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Horace McMahon

{{short description|American actor}}

{{more footnotes needed|date=February 2008}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Horace McMahon

| image = Horace McMahon in Detective Story.jpg

| caption = McMahon in Detective Story (1951)

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1906|5|17}}

| birth_place = South Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1971|8|17|1906|5|17}}

| death_place = Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.

| resting_place =

| education = Fordham University School of Law

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 1931–1969

| spouse = {{marriage|Louise Campbell|1937|1971|end=died}}

| children = 3

}}

Horace McMahon (May 17, 1906 – 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.{{cite news|title=New Norwalk Theatre Will Honor McMahon|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8271347/the_bridgeport_post/|work=The Bridgeport Post|date=April 16, 1972|location=Connecticut, Bridgeport|page=109|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = January 9, 2017}} {{Open access}} He became interested in acting when he was a student at Fordham University School of Law.{{Citation needed |date=August 2022}}

Career

In his early career he mostly played thugs or jailbirds, but in 1949 he starred in his most acclaimed role, as Lieutenant Monaghan in the drama play Detective Story and in 1951 he reprised his character in Paramount Pictures' film version Detective Story, alongside Kirk Douglas and Eleanor Parker.

McMahon also starred on television, in the ABC police series Naked City as Lt. Mike Parker, a gruff, no-nonsense, but warmhearted cop's cop, 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.{{cite news| title =Outstanding performance in a supporting role by an actor - 1962| publisher =Emmys.com| url =http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/horace-mcmahon| access-date =2012-09-21}}

In 1964, McMahon played Hank McClure, a police contact in the CBS drama series, Mr. Broadway.{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Val |title=Televising Baldwin Drama |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/14/archives/televising-baldwin-drama-shortened-version-of-mr-charlie-on-cbs.html |access-date=May 26, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=June 14, 1964 |page=X 17|url-access=subscription}}

On 5 October 1967 McMahon played the character "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.

He also did voice-overs for commercials, including those for Close-Up toothpaste and Armstrong tires.

Legacy

In 1972, a 375-seat theater named in honor of McMahon was created in the McCrory Building on Washington Street in South Norwalk, Connecticut.

Personal life

McMahon was married to actress Louise Campbell from 1938 until his death in 1971.{{cite news|last1=Sutton|first1=Larry|title=Actress McMahon Dead at 86|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/actress-mcmahon-dead-86-article-1.773802|access-date=26 October 2016|work=New York Daily News|date=November 6, 1997}} Their daughter, Martha McMahon, also became an actress.{{cite news|last1=McCarthy|first1=Margaret|title=McMahons of Rowayton Are Finding Theatrical Work Keeps Family Busy|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8271591/the_bridgeport_post/|work=The Bridgeport Post|date=August 13, 1970|location=Connecticut, Bridgeport|page=16|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = January 9, 2017}} {{Open access}}

Selected filmography

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References

{{Portal|Biography|Film|Television}}

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category|Horace McMahon}}

  • {{IMDb name|id=0573024}}
  • {{IBDB name|52518}}
  • {{Find a Grave|6753679}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McMahon, Horace}}

Category:1906 births

Category:1971 deaths

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:Male actors from Norwalk, Connecticut

Category:Fordham University School of Law alumni

Category:20th-century American male actors