Royal Dano

Biography

Royal Dano was an American actor whose screen career lasted 46 years, and he became best known for western roles, villains, and his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln. Born in New York City, he entertained troops during World War II and later took stage work, including the leprechaun McSnoyd in Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley, a part heard more than seen. He moved into supporting roles in 1950s westerns and mysteries, working often with Anthony Mann and James Stewart. His turn as the Tattered Man in The Red Badge of Courage (1951) proved so disturbing in its death scene that John Huston recalled test audiences leaving, and the scene was cut. He appeared widely on television, often in macabre parts, and was a frequent guest on Gunsmoke. He supplied the voice of Abraham Lincoln for Disney attractions, beginning with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in 1964, and his vocals returned in 2009.

71years old at death

Born November 16, 1922New York City
Died May 15, 1994Los Angeles
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21

Movie Career

Films: 47
Career span: 42 years1951 to 1993

Genres

Drama53%, 25 films
Western47%, 22 films
Comedy26%, 12 films
Romance17%, 8 films
Action13%, 6 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Walt Disney chose Dano to voice Abraham Lincoln in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, an attraction first shown at the 1964 New York World's Fair, because Disney thought his voice matched historical accounts of Lincoln. Dano's recordings remained in the attraction until 2001.
A first
In 2009, an updated version of the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show at Disneyland brought Dano's vocals back to the attraction.

Royal Dano movies on Netflix

The Dark Half1993IMDb rating 6.0as Digger Holt
Spaced Invaders1990IMDb rating 5.4as Wrenchmuller
Killer Klowns from Outer Space1988IMDb rating 6.2as Farmer Gene Green
Once Upon a Texas Train1988IMDb rating 5.7as Nitro Jones
Ghoulies II1987IMDb rating 4.7as Uncle Ned
House II: The Second Story1987IMDb rating 5.4as Gramps
Red Headed Stranger1986IMDb rating 6.6as Larn Claver
Cocaine Wars1985IMDb rating 4.4as Bailey
Teachers1984IMDb rating 6.1as Ditto Stiles
Something Wicked This Way Comes1983IMDb rating 6.7as Tom Fury
Hammett1982IMDb rating 6.4as Pops
Take This Job and Shove It1981IMDb rating 5.0as Beeber
Back to the Planet of the Apes1980IMDb rating 5.4as Farrow
Drum1976IMDb rating 5.5as Zeke Montgomery
The Outlaw Josey Wales1976IMDb rating 7.8as Ten Spot
Capone1975IMDb rating 5.7as Anton J. Cermak
The Wild Party1975IMDb rating 5.3as Tex
Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5as MacDonald
Electra Glide in Blue1973IMDb rating 7.0as Coroner
Messiah of Evil1973IMDb rating 6.3as Joseph Lang
Moon of the Wolf1972IMDb rating 5.1as Tom Sr.
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid1972IMDb rating 6.1as Gustavson
Skin Game1971IMDb rating 7.0as John Brown
Death of a Gunfighter1969IMDb rating 6.3as Arch Brandt
The Undefeated1969IMDb rating 6.6as Maj. Sanders
Day of the Evil Gun1968IMDb rating 6.4as Dr. Eli Prather
The Last Challenge1967IMDb rating 6.1as Pretty Horse
Gunpoint1966IMDb rating 6.1as Ode
7 Faces of Dr. Lao1964IMDb rating 7.1as Carey
Savage Sam1963IMDb rating 6.0as Pack Underwood
Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol1962IMDb rating 7.6as Marley's Ghost (voice)
King of Kings1961IMDb rating 7.0as Peter
Posse from Hell1961IMDb rating 6.6as Uncle Billy
These Thousand Hills1959IMDb rating 6.3as Carmichael
Man of the West1958IMDb rating 7.0as Trout
Saddle the Wind1958IMDb rating 6.6as Clay Ellison
All Mine to Give1957IMDb rating 7.2as Howard Tyler
Man in the Shadow1957IMDb rating 6.8as Aiken Clay
Trooper Hook1957IMDb rating 6.6as Mr. Trude
Crime of Passion1956IMDb rating 6.4as Capt. Charlie Alidas
Moby Dick1956IMDb rating 7.3as 'Elijah'
Tribute to a Bad Man1956IMDb rating 6.7as Abe
The Trouble with Harry1955IMDb rating 7.0as Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs
Johnny Guitar1954IMDb rating 7.6as Corey
The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1as Luke
Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2as Long Tom
The Red Badge of Courage1951IMDb rating 7.1as The Tattered Man

Best known for

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

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Killer Klowns from Outer Space1988 Comedy, Horror, Sci-Fias Farmer Gene Green
IMDb rating 6.254K votes
The Trouble with Harry1955 Comedy, Mysteryas Deputy Sheriff Calvin Wiggs
IMDb rating 7.043K votes
House II: The Second Story1987as Gramps
IMDb rating 5.413K votes
Something Wicked This Way Comes1983as Tom Fury
IMDb rating 6.713K votes
Ghoulies II1987as Uncle Ned
IMDb rating 4.76.3K votes
The Outlaw Josey Wales1976as Ten Spot
IMDb rating 7.888K votes
Spaced Invaders1990as Wrenchmuller
IMDb rating 5.44.3K votes
Messiah of Evil1973as Joseph Lang
IMDb rating 6.38.3K votes

Most often with

Anthony Mann directed three of these films, Nicholas Ray two and John Huston two. Paul Fix appears in five 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.

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Paul Fix

Harry Carey Jr.

Elisha Cook Jr.

Jack Elam

R.G. Armstrong

William SchallertAnthony MannDirector, 3 films

Nicholas RayDirector, 2 films

John HustonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Paul Fix5 films together, 1954 to 1973
Paul Fix's page
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Dano as MacDonaldFix as Old Man
- The Undefeated1969IMDb rating 6.6Dano as Maj. SandersFix as Gen. Joe Masters
- Day of the Evil Gun1968IMDb rating 6.4Dano as Dr. Eli PratherFix as Sheriff Kelso
- Man in the Shadow1957IMDb rating 6.8Dano as Aiken ClayFix as Herb Parker
- Johnny Guitar1954IMDb rating 7.6Dano as CoreyFix as Eddie
Harry Carey Jr.4 films together, 1969 to 1988
Harry Carey Jr.'s page
- Once Upon a Texas Train1988IMDb rating 5.7Dano as Nitro JonesCarey as Herald Fitch
- Cahill U.S. Marshal1973IMDb rating 6.5Dano as MacDonaldCarey as Hank
- Death of a Gunfighter1969IMDb rating 6.3Dano as Arch BrandtCarey as Rev. Cork
- The Undefeated1969IMDb rating 6.6Dano as Maj. SandersCarey as Webster
Elisha Cook Jr.4 films together, 1972 to 1982
Elisha Cook Jr.'s page
- Hammett1982IMDb rating 6.4Dano as PopsCook as Eli the Taxi Driver
- Electra Glide in Blue1973IMDb rating 7.0Dano as CoronerCook as Willie
- Messiah of Evil1973IMDb rating 6.3Dano as Joseph LangCook as Charlie
- The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid1972IMDb rating 6.1Dano as GustavsonCook as Bunker
Jack Elam3 films together, 1954 to 1988
Jack Elam's page
- Once Upon a Texas Train1988IMDb rating 5.7Dano as Nitro JonesElam as Jason Fitch
- The Last Challenge1967IMDb rating 6.1Dano as Pretty HorseElam as Ernest Scarnes
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Dano as LukeElam as Frank Newberry
R.G. Armstrong3 films together, 1972 to 1986
R.G. Armstrong's page
- Red Headed Stranger1986IMDb rating 6.6Dano as Larn ClaverArmstrong as Sheriff Reese Scoby - Driscoll, Montana
- Hammett1982IMDb rating 6.4Dano as PopsArmstrong as Lt. O'Mara
- The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid1972IMDb rating 6.1Dano as GustavsonArmstrong as Clell Miller
William Schallert3 films together, 1951 to 1984
William Schallert's page
- Teachers1984IMDb rating 6.1Dano as Ditto StilesSchallert as Horn
- Man in the Shadow1957IMDb rating 6.8Dano as Aiken ClaySchallert as Jim Shaney
- The Red Badge of Courage1951IMDb rating 7.1Dano as The Tattered ManSchallert as Union Soldier
Anthony MannDirector, 3 films, 1952 to 1958
All films by Anthony Mann
- Man of the West1958IMDb rating 7.0Dano as Trout
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Dano as Luke
- Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2Dano as Long Tom
Nicholas RayDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1961
All films by Nicholas Ray
- King of Kings1961IMDb rating 7.0Dano as Peter
- Johnny Guitar1954IMDb rating 7.6Dano as Corey
John HustonDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1956
All films by John Huston
- Moby Dick1956IMDb rating 7.3Dano as 'Elijah'
- The Red Badge of Courage1951IMDb rating 7.1Dano as The Tattered Man
Also three films together6 more actors
- Frank FergusonMan of the West (1958), Johnny Guitar (1954) and Bend of the River (1952)
- Stuart WhitmanOnce Upon a Texas Train (1988), These Thousand Hills (1959) and Crime of Passion (1956)
- Audie MurphyGunpoint (1966), Posse from Hell (1961) and The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
- Rodolfo AcostaSavage Sam (1963), Posse from Hell (1961) and Trooper Hook (1957)
- Chubby JohnsonTribute to a Bad Man (1956), The Far Country (1954) and Bend of the River (1952)
- Henry WillsDrum (1976), Posse from Hell (1961) and Saddle the Wind (1958)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Royal Dano's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$156 million

11 of the 47 films have a worldwide figure.

11Worldwide figure
8US gross only
4Never in cinemas
24Figure not found

Top grosser

Killer Klowns from Outer Space1988Farmer Gene Green$43.6 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 92% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Killer Klowns from Outer Space1988as Farmer Gene Green
$44M28.0% of the total
2
The Outlaw Josey Wales1976as Ten Spot
$32M20.4% of the total
3
Spaced Invaders1990as Wrenchmuller
$15M9.9% of the total
4
King of Kings1961as Peter
$13M8.6% of the total
5
The Dark Half1993as Digger Holt
$11M6.8% of the total
6
Moby Dick1956as 'Elijah'
$10M6.7% of the total
7
House II: The Second Story1987as Gramps
$10M6.4% of the total
8
Something Wicked This Way Comes1983as Tom Fury
$8.4M5.4% of the total