Born and raised on a farm in Michigan in 1890, Irish-American character actor Harry Shannon had the credentials for becoming a staple player in westerns. He started off his career traveling around with repertory and stock companies and developed his musical abilities in tent shows, burlesque houses and such tuneful Broadway shows as "Oh, Kay!" (1926), "Hold Everything" (1928), "Simple Simon" (1931), and "Pardon My English" (1933). A company member of Joseph Schildkraut's Hollywood Theater Guild, Shannon broke into films at the advent of sound and started things off in comedy film shorts opposite such celebrated players as Bert Lahr, Shemp Howard, and Leon Errol. In the 1940s Shannon established himself in feature-length movies and although he remained a minor, second-string player, he proved himself a durable presence in westerns usually remaining on the good side of the law as sheriffs and bucolic dads. In lighthearted entertainment he could be found as a friendly Irish cop or bartender. He made a slight but memorable impression as Kane's alcoholic father in the classic Citizen Kane (1941), while his last role would be as the grandfather in the musical Gypsy (1962). In between were small parts in such notable films as The Fighting Sullivans (1944), The Jolson Story (1946), High Noon (1952), Touch of Evil (1958), and The Buccaneer (1958). 1950s TV westerns such as Cheyenne (1955), Have Gun - Will Travel (1957), Rawhide (1959), and Gunsmoke (1955) made consistent use of his rustic demeanor. Shannon died in 1964 at age 74.
as Pop Middleton (archive footage)
as Grandpa
as Uncle Josh(1 ep)
as Dr. Burke (uncredited)
as Sam Tyler (uncredited)
as Captain of the Far West (uncredited)
as Michael Shaw(1 ep)
as Claggert(1 ep)
as Sheriff Blanton(1 ep)
as Kilo(1 ep)
as Jeffries(1 ep)
as Tom Carruthers - Captain of the Corinthian
as Jobe Crail(1 ep)
as Jayson Howell(1 ep)
as Justin Corley
as Chief Gould
as Henry Shipman(1 ep)
as Jesse(2 eps)
as Dr. Fisher
as Clay Ford
as Wayne Shattuck
as Drunken Cowpuncher
as Hoak Wayne
as Harris Ellerby(1 ep)
as Mr. Totter
as Marshal Pete MacKay
as Detective Sergeant Dave Washburn(1 ep)
as Dr. Harner(1 ep)
as John Rutherford
as Sam
as Bowers(1 ep)
as Purdue
as Judge William Jennings Westholme(1 ep)
as Ed Benedeck
as Captain Donnelly
as Judge Pierce
as Michael Reilly
as Tom Carter
as Tom(1 ep)
as Sam 'Pop' Tracy
as Sheriff Brown
as Smokestack the Train Engineer
as Judge Varney(1 ep)
as Samuel Morse(1 ep)
as Pat McGowan
as Mike Callan
as Cooper
as Colonel Summers (uncredited)
as Big Jim Heywood(1 ep)
as Asylum Warden Anderson
as John (Policeman)
as Mr. Buchanan
as Walter Shannon
as Fred Salter
as Wallace Bennett
as Vice Admiral Williams
as Mr. Yaeger
as Dr. Maynard
as Police Officer Houlihan
as George Parker
as Clanahan
as Chuck (uncredited)
as Clay
as Sandy Reeves
as Charlie
as Judge Waller
as Kelsey Bunker
as Sawyer
as Police Sergeant Garrett
as Nelse Lansing
as Lew
as Sheriff Harmon
as Chauncey
as Police Captain Henry (uncredited)
as Thomas Lee
as Tesander
as Cab Driver
as Judge Raymond
as Det. Capt. R.W. Davis
as Severance
as Capt. Rogers
as Mr. Holstrom
as Police Lieutenant
as Detective Owens, San Diego Police
as Dr. Jonathan Byrne
as Warden Kelly
as Cop (Uncredited)
as Police Lieutenant Blake
as Henry McLane (uncredited)
as Capt. Lawrence
as Shannon
as Uncle Ralph
as Simmons
as Police Commissioner Collins
as Tom Cary
as Sheriff Elwood
as Sam Weston
as Mr. Mason
as Charlie Witherspoon
as Albert Ness
as Tom Gibbons
as John 'Pop' Ormsby
as Sam Bennett
as Judge John Grey
as Mr. Hendricks
as Ed Cumberland
as Mr. Tim Wiggs
as Florida Doctor (uncredited)
as Mr. Carlin
as Detective Grimes (Uncredited)
as Policeman
as Steve Finnerty
as Pinky Dolan
as Barnes
as American Immigration Official (uncredited)
as Jim Kane
as Chief R.L. Graves
as Capt. Mahoney
as Mr. Casey
as McDermott
as Timson
as Father McGann
as Ed, Chief of Police
as Lieutenant Sullivan
as Army Captain Brackett
as Randall
as Passline
as Railroad Detective
as Macbeth
as The Landlord
as Bank Robber
as Bartender
as Harry Wart
as Grogan
as Police Sergeant
as Capt. Denny
as Dynamite Dan
as Larry