Tom Dugan
Biography
Tom Dugan was an Irish actor who moved with his family from Dublin to Philadelphia as a child and turned to show business after trying several trades, putting his tenor voice to use in a traveling medicine show and a minstrel troupe before taking the stage. He headlined for the Keith Circuit, appeared in New York musical comedies and vaudeville houses such as Earl Carroll's Vanities, and became a Broadway comedian. Over a film career that ran from 1927 to 1955 he appeared in nearly 270 movies, mostly in small parts, often as an Irish cop, a gangster or a cab driver, and he supported comics including Charley Chase. Lights of New York (1928) was the first all-talking picture, and his best film role was perhaps a Polish actor who impersonates Adolf Hitler in Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be (1942).
66years old at death
- Born Dublin
- Died Redlands
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 16
- Career span
- 65 years1928 to 1993
First and latest
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Getting ready for a role
Dugan may be best remembered for playing Bronski, a Polish actor. In Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 film To Be or Not to Be, Bronski disguises himself as Adolf Hitler.
A change of course
For several years Dugan was a headliner on the Keith Circuit in America. He also appeared in New York City musical comedies and vaudeville theaters, and later became a Broadway comedian.
A first
Dugan supported comedians such as Charley Chase. He also had a part in Lights of New York, a 1928 release that was the first all-talking picture.
A change of course
After he left school, Dugan quickly tried three trades: cutting shoes, cutting neck ties and hanging paper. He chose show business because he had a good tenor voice.
Behind the camera
In the mid-1930s, Dugan was an actor for the Hal Roach studios, and he may have done writing work there too.
Tom Dugan movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Charles Walters directed two of these films. Bess Flowers 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
Bess Flowers's page
Morris Ankrum's page
James Flavin's page
Joseph Crehan's page
Berton Churchill's page
Clinton Sundberg's page
All films by Charles Walters
Also two films together8 more actors
- Sara AllgoodThe Fabulous Dorseys (1947) and City Without Men (1943)
- Oliver BlakeThe Belle of New York (1952) and Merton of the Movies (1947)
- Harry C. BradleyCity Without Men (1943) and American Madness (1932)
- Sheldon LeonardGambler's Choice (1944) and City Without Men (1943)
- Lloyd CorriganGambler's Choice (1944) and The Ghost Breakers (1940)
- King BaggotGood News (1947) and Merton of the Movies (1947)
- Sarah EdwardsGood News (1947) and American Madness (1932)
- Robert ElliottThe Ghost Breakers (1940) and Lights of New York (1928)
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.