Paul Douglas

Born: 1907-04-11

Paul Douglas (April 11, 1907 – September 11, 1959) was an American actor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Paul Douglas Fleischer, Douglas began his career as a stage actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1936 as the Radio Announcer in Doty Hobart and Tom McKnight's Double Dummy at the John Golden Theatre. In 1946 he won both a Theatre World Award and a Clarence Derwent Award for his portrayal of Herry Brock in Garson Kanin's Born Yesterday. Douglas began appearing in films in 1949. He may be best-remembered for two baseball comedy movies, Angels in the Outfield (1951) and It Happens Every Spring (1949). He also played Richard Widmark's police partner in the thriller Panic in the Streets, frustrated newlywed Porter Hollingsway in A Letter to Three Wives, Sgt. Kowalski in The Big Lift, businessman Josiah Walter Dudley in Executive Suite and a con man turned monk in When in Rome. In 1950, Douglas was host of the 22nd annual Academy Awards. Douglas also worked on radio as the announcer for The Ed Wynn Show and he was the first host of NBC Radio's "Horn & Hardart Children's Hour!". In April 1959 Douglas appeared as Lucy Ricardo's television morning show boss in the "Lucy Wants a Career" episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Douglas was originally cast in the 1960 episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Mighty Casey", a role written for him by Rod Serling, based on his character in Angels in the Outfield, but Douglas died the same week after production of the episode had been completed. His role was taken over by Jack Warden, and most of the episode was refilmed several months later. He was married five times, last to actress Jan Sterling from 1950 until his death. They had a son, Adams Douglas (1955–2003). Paul Douglas died on September 11, 1959 of a heart attack in Hollywood, California at the age of 52. Film director Billy Wilder and co-writer I.A.L. ('Izzy') Diamond had just offered him the role of Jeff Sheldrake in the movie The Apartment that went to Fred MacMurray instead. Wilder later said: "I saw him and his wife, Jan Sterling, at a restaurant, and I realized he was perfect, and I asked him right there in the parking lot. About two days before we were to start, he had a heart attack and died. Iz and I were shattered." Description above from the Wikipedia article Paul Douglas,  licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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A Letter to Three Wives

as Porter Hollingsway
Released: 1949-01-20

A letter is addressed to three wives from their "best friend" Addie Ross, announcing that she is...

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Panic in the Streets

as Capt. Tom Warren
Released: 1950-07-27

A medical examiner discovers that an innocent shooting victim in a robbery died of bubonic...

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Clash by Night

as Jerry D'Amato
Released: 1952-05-30

An embittered woman seeks escape in marriage, only to fall for her husband’s best friend.

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The Solid Gold Cadillac

as Edward L. McKeever
Released: 1956-08-22

Laura Partridge is a very enthusiastic small stockholder of 10 shares in International Projects,...

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Executive Suite

as Josiah Walter Dudley
Released: 1954-04-30

When the head of a large manufacturing firm dies suddenly from a stroke, his vice-presidents vie...

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We're Not Married!

as Hector Woodruff
Released: 1952-07-11

A Justice of the Peace performed weddings a few days before his license was valid. A few years...

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The Mating Game

as Pop Larkin
Released: 1959-04-29

Tax collector Lorenzo Charlton comes to the Larkins' farm to ask why Pop Larkins hasn't paid his...

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The Big Lift

as MSgt. Henry "Hank" Kowalski
Released: 1950-04-26

The Berlin Air Lift from the point of view of two Air Force NCOs who navigate romance in a...

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The 'Maggie'

as Calvin B. Marshall, the American
Released: 1954-02-25

The poor, elderly—and the wily, when it comes to parting those who can afford it from their...

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Angels in the Outfield

as Guffy McGovern
Released: 1951-10-19

The short-tempered manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates mends his ways in return for a little...

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The Gamma People

as Mike Wilson
Released: 1956-12-01

An American reporter smells a story when he is stranded in an Iron Curtain country where the...

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Margin for Error

as Policeman at Front Desk (uncredited)
Released: 1943-02-10

When police officer Moe Finkelstein and his colleague Officer Salomon are ordered to serve as...

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Never Wave at a WAC

as Andrew McBain
Released: 1953-01-28

A divorced socialite decides to join the Army because she hopes it will enable her to see more...

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Green Fire

as Vic Leonard
Released: 1954-12-29

In Colombia, mining engineer Rian Mitchell discovers Carrero, the lost emerald mine of the...

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It Happens Every Spring

as Monk Lanigan
Released: 1949-06-10

A scientist discovers a formula that makes a baseball which is repelled by wood. He promptly...

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Fourteen Hours

as Police Ofcr. Charlie Dunnigan
Released: 1951-04-01

A young man, morally destroyed by his parents not loving him and by the fear of being not...

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This Could Be the Night

as Rocco
Released: 1957-05-14

To earn extra money, a prim schoolteacher takes a second job as secretary to the uncouth owner...

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Rhubarb

as Man on Park Bench (uncredited)
Released: 1951-08-29

Rich, eccentric T.J. Banner adopts a feral cat who becomes an affectionate pet he names Rhubarb....

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When in Rome

as Joe Brewster
Released: 1952-05-11

An American fugitive flees to Rome and tries to elude capture by masquerading as a priest.

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Forever Female

as Harry Phillips
Released: 1953-11-28

An aging actress has a hard time admitting she is too old to play the ingenue role anymore.

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Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1997-05-12

Born Ruby Stevens, she was orphaned when she was four. A chance audition led to a chorus job. By...

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Beau James

as Chris Nolan
Released: 1957-06-07

The story of Jimmy Walker who became mayor of New York in the '20s.

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Fortunella

as Professore Golfiero Paganica
Released: 1958-03-14

A poor girl is convinced she is the daughter of a prince.

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Joe Macbeth

as Joe MacBeth
Released: 1955-10-18

A gangster's wife drives him to kill as she pushes him to the top.

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The Guy Who Came Back

as Harry Joplin
Released: 1951-08-16

Former football star Harry Joplin is down on his luck, both in his career and in his married...

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Everybody Does It

as Leonard Borland aka Logan Bennett
Released: 1949-10-24

Leonard Borland loves his monied wife, but with his wrecking business looking shaky he treasures...

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You Can Change The World

as Self
Released: 1950-02-25

Comedian Jack Benny has his butler, Rochester, call several of his celebrity friends over to the...

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Love That Brute

as E.L. 'Big Ed' Hanley
Released: 1950-06-06

The story of a crude gangster hopelessly falling for a sweet young city government employee.

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Calling Scotland Yard: Falstaff's Fur Coat

as Commentator
Released: 1954-02-20

Because of his luxurious fur coat, a hammy actor becomes involved with crooks. His coat...

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Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

as Sheriff Jonas Sutton
First aired: 1956-10-05

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American...

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Climax!

as Dr. Merle Gardner
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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Climax!

as Lieutenant Todd Thoman
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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The Colgate Comedy Hour

as Self
First aired: 1950-09-10

The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC...

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Studio One

as Paul Kadsoe
First aired: 1948-11-07

An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher...

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Studio One

as Captain McCaffrey
First aired: 1948-11-07

An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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The Oscars

as Self
First aired: 1953-03-19

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...

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The Dinah Shore Chevy Show

as Self
First aired: 1956-10-05

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on...

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The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse

as uncredited
First aired: 1958-10-06

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu...

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The 20th Century Fox Hour

as uncredited
First aired: 1955-10-05

The 20th Century Fox Hour is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States...

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Your Show of Shows

as uncredited
First aired: 1950-02-25

Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United...

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Bill Fleming
First aired: 1955-10-02

A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

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Suspicion

as Vince Polito
First aired: 1957-09-30

Suspicion is the title of an American television mystery drama series which aired on the NBC...

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Blue Water High

as uncredited
First aired: 2005-05-11

Blue Water High is an Australian television drama series, broadcast by the Australian...

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7 Days

as Panelist
First aired: 2009-08-21

7 Days is a New Zealand comedy gameshow similar in some ways to the British program Mock the...

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The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

as Paul Douglas
First aired: 1957-11-06

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is a collection of thirteen one-hour specials airing occasionally from...

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Hallmark Hall of Fame

as Harry Brock
First aired: 1951-12-24

Hallmark Hall of Fame is an anthology program on American television, sponsored by Hallmark...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Frank Parisi
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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