Minor Watson

Biography

Minor Watson was a jovial, grandfatherly actor specializing in playing warm-hearted doctors, affable small-town businessmen, concerned army officers and other such characters. Watson wasn't as prolific as many other actors of his type; while he made slightly more than 100 films, his colleagues such as Russell Hicks and Pierre Watkin had over 300 to their credit, although Watson usually brought a warmth and a good humor to his roles that the others often didn't. While Hicks' and Watkin's characters commanded respect, Watson's soft Southern drawl (he was from Arkansas), engaging manner and soothing demeanor made his characters both liked and respected. He was especially effective as Col. Grayson, the commander of the Marines hitting the beach, in Guadalcanal Diary (1943).

75years old at death

Born December 22, 1889Marianna
Died July 28, 1965Alton
Star sign: CapricornFirst day of the sign, on the Sagittarius cusp

Movie Career

Films: 28
Career span: 21 years1935 to 1956

Genres

Drama71%, 20 films
Romance29%, 8 films
Crime25%, 7 films
Comedy18%, 5 films
Biography14%, 4 films

First and latest

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Early training
Watson went to Shurtleff College in Alton, Illinois. While he belonged to Sigma Phi there, he said, others urged him to make drama his career.
Beyond film
Watson made seventeen Broadway appearances, in new plays by writers including George M. Cohan, Robert E. Sherwood, S. N. Behrman, and the team of Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse.

Minor Watson movies on Netflix

Trapeze1956IMDb rating 6.8as John Ringling North
Ten Wanted Men1955IMDb rating 6.0as Jason Carr
The Star1952IMDb rating 6.9as Joe Morrison
As Young as You Feel1951IMDb rating 6.5as Harold P. Cleveland
Mister 8801950IMDb rating 7.0as Judge O'Neil
The Jackie Robinson Story1950IMDb rating 6.4as Branch Rickey
Beyond the Forest1949IMDb rating 6.8as Moose
The File on Thelma Jordon1949IMDb rating 6.9as Judge Calvin H. Blackwell
Courage of Lassie1946IMDb rating 6.2as Sheriff Ed Grayson
The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3as Sam Ronson
Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6as Col Wallace E. Grayson
Mission to Moscow1943IMDb rating 5.4as Loy Henderson
Princess O'Rourke1943IMDb rating 6.7as Mr. Washburn
Gentleman Jim1942IMDb rating 7.5as Buck Ware
Kings Row1942IMDb rating 7.5as Sam Winters
The Big Shot1942IMDb rating 6.7as Warden George Booth
Woman of the Year1942IMDb rating 7.1as William J. Harding
Yankee Doodle Dandy1942IMDb rating 7.6as Albee
The Monster and the Girl1941IMDb rating 6.0as Judge Pulver
They Died with Their Boots On1941IMDb rating 7.2as Sen. Smith
Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7as Pat Grogan
20 Mule Team1940IMDb rating 6.4as Marshal
Abe Lincoln in Illinois1940IMDb rating 7.3as Joshua Speed
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8as Capt. Brandy
Boys Town1938IMDb rating 7.2as Bishop
Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8as Captain Griggs
Dead End1937IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Griswald
Charlie Chan in Paris1935IMDb rating 7.1as Insp. Renard

Best known for

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

Top

Woman of the Year1942 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas William J. Harding
IMDb rating 7.112K votes
The Star1952 Drama, Romanceas Joe Morrison
IMDb rating 6.94.7K votes
Trapeze1956as John Ringling North
IMDb rating 6.85.9K votes
Boys Town1938as Bishop
IMDb rating 7.27.0K votes
Beyond the Forest1949as Moose
IMDb rating 6.82.9K votes
The Jackie Robinson Story1950as Branch Rickey
IMDb rating 6.41.6K votes
Gentleman Jim1942as Buck Ware
IMDb rating 7.54.6K votes
Mister 8801950as Judge O'Neil
IMDb rating 7.02.3K votes

Most often with

Richard Thorpe directed three of these films, Lewis Seiler three and Michael Curtiz two. Five actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Irving Bacon

Gene Lockhart

Harry Davenport

Clem Bevans

Arthur Aylesworth

Charles CoburnRichard ThorpeDirector, 3 films Lewis SeilerDirector, 3 films Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films

Films together

Irving Bacon4 films together, 1939 to 1944
Irving Bacon's page
- The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3Watson as Sam RonsonBacon as Tom
- They Died with Their Boots On1941IMDb rating 7.2Watson as Sen. SmithBacon as Uniform Salesman
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Watson as Pat GroganBacon as Barber
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Capt. BrandyBacon as Tad
Gene Lockhart4 films together, 1938 to 1943
Gene Lockhart's page
- Mission to Moscow1943IMDb rating 5.4Watson as Loy HendersonLockhart as Viatcheslav Molotov
- They Died with Their Boots On1941IMDb rating 7.2Watson as Sen. SmithLockhart as Samuel Bacon, Esq.
- Abe Lincoln in Illinois1940IMDb rating 7.3Watson as Joshua SpeedLockhart as Stephen Douglas
- Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Captain GriggsLockhart as Quid
Harry Davenport4 films together, 1942 to 1946
Harry Davenport's page
- Courage of Lassie1946IMDb rating 6.2Watson as Sheriff Ed GraysonDavenport as Judge Payson
- The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3Watson as Sam RonsonDavenport as Dr. Bertram Charles
- Princess O'Rourke1943IMDb rating 6.7Watson as Mr. WashburnDavenport as Supreme Court Judge
- Kings Row1942IMDb rating 7.5Watson as Sam WintersDavenport as Colonel Skeffington
Clem Bevans4 films together, 1938 to 1955
Clem Bevans's page
- Ten Wanted Men1955IMDb rating 6.0Watson as Jason CarrBevans as Tod Grinnel
- 20 Mule Team1940IMDb rating 6.4Watson as MarshalBevans as Chuckawalla
- Abe Lincoln in Illinois1940IMDb rating 7.3Watson as Joshua SpeedBevans as Ben Mattling
- Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Captain GriggsBevans as Elder Massey
Arthur Aylesworth4 films together, 1938 to 1941
Arthur Aylesworth's page
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Watson as Pat GroganAylesworth as Woody
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Capt. BrandyAylesworth as River Queen Pilot
- Boys Town1938IMDb rating 7.2Watson as BishopAylesworth as Tim
- Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Captain GriggsAylesworth as Rufus Inchpin
Charles Coburn3 films together, 1938 to 1943
Charles Coburn's page
- Princess O'Rourke1943IMDb rating 6.7Watson as Mr. WashburnCoburn as Uncle Holman
- Kings Row1942IMDb rating 7.5Watson as Sam WintersCoburn as Henry Gordon
- Of Human Hearts1938IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Captain GriggsCoburn as Dr. Charles Shingle
Richard ThorpeDirector, 3 films, 1939 to 1944
All films by Richard Thorpe
- The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3Watson as Sam Ronson
- 20 Mule Team1940IMDb rating 6.4Watson as Marshal
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn1939IMDb rating 6.8Watson as Capt. Brandy
Lewis SeilerDirector, 3 films, 1935 to 1943
All films by Lewis Seiler
- Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6Watson as Col Wallace E. Grayson
- The Big Shot1942IMDb rating 6.7Watson as Warden George Booth
- Charlie Chan in Paris1935IMDb rating 7.1Watson as Insp. Renard
Michael CurtizDirector, 2 films, 1942 to 1943
All films by Michael Curtiz
- Mission to Moscow1943IMDb rating 5.4Watson as Loy Henderson
- Yankee Doodle Dandy1942IMDb rating 7.6Watson as Albee
Also three films together3 more actors
- Walter HustonMission to Moscow (1943), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) and Of Human Hearts (1938)
- Stanley RidgesThe File on Thelma Jordon (1949), The Big Shot (1942) and They Died with Their Boots On (1941)
- Victor KilianWestern Union (1941), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) and Boys Town (1938)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.