Biography From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1889 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor in many films, serials, and television series from the 1930s through the 1950s, especially westerns. He is perhaps best remembered for being the father of Eleanor Twitchell, the lady who captures Lou Gehrig's heart in Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Watkin was born in Sioux City, Iowa. In the 1920s, he had his own theatrical troupe, the Pierre Watkin Players. In 1927, the group moved its headquarters from Sioux Falls to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Watkin portrayed Perry White in both of the Superman serials of the late 1940s, which starred Kirk Alyn as the title character and Noel Neill as Lois Lane.
Watkin played a few different characters in the television series Adventures of Superman, in which John Hamilton played Perry White. He was set to reprise his role as the editor of The Daily Planet in a revival of the series in 1959, as Hamilton had died in the interim since the cancellation of the original series. However, series star George Reeves also died in the summer of 1959, and those plans ended. Watkin himself died six months later.
He also cast in 1955 in the episode "Joey and the Gypsies" of the NBC children's western series Fury. Watkin guest starred in the CBS western series Brave Eagle. He was cast twice each on the ABC/Warner Brothers series, Cheyenne (as Harvey Sinclair in "The Law Man") and Annie Oakley (as the Reverend Mills in the 1956 episode "The Reckless Press"). In 1958, Watkin portrayed Dr. Breen of Samaritan Hospital in the episode "San Francisco Story" of Rex Allen's syndicated western series, Frontier Doctor.
During the first season of CBS's Perry Mason from 1957 to 1958, Watkin appeared in three episodes as Judge Keetley. He was also cast during the 1950s on The Range Rider, Tales of the Texas Rangers, in three episodes of the western aviation adventure series Sky King, and five times on The Jack Benny Program.
Watkin played the part of Colonel Duncan in the 1958 episode "Decoy" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45.
Filmography Rin-Tin-Tin: Hero of the West
1991
Doc Hyer
Details The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin
1958
Character TBA
Details Marjorie Morningstar
1958
Civil Official (uncredited)
Details Don't Knock The Rock
1956
Mayor George Bagley
Details Shake, Rattle and Rock!
1956
Armtrong
Details Cha-Cha-Cha Boom!
1956
Investor
Details Thunder Over Arizona
1956
Dr. Peterson
Details The Maverick Queen
1956
McMillan
Details Sudden Danger
1955
George Caldwell
Details Lay That Rifle Down
1955
Mr. Coswell
Details Creature with the Atom Brain
1955
Mayor Bremer
Details The Big Bluff
1955
Mr. Winthrop
Details Johnny Dark
1954
Ed J. Winston
Details The Flaming Urge
1953
Albert Cruickshank
Details The Stranger Wore a Gun
1953
Jason Conroy
Details Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
1953
Commissioner Morrison
Details The Lost Planet
1953
Ned Hilton
Details Thundering Caravans
1952
Head Marshal
Details Hold That Line
1952
Morgan T. Stanhope
Details Mysterious Island
1951
Confederate Officer
Details In Old Amarillo
1951
George B. Hills
Details Two Lost Worlds
1951
Magistrate Jeffries
Details The Second Face
1950
Mr. Hamilton
Details Last of the Buccaneers
1950
Gov. Claiborne
Details Sunset in the West
1950
Gordon MacKnight
Details Redwood Forest Trail
1950
Arthur Cameron
Details Atom Man vs. Superman
1950
Perry White
Details The Big Hangover
1950
Samuel C. Long
Details Over the Border
1950
Rand Malloy
Details Radar Secret Service
1950
Mr. Hamilton
Details Blue Grass of Kentucky
1950
Head Steward
Details The Story of Seabiscuit
1949
Charles S. Howard
Details The Fountainhead
1949
Cortlandt Official (uncredited)
Details Hold That Baby!
1949
John Winston
Details Flamingo Road
1949
Character TBA
Details Alaska Patrol
1949
Mr. Sigmund
Details Knock on Any Door
1949
Purcell - Lawyer (uncredited)
Details Miss Mink of 1949
1949
Cranston
Details Slightly French
1949
Publicity Man (uncredited)
Details Siren of Atlantis
1949
Colonel
Details An Innocent Affair
1948
T.D. Hendricks
Details The Gallant Blade
1948
Governor
Details The Strange Mrs. Crane
1948
Clinton Crane
Details The Gentleman from Nowhere
1948
Hoffman
Details Daredevils of the Clouds
1948
Douglas Harrison
Details Superman Kirk Alyn
1948
Perry White
Details The Shanghai Chest
1948
Judge Wesley Armstrong
Details The Counterfeiters
1948
Carter
Details Money Madness
1948
Judge (uncredited)
Details The Hunted
1948
Simon Rand, Attorney
Details Mary Lou
1948
Airline President
Details Glamour Girl
1948
T.J. Hopkins
Details Brick Bradford
1947
Professor Salisbury
Details Beyond Our Own
1947
Dr. Blake
Details Her Husband's Affairs
1947
Vice President Beitler
Details Song of Love
1947
Duke of X (uncredited)
Details The Wild Frontier
1947
Frank Lane
Details Monsieur Verdoux
1947
Prison Official (uncredited)
Details The Red Stallion
1947
Richard Moresby
Details Hard Boiled Mahoney
1947
Dr. Rolfe Carter
Details Jack Armstrong
1947
Uncle Jim Fairfield
Details Sioux City Sue
1946
G.W. Rhodes
Details High School Hero
1946
Governor Huffington
Details The Missing Lady
1946
Police Commissioner Weston
Details Behind the Mask
1946
Police Commissioner Weston
Details Murder Is My Business
1946
Arnold Ramsey
Details I Ring Doorbells
1946
G.B. Barton
Details Claudia and David
1946
Hartley Naughton
Details Little Giant
1946
P.S. Van Loon
Details The Madonna's Secret
1946
District Attorney
Details The Shadow Returns
1946
Police Commissioner J.R. Weston
Details Shock
1946
Blake - Belmont Arms Hotel Manager
Details Follow That Woman
1945
J.B. Henderson
Details Captain Tugboat Annie
1945
Dr. Turner
Details Apology for Murder
1945
Craig Jordan
Details I Love a Bandleader
1945
Dr. Gardiner
Details Secrets of a Sorority Girl
1945
Dr. Harlan Johnson
Details Over 21
1945
Joel I. Nixon (uncredited)
Details Mr. Muggs Rides Again
1945
Dr. Fletcher
Details I'll Tell the World
1945
Dr. Mullins
Details Three's a Crowd
1945
Marcus Pett
Details Thrill of a Romance
1945
Tycoon (uncredited)
Details The Phantom Speaks
1945
Charlie Davis
Details I'll Remember April
1945
Dr. Armitage
Details Keep Your Powder Dry
1945
Mr. Lorrison
Details Strange Illusion
1945
District Attorney Wallace Armstrong
Details Docks of New York
1945
Captain Jacobs
Details Here Come the Co-eds
1945
Police Chief (uncredited)
Details The Great Mike
1944
Colonel Whitley
Details End of the Road
1944
District Attorney
Details Dead Man's Eyes
1944
Hayden's Lawyer
Details Shadow of Suspicion
1944
Frank Randall
Details Atlantic City
1944
Sen. Hodges
Details Oh, What a Night!
1944
Tom Gordon
Details South of Dixie
1944
Dean Williamson
Details Jungle Woman
1944
Dr. Meredith
Details Ladies of Washington
1944
Dr. John Crane (uncredited)
Details Bermuda Mystery
1944
Herbert Bond
Details The Chance of a Lifetime
1943
State Governor Rutledge (Uncredited)
Details Swing Shift Maisie
1943
Judge
Details Du Barry was a Lady
1943
Ambrose
Details Mission to Moscow
1943
Naval Attache (uncredited)
Details It Ain't Hay
1943
Maj. Harper (uncredited)
Details Cinderella Swings It
1943
Brock Harris
Details Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
1943
British Agent Z
Details Whistling in Dixie
1942
Doctor
Details Ice Capades Revue
1942
Wiley Stone
Details Stand By All Networks
1942
Grant Neeley
Details The Pride of the Yankees
1942
Mr. Twitchell
Details The Magnificent Dope
1942
Carson
Details Meet the Stewarts
1942
Club Guest (uncredited)
Details Obliging Young Lady
1942
John Markham
Details Heart of the Rio Grande
1942
Randolph Lane
Details Nazi Agent
1942
Grover Blaine McHenry
Details The Adventures of Martin Eden
1942
Amos Morley
Details Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
1941
Crothers
Details Jesse James at Bay
1941
Phineas Krager - Land Dealer
Details Buy Me That Town
1941
Carlton Williams
Details For Beauty's Sake
1941
Middlesex
Details Naval Academy
1941
Capt. Davis
Details Adventure in Washington
1941
Frank Conroy
Details She Knew All the Answers
1941
George Wharton
Details Petticoat Politics
1941
Alfred Wilcox
Details Life with Henry
1941
Mr. Joseph Anderson
Details The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
1940
Boss Crogan
Details The Bank Dick
1940
Mr. Skinner
Details Dr. Kildare's Crisis
1940
Mr. Robert Chandler
Details Father Is A Prince
1940
Mr. Lee
Details Mystery Sea Raider
1940
Straker
Details Knute Rockne All American
1940
Commissioner at Hearing (uncredited)
Details No Time for Comedy
1940
First-Nighter (uncredited)
Details Hired Wife
1940
Charlie - Phyllis's Escort
Details Five Little Peppers in Trouble
1940
J.H. King
Details Rhythm on the River
1940
Uncle John
Details I Love You Again
1940
Mr. W.H. Sims
Details Captain Caution
1940
American Consul
Details Golden Gloves
1940
A.P. Barton - Editor (uncredited)
Details Out West with the Peppers
1940
J.H. King
Details The Saint Takes Over
1940
Ben Egan
Details Earthbound
1940
President of the Court
Details Gangs of Chicago
1940
Character TBA
Details Road to Singapore
1940
Morgan Wycott (uncredited)
Details Teddy the Rough Rider
1940
Sen. Platt
Details The Great Victor Herbert
1939
Albert Martin
Details The Covered Trailer
1939
Horace Cartwright
Details Rulers of the Sea
1939
Mr. Caldwell (Uncredited)
Details Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Senator Barnes
Details Everything's on Ice
1939
Hotel Manager
Details Wall Street Cowboy
1939
Roger Hammond
Details The Jones Family in Hollywood
1939
Movie Studio Producer (uncredited)
Details Outside These Walls
1939
Hewitt Bronson
Details They Made Her a Spy
1939
Colonel Wilson
Details Society Lawyer
1939
Henry V. Adams
Details The Adventures of Jane Arden
1939
Albert Thayer
Details King of Chinatown
1939
Dist. Atty. Philips (uncredited)
Details The Spirit of Culver
1939
Capt. Wharton
Details Secret Service of the Air
1939
Chief of the Secret Service
Details Risky Business
1939
Abernathy
Details Fast and Loose
1939
Victor Stockton (uncredited)
Details Wings of the Navy
1939
Capt. March
Details King of the Underworld
1939
District Attorney
Details The Mysterious Miss X
1939
Winslow
Details There's That Woman Again
1938
Mr. Nacelle
Details Girls on Probation
1938
Mr. Storm
Details The Mad Miss Manton
1938
Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
Details Young Dr. Kildare
1938
Mr. Robert Chanler
Details The Lady Objects
1938
Mr. Harper
Details Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
1938
Mr. Wondel
Details Girls' School
1938
Mr. Alfred Simpson
Details You Can't Take It with You
1938
Attorney to Kirby (uncredited)
Details Boy Meets Girl
1938
B.K. Whitacre
Details Smashing the Rackets
1938
John Nelson Davis
Details There's Always a Woman
1938
Mr. Ketterling
Details Mr. Moto's Gamble
1938
District Attorney (as Pierre Watkins)
Details Tip-Off Girls
1938
George Murkil
Details State Police
1938
Col. C.B. Clarke
Details Dangerous to Know
1938
Senator Carson
Details Arsène Lupin Returns
1938
Mr. Carter (uncredited)
Details Midnight Intruder
1938
Attorney Peter Winslow
Details Daughter of Shanghai
1937
L.T. Yorkland
Details Daughter of Shanghai
1937
Mr. Yorkland (uncredited)
Details Breakfast for Two
1937
Gordon Faraday
Details The Man Who Cried Wolf
1937
Governor
Details Confession
1937
Lawyer Stagoff (uncredited)
Details Paradise Isle
1937
Dr. Steinmeyer
Details The Singing Marine
1937
General
Details Michael O'Halloran
1937
Mark Grave
Details The Hit Parade
1937
J. B. Hawley
Details Mountain Justice
1937
Governor
Details Internes Can't Take Money
1937
Dr. Fearson
Details Marked Woman
1937
Judge #2 (uncredited)
Details Bill Cracks Down
1937
William 'Bill' Reardon Sr.
Details History Is Made at Night
1937
Character TBA
Details Under Southern Stars
1937
Robert E. Lee
Details Sea Devils
1937
USS Taroe Commander
Details She's Dangerous
1937
H.J. Conrad
Details Devil's Playground
1937
Submarine Commander
Details Dangerous Number
1937
Mr. Stark - the Bridegroom
Details Larceny on the Air
1937
Kennedy
Details King of Hockey
1936
Thomas A. White
Details Wanted: Jane Turner
1936
Andrew Norris (uncredited)
Details Country Gentlemen
1936
Mr. Grayson
Details Love Letters of a Star
1936
Hobbs
Details Under Your Spell
1936
Allen's Lawyer (uncredited)
Details The Big Game
1936
The College Chancellor
Details Swing Time
1936
Character TBA
Details The Gentleman from Louisiana
1936
Roger Leland
Details China Clipper
1936
Secretary of State (uncredited)
Details Bunker Bean
1936
Mr. Barnes (uncredited)
Details Counterfeit
1936
Matt McDonald
Details Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936
Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
Details It Had to Happen
1936
District Attorney
Details You May Be Next!
1936
Bernard Pine (uncredited)
Details Two in the Dark
1936
City Editor (uncredited)
Details If You Could Only Cook
1935
Mr. Balderson (uncredited)
Details Dangerous
1935
George Sheffield
Details He Who Gets Slapped
1924
Spectator at Final Performance (uncredited)
Details