Tommy Noonan

Tommy Noonan was an American actor and comedian who also wrote and produced films. Born in Bellingham, Washington, he began stage work in 1934 with John Ireland in a New York experimental theater. After World War II service in the Navy, his first film role came in George White's Scandals (1945). He formed a comedy team with Peter Marshall in the late 1940s, appearing in nightclubs, television, and films including Starlift, FBI Girl, The Rookie, and Swingin' Along. Noonan was best known for supporting roles as Gus Esmond in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and Danny McGuire in A Star Is Born (1954). He played a bank manager in Violent Saturday (1955), appeared on Perry Mason in 1961, and later acted in Promises! Promises! (1963) and 3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt (1964), the latter of which he directed, wrote, and produced. His final producing effort was Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers (1967).