Grant Richards (actor)

Grant Richards (born Irwin Jaffe, December 21, 1911 – July 4, 1963) was an American actor and voice actor, who appeared mainly in movies in the late 1930s through to the late 1950s.

For the British publisher and writer, see Grant Richards (publisher). For the British publishing house, see Grant Richards (publishing house).
Grant Richards
Richards in Isle of Destiny (1940)
Born
Irwin Jaffe[1]

(1911-12-12)December 12, 1911
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 4, 1963(1963-07-04) (aged 51)/
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationFilm/TV actor
Years active1936–1963
Spouse(s)Joan Valerie (? – 1943)[1]
Jean Stevens (? – 1945)[2]

Career

In 1937, he became the first actor in the Federal Theatre Project to gain a film contract, signing with the Major Pictures company.[3]

His films include On Such a Night (1937) and Guns, Girls, and Gangsters (1959). Richards made three guest appearances on Perry Mason: as Jerry Haywood in the 1958 episodes "The Case of the Haunted Husband," and as Captain Kennedy in "The Case of the Sardonic Sargeant"; followed by the role of murder victim George Sherwin in the 1961 episode, "The Case of the Missing Melody". He also appeared in several episodes of ABC's The Untouchables.

In 1958, he played the gunfighter and saloon owner Luke Short in an episode of western series, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. In 1962 he played Keeler, a crooked gambler, in The Rifleman episode “Tinhorn”.

Personal life and death

During the 1940s, Richards was briefly married to actresses Joan Valerie–with whom he had one daughter–and Jean Stevens, both marriages ending in divorce.[1][2]

On July 4, 1963, Richards died of leukemia in Hollywood.[4]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1936Hopalong Cassidy ReturnsBob Claiborne
1937Night of MysteryPhilo Vance
1937On Such a NightNicky Last
1937Love on ToastClark 'Sandy' Sanford
1938My Old Kentucky HomeLarry Blair
1938Under the Big TopPablo Le Grande
1939Risky BusinessJack Norman
1939Inside InformationCharles Bixby
1940Isle of DestinyLt. George Allerton
1942Just Off BroadwayJohn F. McGonagle - Asst. District Attorney
1959Guns Girls and GangstersJoe Darren
1959Inside the MafiaJohnny Lucero
1959The Four Skulls of Jonathan DrakePolice Lt. Jeff Rowan
1960Oklahoma TerritoryBigelow
1960Twelve Hours to KillDetective Lt. Jim Carnevan
1960The Music Box KidChesty Miller
1961You Have to Run Fast'Big Jim' Craven
1961Secret of Deep HarborRick Correll

References
  1. "Joan Valerie Gets Second Divorce". The Rhinelander Daily News. February 6, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  2. "Actress Wins Divorce As Result of Surprise Party". The Scranton Times. October 22, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  3. "Federal Actor Signed". Lincoln Journal Star. Nebraska, Lincoln. United Press. January 20, 1937. p. 2. Retrieved January 16, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. "Obituaries: Grant Richards". Variety. July 10, 1963. p. 79. ProQuest 1017103368. Grant Richards, 47, radio-tv-film-legit actor, died of leukemia July 4 in Hollywood.
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