Born: October 16, 1910 – Died: November 15, 1961
Douglas Walton, born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, made a significant mark in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. Known for his slight frame and boyish face, Walton perfectly fit the roles of sophisticated, effeminate characters in demand during the era of film-noir. He began his journey in Chicago, then New York, before venturing to Hollywood.
Early Life and Career
Douglas Walton's early life details, including information about his parents and siblings, are not well-documented. However, his journey to stardom began with small character roles in Hollywood. He quickly progressed to speaking parts, thanks to his soft tenor voice that suited the 'weakling' roles he often portrayed. He displayed a fine dramatic range early in his career, notably as young Albert de Mondego in "The Count of Monte Cristo" (1934).
Walton's breakthrough came with his role as Percy Bysshe Shelley in "The Bride of Frankenstein" (1935). This role showcased his ability to express a wide range of emotions, from fawning jealousy to fear and terror. Throughout the late 1930s, Walton played more conventional secondary characters and took on his first and only Broadway role in "Billy Draws a Horse" in 1939. Unfortunately, the play was short-lived.
In films like "Murder, My Sweet" (1944) and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1945), Walton continued to impress audiences and critics alike. However, by the late 1940s, his roles diminished, and he eventually left the film industry after 1950.
In his personal life, Walton married Huguette Suzanne Marie Philomene Boudet in 1950, with whom he remained until his untimely death due to a heart attack in 1961. Besides acting, Walton had a passion for painting, which he pursued under his real name, J. Douglas Duder.
Douglas Walton's contribution to Hollywood, especially during its golden era, remains memorable. His ability to bring depth and nuance to a variety of complex characters secures his place as an iconic figure in the entertainment industry.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Three Came Home | Australian POW (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Calamity Jane and Sam Bass | Bookmaker (uncredited) |
| 1949 | The Secret of St. Ives | Allan St. Ives |
| 1948 | Trouble Preferred | Slippy Patterson - Pickpocket (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Command Decision | Englishman on Loudspeaker (voice, uncredited) |
| 1948 | Hills of Home | Minister (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Forever Amber | Fop (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Green Dolphin Street | Sir Charles Maloney (uncredited) |
| 1947 | High Tide | Clinton Vaughn |
| 1947 | High Conquest | Hugo Bunning as a Young man |
| 1946 | Dick Tracy vs. Cueball | Percival Priceless |
| 1946 | Cloak and Dagger | British Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Our Hearts Were Growing Up | Terence Marlowe (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Kitty | Philip (uncredited) |
| 1945 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Allen Campbell |
| 1945 | Bring on the Girls | Edgar (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Murder, My Sweet | Lindsay Marriott |
| 1942 | Desperate Journey | British Officer Playing Dice (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Jesse James, Jr. | Archie McDonald |
| 1941 | Hurry, Charlie, Hurry | Michael Prescott |
| 1941 | One Night in Lisbon | Frank (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Singapore Woman | Roy Bennett |
| 1940 | The Letter | Well Wisher (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Too Many Girls | Beverly Waverly |
| 1940 | The Long Voyage Home | Second Mate |
| 1940 | Northwest Passage | Lt. Avery |
| 1939 | Raffles | Bunny |
| 1939 | Bad Lands | Bob Mulford |
| 1939 | The Sun Never Sets | Carpenter |
| 1939 | The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle | Student Pilot |
| 1939 | Pacific Liner | Engineering Officer Bates (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Storm Over Bengal | Terry |
| 1937 | Wallaby Jim of the Islands | Norman Brooks |
| 1937 | Nation Aflame | Tommy Franklin |
| 1937 | Flight from Glory | Garth Hilton |
| 1937 | Damaged Goods | George Dupont |
| 1936 | Camille | Henri (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Thank You, Jeeves! | Edward McDermott |
| 1936 | Mary of Scotland | Lord Darnley |
| 1936 | I Conquer the Sea! | Leonard Ashley |
| 1936 | The Garden Murder Case | Floyd Garden |
| 1935 | Hitch Hike Lady | Alfred Bosworth Blake (uncredited) |
| 1935 | *Mutiny on the Bounty* | Stewart |
| 1935 | The Dark Angel | Roulston (uncredited) |
| 1935 | The Bride of Frankenstein | Percy Bysshe Shelley |
| 1935 | Captain Hurricane | Jimmy Howell |
| 1934 | Charlie Chan in London | Hugh Gray |
| 1934 | The Count of Monte Cristo | Albert Mondego |
| 1934 | Shock | Gilroy Hayworth |
| 1934 | Murder in Trinidad | Gregory Bronson |
| 1934 | The Lost Patrol | Pearson |
| 1934 | Madame Spy | Karl |
| 1933 | Looking Forward | Willie Benton |
| 1933 | The Secret of Madame Blanche | Leonard Junior |
| 1933 | Cavalcade | Soldier Friend of Joe (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Scarface | Cesca's Boyfriend (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Blond Student (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Over the Hill | Stephen |
| 1931 | Always Goodbye | Party Gossip (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Body and Soul | (uncredited) |