1. Overview
Maurice Murphy (October 3, 1913 - November 23, 1978) was an American film actor whose career spanned several decades, transitioning from a notable child actor into more mature roles, particularly in action films. He was born in Seattle and passed away in Los Angeles. His acting talent was shared with his brother, Jack Murphy, who also pursued a career in the entertainment industry.
2. Early life and career beginnings
Maurice Murphy was born on October 3, 1913, in Seattle, Washington. From a young age, Murphy entered the film industry, beginning his career as a child actor. He was not the only member of his family to venture into acting; his brother, Jack Murphy, also became an actor. This early start provided him with significant experience and visibility in the burgeoning film landscape.
3. Acting career
Murphy's acting career saw a gradual but definitive shift from playing youthful characters to portraying older roles, often in action-oriented productions. His early prominent appearances include the 1925 film Stella Dallas. A significant role in his child acting phase was as the younger version of the titular character in the 1926 film Beau Geste. As he matured, his career continued with notable roles, such as the title character of Tailspin Tommy Tompkins in the 1934 Universal Pictures serial Tailspin Tommy. Throughout his career, Murphy appeared in a diverse range of films, from war dramas like All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) and Hell's Angels (1930), to more lighthearted features such as Curly Top (1935) and Private Worlds (1935). He also featured in historical epics like The Crusades (1935) and dramas like The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936) and Pilgrimage (1933). His later work included appearances in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) and The Reluctant Dragon (1941).
4. Filmography
Maurice Murphy's career encompassed numerous film appearances. His filmography, listed below, provides a comprehensive overview of his work in chronological order.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | The Self-Made Wife | Tim Godwin Jr. | Film debut |
| Call of the Wild | |||
| 1924 | The Last Man on Earth | Elmer's Pal | |
| Peter Pan | Tootles | ||
| 1925 | The Home Maker | Henry Knapp | |
| Thank You | Willie Jones | ||
| Stella Dallas | Morrison Child | ||
| 1926 | Beau Geste | Beau Geste - Younger | |
| Flesh and the Devil | Ulrich as a Boy | Uncredited | |
| 1927 | Alias the Deacon | Willie Clark | |
| The American | |||
| 1928 | The Call of the Heart | Little Pete | |
| The Shepherd of the Hills | Josh O'Day | ||
| The Michigan Kid | Jimmy Cowan - as a Child | ||
| 1929 | The Spirit of Youth | Ted Ewing | |
| The Three Outcasts | Dick Marsh - as a Boy | ||
| The College Coquette | Jimmy Doolittle | ||
| 1930 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Soldier | Uncredited |
| Hell's Angels | Pilot | Uncredited | |
| 1931 | Seas Beneath | Merkel | Uncredited |
| Women Go on Forever | Tommy | ||
| 1932 | Divorce in the Family | Al Parker | |
| Faithless | Anthony 'Tony' Wade | ||
| 1933 | Found Alive | Bobby Roberts | |
| What Price Innocence? | Maurice Harper | ||
| Pilgrimage | Gary Worth | ||
| 1934 | Tailspin Tommy | Tailspin Tommy Tompkins | Serial |
| There's Always Tomorrow | Fred White | ||
| The Man Who Reclaimed His Head | Leon - a Soldier | Uncredited | |
| 1935 | Private Worlds | Boy In Car | |
| Curly Top | Jimmie Rogers | ||
| The Crusades | Alan - Richard's Squire | ||
| 1936 | The Prisoner of Shark Island | Prison Hospital Orderly | |
| Gentle Julia | Luis | ||
| Down to the Sea | Newland Sanders | ||
| Romeo and Juliet | Balthasar | Uncredited | |
| 1937 | The Road Back | Albert | |
| Under Suspicion | Ralph | ||
| Tovarich | Georges Dupont | ||
| 1938 | The Nurse from Brooklyn | Danny Thomas | |
| My Bill | Lynn Willard | ||
| Delinquent Parents | Bruce Jefferson | ||
| Secrets of an Actress | Thompson's Assistant | Uncredited | |
| 1939 | Zaza | Henri | |
| Forged Passport | 'Kansas' Nelson | ||
| Career | Mel Bartholomew | ||
| The Covered Trailer | Bill Williams | ||
| 1940 | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | John McNeil | |
| Wolf of New York | Frankie Mason | ||
| 1941 | The Reluctant Dragon | Baby Weems Storyboard Artist | |
| 1942 | To Be or Not to Be | Polish RAF Pilot | Uncredited |
| Smith of Minnesota | Wayne Smith | Uncredited | |
| 1943 | Air Force | Harper's Co-Pilot | Uncredited |
| Destination Tokyo | Toscanini | Uncredited | |
| A Guy Named Joe | Captain Robertson | Uncredited | |
| 1944 | See Here, Private Hargrove | Lieutenant | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Sensation Hunters | Fred Rogers | Final film, Uncredited |
5. Death
Maurice Murphy passed away on November 23, 1978, at the age of 65. He died in Los Angeles, California, the city where he had spent a significant part of his professional life.