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Rusty Wescoatt

{{short description|American actor (1911–1987)}}

{{Infobox person

| image =

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| name = Rusty Wescoatt

| birth_name = Norman Wescoatt

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1911|8|2|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Maui, Hawaii, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|9|3|1911|8|2}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| othername =

| yearsactive = 1947–1965

| spouse =

| parents =

| alma_mater = University of Hawaii

| website =

| awards =

| occupation = Actor

}}

Norman "Rusty" Wescoatt (August 2, 1911 – September 3, 1987) was an American supporting actor who appeared in over 80 films between 1947 and 1965.

Early life

The son of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Wescoatt,{{cite news |title=Leis Given To Leaders Of McKinley |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21693863/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=October 20, 1929 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=10|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} he was born on August 2, 1911,{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/rusty_wescoatt/|title=Rusty Wescoatt|accessdate=January 26, 2016|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster}} in Maui, Hawaii. {{cite web|url=http://threestooges.net/cast/actor/460|accessdate=January 26, 2016|work=Three Stooges|title=Rusty Wescoat}} He played football at McKinley High School and at the University of Hawaii.

Wescoatt spoke Hawaiian, Chinese, and Japanese.{{cite news |last1=Parrott |first1=Harold |title=Rusty Is Rusty When It Comes to Snow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21694703/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |date=November 5, 1935 |location=New York, Brooklyn |page=19|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Athletics

On July 4, 1933, Wescoatt won his initial match as a professional wrestler, debuting in Honolulu, Hawaii.{{cite news |title=Anderson Defeats Joe Kirk on Mat: "Rusty" Wescoatt Makes His Debut by Winning In First Round |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21694377/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=July 5, 1933 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=9|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} He went on to wrestle in New York, Boston, and other eastern cities,{{cite news |title=Rusty Wescoatt On Screen At The Princess |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21695073/rusty_wescoat/ |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=March 22, 1936 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=10|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} amassing a total of nearly 200 matches, 90 percent of which he won, by September 1936.{{cite news |last1=McQueen |first1=Red |title=Hoomalimali |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21695256/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=September 17, 1936 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=8|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}} Also in September 1936, he signed a contract with a new manager to move up to "a tour of some of the larger wrestling centers."{{cite news |title=Rusty Wescoatt Signs Contract With Ed Lewis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21696447/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=September 26, 1936 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=6|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}}

On Easter Sunday 1935, he set a record by swimming across the San Francisco Bay in two hours, 5 minutes.

Acting

Wescoatt began his acting career with The Vigilante in 1947 as Garrity (uncredited).{{cite book|last=Cline|first=William C.|title=In the Nick of Time|url=https://archive.org/details/innickoftimemot00clin|url-access=registration|year=1984|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=0-7864-0471-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/innickoftimemot00clin/page/245 245]|chapter=Filmography}} His next serial was The Sea Hound as Singapore Manson.{{r|c|page1=246}} In 1948, Wescoatt was in Superman, a 15-part black-and-white Columbia film serial, based on the comic book character Superman as Elton in chapters 7–15.{{r|c|page1=247}} In 1948, he was in Congo Bill as Ivan.{{r|c|page1=248}} He played a number of henchmen roles in B-Westerns and serials.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} Wescoatt's main studio for serial mayhem was Columbia. His screen persona was usually a bully who, often had more brawn than brains, did the physical labor according to the strict orders given by the brains heavy.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}}

In 1950, Wescoatt was uncredited as Maklee Native in Jungle Manhunt. In 1955, he was in Gang Busters as Mike Denike (archive footage). Also in 1955, he was in Tarantula, a science fiction film from Universal-International, produced by William Alland, directed by Jack Arnold, as a driver (uncredited).{{AFI film|51679|Tarantula}}

Wescoatt guest starred in a number of television shows including The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Lone Ranger, Death Valley Days, Hopalong Cassidy, Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill, Jr., Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, Sky King, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, 77 Sunset Strip, Maverick, Bat Masterson, The Twilight Zone, Lawman, and The Legend of Jesse James.

Later years

In the 1960s, Wescoatt operated food markets in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Death

Wescoatt died on September 3, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 76.{{cite news |title=Football, swim star Norman Wescoatt dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/21685656/rusty_wescoatt/ |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=September 11, 1987 |location=Hawaii, Honolulu |page=13|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = July 8, 2018}} {{Open access}}

Selected appearances

=Films=

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=TV shows=

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{IMDb name|id=0921674|name=Rusty Wescoatt}}

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Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:1911 births

Category:1987 deaths

Category:20th-century American male actors