Paul Malvern

Paul Malvern
Malvern in 1944
Born(1902-06-28)June 28, 1902
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 1993(1993-05-29) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupations
  • Stuntman
  • producer
  • actor
Spouse
Jean Huntley
​
​
(m. 1932; died 1979)​

Paul William Malvern[1] (June 28, 1902 – May 29, 1993) was an American film producer, child actor and stuntman who produced more than 100 films.[2]

He began his career as a child acrobat and later worked as a stunt man before transitioning to an assistant director role.

Some of his productions were Westerns released by Monogram Pictures under Malvern's Lonestar Productions label,[3] including many starring John Wayne.[4]

Biography

Malvern was born June 28, 1902 in Portland, Oregon.[1] He began his career as a member of his family's acrobatic troupe and performed in vaudeville beginning at age four, when he was touted as "the greatest child acrobat on the American stage."[4] His family's troupe toured internationally, performing as a featured act with the Ringling Brothers circus.[4]

In Los Angeles, Malvern's first work in film came as a double for Mary Pickford, and he soon began performing stunts.[5] His first major stunt appearance was doubling for Eileen Sedgwick in Beasts of Paradise (1923).[1] In 1928, Malvern suffered serious injuries in a 70 feet (21 m) fall, and he retired from stunt performing, subsequently working as a producer for Universal Pictures and Monogram.[1] Malvern married his wife Jean Huntley in 1932 and remained with her until her death in 1979.[6]

Death

Malvern died on May 29, 1993 at his home in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.[4][7][8] He is interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[6]

Select filmography

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1924 The Thief of Bagdad Gigantic Bat Uncredited [9]
1927 Gun-Hand Garrison [10]
1928 Trail Riders [11]
1928 The Chinatown Mystery [12]
1929 Two Sisters — Producer
1934 The Star Packer — Producer [8]
1934 Tailspin Tommy — Producer [13]
1941 Sign of the Wolf — Producer [14]
1945 Sudan — Producer [8]
1945 House of Dracula — Producer [8]
1950 Rock Island Trail — Producer [8]
1980 Hazard of the Game [8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Freese 2014, p. 180.
  2. ^ "Paul Malvern". Variety. Associated Press. June 3, 1993.
  3. ^ "Lone Star Productions (Monogram)". John Wayne Message Board (JWMB). 17 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d "Paul Malvern Is Dead; Former Stunt Man, 91". The New York Times. June 4, 1993. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018.
  5. ^ "Ex-Stunt Expert". Register-Guard. May 23, 1943. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Stephens & Stephens 2017, p. 38.
  7. ^ "Paul Malvern". Variety. June 3, 1993. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Paul Malvern". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019.
  9. ^ Vance & Maietta 2008, p. 169.
  10. ^ Katchmer 2015, p. 240.
  11. ^ Rainey 2004, pp. 575–577.
  12. ^ McGowan 2005, p. 168.
  13. ^ "'Tailspin Tommy' Series Next Malvern Project". Los Angeles Times. December 11, 1938. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Grace Bradley in London Feature". Los Angeles Times. January 20, 1941. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

  • Freese, Gene Scott (2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary (2nd ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-47643-5.
  • Katchmer, George A. (2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-60905-8.
  • McGowan, John J. (2005). J.P. McGowan: Biography of a Hollywood Pioneer. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-41994-4.
  • Rainey, Buck (2004). The Strong, Silent Type: Over 100 Screen Cowboys, 1903-1930. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-41286-0.
  • Stephens, E. J.; Stephens, Kim (2017). Legends of Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-439-66142-0.
  • Vance, Jeffrey; Maietta, Tony (2008). Douglas Fairbanks. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-25667-5.