Born: December 25, 1902 – Died: January 1, 1969
Barton MacLane, an indelible presence in the Hollywood firmament, was born on Christmas Day in 1902 in Columbia, South Carolina. His parents' professions remain unrecorded, but it's his life and career that cast a towering shadow over the entertainment industry. Known for his physically imposing roles, MacLane's journey from a sports-enthusiast at Wesleyan University to a celebrated actor is a remarkable tale of talent and perseverance.
Early Life and Career
MacLane's early years were marked by a pronounced aptitude for sports, particularly football and basketball. This athletic prowess not only shaped his university days but also paved his way into the acting world, beginning with his role in "The Quarterback" (1926). His robust build and commanding presence made him a natural choice for roles that required a blend of physicality and intensity.
His educational journey took him to Wesleyan University, where his sports skills were as prominent as his emerging acting talent. Post-university, MacLane honed his craft at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He joined a stock company in Brooklyn and made his Broadway debut in 1927 in "The Trial of Mary Dugan", showcasing his range beyond the physical roles he was often associated with.
MacLane's first significant cinematic role came in "The Quarterback" (1926), but it was his portrayal of Al Kruger in "Bullets or Ballots" (1936) that marked his first major success. This role not only demonstrated his acting prowess but also typecast him as the quintessential "heavy" — a term he ironically embraced.
The role that catapulted him to stardom was that of Lt. of Detectives Dundy in "The Maltese Falcon" (1941). This film not only solidified his place in Hollywood but also demonstrated his ability to bring depth and nuance to roles that could easily have been one-dimensional.
In terms of accolades, while specific awards for MacLane are not detailed, his career spanning over 40 years with roles in over 186 films and TV shows is a testament to his remarkable talent and versatility.
Off-screen, MacLane's life was as colorful as his career. He was married to actress Charlotte Wynters from 1939 until his death. The couple shared their time between Hollywood and their 2000-acre cattle ranch in Madera County, California. .
Barton MacLane's impact on Hollywood is immeasurable. His versatility in playing both villains and sympathetic characters, his commanding presence, and his longevity in the industry make him a true icon. His unique blend of physicality and depth in acting continues to inspire generations of actors.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1965–1969 | I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series) | General Martin Peterson | General Peterson |
| 1968 | Buckskin | Dr. H. 'Doc' Raymond |
| 1968 | Arizona Bushwhackers | Sheriff Grover |
| 1967 | Hondo (TV Series) | Markham |
| 1967 | The Monkees (TV Series) | Bart (as Barton Mac Lane) |
| 1966–1967 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) | Willard Kerner | Herkimer Crawford |
| 1966 | The Munsters (TV Series) | Big Roy |
| 1965 | Dream Wife (TV Movie) | Sam Burr |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | James Fenimore Fell |
| 1965 | The Rounders | Tanner |
| 1959–1964 | Perry Mason (TV Series) | Archer Osmond | Harold Minter | Sheriff Eugene Norris ... |
| 1964 | Law of the Lawless | Big Tom Stone |
| 1960–1963 | Laramie (TV Series) | Owen Richards | Ed Bishop | Mel Bishop ... |
| 1961 | Pocketful of Miracles | Police Commissioner (as Barton Maclane) |
| 1960–1961 | Outlaws (TV Series) | Marshal Frank Caine | Marshal Frank Crane |
| 1960 | Noose for a Gunman | Carl Avery |
| 1960 | Tightrope (TV Series) | Vince Baron |
| 1960 | Overland Trail (TV Series) | Big Jed Braddock |
| 1959–1960 | The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) | Rawls Kettrick | Bob Scanlon |
| 1959 | Grand Jury (TV Series) | Sam Spanner |
| 1958–1959 | Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV Series) | Wentworth | Matt Tranier |
| 1959 | Gunfighters of Abilene | Seth Hainline |
| 1959 | Black Saddle (TV Series) | General Fowler |
| 1958 | The Geisha Boy | Maj. Ridgley |
| 1958 | Frontier Gun | Simon Crayle |
| 1958 | 77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) | Brannigan |
| 1958 | Girl on the Run | Francis J. Brannigan |
| 1958 | Girl in the Woods | Big Jim |
| 1958 | Kraft Theatre (TV Series) | Potter |
| 1957 | Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) | Old Man Clanton |
| 1957 | Naked in the Sun | Wilson |
| 1955–1957 | Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) | Marvin Platt | Steve | Damon |
| 1957 | Telephone Time (TV Series) | Pete Devlin |
| 1957 | Circus Boy (TV Series) | Pinkerton Detective Nolan |
| 1957 | Sierra Stranger | Lem Gotch |
| 1956–1957 | Conflict (TV Series) | Glen Callister |
| 1957 | Wire Service (TV Series) | Gen. Bailey |
| 1957 | Hell's Crossroads | Clyde O'Connell |
| 1956 | Three Violent People | Yates |
| 1956 | Naked Gun | Joe Barnum |
| 1956 | The Man Is Armed | Det. Lt. Dan Coster |
| 1956 | The Kaiser Aluminum Hour (TV Series) | Dan Royal |
| 1956 | Wetbacks | Karl Shanks |
| 1956 | Backlash | Sgt. George Lake |
| 1956 | Crossroads (TV Series) | Truck Adams |
| 1956 | Cheyenne (TV Series) | Martin Storm |
| 1956 | Jaguar | Steve Bailey |
| 1956 | Studio 57 (TV Series) | Capt. Sterling |
| 1955 | Last of the Desperados | Mosby - Gang Leader |
| 1955 | Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) | Chief Brooks |
| 1955 | Jail Busters | Captain Jenkins, Head Guard |
| 1955 | Foxfire | Jim Mablett |
| 1955 | The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (TV Series) | Capt. Hansen |
| 1955 | The Silver Star | Henry 'Tiny' Longtree (as Barton McLane) |
| 1955 | Four Star Playhouse (TV Series) | Capt. Webber | Milo |
| 1955 | Treasure of Ruby Hills | 'Chalk' Reynolds |
| 1954 | Hell's Outpost | Sheriff Olson |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1954 | The Whistler (TV Series) | McKay |
| 1954 | Rails Into Laramie | Lee Graham |
| 1954 | Waterfront (TV Series) | McClurg |
| 1954 | Jubilee Trail | Deacon Bartlett |
| 1954 | The Glenn Miller Story | General Arnold |
| 1953 | Jack Slade | Jules Reni |
| 1953 | Sea of Lost Ships | Capt. Jack Matthews |
| 1953 | Captain Scarface | Captain Scarface |
| 1953 | Fireside Theatre (TV Series) | Sgt. James Simmons | Big Red |
| 1953 | Cow Country | Marvin Parker |
| 1953 | Your Jeweler's Showcase (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1953 | Kansas Pacific | Cal Bruce |
| 1952 | Thunderbirds | Sgt. Durkee |
| 1952 | The Half-Breed | Marshal Cassidy |
| 1952 | Bugles in the Afternoon | Capt. Myles Moylan |
| 1951 | Drums in the Deep South | Sgt. Mac McCardle |
| 1951 | Best of the Badmen | Joad |
| 1950 | Bandit Queen | Jim Harden |
| 1950 | Let's Dance | Larry Channock |
| 1950 | Rookie Fireman | Captain Jess Henshaw |
| 1950 | Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye | Police Lt. John Reece |
| 1949 | Red Light | Strecker |
| 1948 | Unknown Island | Capt. Tarnowski |
| 1948 | Angel in Exile | Max Giorgio |
| 1948 | The Walls of Jericho | Gotch McCurdy |
| 1948 | The Dude Goes West | Texas Jack Barton |
| 1948 | Silver River | 'Banjo' Sweeney |
| 1948 | Relentless | Tex Brandow |
| 1948 | The Treasure of the Sierra Madre | Pat McCormick (as Barton Mac Lane) |
| 1947 | Cheyenne | Webb Yancey |
| 1947 | Jungle Flight | Case Hagin |
| 1947 | Tarzan and the Huntress | Paul Weir (as Barton Maclane) |
| 1946 | San Quentin | Nick Taylor |
| 1946 | Santa Fe Uprising | Crawford |
| 1946 | Mysterious Intruder | Detective Taggart |
| 1945 | The Spanish Main | Capt. Benjamin Black |
| 1945 | Scared Stiff | George 'Deacon' Markham |
| 1945 | Tarzan and the Amazons | Ballister (as Barton Maclane) |
| 1944 | Gentle Annie | Sheriff Tatum |
| 1944 | Cry of the Werewolf | Police Lt. Barry Lane |
| 1944 | Secret Command | Red Kelly |
| 1944 | The Mummy's Ghost | Inspector Walgreen |
| 1944 | Marine Raiders | Sgt. Maguire |
| 1944 | Nabonga | Carl Hurst |
| 1943 | The Crime Doctor's Strangest Case | Detective Rief |
| 1943 | The Underdog | John Tate |
| 1943 | Song of Texas | Jim Calvert |
| 1943 | Bombardier | Sgt. Archie Dixon |
| 1943 | A Gentle Gangster | Mike Hallit |
| 1943 | Man of Courage | John Wallace |
| 1942 | Highways by Night | Leo Bronson |
| 1942 | The Big Street | Case Ables |
| 1942 | All Through the Night | Marty Callahan |
| 1941 | The Maltese Falcon | Lt. of Detectives Dundy |
| 1941 | Wild Geese Calling | Pirate Kelly |
| 1941 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Sam Higgins |
| 1941 | Manpower | Smiley Quinn |
| 1941 | Hit the Road | James J. Ryan |
| 1941 | Barnacle Bill | John Kelly |
| 1941 | Western Union | Jack Slade |
| 1941 | Come Live with Me | Barney Grogan |
| 1940 | High Sierra | Jake Kranmer |
| 1940 | Melody Ranch | Mark Wildhack |
| 1940 | The Secret Seven | Sam O'Donnell |
| 1940 | Men Without Souls | Blackie Drew |
| 1940 | Gangs of Chicago | Jim Ramsey |
| 1939 | Mutiny in the Big House | Red Manson |
| 1939 | Torchy Runs for Mayor | Steve McBride |
| 1939 | Big Town Czar | Phil Daley |
| 1939 | I Was a Convict | Ace King |
| 1939 | Torchy Blane in Chinatown | Police Lieutenant Steve McBride |
| 1939 | Stand Up and Fight | Crowder |
| 1938 | Torchy Gets Her Man | Steve McBride |
| 1938 | The Storm | Capt. Cogswell |
| 1938 | Prison Break | Joaquin Shannon |
| 1938 | You and Me | Mickey |
| 1938 | Gold Is Where You Find It | Slag Martin |
| 1938 | Blondes at Work | Lieutenant Steve McBride |
| 1937 | The Adventurous Blonde | Steve MacBride |
| 1937 | The Kid Comes Back | 'Gunner' Malone |
| 1937 | Wine, Women and Horses | Jim Turner |
| 1937 | Born Reckless | Jim Barnes |
| 1937 | Ever Since Eve | Al McCoy |
| 1937 | Fly Away Baby | Steve McBride |
| 1937 | San Quentin | Captain Druggin |
| 1937 | Draegerman Courage | Andrew Beaupre |
| 1937 | The Prince and the Pauper | John Canty |
| 1937 | You Only Live Once | Stephen Whitney |
| 1937 | God's Country and the Woman | Bullhead |
| 1937 | Smart Blonde | Steve McBride |
| 1936 | Bengal Tiger | Cliff Ballenger |
| 1936 | Jailbreak | Detective Captain Rourke |
| 1936 | Bullets or Ballots | Al Kruger |
| 1936 | Times Square Playboy | Casey |
| 1936 | The Walking Dead | Loder |
| 1936 | Ceiling Zero | Al Stone |
| 1935 | Man of Iron | Chris Bennett |
| 1935 | Frisco Kid | Spider Burke |
| 1935 | I Found Stella Parish | Clifton Jeffords |
| 1935 | Dr. Socrates | Red Bastian |
| 1935 | The Case of the Lucky Legs | Police Chief Bisonette (as Barton Mac Lane) |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory | Blackie (as Barton McLane) |
| 1935 | Stranded | Sharkey |
| 1935 | Go Into Your Dance | Duke Hutchinson (as Barton Mac Lane) |
| 1935 | 'G' Men | Collins |
| 1935 | Black Fury | McGee |
| 1935 | The Case of the Curious Bride | Detective Lucas |
| 1934 | The Last Round-Up | Charley Benson |
| 1934 | All of Me | First Cop (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Hell and High Water | Dance Hall Manager |
| 1933 | Lone Cowboy | Policeman Baxter |
| 1933 | Big Executive | Harry the Guide |
| 1933 | Tillie and Gus | Commissioner McLennan |
| 1933 | To the Last Man | Neil Stanley |
| 1933 | Man of the Forest | Henchman Mulvey |
| 1933 | Let's Dance (Short) | (uncredited) |
| 1933 | The Thundering Herd | Pruitt |
| 1932 | Acid Test (Short) | (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Your Hat (Short) | Customer (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Naggers in Four Wheels - No Brakes (Short) | Unknown |
| 1932 | State's Attorney | Court Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Naughty-Cal (Short) | Sailor (uncredited) |
| 1931 | His Woman | Crewman (uncredited) |
| 1931 | The Gigolo Racket (Short) | Cafe Customer (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Crimes Square (Short) | Detective with Handcuffs (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Politics (Short) | Immigration Officer |
| 1929 | The Cocoanuts | Lifeguard (uncredited) |
| 1926 | The Quarterback | Football Player (uncredited) |
General:
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