George Mathews (actor)
Introduction '''George Mathews''' (October 10, 1911 – November 7, 1984) was an American actor whose film career stretched from an uncredited appearance in ''Stage Door Canteen'' in 1943 to ''Going Home'' in 1971.
Biography The Last Wagon''Mathews was born in Brooklyn, New York. His stage career began in the early 1930s, when he failed to get a job with the U.S. Postal Service. He joined the Federal Theatre Project and landed the role of Dynamite Jim in the 1937 Broadway revival of the play ''Processional''.Mathews was often cast as heavies or hardened military types. He appeared in both the stage (1942–43) and film version (1944) of ''The Eve of St. Mark'', as Sergeant Ruby. He also portrayed a comedic thug in ''Pat and Mike'' (1952).He appeared on Broadway in the Garson Kanin-directed musical comedy ''Do Re Mi'' (1960–62), as "Fatso O'Rear". He later appeared on Broadway play, ''Catch Me If You Can'' in 1965.In 1962, he appeared in ''Have Gun – Will Travel'', Season 6, Episode 6.That same year, he played ex-fighter, “Champ”, in the Season 7 Episode 28 of Gunsmoke, “The Dealer”. He demonstrated his comedic talent in the short-lived television comedy series ''Glynis'' (1963), playing ex-cop Chick Rogers, who assists a mystery writer and amateur sleuth, played by Glynis Johns, in solving "whodunnits".Perhaps his most memorable role was as the bully "Harvey" in 'The Bensonhurst Bomber' episode of ''The Honeymooners''. He retired from the screen in 1972.
Personal life and death Mathews died from heart disease in Caesars Head, South Carolina, aged 73, in 1984.He was married to stage actress Mary (Haynsworth) Mathews from 1951 until his death in 1984.
Filmography  Year Title Role Notes1943 ''Stage Door Canteen''  Marine Sergeant with Ray Bolger  Uncredited1944 ''Up in Arms''  Blackie 1944 ''The Eve of St. Mark''  Sgt. Ruby 1944 ''Wing and a Prayer''  Dooley 1944 ''Wilson''  Army Sergeant  Uncredited1945 ''The Corn Is Green''  Trap Driver  Uncredited1945 ''The Great John L.''  John Flood 1952 ''Pat and Mike''  Spec Cauley 1952 ''Sally and Saint Anne''  Father Kennedy 1952 ''Yankee Buccaneer''  Chief Petty Officer Link 1953 ''Last of the Comanches''  Romany O'Rattigan 1953 ''City Beneath the Sea''  Capt. Meade aka Ralph Sorensen 1953 ''Act of Love''  Henderson 1954 ''The Great Diamond Robbery''  Duke Fargoh 1955 ''The Man with the Golden Arm''  Williams 1956 ''The Proud Ones''  Dillon 1956 ''The Last Wagon''  Sheriff Bull Harper 1957 ''Gunfight at the O.K. Corral''  John Shanssey 1958 ''The Buccaneer''  Pyke 1960 ''Heller in Pink Tights''  Sam Pierce 1962 ''The Hole''  Construction Worker  (winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film)1971 ''Going Home''  Malloy  (final film role)
Selected Television YearTitleRole Notes 1955 ''Death Valley Days''  Season 2, Episode 14, "Husband Pro-Tem" 1956 ''The Phil Silvers Show'' Beast Season 1, Episode 28 "Bilko and the Beast" 1956 ''The Honeymooners'' Harvey Episode "The Bensonhurst Bomber" 1956 ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' Sam Dunleavy / Mac McGurk Season 1 Episode 15: "The Big Switch" as Sam Dunleavy Season 2 Episode 6: "Toby" as Mac McGurk 1959 ''The Rifleman'' Abel MacDonald Season 1, Episode 31, "The Angry Man" 1960 ''Have Gun - Will Travel'' Clerk Season 3, Episode 21 "The Night the Town Died" 1953 ''The Lone Ranger'' Bill Adams Episode "The Devil's Bog" 1961 ''Wanted Dead or Alive'' Krebs Season 3, Episode 20 "The Long Search" 1962 ''Gunsmoke'' Champ Season 7 Episode 28 “The Dealer”
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