Charles Drake

Biography

Charles Drake was an American actor who came to Hollywood from a salesman's job, signing with Warner Bros. in 1939. Born in New York City, he had graduated from Nichols College before turning to acting, and his first years at the studio brought him little success. After returning to Hollywood in 1945 he was cast in Conflict with Humphrey Bogart, and he took freelance film work later in the decade, among it A Night in Casablanca (1946). A move to Universal in 1949 led to roles in Winchester '73 (1950), Harvey (1950) and the Audie Murphy biopic To Hell and Back (1955). Drake also worked in television, hosting the syndicated espionage series Schilling Playhouse and guest-starring in shows such as The Fugitive and Star Trek. His many films included No Name on the Bullet (1959) and Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973). He died in 1994.

76years old at death

Born October 2, 1917New York City
Died September 10, 1994East Lyme
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Also credited as Charles Ruppert

Movie Career

Films: 29
Career span: 44 years1941 to 1985

Genres

Drama66%, 19 films
Romance31%, 9 films
Western17%, 5 films
Action14%, 4 films
Comedy14%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Drake graduated from Nichols College and worked as a salesman before turning to acting in 1939, when he signed a contract with Warner Bros.
A change of course
Drake was in the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1945 he went back to Hollywood and got a part in Conflict, which starred Humphrey Bogart.
A change of course
Drake moved into television in 1955, joining the stock-company cast of Montgomery's Summer Stock, which filled in for Robert Montgomery Presents in the summer. Starting in 1957, he hosted the syndicated espionage series Schilling Playhouse, also called Rendezvous.
A first
Drake appeared in eighty-three films from 1939 to 1975, among them Scream, Pretty Peggy. Over fifty of those were dramas, though he also took roles in comedy, science fiction, horror and film noir.

Charles Drake movies on Netflix

My Brother's Wedding1985IMDb rating 7.1as Pastor #2
Scream, Pretty Peggy1973IMDb rating 6.1as George Thornton
The Seven Minutes1971IMDb rating 5.5as Sgt. Kellogg
The Arrangement1969IMDb rating 6.3as Finnegan
The Swimmer1968IMDb rating 7.6as Howard Graham
Valley of the Dolls1967IMDb rating 6.1as Kevin Gillmore
Dear Heart1964IMDb rating 7.2as Frank Taylor
Showdown1963IMDb rating 6.3as Bert Pickett
No Name on the Bullet1959IMDb rating 7.2as Luke Canfield
Until They Sail1957IMDb rating 6.5as Capt. Richard Bates
The Price of Fear1956IMDb rating 6.3as Pete Carroll
All That Heaven Allows1955IMDb rating 7.6as Mick Anderson
Female on the Beach1955IMDb rating 6.4as Police Lieutenant Galley
To Hell and Back1955IMDb rating 7.1as Brandon
The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3as Don Haynes
Tobor the Great1954IMDb rating 5.3as Dr. Ralph Harrison
Gunsmoke1953IMDb rating 6.6as Johnny Lake
It Came from Outer Space1953IMDb rating 6.5as Sheriff Matt Warren
War Arrow1953IMDb rating 5.9as Sgt. Luke Schermerhorn
The Red Ball Express1952IMDb rating 6.4as Partridge
Harvey1950IMDb rating 7.9as Dr. Raymond Sanderson
Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6as Steve Miller
A Night in Casablanca1946IMDb rating 6.9as Pierre
Whistle Stop1946IMDb rating 5.5as Ernie
Conflict1945IMDb rating 7.2as Norman Holsworth
Air Force1943IMDb rating 7.0as Navigator
Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8as Leslie Trotter
The Maltese Falcon1941IMDb rating 7.9as Reporter
The Man Who Came to Dinner1941IMDb rating 7.5as Sandy

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Harvey1950 Comedy, Drama, Fantasyas Dr. Raymond Sanderson
IMDb rating 7.961K votes
It Came from Outer Space1953 Horror, Sci-Fias Sheriff Matt Warren
IMDb rating 6.513K votes
Winchester '731950as Steve Miller
IMDb rating 7.623K votes
The Glenn Miller Story1954as Don Haynes
IMDb rating 7.311K votes
To Hell and Back1955as Brandon
IMDb rating 7.16.6K votes
A Night in Casablanca1946as Pierre
IMDb rating 6.98.2K votes
No Name on the Bullet1959as Luke Canfield
IMDb rating 7.23.7K votes
All That Heaven Allows1955as Mick Anderson
IMDb rating 7.619K votes

Most often with

Anthony Mann directed two of these films, Jack Arnold two. Audie Murphy appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Audie Murphy

James Stewart

Bette Davis

Mary Wickes

Jack Kelly

Jeff ChandlerAnthony MannDirector, 2 films Jack ArnoldDirector, 2 films

Films together

Audie Murphy4 films together, 1953 to 1963
Audie Murphy's page
- Showdown1963IMDb rating 6.3Drake as Bert PickettMurphy as Chris Foster
- No Name on the Bullet1959IMDb rating 7.2Drake as Luke CanfieldMurphy as John Gant
- To Hell and Back1955IMDb rating 7.1Drake as BrandonMurphy as Audie Murphy
- Gunsmoke1953IMDb rating 6.6Drake as Johnny LakeMurphy as Reb Kittredge
James Stewart3 films together, 1950 to 1954
James Stewart's page
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Drake as Don HaynesStewart as Glenn Miller
- Harvey1950IMDb rating 7.9Drake as Dr. Raymond SandersonStewart as Elwood P. Dowd
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Drake as Steve MillerStewart as Lin McAdam
Bette Davis3 films together, 1941 to 1973
Bette Davis's page
- Scream, Pretty Peggy1973IMDb rating 6.1Drake as George ThorntonDavis as Mrs. Elliott
- Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8Drake as Leslie TrotterDavis as Charlotte Vale
- The Man Who Came to Dinner1941IMDb rating 7.5Drake as SandyDavis as Maggie Cutler
Mary Wickes3 films together, 1941 to 1964
Mary Wickes's page
- Dear Heart1964IMDb rating 7.2Drake as Frank TaylorWickes as Miss Fox
- Now, Voyager1942IMDb rating 7.8Drake as Leslie TrotterWickes as Dora Pickford
- The Man Who Came to Dinner1941IMDb rating 7.5Drake as SandyWickes as Miss Preen
Jack Kelly3 films together, 1952 to 1955
Jack Kelly's page
- To Hell and Back1955IMDb rating 7.1Drake as BrandonKelly as Kerrigan
- Gunsmoke1953IMDb rating 6.6Drake as Johnny LakeKelly as Curly Mather
- The Red Ball Express1952IMDb rating 6.4Drake as PartridgeKelly as Heyman
Jeff Chandler3 films together, 1952 to 1955
Jeff Chandler's page
- Female on the Beach1955IMDb rating 6.4Drake as Police Lieutenant GalleyChandler as Drummond Hall
- War Arrow1953IMDb rating 5.9Drake as Sgt. Luke SchermerhornChandler as Major Howell Brady
- The Red Ball Express1952IMDb rating 6.4Drake as PartridgeChandler as Lt. Campbell
Anthony MannDirector, 2 films, 1950 to 1954
All films by Anthony Mann
- The Glenn Miller Story1954IMDb rating 7.3Drake as Don Haynes
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Drake as Steve Miller
Jack ArnoldDirector, 2 films, 1953 to 1959
All films by Jack Arnold
- No Name on the Bullet1959IMDb rating 7.2Drake as Luke Canfield
- It Came from Outer Space1953IMDb rating 6.5Drake as Sheriff Matt Warren