Ralph Byrd

Biography

Ralph Byrd was an American actor who became best known for playing the comic-strip detective Dick Tracy on screen. Born in Dayton, Ohio, he sang and danced in theatrical productions before his film debut in a small part in Red-Headed Woman (1932). Republic Pictures cast him as Dick Tracy in a 1937 serial, and its success led to three sequels. He was usually seen in action features as truck drivers, lumberjacks, and cowboys, and he also starred in serials including Blake of Scotland Yard (1937), S.O.S. Coast Guard (1937), and The Vigilante (1947). He worked at MGM and Producers Releasing Corporation. After military service interrupted his career, he co-starred with George Reeves in Jungle Goddess and Thunder in the Pines (1948). RKO then hired him to finish its Dick Tracy series, Dick Tracy's Dilemma and Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (both 1947), and he played Tracy on ABC television for one season starting in 1950. He died in 1952.

43years old at death

Born April 22, 1909Dayton
Died August 18, 1952Tarzana
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20

Movie Career

Films: 11
Career span: 19 years1932 to 1951

Genres

Drama82%, 9 films
Romance45%, 5 films
Action36%, 4 films
Crime36%, 4 films
Comedy18%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
In 1945 RKO Radio Pictures put out a Dick Tracy feature with Morgan Conway as the title character. Exhibitors objected after two films, insisting that only Ralph Byrd would do, so RKO gave in and brought Byrd in to finish the series.
First role
Before acting in films, Byrd sang and danced in theatrical productions. He made his movie debut with a bit part in the 1932 film Red-Headed Woman.
Own stunts
Byrd played Tracy for a single season of the Dick Tracy TV series, which first aired on ABC in September 1950. The 48 half-hour episodes had a low budget and a fast schedule, so Byrd did some of the hard stunts himself.

Ralph Byrd movies on Netflix

Lightning Strikes Twice1951IMDb rating 6.5as Jack Ross
Thunder in the Pines1948IMDb rating 6.2as 'Boomer' Benson
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947IMDb rating 6.1as Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947IMDb rating 5.8as Dick Tracy
Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6as Ned Rowman
Jungle Book1942IMDb rating 6.7as Durga
Moontide1942IMDb rating 6.8as Reverend Wilson
Time to Kill1942IMDb rating 6.5as Lou Venter, bodyguard
A Yank in the R.A.F.1941IMDb rating 6.3as Al Bennett
The Son of Monte Cristo1940IMDb rating 6.2as William Gluck
Red-Headed Woman1932IMDb rating 7.0as Driver, at Film's End, with Mustache

Best known for

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

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Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947 Action, Crime, Dramaas Dick Tracy
IMDb rating 6.12.1K votes
Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947 Action, Crime, Drama, Familyas Dick Tracy
IMDb rating 5.81.3K votes
Jungle Book1942as Durga
IMDb rating 6.75.1K votes
Moontide1942as Reverend Wilson
IMDb rating 6.82.6K votes
A Yank in the R.A.F.1941as Al Bennett
IMDb rating 6.31.7K votes
Guadalcanal Diary1943as Ned Rowman
IMDb rating 6.62.5K votes
Time to Kill1942as Lou Venter, bodyguard
IMDb rating 6.5429 votes
The Son of Monte Cristo1940as William Gluck
IMDb rating 6.2984 votes

Most often with

John Rawlins directed two of these films. Seven 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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Ernie Adams

Lloyd Nolan

Eddie Borden

Ethel Griffies

James Seay

Lyle LatellJohn RawlinsDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ernie Adams2 films together, 1940 to 1947
Ernie Adams's page
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947IMDb rating 6.1Byrd as Dick TracyAdams as Waiter at Hangman's Knot
- The Son of Monte Cristo1940IMDb rating 6.2Byrd as William GluckAdams as Informer
Lloyd Nolan2 films together, 1942 to 1943
Lloyd Nolan's page
- Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6Byrd as Ned RowmanNolan as Sgt. Hook Malone
- Time to Kill1942IMDb rating 6.5Byrd as Lou Venter, bodyguardNolan as Michael Shayne
Eddie Borden2 films together, 1947
Eddie Borden's page
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947IMDb rating 6.1Byrd as Dick TracyBorden as Bank Customer
- Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947IMDb rating 5.8Byrd as Dick TracyBorden as Drunk
Ethel Griffies2 films together, 1941 to 1942
Ethel Griffies's page
- Time to Kill1942IMDb rating 6.5Byrd as Lou Venter, bodyguardGriffies as Mrs. Murdock
- A Yank in the R.A.F.1941IMDb rating 6.3Byrd as Al BennettGriffies as Lady Fitzhugh
James Seay2 films together, 1940 to 1942
James Seay's page
- Time to Kill1942IMDb rating 6.5Byrd as Lou Venter, bodyguardSeay as Leslie Murdock
- The Son of Monte Cristo1940IMDb rating 6.2Byrd as William GluckSeay as Lt. Stone
Lyle Latell2 films together, 1947
Lyle Latell's page
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947IMDb rating 6.1Byrd as Dick TracyLatell as Pat Patton
- Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947IMDb rating 5.8Byrd as Dick TracyLatell as Pat Patton
John RawlinsDirector, 2 films, 1947
All films by John Rawlins
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome1947IMDb rating 6.1Byrd as Dick Tracy
- Dick Tracy's Dilemma1947IMDb rating 5.8Byrd as Dick Tracy
Also two films together1 more actor
- Tony BarrettDick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947) and Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)
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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