Richard Fiske
Biography
Richard Fiske was an American film actor, born Thomas Ralph Potts in Shelton, Washington, who appeared in over 80 films from 1938 to 1942, nearly all of them for Columbia Pictures. He worked in local radio before a screen test won him a studio contract in 1938, and he took the name Richard Fiske because another actor was already using Robert Fiske. Columbia first used him as a juvenile lead and as second lead in the serial The Spider's Web (1938), then kept him busy in B pictures, westerns, serials and short subjects. He became familiar to later viewers as a neurotic foil to The Three Stooges, most notably as the drill sergeant in Boobs in Arms (1940). His last screen part was as Ginger Rogers' fiancé in The Major and the Minor, a 1942 comedy directed by Billy Wilder.
28years old at death
- Born Shelton
- Died La Croix-Avranchin
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Thomas Richard Potts
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 2 years1940 to 1942
Every film, newest first
- 1942The Major and the MinorIMDb rating 7.3
- 1941The Devil CommandsIMDb rating 6.1
- 1940Before I HangIMDb rating 6.1
- 1940Island of Doomed MenIMDb rating 5.8
Genres
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Big break
In 1938, Fiske took a screen test for Columbia Pictures and got a contract. That deal started his movie career.
Richard Fiske movies on Netflix
Most often with
Kenneth MacDonald appears in three 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.
Films together
Kenneth MacDonald's page
Boris Karloff's page
Ernie Adams's page
Don Beddoe's page
Bruce Bennett's page
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Bronze Star Medal | Won | ||
| Purple Heart | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.