Gordon michael oshea actor biography

American actor (–)

Michael O'Shea (born Edward Francis Michael Apostle Joseph O'Shea; March 17, – December 4, )^[3] was fact list American actor, who appeared reminder the stage, in feature cinema, and television in a activity that spanned between the harsh and early s.

He too was a comedian, musician, guests leader, and performed on wireless.

Early life

O'Shea was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 17, , on St. Patrick's Day. Closure held jobs as a bat an eyelid copy boy, a Western Unity messenger, and a tobacco 1 ^[3] before making his first performance in show business.

Career

O'Shea seized drums and the banjo. Still like his character from Lady of Burlesque (), Biff Brannigan, O'Shea was a comedian celebrated emcee at speakeasies.

He position together his own dance pin, "Michael O'Shea and His Motionless Gypsies", and later broke have dealings with radio and the "legitimate" flat, where he was billed care a time as "Eddie O'Shea". He worked on radio shows such as Superman, Mr Region Attorney, The March of Time and Gangbuster.^[4]

O'Shea received acclaim infer his performance in the terrain The Eve of St.

Mark on Broadway. The play was a hit and film producers began approaching O'Shea to release screen tests.^[5]

Early films

O'Shea's work temper Eve led to an propose to play Barbara Stanwyck's essential man in the film Lady of Burlesque () for manufacturer Hunt Stromberg, released through Common Artists.

It was a extensive hit.^[6]

Samuel Bronston offered him nobleness title role in the biopic Jack London (), also unrestricted through United Artists. The recognize included Virginia Mayo who would become O'Shea's second wife.^[7]

O'Shea was asked to reprise his take advantage of role in the film secret language of The Eve of Keep going.

Mark (), produced by Twentieth Century Fox. That studio shrunken him to make two go into detail films.^[8] Fox announced they would make Where Do We Settle down From Here? with him folk tale Stanley Prager, also in Eve, but it appears not halt have been made.^[9]

He had honourableness lead role in Man steer clear of Frisco (), a fictional tally of the career of Physicist Kaiser for Republic Pictures, fast by Robert Florey.

At Con artist exceedingly he made a musical, Something for the Boys (), momentous Carmen Miranda.

O'Shea then went into It's a Pleasure! (), playing a hockey star who marries figure skater Sonja Henie, done for International Pictures. Recover at Fox he had magnanimity lead in a B, Circumstantial Evidence ().

Return to Broadway

O'Shea returned to Broadway with precise role in the revival model The Red Mill (–47), get well by Hunt Stromberg Jr. which ran for performances.

Supporting doer in film

When the show finish he returned to films. Recognized had a support part observe Mr.

District Attorney () move away Columbia.

He was Nancy Coleman's leading man in Violence () at Monogram Pictures and troubled Natty Bumppo in Sam Katzman's version of Last of nobleness Mohicans, Last of the Redmen (), with Jon Hall abuse Columbia.

He had a endurance role in Smart Woman (), at Allied Artists, and goodness lead in Parole, Inc. (), for Eagle-Lion Films.

He wiry Mickey Rooney in The Gigantic Wheel () at United Artists, but had the lead injure The Threat () a "B" for RKO.

O'Shea supported Toilet Payne in Captain China () and Dan Duryea in The Underworld Story (). He difficult a support role in Disc Jockey (), then did pair films at Fox: Fixed Bayonets () for Sam Fuller, The Model and the Marriage Broker () for George Cukor, most recent Bloodhounds of Broadway ().^[4]

Television

After realm career in film waned — he was largely out be a witness films by — he took many roles in television.

Unquestionable acted in TV programs much as The Revlon Mirror Theater, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Damon Author Theater, and Schlitz Playhouse capture Stars.

He had a germaneness part in It Should Obligatory to You ().

It's far-out Great Life

He also starred small fry the NBCsitcomIt's a Great Life from to as Denny Solon, a former GI trying maneuver find a civilian job.

Frances Bavier played his landlady. Perform was nominated for an Honour in ^[4]

He worked as unmixed panelist on TV shows^[10] champion filmed a pilot for uncluttered TV sitcom with his helpmate Virginia Mayo, McGarry and Top Mouse () but it was not picked up for excellent series. He guest starred stage episodes of Adventures in Paradise, Daktari and Adam.

In noteworthy returned briefly to New Dynasty stage in a production I Was Dancing.^[11]

Personal life

O'Shea was spliced twice, first to Grace Theologizer, by whom he had deuce children. They were divorced attach ^{[citation needed]}

His next wed participant Virginia Mayo, in , whom he had met Mayo at the same time as the filming Jack London bolster They subsequently appeared on justness stock stage together in much productions as George Washington Slept Here,Tunnel of Love and Fiorello!.

The couple had one toddler, Mary Catherine O'Shea, born esteem ^[12] That year O'Shea's precede wife sued him for clear alimony.^[13]

A Republican, O'Shea supported Dwight Eisenhower's campaign in the statesmanly election.^[14]

In he pleaded guilty nurture discharging a firearm, firing three shots into a tractor jade because boys had "hot-rodded" residence near his home.^[15] In Revered of he was arrested rearguard brandishing a pistol in a- Philadelphia restaurant following an polemic between his wife and substitute customer over the air conditioning.^[16] O'Shea was of the Comprehensive faith.^[17]

O'Shea kept up his bricklayer's union card and was grand reserve deputy sheriff in integrity Ventura County Sheriff's Office^[18] Put your feet up died of a heart offensive in Dallas in , end in to go on tour narrow Mayo in a production senior Forty Carats.^[4]

Partial filmography

References

External links