Dan White (actor)


Dan White was an American actor, well known for appearing in Western films and TV shows.

Biography

Early life

Dan White was born to George and Orpha White in Falmouth, Florida, one of thirteen siblings. The Whites moved to Lakeland during World War I. By age 14, White was in show business. He left home to travel thousands of miles throughout the South in tent, minstrel, vaudeville and theater shows. His brother Willard joined him for nine years in a show in Tampa's Rialto Theatre. Frances Langford worked with White during the time, and he convinced her to go to Hollywood. During this period, he met Tilda Spivey and proposed marriage on February 25, 1933. She had a 2-year-old child, Arthur Gifford, from a previous marriage. Dan left show business for financial reasons to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps. He still longed for a career in entertainment and took a cruise to Los Angeles. He and his family made extra stops at cities all over the country to earn money to continue the tour.
In January 1937, he stopped at Texarkana, Arkansas, where Tilda awaited the birth of their child. Her sister, Mary, who was in Texarkana, invited the Whites to stay there for a few months. The baby, June Larue White, was finally born, and the Whites continued toward California.

In Hollywood

They arrived 16 days later and rented a house for 23 years, even film scripts were written in their own living room. Dan had a hard time finding a job and was in Costa Rica working on the Pan American Highway. Although, upon return in 1938, he got work with the Republic Pictures Corporation, making 6 films in his first year. The first film was, Prairie Moon, with Gene Autry. White made $55 a week during that picture. He'd claimed to have made about 300 films and 150 television cameos during his years in Hollywood. Around 70 percent were Westerns. Among some of his well-known films were, The Yearling, Distant Drums, Red River, To Kill a Mockingbird, Giant, Duel in the Sun, Four Faces West, Jailhouse Rock and Touch of Evil. During this time, White and his wife had a third child, Donald Curtis White, born on November 9, 1941. The films that made White most famous were his numerous appearances in B-Westerns, where he portrayed the antagonist. During the 1950s and 1960s, he started turning to television. He was offered the role of, "Sam the Bartender," in, Gunsmoke, but he didn't commit to the idea. He asked his best friend Glenn Strange to apply for the job.

Post-acting

Dan loved California for the almost 40 years he was there, but his true love was his old town in Florida. Upon retirement, he returned to Tampa and made appearances in Western Film Round-Ups and talk shows. He was often visited by his family until his death on July 7, 1980, in Tampa, Florida.
Dan was honored with a star on the Newhall Walk of Western Stars on April 11, 2019

Selected filmography

Note: An asterisk means that Dan White had an uncredited role; two asterisks means that he was credited as either Daniel White or Daniel M. White.
  • Everybody's Old Man -
  • Born to Be Wild - Striker
  • Murder in the Family - Minor Role
  • Prairie Moon * - Henchman Joe
  • Shine On, Harvest Moon - Rancher
  • Rough Rider's Round-Up * - Border Patrolman
  • The Law Comes to Texas * - Scout
  • In Old Monterey * - Man at Meeting
  • The Fighting Renegade - Henchman
  • Jeepers Creepers - Townsman
  • Rovin' Tumbleweeds - Townsman
  • Destry Rides Again * - Barfly
  • El Diablo Rides - Henchman
  • Death Rides the Range - Townsman
  • Gone with the Wind - Minor Role
  • Days of Jesse James * - Irate Townsman
  • The Grapes of Wrath * - Poor Man Walking with Woman in Transient Camp
  • Beyond Tomorrow - Gas Station Attendant
  • Our Town * - Wedding Guest Talking to Constable
  • Adventures of Red Ryder - Townsman
  • Deadwood Dick - Bank Teller / Stage Agent
  • The Howards of Virginia - Will
  • Too Many Girls - Faculty Extra
  • She Couldn't Say No - Courtroom Spectator
  • Back Street - Man at Ship's Ramp
  • Prairie Pioneers * - Settler / Soldier
  • The Singing Hill - Rancher
  • The Lone Rider in Ghost Town - Townsman
  • The Parson of Panamint - Hotel / Street Brawl Extra
  • The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury - Saloon Gambler
  • The Lone Rider Ambushed - Henchman
  • Texas - Ringsider
  • Lone Star Law Men - Henchman
  • Forbidden Trails - Barfly
  • Junior G-Men of the Air - Spectator
  • Juke Girl * - Bartender at Muckeye's / Timmony Driver
  • Tumbleweed Trail - Henchman
  • Sheriff of Sage Valley * - Rancher
  • Overland Stagecoach * - Railroad Worker
  • I Married a Witch - Fireman
  • Border Patrol - Henchman
  • Lady of Burlesque * - Man in Audience
  • Death Rides the Plains - Townsman
  • Batman - Mover with Pickup Truck
  • Fighting Valley * - Jeff Kelly
  • The Black Hills Express - Townsman
  • The Renegade - Henchman
  • Trail of Terror * - Al - Relay Station Man
  • The Kansan - Barfly
  • Arizona Trail - Sheriff Jones
  • Here Comes Kelly - Pool Hall Patron / Ringsider
  • Blazing Guns - Henchman Trigger
  • Outlaws of Stampede Past - Kurt - Murdered Cowhand
  • False Colors * - Bar Spectator
  • Boss of Rawhide - Minstrel
  • Smart Guy - Sheriff
  • The Phantom * - Braddock
  • Westward Bound - Henchman Wade
  • Marshal of Gunsmoke * - Ed Gardner
  • Outlaw Roundup - Bartender Louie
  • Voodoo Man - Deputy
  • Arizona Whirlwind - Jim Lockwood
  • Frontier Outlaws - Stagecoach Guard
  • Shine On, Harvest Moon - Rancher
  • Guns of the Law - Henchman
  • The Story of Dr. Wassell - Clerk in Admiral's Office
  • Valley of Vengeance - Settler
  • The Invisible Man's Revenge * - Pub Patron
  • Fuzzy Settles Down - Man at Auction
  • Raiders of Ghost City - Soldier
  • The Utah Kid - Henchman Slim
  • Gangsters of the Frontier - Townsman in Mayor's Office
  • Black Arrow * - Paul Brent
  • Mystery of the River Boat - Citizen
  • The Great Mike - Sam McBride
  • Harmony Trail - Bronco
  • Crazy Knights - Electrician
  • The Big Bonanza * - Rancher Willis
  • Rough Ridin' Justice * - Henchman Mike
  • Sudan - Man
  • The Return of the Durango Kid * - Kirby Henchman
  • Beyond the Pecos * - Sheriff
  • Both Barrels Blazing - Henchman Poker Player
  • Trail to Vengeance * - Henchman Clancy
  • Flaming Bullets - Henchman
  • Frontier Feud - Townsman
  • San Antonio * - Joey Simms
  • Gun Town - Joe - Henchman
  • Gunman's Code - Townsman
  • The Yearling * - Millwheel Forrester
  • Duel in the Sun * - Ed, the Wrangler
  • The Sea of Grass * - Wake - Brewton Ranch Hand
  • Albuquerque - Henchman Jackson
  • The Westward Trail - Henchman
  • Silver River - Miner
  • I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes - Prisoner
  • Shaggy - Joe Simms
  • Four Faces West - Clint Waters
  • The Walls of Jericho - Loafer
  • Red River * - Laredo
  • Station West * - Pete
  • Sunset Carson Rides Again - Sheriff Norton
  • Unknown Island ** - Crewman Edwards
  • Gunning for Justice - Sheriff
  • Outlaw Country - Jim McCord
  • Dynamite * - Skipper Brown
  • Cover-Up - Gabe
  • South of St. Louis - Sentry
  • El Paso - Henchman
  • She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Trooper
  • The Cowboy and the Indians - Farmer
  • Intruder in the Dust * - Will Legate
  • Roseanna McCoy - Abel Hatfield
  • Return of the Frontiersman - Nicol
  • The Gunfighter - Card Player in Barber Shop
  • A Lady Without Passport - Airport Dispatcher
  • Never a Dull Moment - Shivaree Partyer
  • Vengeance Valley * - Cowhand at Campfire
  • Sugarfoot - Rancher
  • Oh! Susanna - Clerk
  • Rawhide - Gilchrist
  • Raton Pass - Scout
  • Comin' Round the Mountain - Mountaineer
  • David and Bathsheba - Soldier Who Touches the Ark of the Covenant
  • His Kind of Woman * - Tex Kearns
  • The Tall Target - Passenger in Club Car
  • The Red Badge of Courage * - Sergeant
  • Texas Carnival - Card Player
  • Drums in the Deep South - Cpl. Jennings
  • Red Mountain - Jim Braden, Assayer
  • Distant Drums * - Cpl. Peachtree
  • The Frontier Phantom * - Crayden Man
  • Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie - Doc Thomas
  • The Lusty Men - Rodeo Announcer #1
  • Horizons West * - Dennis
  • She Couldn't Say No - Harley Burger
  • The Silver Whip - Deputy Dodd Burdette
  • Born to the Saddle - Sheriff
  • Inferno - Lee - Ranch Hand
  • A Lion Is in the Streets - Coroner
  • Gun Fury - Sheepman
  • Jubilee Trail * - Henry
  • Taza, Son of Cochise - Tiswin Charlie
  • Tennessee Champ - Baptist Minister
  • Yankee Pasha - Dan - Fur Trader
  • Suddenly * - Burg - Desk Officer
  • The Country Girl - Man
  • The Americano - Barney Dent
  • Rage at Dawn - Train Conductor
  • The Man from Bitter Ridge - Bender
  • The Road to Denver * - Man in Buckboard
  • The Tall Men - Hotel Clerk in San Antonio
  • The Twinkle in God's Eye - Townsman
  • Glory - Glory's Horse Trainer
  • Red Sundown - Durango Saloon Patron
  • The Last Hunt * - Deputy
  • Great Day in the Morning * - Rogers
  • Thunder Over Arizona - Mel Hogan
  • The First Traveling Saleslady ** - Sheriff
  • Gun Brothers * - Jonathan Logan, Mormon Minister
  • The Ten Commandments - Slave
  • Giant * - Truck Driver in Diner
  • The Rainmaker - Deputy
  • The Lonely Man - Butcher
  • Band of Angels - Trader
  • Escape from San Quentin - Border Guard
  • Jailhouse Rock * - Paymaster
  • Gunfire at Indian Gap - Fred Moran
  • Escape from Red Rock ** - Al Farris
  • Touch of Evil * - Customs Officer
  • Quantrill's Raiders - Fred Thomas
  • The Sheepman - Rancher
  • The Proud Rebel - Court Clerk
  • Frontier Gun - Sam Kilgore
  • Gunmen from Laredo - Jury Foreman
  • King of the Wild Stallions - Hawks
  • This Earth is Mine - Judge Gruber
  • The Big Fisherman - Minor Role
  • Attack of the Giant Leeches - Porky Reed
  • Beloved Infidel * - Bookshop Proprietor
  • Ma Barker's Killer Brood ** - Sheriff #2
  • The Sergeant Was a Lady - Gen. Payson
  • Lonely Are the Brave - Convict
  • The Wild Westerners - Sheriff
  • To Kill a Mockingbird * - Mob Leader
  • The Cardinal - Lamar
  • A Tiger Walks * - Tom Baker
  • The Bounty Killer * - Marshal Davis
  • Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter - Townsman Laughing at Sheriff
  • Waco - Townsman
  • Red Tomahawk - Ned Crone
  • The Fastest Guitar Alive - Preacher
  • The Cheyenne Social Club - Barfly Getting Up from Table
  • Beyond the Valley of the Dolls - Dr. Scholl
  • The Cheyenne Social Club - Man Representing Florida
  • Skyjacked - Weber's Father
  • Smoke in the Wind - Col. Joab Cullen
  • Beyond the Bermuda Triangle - Caldas

    Television

  • The Lone Ranger - John Portis
  • Hopalong Cassidy - Bearcat Smith
  • The Adventures of Kit Carson - Todd Weaver
  • The Cisco Kid - Sheriff / Alan Moxley / Brace Haggar
  • Climax! - Ben Berry
  • Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok - Warner Laughton / Pinto
  • Lux Video Theatre - Len Tollard
  • Stories of the Century - Henchman Huck
  • The Man Behind the Badge - Floyd / Caretaker
  • Corky and White Shadow - Deputy Jeff
  • Tales of the Texas Rangers - Sheriff
  • Screen Directors Playhouse - 4th Farmer
  • Telephone Time - Ed
  • The Adventures of Jim Bowie - Settler
  • West Point - Amby Bracken
  • Cavalcade of America - Stan
  • Red Ryder - Sheriff
  • Sheriff of Cochise - Charlie Desmond
  • Science Fiction Theatre - Bud
  • Circus Boy - Ben Otis / Sheriff / Gus
  • Adventures of Superman - Mike
  • The Ford Television Theatre - Mr. Harris
  • Casey Jones - Sam Peterson
  • Highway Patrol - Pete Burgess / Joe Valentine
  • Broken Arrow - Roberts
  • From These Roots - Dan Fraser
  • Northwest Passage - Mercer
  • The Californians - Roadhouse Proprietor / Turnkey
  • Lassie - Amos Lovejoy
  • - Stableman
  • Overland Trail - Miner
  • Wichita Town - Salty
  • The Texan - Mulligan / Sheriff Dawson
  • Thriller - Doctor
  • General Electric Theater - Sheriff
  • The Deputy - Joab Sharpe / Sheriff Wilks
  • Twilight Zone - Man #2
  • Sugarfoot Cowhand / Kennedy
  • The Rebel - Corby
  • Maverick - Poe / Stableman
  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp - Zack Burton / Townsman / Witness / Judge Norton / Wilkins - Second Prisoner in Line
  • Bat Masterson - Sheriff Bart Sloane / Ben Taylor
  • Checkmate - Man
  • Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color - Storekeeper / William Ryan / Deputy
  • Outlaws - Wagon Driver
  • Sea Hunt - Sheriff Wyatt Walsh
  • Cheyenne - Man
  • Rawhide - Sheriff of Elkville / Windy
  • Tales of Wells Fargo - Pete the Bartender / Matt Gray / Nedy West / Miner Who Quit
  • Laramie - Pa Tilford / Stagecoach Driver / Pop - Telegrapher / Man of God / Townsman
  • Have Gun - Will Travel - Sam - Henchman
  • The Rifleman - Russell / Cowboy on Trail
  • Wagon Train - Taggert / Wagon Driver / Joe Lassiter
  • Ripcord - Mr. Ledbetter / Replaced / Simmons
  • Destry - Stableman
  • Flipper - Captain Bender
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre - Fred
  • The Beverly Hillbillies - Man
  • Petticoat Junction - Homer Overstreet / 1st Juror
  • Green Acres - Man
  • Bonanza - Townsman #2 / Stableman / Weems / Tom / Stableman / Simms / Station Agent / Zeke Jackson
  • The Name of the Game - Sheriff Prentiss
  • The High Chaparral - Dirt Smith / Sheriff Prentiss / Bob Willis
  • The Virginian - Conductor / Stableman / Baggage Man / Edwards / Fox
  • Adam-12 - Benny
  • Gunsmoke - Oldtimer / Stocker / Attendant / Bartender / Dan - Bartender / Ainsley
  • Barnaby Jones
  • Mannix - Steve