auspices of his friends John Ford and John Wayne. He appeared in nine movies with John Wayne, including Fort Apache (1948) and Rio Grande (1950).

Withers met Cuban-born entertainer Estelita Rodriguez while both were performing in a benefit show in 1950.[4] Withers and Rodriguez were married in Reno on January 31, 1953, with John Wayne as best man. It was an unhappy union, and Withers and Rodriguez separated on September 23, 1954. Withers attempted suicide the next day. She sued for divorce on November 30, 1954.[5]

Illness and death

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A noticeable weight gain became apparent in his films as his career progressed. In later years, back problems were among his health issues.

In failing health, Withers committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates on March 27, 1959, in his Hollywood apartment. He was 54.[6] Withers left a suicide note that read: "Please forgive me, my family. I was so unhappy. It's better this way." He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.[7]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1926 Fighting Hearts Tod Raleigh
1926 The Gentle Cyclone Wilkes Junior
1928 Golden Shackles Frank Fordyce
1928 Bringing Up Father Dennis
1929 The Time, the Place and the Girl Jim Crane
1929 The Greyhound Limited Bill
1929 In the Headlines Nosey Norton
1929 So Long Letty Harry Miller
1930 Soldiers and Women Captain Clive Branch
1930 The Other Tomorrow Jim Carter
1930 Sinner's Holiday Angel Harrigan
1931 Other Men's Women Bill White
1931 Swanee River Garry
1932 The Gambling Sex Bill Foster
1935 The Fighting Marines Cpl. Larry Lawrence
1935 The Test Brule Conway
1935 Skybound Chet Morley
1935 Goin' To Town Cowboy
1935 Rip Roaring Riley Major Gray
1936 The Arizona Raiders Monroe Adams
1937 Jungle Jim Jim 'Jungle Jim' Bradley Serial
1937 Bill Cracks Down "Tons" Walker
1937 Hollywood Round-Up Grant Drexel
1938 Mr. Wong – Mr. Wong, Detective Capt. William 'Bill' Street
1939 Mr. Wong – Mr. Wong in Chinatown Capt. William 'Bill' Street
1939 Daughter of the Tong Ralph Dickson
1939 Navy Secrets Steve Roberts
1940 Mr. Wong – Fatal Hour Capt. William 'Bill' Street
1940 Mr. Wong – Doomed to Die Capt. William 'Bill' Street
1940 Mr. Wong – Phantom of Chinatown Capt. William 'Bill' Street
1943 In Old Oklahoma Richardson
1943 Petticoat Larceny Detective Hogan
1944 The Fighting Seabees Whanger Spreckles
1944 The Yellow Rose of Texas Express Agent Lucas
1946 My Darling Clementine Ike Clanton
1947 Tycoon Fog Harris
1948 Fort Apache Silas Meacham
1948 Wake of the Red Witch Capt. Wilde Youngeur
1950 Bells of Coronado Craig Bennett
1950 Rio Grande Deputy Marshal
1952 Tropical Heat Wave Norman James
1953 Fair Wind to Java Jason Blue
1954 Jubilee Trail Maj. Lynden Uncredited
1955 Run for Cover Gentry
1955 Lady Godiva of Coventry Pendar
1956 The White Squaw Sheriff
1957 Hell's Crossroads Sheriff Steve Oliver
1957 The Last Stagecoach West Jack Fergus
1959 I Mobster Paul Moran

References

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  1. ^ a b Rowan, Terry (April 9, 2016). Character-Based Film Series Part 2. Lulu.com. p. 168. ISBN 9781365021305. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Mayer, Geoff (2017). Encyclopedia of American Film Serials. McFarland. pp. 290–291. ISBN 9780786477623. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  3. ^ Hal Erickson, "Return of Dr. Thackeray", All Movie Guide
  4. ^ Hollywood Reporter, Nov. 10, 1950, p. 9.
  5. ^ "Actor Grant Withers Sued for Divorce", Los Angeles Times, Dec. 1, 1954, p. 6.
  6. ^ Frasier, David K. (2005). Suicide in the Entertainment Industry: An Encyclopedia of 840 Twentieth Century Cases. McFarland. p. 350. ISBN 9780786423330. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  7. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7864-5019-0.
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