Johnny Downs

Biography

Johnny Downs was an American actor, singer and dancer who began as a child actor in the Our Gang short comedies. Born in Brooklyn, he moved to San Diego as a child and later auditioned in Hollywood; he was a regular in Our Gang from 1923 to 1927. After outgrowing the series, he performed vaudeville. He returned to Hollywood in 1934 and found his niche in college musicals of the late 1930s, including College Scandal (1935) and College Holiday (1936), often playing a team captain or cheerleader. His final movie musical was What a Man! in 1944, and he had a notable cameo in Rhapsody in Blue (1945). He also worked on Broadway and in summer stock, including a hit Broadway show, Are You With It?, hosted The Johnny Downs Show from 1953 to 1968, and appeared in nearly 100 movies.

80years old at death

Born October 10, 1913Brooklyn
Died June 6, 1994Coronado
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Also credited as John Morey Downs

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 14 years1928 to 1942

Every film, newest first

1942The Mad MonsterIMDb rating 3.6
1941Adam Had Four SonsIMDb rating 6.7
1928The CrowdIMDb rating 8.0

Genres

Did you know?!

A change of course
Downs hosted an after-school kids' show, The Johnny Downs Show, on Channel 10 from 1953 to 1968. He played a former World War II pilot, "Johnny Jet", and the set looked like an airport hangar.
Behind the camera
Downs worked as a choreographer in the late 1950s on the theater production Lock Up Your Daughters, and cast member Carleton Carpenter recalled that the dances were not good.

Johnny Downs movies on Netflix

The Mad Monster1942IMDb rating 3.6as Tom Gregory
Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7as David Stoddard
The Crowd1928IMDb rating 8.0as John, age 12

Worked with

Johnny Downs made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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George Zucco

Ingrid Bergman

Sidney Bracey

Clarence Muse

Susan Hayward

June LockhartKing VidorDirector, 1 film Sam NewfieldDirector, 1 film

Gregory RatoffDirector, 1 film

Films together

George Zucco1 film together, 1942
George Zucco's page
- The Mad Monster1942IMDb rating 3.6Downs as Tom GregoryZucco as Dr. Lorenzo Cameron
Ingrid Bergman1 film together, 1941
Ingrid Bergman's page
- Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7Downs as David StoddardBergman as Emilie Gallatin
Sidney Bracey1 film together, 1928
Sidney Bracey's page
- The Crowd1928IMDb rating 8.0Downs as John, age 12Bracey as John's Supervisor
Clarence Muse1 film together, 1941
Clarence Muse's page
- Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7Downs as David StoddardMuse as Sam
Susan Hayward1 film together, 1941
Susan Hayward's page
- Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7Downs as David StoddardHayward as Hester Stoddard
June Lockhart1 film together, 1941
June Lockhart's page
- Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7Downs as David StoddardLockhart as Vance
King VidorDirector, 1 film, 1928
All films by King Vidor
- The Crowd1928IMDb rating 8.0Downs as John, age 12
Sam NewfieldDirector, 1 film, 1942
All films by Sam Newfield
- The Mad Monster1942IMDb rating 3.6Downs as Tom Gregory
Gregory RatoffDirector, 1 film, 1941
All films by Gregory Ratoff
- Adam Had Four Sons1941IMDb rating 6.7Downs as David Stoddard

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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