Biography
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Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1889 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor in many films, serials, and television series from the 1930s through the 1950s, especially westerns. He is perhaps best remembered for being the father of Eleanor Twitchell, the lady who captures Lou Gehrig's heart in Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Watkin was born in Sioux City, Iowa. In the 1920s, he had his own theatrical troupe, the Pierre Watkin Players. In 1927, the group moved its headquarters from Sioux Falls to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Watkin portrayed Perry White in both of the Superman serials of the late 1940s, which starred Kirk Alyn as the title character and Noel Neill as Lois Lane.
Watkin played a few different characters in the television series Adventures of Superman, in which John Hamilton played Perry White. He was set to reprise his role as the editor of The Daily Planet in a revival of the series in 1959, as Hamilton had died in the interim since the cancellation of the original series. However, series star George Reeves also died in the summer of 1959, and those plans ended. Watkin himself died six months later.
He also cast in 1955 in the episode "Joey and the Gypsies" of the NBC children's western series Fury. Watkin guest starred in the CBS western series Brave Eagle. He was cast twice each on the ABC/Warner Brothers series, Cheyenne (as Harvey Sinclair in "The Law Man") and Annie Oakley (as the Reverend Mills in the 1956 episode "The Reckless Press"). In 1958, Watkin portrayed Dr. Breen of Samaritan Hospital in the episode "San Francisco Story" of Rex Allen's syndicated western series, Frontier Doctor.
During the first season of CBS's Perry Mason from 1957 to 1958, Watkin appeared in three episodes as Judge Keetley. He was also cast during the 1950s on The Range Rider, Tales of the Texas Rangers, in three episodes of the western aviation adventure series Sky King, and five times on The Jack Benny Program.
Watkin played the part of Colonel Duncan in the 1958 episode "Decoy" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45.
External Links
Known For
Filmography
Acting Credits (284)
Rin-Tin-Tin: Hero of the West
Doc Hyer
1991
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
1976
Bat Masterson
Judge Smith
1958
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Dr. Bowers
1958
The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin
1958
Marjorie Morningstar
Civil Official (uncredited)
1958
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Mr. Robinson (uncredited)
1957
Perry Mason
Judge Keetley
1957
Perry Mason
Judge
1957
Spook Chasers
Dr. Moss
1957
Don't Knock The Rock
Mayor George Bagley
1956
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Armtrong
1956
Cha-Cha-Cha Boom!
Investor
1956
Thunder Over Arizona
Dr. Peterson
1956
The Maverick Queen
McMillan
1956
The Count of Monte Cristo
1956
Sudden Danger
George Caldwell
1955
Fury
Ellis
1955
Highway Patrol
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Porter
1955
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
1955
Jungle Jim
1955
Lay That Rifle Down
Mr. Coswell
1955
Creature with the Atom Brain
Mayor Bremer
1955
The Big Bluff
Mr. Winthrop
1955
December Bride
1954
About Mrs. Leslie
Lewis
1954
The Whistler
1954
Johnny Dark
Ed J. Winston
1954
The Flaming Urge
Albert Cruickshank
1953
City Detective
1953
The Stranger Wore a Gun
Jason Conroy
1953
Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
Commissioner Morrison
1953
The Lost Planet
Ned Hilton
1953
Cavalcade of America
1952
Cavalcade of America
Allan Pinkerton
1952
Four Star Playhouse
Mr. Morgan
1952
Adventures of Superman
Sir Lancelot
1952
Hopalong Cassidy
1952
Thundering Caravans
Head Marshal
1952
Hold That Line
Morgan T. Stanhope
1952
Dragnet
1951
I Love Lucy
Mr. Dorrance
1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
J. Harrison Hardesty
1951
Mysterious Island
Confederate Officer
1951
Boston Blackie
1951
The Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
Racket Squad
1951
In Old Amarillo
George B. Hills
1951
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
Two Lost Worlds
Magistrate Jeffries
1951
The Second Face
Mr. Hamilton
1950
The Jack Benny Program
Mr. Lewis
1950
Last of the Buccaneers
Gov. Claiborne
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Sleamish
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Hinchecliffe
1950
Sunset in the West
Gordon MacKnight
1950
Redwood Forest Trail
Arthur Cameron
1950
Atom Man vs. Superman
Perry White
1950
The Big Hangover
Samuel C. Long
1950
Rock Island Trail
Major
1950
Over the Border
Rand Malloy
1950
Radar Secret Service
Mr. Hamilton
1950
Blue Grass of Kentucky
Head Steward
1950
The Story of Seabiscuit
Charles S. Howard
1949
Zamba
Benton
1949
The Fountainhead
Cortlandt Official (uncredited)
1949
Hold That Baby!
John Winston
1949
Flamingo Road
1949
El Paso
1949
Alaska Patrol
Mr. Sigmund
1949
Knock on Any Door
Purcell - Lawyer (uncredited)
1949
Miss Mink of 1949
Cranston
1949
Slightly French
Publicity Man (uncredited)
1949
Siren of Atlantis
Colonel
1949
Incident
C. W. Sloan
1948
An Innocent Affair
T.D. Hendricks
1948
The Gallant Blade
Governor
1948
The Strange Mrs. Crane
Clinton Crane
1948
The Gentleman from Nowhere
Hoffman
1948
Fighting Back
Colonel
1948
Daredevils of the Clouds
Douglas Harrison
1948
Superman
Perry White
1948
The Shanghai Chest
Judge Wesley Armstrong
1948
The Counterfeiters
Carter
1948
Money Madness
Judge (uncredited)
1948
The Hunted
Simon Rand, Attorney
1948
Mary Lou
Airline President
1948
Glamour Girl
T.J. Hopkins
1948
Brick Bradford
Professor Salisbury
1947
Beyond Our Own
Dr. Blake
1947
Her Husband's Affairs
Vice President Beitler
1947
Song of Love
Duke of X (uncredited)
1947
The Wild Frontier
Frank Lane
1947
Monsieur Verdoux
Prison Official (uncredited)
1947
The Red Stallion
Richard Moresby
1947
Hard Boiled Mahoney
Dr. Rolfe Carter
1947
Violence
Ralph Borden
1947
Jack Armstrong
Uncle Jim Fairfield
1947
Magnificent Doll
Harper (uncredited)
1946
Sioux City Sue
G.W. Rhodes
1946
Swamp Fire
P.T. Hilton
1946
High School Hero
Governor Huffington
1946
The Missing Lady
Police Commissioner Weston
1946
G.I. War Brides
Editor
1946
Behind the Mask
Police Commissioner Weston
1946
Murder Is My Business
Arnold Ramsey
1946
Miss Susie Slagle's
Superintendent (uncredited)
1946
I Ring Doorbells
G.B. Barton
1946
Claudia and David
Hartley Naughton
1946
Little Giant
P.S. Van Loon
1946
The Madonna's Secret
District Attorney
1946
The Shadow Returns
Police Commissioner J.R. Weston
1946
Shock
Blake - Belmont Arms Hotel Manager
1946
Adventure
Mr. Buckley
1945
Dakota
Wexton Geary
1945
Follow That Woman
J.B. Henderson
1945
Captain Tugboat Annie
Dr. Turner
1945
Apology for Murder
Craig Jordan
1945
I Love a Bandleader
Dr. Gardiner
1945
Divorce
John Carter
1945
Secrets of a Sorority Girl
Dr. Harlan Johnson
1945
Over 21
Joel I. Nixon (uncredited)
1945
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
Dr. Fletcher
1945
I'll Tell the World
Dr. Mullins
1945
Three's a Crowd
Marcus Pett
1945
Thrill of a Romance
Tycoon (uncredited)
1945
The Phantom Speaks
Charlie Davis
1945
I'll Remember April
Dr. Armitage
1945
Keep Your Powder Dry
Mr. Lorrison
1945
Strange Illusion
District Attorney Wallace Armstrong
1945
Docks of New York
Captain Jacobs
1945
Here Come the Co-Eds
Police Chief (uncredited)
1945
The Great Mike
Colonel Whitley
1944
End of the Road
District Attorney
1944
Dead Man's Eyes
Hayden's Lawyer
1944
Shadow of Suspicion
Frank Randall
1944
Atlantic City
Sen. Hodges
1944
Oh, What a Night!
Tom Gordon
1944
South of Dixie
Dean Williamson
1944
Jungle Woman
Dr. Meredith
1944
Ladies of Washington
Dr. John Crane (uncredited)
1944
Bermuda Mystery
Herbert Bond
1944
The Chance of a Lifetime
State Governor Rutledge (Uncredited)
1943
Crazy House
Prosecutor
1943
Swing Shift Maisie
Judge
1943
Fired Wife
Doctor
1943
Destroyer
Admiral
1943
Du Barry Was a Lady
Ambrose (uncredited)
1943
Mission to Moscow
Naval Attache (uncredited)
1943
It Ain't Hay
Maj. Harper (uncredited)
1943
Cinderella Swings It
Brock Harris
1943
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
British Agent Z
1943
Whistling in Dixie
Doctor
1942
Ice Capades Revue
Wiley Stone
1942
Stand By All Networks
Grant Neeley
1942
The Pride of the Yankees
Mr. Twitchell
1942
The Magnificent Dope
Carson
1942
Meet the Stewarts
Club Guest (uncredited)
1942
Obliging Young Lady
John Markham
1942
Heart of the Rio Grande
Randolph Lane
1942
Nazi Agent
Grover Blaine McHenry
1942
The Adventures of Martin Eden
Amos Morley
1942
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Crothers
1941
Jesse James at Bay
Phineas Krager - Land Dealer
1941
Great Guns
Col. Wayburn
1941
Buy Me That Town
Carlton Williams
1941
Lydia
Speaker
1941
Cracked Nuts
Mr. Benson
1941
Nevada City
Amos Norton
1941
For Beauty's Sake
Middlesex
1941
Naval Academy
Capt. Davis
1941
Adventure in Washington
Frank Conroy
1941
She Knew All the Answers
George Wharton
1941
Meet John Doe
Hammett
1941
A Man Betrayed
Governor
1941
Petticoat Politics
Alfred Wilcox
1941
Life with Henry
Mr. Joseph Anderson
1941
A Volta do Besouro Verde
Boss Crogan
1940
The Bank Dick
Mr. Skinner
1940
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Mr. Robert Chandler
1940
Father Is A Prince
Mr. Lee
1940
Mystery Sea Raider
Straker
1940
Knute Rockne All American
Commissioner at Hearing (uncredited)
1940
Yesterday's Heroes
Harvey Mason
1940
No Time for Comedy
First-Nighter (uncredited)
1940
Hired Wife
Charlie - Phyllis's Escort
1940
Five Little Peppers in Trouble
J.H. King
1940
Rhythm on the River
Uncle John
1940
I Love You Again
Mr. W.H. Sims
1940
Captain Caution
American Consul
1940
Golden Gloves
A.P. Barton - Editor (uncredited)
1940
Sailor's Lady
Captain
1940
Out West with the Peppers
J.H. King
1940
The Saint Takes Over
Ben Egan
1940
Earthbound
President of the Court
1940
Gangs of Chicago
1940
Road to Singapore
Morgan Wycott (uncredited)
1940
Teddy the Rough Rider
Sen. Platt
1940
The Great Victor Herbert
Albert Martin
1939
Geronimo
Col. White
1939
The Covered Trailer
Horace Cartwright
1939
Rulers of the Sea
Mr. Caldwell (Uncredited)
1939
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Senator Barnes
1939
Everything's on Ice
Hotel Manager
1939
Wall Street Cowboy
Roger Hammond
1939
The Jones Family in Hollywood
Movie Studio Producer (uncredited)
1939
Outside These Walls
Hewitt Bronson
1939
They Made Her a Spy
Colonel Wilson
1939
Society Lawyer
Henry V. Adams
1939
The Adventures of Jane Arden
Albert Thayer
1939
King of Chinatown
Dist. Atty. Philips (uncredited)
1939
The Spirit of Culver
Capt. Wharton
1939
Secret Service of the Air
Chief of the Secret Service
1939
Risky Business
Abernathy
1939
Fast and Loose
Victor Stockton (uncredited)
1939
Wings of the Navy
Capt. March
1939
Off the Record
Barton
1939
King of the Underworld
District Attorney
1939
The Mysterious Miss X
Winslow
1939
There's That Woman Again
Mr. Nacelle
1938
Illegal Traffic
Jigger
1938
Girls on Probation
Mr. Storm
1938
The Mad Miss Manton
Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
1938
Young Dr. Kildare
Mr. Robert Chanler
1938
The Lady Objects
Mr. Harper
1938
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Mr. Wondel
1938
Girls' School
Mr. Alfred Simpson
1938
You Can't Take It with You
Kirby's Attorney (uncredited)
1938
Boy Meets Girl
B.K. Whitacre
1938
Smashing the Rackets
John Nelson Davis
1938
The Chaser
Mr. Beaumont
1938
There's Always a Woman
Mr. Ketterling
1938
Mr. Moto's Gamble
District Attorney (as Pierre Watkins)
1938
Tip-Off Girls
George Murkil
1938
State Police
Col. C.B. Clarke
1938
Dangerous to Know
Senator Carson
1938
Arsène Lupin Returns
Mr. Carter (uncredited)
1938
Midnight Intruder
Attorney Peter Winslow
1938
Daughter of Shanghai
L.T. Yorkland
1937
Daughter of Shanghai
Mr. Yorkland (uncredited)
1937
Thoroughbreds Don't Cry
Judge Dobson - Racing Steward (uncredited)
1937
Breakfast for Two
Gordon Faraday
1937
Stage Door
Carmichael
1937
The Man Who Cried Wolf
Governor
1937
Confession
Lawyer Stagoff (uncredited)
1937
Paradise Isle
Dr. Steinmeyer
1937
The Californian
Miller
1937
Ever Since Eve
Barton
1937
The Singing Marine
General
1937
The Go-Getter
Browne
1937
Michael O'Halloran
Mark Grave
1937
The Hit Parade
J. B. Hawley
1937
Mountain Justice
Governor
1937
Internes Can't Take Money
Dr. Fearson
1937
Marked Woman
Judge #2 (uncredited)
1937
Bill Cracks Down
William 'Bill' Reardon Sr.
1937
History Is Made at Night
1937
Under Southern Stars
Robert E. Lee
1937
Green Light
Dr. Booth
1937
Sea Devils
USS Taroe Commander
1937
She's Dangerous
H.J. Conrad
1937
Devil's Playground
Submarine Commander
1937
Dangerous Number
Mr. Stark - the Bridegroom
1937
Larceny on the Air
Kennedy
1937
King of Hockey
Thomas A. White
1936
Wanted: Jane Turner
Andrew Norris (uncredited)
1936
Country Gentlemen
Mr. Grayson
1936
Love Letters of a Star
Hobbs
1936
Under Your Spell
Allen's Lawyer (uncredited)
1936
The Big Game
The College Chancellor
1936
Swing Time
(uncredited)
1936
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Roger Leland
1936
China Clipper
Secretary of State (uncredited)
1936
Bunker Bean
Mr. Barnes (uncredited)
1936
Counterfeit
Matt McDonald
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
1936
It Had to Happen
District Attorney
1936
You May Be Next!
Bernard Pine (uncredited)
1936
Two in the Dark
City Editor (uncredited)
1936
If You Could Only Cook
Mr. Balderson (uncredited)
1935
Dangerous
George Sheffield
1935
He Who Gets Slapped
Spectator at Final Performance (uncredited)
1924
