Tom London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tom London (August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American veteran actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to The Guinness Book of Movie Records, London is credited with appearing in the most films in the history of Hollywood, this according to the 2001 book Film Facts, where it states that the performer who played in the most films was "Tom London, who made his first of over 2000 appearances in The Great Train Robbery, 1903.
Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois. His debut was in 1915 in the Western Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent films, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock". London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. In the silent film era he often played villainous roles, while in later years he often appeared as the sidekick to Western stars like Sunset Carson in several films.
One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films. London made many guest appearances in television shows through the 1950s, such as The Range Rider, with Jock Mahoney and Dick Jones. He also played Sam, the attendant of Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) in High Noon. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A. in 1961, and his final roles on TV were in Lawman and The Dakotas.
London died at his home in North Hollywood at age 81 and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Movies
Spy Smasher Returns
Crane
13 West Street
Prisoner (uncredited)
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Bum at Bar (uncredited)
Lone Texan
Old Dan (uncredited)
Money, Women and Guns
Old Prospector (uncredited)
Man of the West
Tom (uncredited)
The Sheepman
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger
Domino Kid
Friendly Persuasion
Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Livery Stableman (uncredited)
Pack Train
Dan Coleman
Blue Canadian Rockies
Pop Phillips
The Old West
Chadwick (uncredited)
High Noon
Sam (uncredited)
Apache Country
Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
Rancho Notorious
Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
Trail Guide
Old Timer
The Secret of Convict Lake
Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
Rough Riders of Durango
Rancher Evans
The Blazing Sun
Tom Ellis
The Old Frontier
Banker
Cody of the Pony Express
Doc Laramie
Red Desert
Colonel
Riders in the Sky
Old Man Robert
San Antone Ambush
Bartender Tim
South of Rio
Jim Weston
Brand of Fear
Marshal Blackjack Flint
Frontier Investigator
Jed
Mark of the Lash
Lem Kimmerly
Marshal of Amarillo
Mr. Snodgrass
Under Colorado Skies
Sheriff Blanchard
The Wild Frontier
Patrick MacSween
Along the Oregon Trail
Wagon Boss
Marshal of Cripple Creek
Baker
Jesse James Rides Again
Sam Bolton
Blackmail
Tom - Cashier
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon
The Sheriff
Saddle Pals
Dad Gardner
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
Homesteaders of Paradise Valley
Rancher
Twilight on the Rio Grande
U.S. Customs Agent Tom
Last Frontier Uprising
Skillet (Ranch Hand)
Out California Way
Johnny
Santa Fe Uprising
Lafe Dibble
Roll on Texas Moon
Sheriff Bert Morris
Rio Grande Raiders
Sheriff Tom Hammon
The Invisible Informer
Eph Shroud
Conquest of Cheyenne
Sheriff Dan Perkins
Red River Renegades
Pop Underwood
Night Train to Memphis
Train Conductor
Man from Rainbow Valley
Healey
Passkey to Danger
Gerald Bates
Sun Valley Cyclone
Sheriff
King of the Forest Rangers
Tom Judson
Alias Billy the Kid
Dakota
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
Sheriff
Crime of the Century
Dr. Jackson
California Gold Rush
Sheriff Peabody
Days of Buffalo Bill
Banty McCabe
The Phantom Rider
Medicine Man Ceta
The Undercover Woman
Lem
Wagon Wheels Westward
Fake Judge Worth
The Cherokee Flash
Utah
Colorado Pioneers
Sand Snipe
Girls of the Big House
Sheriff at Alma's Cell
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
Sheriff Edwards
Don't Fence Me In
Ben Duncan
Marshal of Laredo
Barton
Sunset in El Dorado
Sheriff Gridley
Oregon Trail
Sheriff Plenner
Trail of Kit Carson
John Benton
Federal Operator 99
Prof. Crawford
Flame of Barbary Coast
Thompson, Townsman in Mob
Corpus Christi Bandits
Rocky - Henchman
Earl Carroll Vanities
Tom the Doorman
Sheriff of Cimarron
Frank Holden
Grissly's Millions
Policeman Ralph
Thoroughbreds
Pop
Firebrands of Arizona
Wagon Driver
Faces in the Fog
Auto Court Manager
Zorro's Black Whip
James Bradley
Vigilantes of Dodge City
Denver
Sheriff of Sundown
Sheriff Tom Carpenter
Code of the Prairie
Henchman Loomis
Cheyenne Wildcat
Harrison Colby
Stagecoach to Monterey
Chester Wade
San Antonio Kid
Long
The Girl Who Dared
Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
Silver City Kid
Sheriff Gibson
Call of the Rockies
Henchman Hansen
Marshal of Reno
Sheriff
The Yellow Rose of Texas
Sheriff Allen
The Lady and the Monster
Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Sheriff McBride
Beneath Western Skies
Earl Phillips
Captain America
Mack
The Fighting Seabees
Johnson (uncredited)
The Woman of the Town
Crockett Henchman
Canyon City
Sheriff Slocum
Overland Mail Robbery
Sheriff
False Colors
Poncho Townsman
Bullets and Saddles
Marshal (archive footage)
Hail to the Rangers
Jessup
The Renegade
Pete
Wagon Tracks West
Lem Martin
Silver Spurs
Henchman
Batman
Andrews
Song of Texas
Race Official
Captive Wild Woman
Ship's Captain (archive footage)
West of Texas
Steve Conlon
Wild Horse Stampede
Henchman Lefty
Santa Fe Scouts
Billy Dawson
The Ox-Bow Incident
Deputy (uncredited)
Idaho
Henchman
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Hank Turner
No Place for a Lady
Air Raid Warden (? - ever seen in final cut?)
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
Henchman Pete
Ridin' Down the Canyon
Henchman
The Valley of Vanishing Men
Slater
American Empire
Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
Red River Robin Hood
Del Auston
Bandit Ranger
Cattle Rustler (uncredited)
The Secret Code
Weather Bureau Guard
The Omaha Trail
Oxen Train Bullwhacker
Shadows on the Sage
Franklin
Riders of the West
Slim - Lanky Henchman
Sons of the Pioneers
Joe #1 - Henchman
Perils of the Royal Mounted
Gaynor
Stardust on the Sage
Henchman MacGowan
Down Texas Way
Bartender Pete
Land of the Open Range
Henchman Tracy Briggs
Spy Smasher
Crane
Ghost Town Law
Ace, Chief Thug
Lone Star Ranger
Henchman (uncredited)
Valley of the Sun
Trooper Parker (uncredited)
West of Tombstone
Morris
Arizona Terrors
Second Dialogue Tenant-Rancher
Forbidden Trails
Marshal Tom
Dude Cowboy
Silver City Sheriff
Underground Rustlers
Henchman Tom Harris
Riding the Sunset Trail
Sheriff Hays
Twilight on the Trail
Henchman Gregg
Stick to Your Guns
Ranch Foreman Waffles
Bad Man of Deadwood
Townsman
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury
Curley - Saloon Henchman
Dynamite Canyon
Captain Gray
Fugitive Valley
Marshal Warren
Wanderers of the West
Montana Sheriff
The Son of Davy Crockett
Ranger Logan
Billy the Kid
Leader (uncredited)
The Spider Returns
Detective
Robbers of the Range
Henchman Monk Saunders
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance
Cop Getting Crane
Western Union
Slade Henchman #3
Across the Sierras
Man on Wagon
Romance of the Rio Grande
U. S. Marshal
Riders from Nowhere
Mason
The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
Thug with Explosives
Junior G-Men
Kearney - Riot Squad Cop (uncredited)
The Green Archer
Detective with Shiner
Trailing Double Trouble
Henchman Kirk
The Gay Caballero
Man at Fiesta
Wagon Train
Henchman Charlie
Brigham Young
Raider
Melody Ranch
Henchman Joe #2
Boom Town
Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
Lyncher
Roll Wagons Roll
Henchman Matt Grimes
The Ranger and the Lady
Independent Freight Wagon Driver
Stage to Chino
Dolan - Henchman
Deadwood Dick
Jake
Winners of the West
Henchman Webb
Wild Horse Range
Arnold
Lillian Russell
Frank
Gaucho Serenade
Sheriff Tom Olson
Shooting High
Eph Carson
Dark Command
Messenger
Viva Cisco Kid
Town Marshal
Hi-Yo Silver
Felton
Phantom Rancher
Sheriff Parker
Ghost Valley Raiders
Sheriff
Northwest Passage
Ranger
Five Little Peppers at Home
Miner
The Shadow
Hijacked Truck Driver
Westbound Stage
Henchman Parker
Allegheny Uprising
Settler at McDowell's Mill
Flaming Lead
Bart Daggett
Full Confession
Prison Guard (uncredited)
The Oregon Trail
Pete Cave Henchman
Mountain Rhythm
Deputy Tom
Mandrake the Magician
Mill River Inn Henchman
The Man from Texas
Henchman Slim
The Night Riders
Rancher Wilson
Let Us Live
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Southward Ho!
Phoney Union Sergeant
Lure of the Wasteland
Foreman
Rollin' Westward
Sheriff
Sunset Trail
Jake
Made for Each Other
Ranger (uncredited)
Jesse James
Soldier (uncredited)
Fangs of the Wild
Larry Dean
Song of the Buckaroo
Sheriff Wade
Santa Fe Stampede
Marshal Jim Wood
Prairie Moon
Henchman Steve
Black Bandit
The Renegade Ranger
Henchman Red
Juvenile Court
Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
Smashing the Rackets
Dixon - Detective
Pioneer Trail
Sam Harden
Riders of the Black Hills
Henchman Red Stevens
The Fighting Devil Dogs
Henchman Wilson
Phantom Ranger
Reynolds
Six Shootin' Sheriff
Bar X Foreman
Outlaws of Sonora
Sheriff Trask
The Lone Ranger
Henchman Felton
Blossoms On Broadway
Cop (uncredited)
Springtime in the Rockies
Tracy
Radio Patrol
Eddie Lewis
Sky Racket
Agent-Passenger (Car Chase)
Jungle Menace
Detective Interrogating Pete
Western Gold
Clem
Roaring Timber
Henchman Duke
Angel's Holiday
Truck Driver
Law of the Ranger
Henchman Pete
The Frame-Up
Fred (uncredited)
Bar-Z Bad Men
Sig Bostell
The Silver Trail
Looney
Secret Valley
2nd Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Rio Grande Ranger
Henchman Sneed
Sworn Enemy
Gangster (uncredited)
Guns and Guitars
Henchman Connor
The Border Patrolman
Johnson
Avenging Waters
Henchman Huffy
Heroes of the Range
Bud
O'Malley of the Mounted
Lefty - Henchman
Call of the Prairie
Dealer
Wildcat Saunders
Pete Hawkins
The Lawless Nineties
Henchman Ward
Hong Kong Nights
Blake
Skull and Crown
Henchman Jennings
Gun Play
Meeker
The Fighting Marines
Miller
The Last of the Clintons
Luke Todd
Way Down East
Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
Courage of the North
Mordant
Rio Rattler
Ranger Bob Adams
The Test
Trapper (uncredited)
Toll of the Desert
Sheriff Jackson
The Miracle Rider
Sewell
The Cactus Kid
Sheriff
Timber Terrors
Burke
When Lightning Strikes
Wolf
Mills of the Gods
Workman
Mystery Mountain
Rattler Henchman Morgan
Fighting Fury
Chet
The Oil Raider
Oil Well Driller (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
Detective (uncredited)
Baby Take a Bow
Man on Train (Uncredited)
Rawhide Mail
Barfly Al
Twisted Rails
Sheriff James
St. Louis Woman
Lions Coach Ryan
Mystery Ranch
Holdup man
I Believed in You
Policeman
Ferocious Pal
Dave Brownell
The Countess of Monte Cristo
Police Detective (uncredited)
The Crime Doctor
Detective at Airport Arrest (uncredited)
Beggars in Ermine
Steel Worker (uncredited)
Smoky
Horse Trader
Lone Cowboy
Conductor (uncredited)
Perils of Pauline
Soldier at American Consulate
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Member of Rocci's Mob
I'm No Angel
Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
Police Car 17
Detective (uncredited)
The Wolf Dog
Brooks
Lady for a Day
Reception Guest (uncredited)
Gordon of Ghost City
Pat Campbell
The Fugitive
Tom
The Nuisance
Kelley's Associate (uncredited)
Sunset Pass
Ben
Made on Broadway
Plainclothesman
The Big Cage
Ship Captain
King of the Jungle
Lion Attendant (uncredited)
Clancy of the Mounted
Corporal McGregor
The Iron Master
Turner
Manhattan Tower
Mechanic (uncredited)
The Lost Special
Dirk / Detective Dane
Trailing the Killer
Sheriff
Gold
Sheriff
The Night Rider
Jeff Barton
The Thirteenth Guest
Detective Carter (Uncredited)
The Boiling Point
Pete Mallis - Henchman
Beyond the Rockies
Kirk Tracy
Honor of the Mounted
Henchman
The Trial of Vivienne Ware
Cop at Door (uncredited)
Cock of the Air
Military Policeman
Without Honor
'Sholt' Fletcher
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
West of Broadway
Cowhand (uncredited)
Platinum Blonde
Reporter (uncredited)
Range Law
Henchman Cleve
The Arizona Terror
Henchman Chuckawalla
The Galloping Ghost
Mullins
The Two Gun Man
Lem Tolliver
The Secret Six
Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
Quick Millions
Atlas Newsreel Man (uncredited)
Gun Smoke
Hank Bailey (uncredited)
Trails of the Golden West
Sheer Luck
Police Lieutenant
Westward Bound
Dick - Rustler
See America Thirst
Spumoni Hood (uncredited)
The Third Alarm
Fireman Tom
Under Texas Skies
Fake Captain Hartford
Spell of the Circus
Butte Morgan
River's End
Mountie
Borrowed Wives
Mac, the Motorcycle Cop
The Storm
Head Mountie
Bar-L Ranch
Henchman (uncredited)
Romance of the West
Safety in Numbers
Motorist (uncredited)
All Quiet on the Western Front
1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
Sid's Long Count
Policeman
Troopers Three
Sgt. Hank Darby
Firebrand Jordan
Ed Burns
The Woman Racket
Hennessy
Hell's Heroes
Croupier (uncredited)
The Harvest of Hate
Martin Trask
Queen of the Northwoods
Garvin / The Wolf-Devil
Chinatown Nights
Cop
In Old Arizona
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
The Mystery Rider
David Manning / The Claw
The Michigan Kid
Minor Role (uncredited)
The Yellow Cameo
Spraker
The Apache Raider
Griffin Dawson
The Golden Stallion
Jules La Roux
Desert Greed
Ranger (uncredited)
West of the Rainbow's End
Harry Palmer
Code of the Northwest
Pvt. Frank Stafford
Snowed In
U.S. Marshal Thayer
Dangerous Traffic
Marc Brandon
The Bar-C Mystery
A String of Diamonds
Slippery Jack Elmm
The Cowboy Musketeer
Joe Dokes
The Demon Rider
Black Hawk
Silent Sheldon
Bill Fadden
Three in Exile
Jed Hawkings
Border Vengeance
Flash Denby
The Heritage of the Desert
Dave Naab
Mile-a-Minute Morgan
Kenneth Winster
The Call of the Canyon
Lee Stanton
Our Hospitality
James Canfield (uncredited)
The Dangerous Maid
Guard
Shell Shocked Sammy
To the Last Man
Guy
The Cowboy and the Lady
Joe
The Long Chance
John Corbaly (as Leonard Clapham)
Nan of the North
Dick Driscoll (as Leonard Clapham)
Colorado
David Collins (as Leonard Clapham)
'in Wrong' Wright
Sheriff
Under Northern Lights
Jacques Foucharde
Masked
Wolf Tracks
The Texas Kid
King of the Circus
The Lion Man
Lacey
The Great Air Robbery
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
The Last of the Duanes
(as Leonard Clapham)
The Lone Star Ranger
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
Leave It to Susan
The Boss of the Rancho
The Purple Mask
Robert Jackson, Inventor (as Leonard Clapham)
Liberty
(as Leonard Clapham)
TV Series
Western von gestern
O'Shea
1 Episode
Law of the Plainsman
Stagecoach Driver
1 Episode
Lock-Up
Carrey - Watchman
1 Episode
Bat Masterson
Prisoner (uncredited)
1 Episode
Lawman
Pete
2 Episodes
Maverick
Farmer
1 Episode
Perry Mason
Cabbie
1 Episode
Wagon Train
Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited)
1 Episode
Broken Arrow
(uncredited)
1 Episode
Cheyenne
Old-Timer (uncredited)
1 Episode
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Old Man Craig (uncredited)
1 Episode
The Wonderful World of Disney
Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited)
1 Episode
Annie Oakley
Ranch Hand
1 Episode
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1 Episode
The Ford Television Theatre
Ranson
1 Episode
Adventures of Superman
Peter Thomas
1 Episode
The Gene Autry Show
The Sheriff
1 Episode
The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Allbright
1 Episode