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John Carradine

John Carradine

Birthday: 1906-02-05 | Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA

John Carradine (1906–1988) was an American actor, best known for his roles in horror films, Westerns, and Shakespearean theatre. Carradine's first film credit was Tol'able David. By 1933, he was being credited as John Peter Richmond. He adopted the stage name "John Carradine" in 1935, and legally took the name as his own two years later. By 1936, Carradine had become a member of John Ford's stock company and appeared in The Prisoner of Shark Island. In total, he made 11 pictures with Ford, including The Grapes of Wrath. Other Ford films in which Carradine appeared include The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and Stagecoach. Carradine claimed to have appeared in more than 450 movies, but only 225 movies can be documented. His count is closer to fact if theatrical movies, made-for-TV movies, and television programs are included. He often played eccentric, insane, or diabolical characters, especially in the horror genre with which he had become identified. He occasionally played a heroic role as in The Grapes of Wrath and he occasionally played a sympathetic role as in Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake. He was married four times, had five children, and was the patriarch of the Carradine acting family, which includes his sons Bruce Carradine, David Carradine, Keith Carradine and Robert Carradine as well as his granddaughters Martha Plimpton, Sorel Carradine and Ever Carradine.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2013
Blood of 1000 Virgins

as    Himself (archive footage)

1989
Buried Alive

as    Jacob Julian

1987
Evil Spawn

as    Dr. Emil Zeitman

1987
Monster in the Closet

as    Old Joe Shempter

1986
The Tomb

as    Andoheb

1985
Evils of the Night

as    Dr. Kozmar

1984
House of the Long Shadows

as    Elijah Grisbane

1984
The Ice Pirates

as    Supreme Commander

1983
Boogeyman II

as    Dr. Warren (archive footage)

1983
Imps*

as    Gentleman

1983
The Horror of It All

as    Self

1982
Satan's Mistress

as    Father Stratten

1982
The Secret of NIMH

as    Great Owl (voice)

1982
The Best of Sex and Violence

as    Self - Host

1981
The Nesting

as    Col. LeBrun

1981
Frankenstein Island

as    Dr. Frankenstein

1981
The Howling

as    Erle Kenton

1981
The Reluctant Dragon

as    Narrator

1981
Goliath Awaits

as    Ronald Bentley

1981
Goliath Awaits

as    Ronald Bentley

1980
The Boogey Man

as    Dr. Warren

1980
Monstroid

as    Priest

1979
Nocturna

as    Count Dracula

1978
The Bees

as    Dr. Sigmund Hummel

1978
Vampire Hookers

as    Richmond Reed

1977
The White Buffalo

as    Amos Briggs

1977
Shock Waves

as    Captain

1977
The Sentinel

as    Fr. Francis Matthew Halloran