John Archer

Biography

John Archer was an American actor who worked in radio, theater, film and television. Born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, he moved to California as a child and studied cinematography at the University of Southern California. Finding camera work difficult, he turned to acting, announcing and performing on radio, and beginning in 1944 he spent a year as Lamont Cranston in The Shadow. He honed his skills at the Ben Bard Playhouse and appeared on Broadway in plays and musicals, among them The Day Before Spring and Strange Bedfellows. A Gateway to Hollywood contest sponsored by Jesse L. Lasky won him an RKO contract under the name John Archer. He made his film debut in 1938 and acted for Universal and Republic, and he appeared in White Heat and Destination Moon. On television he made guest appearances on Perry Mason, Lassie and Bonanza.

84years old at death

Born May 8, 1915Osceola
Died December 3, 1999Redmond
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Ralph Bowman

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 33 years1938 to 1971

Genres

Drama36%, 8 films
Comedy23%, 5 films
Crime23%, 5 films
Romance23%, 5 films
Thriller23%, 5 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

About the name
Archer won the top prize in a radio contest on Gateway to Hollywood, which was sponsored by Jesse L. Lasky. The prize was an RKO contract under the name John Archer.
A role that slipped away
Archer took on the starring part of Lamont Cranston in The Shadow for a single year starting in 1944. Orson Welles had played that role before him.
A change of course
Archer went to Hollywood High School and then the University of Southern California. There he studied cinematography and thought he would work behind the camera.

John Archer movies on Netflix

How to Frame a Figg1971IMDb rating 6.5as Gerard
I Saw What You Did1965IMDb rating 6.2as John Austin
Apache Rifles1964IMDb rating 6.4as Col. Nathan Perry
Blue Hawaii1961IMDb rating 6.1as Jack Kelman
City of Fear1959IMDb rating 6.4as Lt. Mark Richards
Decision at Sundown1957IMDb rating 6.8as Dr. John Storrow
No Man's Woman1955IMDb rating 6.4as Harlow Grant
The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7as Frenchy LeCroix
Destination Moon1950IMDb rating 6.3as Jim Barnes
High Lonesome1950IMDb rating 5.4as Pat Farrell
Colorado Territory1949IMDb rating 7.2as Reno Blake
White Heat1949IMDb rating 8.1as Philip Evans
The Lost Moment1947IMDb rating 6.8as Charles Russell
Crash Dive1943IMDb rating 6.4as Curly Bowman
Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6as Lt. Thurmond
Hello, Frisco, Hello1943IMDb rating 6.5as Ned Clark
Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6as Naval Lt. Pete Merriam
Bowery at Midnight1942IMDb rating 5.3as Richard Dennison
Cheers for Miss Bishop1941IMDb rating 6.4as Richard Clark(Ralph Bowman)
City of Missing Girls1941IMDb rating 4.9as James Horton
King of the Zombies1941IMDb rating 5.3as Bill Summers
Spring Madness1938IMDb rating 5.1as Dartmouth College Student

Best known for

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

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White Heat1949 Action, Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Philip Evans
IMDb rating 8.139K votes
Destination Moon1950 Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fias Jim Barnes
IMDb rating 6.35.3K votes
Blue Hawaii1961as Jack Kelman
IMDb rating 6.18.5K votes
Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943as Naval Lt. Pete Merriam
IMDb rating 6.65.3K votes
Colorado Territory1949as Reno Blake
IMDb rating 7.23.6K votes
Bowery at Midnight1942as Richard Dennison
IMDb rating 5.31.5K votes
City of Fear1959as Lt. Mark Richards
IMDb rating 6.41.9K votes
Decision at Sundown1957as Dr. John Storrow
IMDb rating 6.84.0K votes

Most often with

Raoul Walsh directed two of these films. Eleven actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Chet Brandenburg

Morris Ankrum

Ian Wolfe

Frank Puglia

Roy Roberts

Harry Carter

Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films

Films together

Chet Brandenburg2 films together, 1949 to 1952
Chet Brandenburg's page
- The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7Archer as Frenchy LeCroixBrandenburg as Lumberman
- White Heat1949IMDb rating 8.1Archer as Philip EvansBrandenburg as Convict
Morris Ankrum2 films together, 1949 to 1955
Morris Ankrum's page
- No Man's Woman1955IMDb rating 6.4Archer as Harlow GrantAnkrum as Capt. Hostedder
- Colorado Territory1949IMDb rating 7.2Archer as Reno BlakeAnkrum as United States Marshal
Ian Wolfe2 films together, 1943 to 1949
Ian Wolfe's page
- Colorado Territory1949IMDb rating 7.2Archer as Reno BlakeWolfe as Homer Wallace
- Sherlock Holmes in Washington1943IMDb rating 6.6Archer as Naval Lt. Pete MerriamWolfe as Antiques Store Sales Clerk
Frank Puglia2 films together, 1947 to 1949
Frank Puglia's page
- Colorado Territory1949IMDb rating 7.2Archer as Reno BlakePuglia as Brother Tomas
- The Lost Moment1947IMDb rating 6.8Archer as Charles RussellPuglia as Pietro
Roy Roberts2 films together, 1943 to 1952
Roy Roberts's page
- The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7Archer as Frenchy LeCroixRoberts as Judge Crenshaw
- Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6Archer as Lt. ThurmondRoberts as Capt. Jame Cross
Harry Carter2 films together, 1943
Harry Carter's page
- Crash Dive1943IMDb rating 6.4Archer as Curly BowmanCarter as Sailor
- Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6Archer as Lt. ThurmondCarter as Dispatch Officer
Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films, 1949
All films by Raoul Walsh
- Colorado Territory1949IMDb rating 7.2Archer as Reno Blake
- White Heat1949IMDb rating 8.1Archer as Philip Evans
Also two films together5 more actors
- Sterling HollowayCheers for Miss Bishop (1941) and Spring Madness (1938)
- Kenner G. KempCity of Fear (1959) and Destination Moon (1950)
- Virginia MayoColorado Territory (1949) and White Heat (1949)
- Basil RuysdaelHigh Lonesome (1950) and Colorado Territory (1949)
- Knox ManningDestination Moon (1950) and Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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