Biography
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.
External Links
Known For
Filmography
Acting Credits (412)
Western von gestern
O'Shea
1978
Spy Smasher Returns
Crane
1966
13 West Street
Prisoner (uncredited)
1962
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Bum at Bar (uncredited)
1960
Law of the Plainsman
Stagecoach Driver
1959
Lock-Up
Carrey - Watchman
1959
Lone Texan
Old Dan (uncredited)
1959
Bat Masterson
Prisoner (uncredited)
1958
Lawman
Pete
1958
Money, Women and Guns
Old Prospector (uncredited)
1958
Man of the West
Tom (uncredited)
1958
Bronco
Rowdy O'Brien
1958
The Sheepman
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
1958
The Tall Stranger
1957
Domino Kid
1957
Maverick
Farmer
1957
Perry Mason
Cabbie
1957
Wagon Train
Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited)
1957
Friendly Persuasion
Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
1956
Broken Arrow
(uncredited)
1956
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Livery Stableman (uncredited)
1956
Top Gun
Casey (uncredited)
1955
Cheyenne
Old-Timer (uncredited)
1955
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Old Man Craig (uncredited)
1955
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Jigger (uncredited)
1955
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Stableman (uncredited)
1955
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Moss Grimmick (uncredited)
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited)
1954
Annie Oakley
Ranch Hand
1954
Annie Oakley
Buckhorn - Diablo Stage Manager
1954
Annie Oakley
Pop Leeds
1954
Annie Oakley
Ike Simmons
1954
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
Pack Train
Dan Coleman
1953
Blue Canadian Rockies
Pop Phillips
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
Ranson
1952
The Old West
Chadwick (uncredited)
1952
Adventures of Superman
Peter Thomas
1952
High Noon
Sam (uncredited)
1952
Apache Country
Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
1952
Rancho Notorious
Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
1952
Trail Guide
Old Timer
1952
The Secret of Convict Lake
Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
1951
Rough Riders of Durango
Rancher Evans
1951
The Blazing Sun
Tom Ellis
1950
The Gene Autry Show
The Sheriff
1950
The Old Frontier
Banker
1950
Cody of the Pony Express
Doc Laramie
1950
Red Desert
Colonel
1949
Riders in the Sky
Old Man Robert
1949
San Antone Ambush
Bartender Tim
1949
The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Allbright
1949
The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Dexter
1949
South of Rio
Jim Weston
1949
Brand of Fear
Marshal Blackjack Flint
1949
Frontier Investigator
Jed
1949
Mark of the Lash
Lem Kimmerly
1948
Marshal of Amarillo
Mr. Snodgrass
1948
Under Colorado Skies
Sheriff Blanchard
1947
The Wild Frontier
Patrick MacSween
1947
Along the Oregon Trail
Wagon Boss
1947
Marshal of Cripple Creek
Baker
1947
Jesse James Rides Again
Sam Bolton
1947
Blackmail
Tom - Cashier
1947
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon
The Sheriff
1947
Saddle Pals
Dad Gardner
1947
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
1947
Homesteaders of Paradise Valley
Rancher
1947
Twilight on the Rio Grande
U.S. Customs Agent Tom
1947
Last Frontier Uprising
Skillet (Ranch Hand)
1947
Out California Way
Johnny
1946
Santa Fe Uprising
Lafe Dibble
1946
Roll on Texas Moon
Sheriff Bert Morris
1946
Rio Grande Raiders
Sheriff Tom Hammon
1946
The Invisible Informer
Eph Shroud
1946
Conquest of Cheyenne
Sheriff Dan Perkins
1946
Red River Renegades
Pop Underwood
1946
Night Train to Memphis
Train Conductor
1946
Man from Rainbow Valley
Healey
1946
Passkey to Danger
Gerald Bates
1946
Sun Valley Cyclone
Sheriff
1946
King of the Forest Rangers
Tom Judson
1946
Alias Billy the Kid
Dakota
1946
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
Sheriff
1946
Crime of the Century
Dr. Jackson
1946
California Gold Rush
Sheriff Peabody
1946
Days of Buffalo Bill
Banty McCabe
1946
The Phantom Rider
Medicine Man Ceta
1946
The Undercover Woman
Lem
1946
Wagon Wheels Westward
Fake Judge Worth
1945
The Cherokee Flash
Utah
1945
Colorado Pioneers
Sand Snipe
1945
Girls of the Big House
Sheriff at Alma's Cell
1945
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
Sheriff Edwards
1945
Don't Fence Me In
Ben Duncan
1945
Marshal of Laredo
Barton
1945
Sunset in El Dorado
Sheriff Gridley
1945
Behind City Lights
Andrew Coleman
1945
Oregon Trail
Sheriff Plenner
1945
Trail of Kit Carson
John Benton
1945
Federal Operator 99
Prof. Crawford
1945
Flame of Barbary Coast
Thompson, Townsman in Mob
1945
Corpus Christi Bandits
Rocky - Henchman
1945
Earl Carroll Vanities
Tom the Doorman
1945
Sheriff of Cimarron
Frank Holden
1945
Grissly's Millions
Policeman Ralph
1945
Thoroughbreds
Pop
1944
Firebrands of Arizona
Wagon Driver
1944
Faces in the Fog
Auto Court Manager
1944
Zorro's Black Whip
James Bradley
1944
Vigilantes of Dodge City
Denver
1944
Sheriff of Sundown
Sheriff Tom Carpenter
1944
Code of the Prairie
Henchman Loomis
1944
Cheyenne Wildcat
Harrison Colby
1944
Stagecoach to Monterey
Chester Wade
1944
San Antonio Kid
Long
1944
The Girl Who Dared
Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
1944
Silver City Kid
Sheriff Gibson
1944
Call of the Rockies
Henchman Hansen
1944
Marshal of Reno
Sheriff
1944
The Yellow Rose of Texas
Sheriff Allen
1944
The Lady and the Monster
Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
1944
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Sheriff McBride
1944
Beneath Western Skies
Earl Phillips
1944
Captain America
Mack
1944
The Fighting Seabees
Johnson (uncredited)
1944
The Woman of the Town
Crockett Henchman
1943
Canyon City
Sheriff Slocum
1943
Overland Mail Robbery
Sheriff
1943
False Colors
Poncho Townsman
1943
Bullets and Saddles
Marshal (archive footage)
1943
Hail to the Rangers
Jessup
1943
The Renegade
Pete
1943
Wagon Tracks West
Lem Martin
1943
Silver Spurs
Henchman
1943
Batman
Andrews
1943
Song of Texas
Race Official
1943
Captive Wild Woman
Ship's Captain (archive footage)
1943
West of Texas
Steve Conlon
1943
Wild Horse Stampede
Henchman Lefty
1943
Santa Fe Scouts
Billy Dawson
1943
The Ox-Bow Incident
Deputy (uncredited)
1943
Idaho
Henchman
1943
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Hank Turner
1943
No Place for a Lady
Air Raid Warden (? - ever seen in final cut?)
1943
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
Henchman Pete
1943
Ridin' Down the Canyon
Henchman
1942
The Valley of Vanishing Men
Slater
1942
American Empire
Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
1942
Red River Robin Hood
Del Auston
1942
Bandit Ranger
Cattle Rustler (uncredited)
1942
The Secret Code
Weather Bureau Guard
1942
The Omaha Trail
Oxen Train Bullwhacker
1942
Shadows on the Sage
Franklin
1942
Riders of the West
Slim - Lanky Henchman
1942
The Sons of the Pioneers
Joe #1 - Henchman
1942
Perils of the Royal Mounted
Gaynor
1942
Stardust on the Sage
Henchman MacGowan
1942
Down Texas Way
Bartender Pete
1942
Land of the Open Range
Henchman Tracy Briggs
1942
Spy Smasher
Crane
1942
Ghost Town Law
Ace, Chief Thug
1942
Lone Star Ranger
Henchman (uncredited)
1942
Valley of the Sun
Trooper Parker (uncredited)
1942
West of Tombstone
Morris
1942
Arizona Terrors
Second Dialogue Tenant-Rancher
1942
Forbidden Trails
Marshal Tom
1941
Dude Cowboy
Silver City Sheriff
1941
Underground Rustlers
Henchman Tom Harris
1941
Riding the Sunset Trail
Sheriff Hays
1941
Twilight on the Trail
Henchman Gregg
1941
Stick to Your Guns
Ranch Foreman Waffles
1941
Bad Man of Deadwood
Townsman
1941
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury
Curley - Saloon Henchman
1941
Dynamite Canyon
Captain Gray
1941
Fugitive Valley
Marshal Warren
1941
Wanderers of the West
Montana Sheriff
1941
The Son of Davy Crockett
Ranger Logan
1941
Billy the Kid
Leader (uncredited)
1941
The Spider Returns
Detective
1941
Robbers of the Range
Henchman Monk Saunders
1941
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance
Cop Getting Crane
1941
Western Union
Slade Henchman #3
1941
Across the Sierras
Man on Wagon
1941
Romance of the Rio Grande
U. S. Marshal
1941
Riders from Nowhere
Mason
1940
A Volta do Besouro Verde
Thug with Explosives
1940
Junior G-Men
Kearney - Riot Squad Cop (uncredited)
1940
The Green Archer
Detective with Shiner
1940
Trailing Double Trouble
Henchman Kirk
1940
The Gay Caballero
Man at Fiesta
1940
Wagon Train
Henchman Charlie
1940
Brigham Young
Raider
1940
Melody Ranch
Henchman Joe #2
1940
Boom Town
Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
1940
When the Daltons Rode
Lyncher
1940
Roll Wagons Roll
Henchman Matt Grimes
1940
The Ranger and the Lady
Independent Freight Wagon Driver
1940
Stage to Chino
Dolan - Henchman
1940
Deadwood Dick
Jake
1940
Winners of the West
Henchman Webb
1940
Wild Horse Range
Arnold
1940
Lillian Russell
Frank
1940
Gaucho Serenade
Sheriff Tom Olson
1940
Shooting High
Eph Carson
1940
Dark Command
Messenger
1940
Viva Cisco Kid
Town Marshal
1940
Hi-Yo Silver
Felton
1940
Phantom Rancher
Sheriff Parker
1940
Ghost Valley Raiders
Sheriff
1940
Northwest Passage
Ranger
1940
Five Little Peppers at Home
Miner
1940
The Shadow
Hijacked Truck Driver
1940
Westbound Stage
Henchman Parker
1939
Allegheny Uprising
Settler at McDowell's Mill
1939
Flaming Lead
Bart Daggett
1939
Full Confession
Prison Guard (uncredited)
1939
The Oregon Trail
Pete Cave Henchman
1939
Mountain Rhythm
Deputy Tom
1939
Mandrake the Magician
Mill River Inn Henchman
1939
The Man from Texas
Henchman Slim
1939
The Night Riders
Rancher Wilson
1939
Let Us Live
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1939
Southward Ho!
Phoney Union Sergeant
1939
Lure of the Wasteland
Foreman
1939
Rollin' Westward
Sheriff
1939
Sunset Trail
Jake
1939
Made for Each Other
Ranger (uncredited)
1939
Jesse James
Soldier (uncredited)
1939
Fangs of the Wild
Larry Dean
1939
Song of the Buckaroo
Sheriff Wade
1938
Santa Fe Stampede
Marshal Jim Wood
1938
Prairie Moon
Henchman Steve
1938
Black Bandit
1938
The Renegade Ranger
Henchman Red
1938
Juvenile Court
Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
1938
Smashing the Rackets
Dixon - Detective
1938
Pioneer Trail
Sam Harden
1938
Riders of the Black Hills
Henchman Red Stevens
1938
The Fighting Devil Dogs
Henchman Wilson
1938
Phantom Ranger
Reynolds
1938
Six Shootin' Sheriff
Bar X Foreman
1938
Outlaws of Sonora
Sheriff Trask
1938
The Lone Ranger
Henchman Felton
1938
Blossoms On Broadway
Cop (uncredited)
1937
Springtime in the Rockies
Tracy
1937
Radio Patrol
Eddie Lewis
1937
Sky Racket
Agent-Passenger (Car Chase)
1937
Jungle Menace
Detective Interrogating Pete
1937
Western Gold
Clem
1937
Roaring Timber
Henchman Duke
1937
Angel's Holiday
Truck Driver
1937
Law of the Ranger
Henchman Pete
1937
The Frame-Up
Fred (uncredited)
1937
Bar-Z Bad Men
Sig Bostell
1937
The Silver Trail
Looney
1937
Secret Valley
2nd Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1937
Rio Grande Ranger
Henchman Sneed
1936
Sworn Enemy
Gangster (uncredited)
1936
Guns and Guitars
Henchman Connor
1936
The Border Patrolman
Johnson
1936
Avenging Waters
Henchman Huffy
1936
Heroes of the Range
Bud
1936
O'Malley of the Mounted
Lefty - Henchman
1936
Call of the Prairie
Dealer
1936
Wildcat Saunders
Pete Hawkins
1936
The Lawless Nineties
Henchman Ward
1936
Hong Kong Nights
Blake
1935
Skull and Crown
Henchman Jennings
1935
Gun Play
Meeker
1935
The Fighting Marines
Miller
1935
The Last of the Clintons
Luke Todd
1935
Way Down East
Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
1935
Courage of the North
Mordant
1935
Rio Rattler
Ranger Bob Adams
1935
The Test
Trapper (uncredited)
1935
Toll of the Desert
Sheriff Jackson
1935
The Miracle Rider
Sewell
1935
The Cactus Kid
Sheriff
1935
Timber Terrors
Burke
1935
When Lightning Strikes
Wolf
1934
Mills of the Gods
Workman
1934
Mystery Mountain
Rattler Henchman Morgan
1934
Fighting Fury
Chet
1934
The Oil Raider
Oil Well Driller (uncredited)
1934
Bachelor Bait
Detective (uncredited)
1934
Baby Take a Bow
Man on Train (Uncredited)
1934
Fighting Hero
Sheriff
1934
Rawhide Mail
Barfly Al
1934
Twisted Rails
Sheriff James
1934
St. Louis Woman
Lions Coach Ryan
1934
Mystery Ranch
Holdup man
1934
I Believed in You
Policeman
1934
Ferocious Pal
Dave Brownell
1934
The Countess of Monte Cristo
Police Detective (uncredited)
1934
The Crime Doctor
Detective at Airport Arrest (uncredited)
1934
Beggars in Ermine
Steel Worker (uncredited)
1934
Smoky
Horse Trader
1933
Lone Cowboy
Conductor (uncredited)
1933
Perils of Pauline
Soldier at American Consulate
1933
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Member of Rocci's Mob
1933
I'm No Angel
Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
1933
Police Car 17
Detective (uncredited)
1933
The Wolf Dog
Brooks
1933
Lady for a Day
Reception Guest (uncredited)
1933
Gordon of Ghost City
Pat Campbell
1933
The Fugitive
Tom
1933
The Nuisance
Kelley's Associate (uncredited)
1933
Sunset Pass
Ben
1933
Made on Broadway
Plainclothesman
1933
The Big Cage
Ship Captain
1933
Justice Takes a Holiday
Convict (Uncredited)
1933
King of the Jungle
Lion Attendant (uncredited)
1933
Clancy of the Mounted
Corporal McGregor
1933
The Iron Master
Turner
1933
Tex Takes a Holiday
Sheriff
1932
Manhattan Tower
Mechanic (uncredited)
1932
The Lost Special
Dirk / Detective Dane
1932
Trailing the Killer
Sheriff
1932
Gold
Sheriff
1932
The Night Rider
Jeff Barton
1932
The Thirteenth Guest
Detective Carter (Uncredited)
1932
The Boiling Point
Pete Mallis - Henchman
1932
Beyond the Rockies
Kirk Tracy
1932
Honor of the Mounted
Henchman
1932
The Trial of Vivienne Ware
Cop at Door (uncredited)
1932
Cock of the Air
Military Policeman
1932
Without Honor
'Sholt' Fletcher
1932
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1931
West of Broadway
Cowhand (uncredited)
1931
Platinum Blonde
Reporter (uncredited)
1931
Range Law
Henchman Cleve
1931
The Arizona Terror
Henchman Chuckawalla
1931
The Galloping Ghost
Mullins
1931
The Two Gun Man
Lem Tolliver
1931
The Secret Six
Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
1931
Quick Millions
Atlas Newsreel Man (uncredited)
1931
Gun Smoke
Hank Bailey (uncredited)
1931
Trails of the Golden West
1931
Sheer Luck
Police Lieutenant
1931
Westward Bound
Dick - Rustler
1930
See America Thirst
Spumoni Hood (uncredited)
1930
The Third Alarm
Fireman Tom
1930
Under Texas Skies
Fake Captain Hartford
1930
Spell of the Circus
Butte Morgan
1930
River's End
Mountie
1930
Borrowed Wives
Mac, the Motorcycle Cop
1930
The Storm
Head Mountie
1930
Bar-L Ranch
Henchman (uncredited)
1930
Romance of the West
Kayo Mooney
1930
Safety in Numbers
Motorist (uncredited)
1930
All Quiet on the Western Front
1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
1930
Sid's Long Count
Policeman
1930
Troopers Three
Sgt. Hank Darby
1930
Firebrand Jordan
Ed Burns
1930
The Woman Racket
Hennessy
1930
Hell's Heroes
Croupier (uncredited)
1929
The Harvest of Hate
Martin Trask
1929
Queen of the Northwoods
Garvin / The Wolf-Devil
1929
Chinatown Nights
Cop
1929
In Old Arizona
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
1928
The Mystery Rider
David Manning / The Claw
1928
The Michigan Kid
Minor Role (uncredited)
1928
The Yellow Cameo
Spraker
1928
The Bronc Stomper
Alan Riggs
1928
The Apache Raider
Griffin Dawson
1928
The Boss of Rustler's Roost
Pronto Giles
1928
The Return of the Riddle Rider
Buck White
1927
The Golden Stallion
Jules La Roux
1927
The Long Loop on the Pecos
Laird
1927
Desert Greed
Ranger (uncredited)
1926
West of the Rainbow's End
Harry Palmer
1926
Code of the Northwest
Pvt. Frank Stafford
1926
Snowed In
U.S. Marshal Thayer
1926
Dangerous Traffic
Marc Brandon
1926
Chasing Trouble
Jerome Garrett
1926
The Bar-C Mystery
1926
A String of Diamonds
Slippery Jack Elmm
1926
The Cowboy Musketeer
Joe Dokes
1925
The Demon Rider
Black Hawk
1925
Silent Sheldon
Bill Fadden
1925
Three in Exile
Jed Hawkings
1925
Border Vengeance
Flash Denby
1925
The Air Hawk
Kellar
1924
Ridin' Double
Gabe Lawrence
1924
The Right of the Strongest
Fred Dearing
1924
The Heritage of the Desert
Dave Naab
1924
Mile-a-Minute Morgan
Kenneth Winster
1924
The Call of the Canyon
Lee Stanton
1923
Our Hospitality
James Canfield (uncredited)
1923
The Dangerous Maid
Guard
1923
Shell Shocked Sammy
1923
To the Last Man
Guy
1923
The Social Buccaneer
Louis Lenoir
1923
The Cowboy and the Lady
Joe
1922
The Long Chance
John Corbaly (as Leonard Clapham)
1922
Nan of the North
Dick Driscoll (as Leonard Clapham)
1922
Colorado
David Collins (as Leonard Clapham)
1921
'in Wrong' Wright
Sheriff
1920
Under Northern Lights
Jacques Foucharde
1920
Masked
1920
Wolf Tracks
1920
The Texas Kid
1920
King of the Circus
1920
The Lion Man
Lacey
1919
The Great Air Robbery
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
1919
The Last of the Duanes
(as Leonard Clapham)
1919
The Lone Star Ranger
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
1919
Leave It to Susan
1919
The Boss of the Rancho
1919
The Purple Mask
Robert Jackson, Inventor (as Leonard Clapham)
1916
Liberty
(as Leonard Clapham)
1916
