Paul Hurst

Paul Hurst

Biography: Paul Hurst (October 15, 1888 - February 27, 1953) was an American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his early work was in low budget western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the emerging film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well (some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect). In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. He proved adept at working as a director for some of the cheapest producers along Gower Gulch, where movies were normally shot on location in a week or less and where stunt men were often the highest paid folks on the set. Within a few years, he focused all of his energies into acting, notably becoming one of the few successes to emerge from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Hurst quickly became one of the more prolific and familiar characters in American movies. With his blocky build and squinty demeanor, and with a raspy voice that enhanced his memorability once sound pictures came in, Hurst played villains and cops and comedy sidekicks in more than 250 films. His most famous role was that of the deserter shot dead on the stairway of Tara by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Hurst was the sidekick to Monte Hale in a number of B-Westerns. Former Gower Gulch veteran John Wayne hired Hurst for Big Jim McLain (1952) knowing that Hurst was ill with terminal cancer. In 1953, at the age of 64, due to his health problems, Paul Hurst committed suicide. Date of Death: 27 February 1953, Hollywood, California  (suicide)

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: October 14, 1888

Deathday: February 27, 1953

Popularity:

6.122

Known For

The Ox-Bow Incident
The Ox-Bow Incident

1942-12-03

Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind

1939-12-15

Island of Lost Souls
Island of Lost Souls

1932-12-24

Paradise Island
Paradise Island

1930-07-15

Angel and the Badman
Angel and the Badman

1947-02-15

Steppin' in Society
Steppin' in Society

1945-07-09

Roaring Road
Roaring Road

1926-05-01

Petticoat Politics
Petticoat Politics

1941-01-31

Trouble in Morocco
Trouble in Morocco

1937-03-09

The Secret Six
The Secret Six

1931-04-18

The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach
The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach

1912-12-07

Scared Stiff
Scared Stiff

1945-06-22

The Railroad Raiders
The Railroad Raiders

1917-04-09

The Hazards of Helen
The Hazards of Helen

1917-02-24

The Girl Detective
The Girl Detective

1915-01-02

A Lass of the Lumberlands
A Lass of the Lumberlands

1916-01-02

Hi'ya, Chum
Hi'ya, Chum

1943-02-25

The Westerner
The Westerner

1940-09-18

Alexander's Ragtime Band
Alexander's Ragtime Band

1938-05-24

Toughest Man in Arizona
Toughest Man in Arizona

1952-10-10

Million Dollar Pursuit
Million Dollar Pursuit

1951-05-30

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1938-03-18

The Big Stampede
The Big Stampede

1932-09-29

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

1941-11-18

The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1923-09-06

Summer Storm
Summer Storm

1944-07-14

The Sphinx
The Sphinx

1933-06-01

Topper Takes a Trip
Topper Takes a Trip

1938-12-29

The Gay Deception
The Gay Deception

1935-09-13

Whispering Smith
Whispering Smith

1916-06-05

Angel's Holiday
Angel's Holiday

1937-06-07

Tall, Dark and Handsome
Tall, Dark and Handsome

1941-01-24

The Quicksands
The Quicksands

1914-06-10

The Thirteenth Guest
The Thirteenth Guest

1932-08-09

Bad Company
Bad Company

1931-10-16

The Chief of Police
The Chief of Police

1914-08-04

In Old Chicago
In Old Chicago

1938-04-15

The Racketeer
The Racketeer

1929-11-09

December 7th
December 7th

1943-03-01

Rimrock Jones
Rimrock Jones

1918-01-21

Stingaree
Stingaree

1915-11-24

The Further Adventures of Stingaree
The Further Adventures of Stingaree

1917-06-01

Terror Aboard
Terror Aboard

1933-04-14

Ali Baba Goes to Town
Ali Baba Goes to Town

1937-10-29

Caught in the Draft
Caught in the Draft

1941-07-04

The Sun Shines Bright
The Sun Shines Bright

1953-05-02

The Red Signal
The Red Signal

1915-02-13

The Plot at the Railroad Cut
The Plot at the Railroad Cut

1914-11-21

Sequoia
Sequoia

1935-01-16

Judith of the Cumberlands
Judith of the Cumberlands

1916-07-31

The Diamond Runners
The Diamond Runners

1916-08-28

Medicine Bend
Medicine Bend

1916-07-03

Night in New Orleans
Night in New Orleans

1942-07-01

Broadway Serenade
Broadway Serenade

1939-04-07

Swellhead
Swellhead

1930-03-20

Danger – Love at Work
Danger – Love at Work

1937-09-30

Island in the Sky
Island in the Sky

1938-04-01

It Could Happen to You
It Could Happen to You

1939-06-08

Borrowed Wives
Borrowed Wives

1930-08-20

Ranger of Cherokee Strip
Ranger of Cherokee Strip

1949-11-04

That's My Line
That's My Line

1931-07-13

Second Honeymoon
Second Honeymoon

1937-11-13

Midnight Alibi
Midnight Alibi

1934-07-12

I'd Give My Life
I'd Give My Life

1936-08-13

The Cossacks
The Cossacks

1928-06-23

Calaboose
Calaboose

1943-01-29

Sweepstakes
Sweepstakes

1931-07-10

Hot Curves
Hot Curves

1930-06-14

Shadow of Doubt
Shadow of Doubt

1935-02-15

Secrets of a Nurse
Secrets of a Nurse

1938-12-02

The Big Show-Off
The Big Show-Off

1945-01-22

Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Tugboat Annie Sails Again

1940-10-26

Remember?
Remember?

1939-12-19

Bad Lands
Bad Lands

1939-08-28

The Plainsman and the Lady
The Plainsman and the Lady

1946-11-11

The Legion of Missing Men
The Legion of Missing Men

1937-07-28

Wake Up and Live
Wake Up and Live

1937-08-23

Girl Rush
Girl Rush

1944-10-21

Virginia
Virginia

1941-01-28

Prison Break
Prison Break

1938-07-12

Hold That Co-ed
Hold That Co-ed

1938-09-16

The Sky's the Limit
The Sky's the Limit

1943-07-13

Something for the Boys
Something for the Boys

1944-11-01

The Runaway Bride
The Runaway Bride

1930-05-04

My Lucky Star
My Lucky Star

1938-09-09

Officer O'Brien
Officer O'Brien

1930-02-15

State's Attorney
State's Attorney

1932-05-20

The Devil's Saddle
The Devil's Saddle

1927-07-10

The Single Sin
The Single Sin

1931-02-23

The California Mail
The California Mail

1929-04-07

Men Are Such Fools
Men Are Such Fools

1932-11-18

The Red Raiders
The Red Raiders

1927-09-27

The Lawless Legion
The Lawless Legion

1929-02-17

Lucky Larkin
Lucky Larkin

1930-02-01

Mountain Justice
Mountain Justice

1930-05-04

The Cave Men's War
The Cave Men's War

1913-12-03

My Pal, the King
My Pal, the King

1932-04-03

The Lady Fights Back
The Lady Fights Back

1937-10-01

She's No Lady
She's No Lady

1937-08-20

Tide of Empire
Tide of Empire

1929-03-23

Shadow of the Law
Shadow of the Law

1930-06-06

Slave Ship
Slave Ship

1937-06-16

Josette
Josette

1938-06-03

Lightning Bryce
Lightning Bryce

1919-10-14

Public Hero Number 1
Public Hero Number 1

1935-05-31

The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight
The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight

1915-02-06

Sailor's Holiday
Sailor's Holiday

1929-09-14

We Who Are About to Die
We Who Are About to Die

1937-01-08

Blue Streak O'Neil
Blue Streak O'Neil

1926-12-15

You Can't Have Everything
You Can't Have Everything

1937-08-02

A Very Honorable Guy
A Very Honorable Guy

1934-04-18

Robin Hood of El Dorado
Robin Hood of El Dorado

1936-03-17

Cafe Society
Cafe Society

1939-03-03

Lilac Time
Lilac Time

1928-10-18

The Secret Witness
The Secret Witness

1931-12-12

Who Killed Doc Robbin?
Who Killed Doc Robbin?

1948-04-09

The Virginian
The Virginian

1946-05-05

Tomorrow's Youth
Tomorrow's Youth

1934-10-14

The Public Defender
The Public Defender

1931-08-01

On Your Toes
On Your Toes

1939-10-14

Maybe It's Love
Maybe It's Love

1935-01-12

Each Dawn I Die
Each Dawn I Die

1939-08-19

Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence

1939-11-03

Take the Stand
Take the Stand

1934-08-07

Dudes Are Pretty People
Dudes Are Pretty People

1942-03-13

Prince of the Plains
Prince of the Plains

1949-04-08

Glove Slingers
Glove Slingers

1939-11-24

Pioneer Marshal
Pioneer Marshal

1949-11-24

Spring Parade
Spring Parade

1940-09-27

The Valley of the Giants
The Valley of the Giants

1927-12-04

San Antone Ambush
San Antone Ambush

1949-10-06

The Phantom President
The Phantom President

1932-09-23

Among the Missing
Among the Missing

1934-09-25

The Arizona Ranger
The Arizona Ranger

1948-05-14

Tugboat Annie
Tugboat Annie

1933-08-04

Oh, Yeah!
Oh, Yeah!

1929-10-19

Hold 'Em Jail
Hold 'Em Jail

1932-08-19

The Great Mr. Nobody
The Great Mr. Nobody

1941-02-15

The Daring Young Man
The Daring Young Man

1935-07-17

South of Rio
South of Rio

1949-07-29

The Vivisectionist
The Vivisectionist

1915-06-23

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936-04-09

Dakota
Dakota

1945-12-15

Edison, the Man
Edison, the Man

1940-05-10

You Can't Beat Love
You Can't Beat Love

1937-06-25

Death Valley
Death Valley

1946-08-15

Madonna of the Desert
Madonna of the Desert

1948-02-23

Coney Island
Coney Island

1943-06-18

North of Nome
North of Nome

1936-11-14

Maker of Men
Maker of Men

1931-08-03

No Time to Marry
No Time to Marry

1938-02-05

Son of God’s Country
Son of God’s Country

1948-09-15

The Parson of Panamint
The Parson of Panamint

1941-07-25

The Last Express
The Last Express

1938-10-27

Gun Smugglers
Gun Smugglers

1948-12-28

This Is My Affair
This Is My Affair

1937-05-28

In Old Sacramento
In Old Sacramento

1946-05-31

Midnight Manhunt
Midnight Manhunt

1945-07-27

California Firebrand
California Firebrand

1948-04-01

Smashing Through
Smashing Through

1918-06-09

Queen Christina
Queen Christina

1933-12-26

To Mary - with Love
To Mary - with Love

1936-08-01

Wife, Doctor and Nurse
Wife, Doctor and Nurse

1937-09-17

Castle on the Hudson
Castle on the Hudson

1940-02-17

They Drive by Night
They Drive by Night

1940-07-26

Torrid Zone
Torrid Zone

1940-05-18

Panama Flo
Panama Flo

1932-01-19

The Missourians
The Missourians

1950-11-25

The Old Frontier
The Old Frontier

1950-07-20

This Woman Is Mine
This Woman Is Mine

1941-08-22

Sundown Jim
Sundown Jim

1942-03-27

Big Jim McLain
Big Jim McLain

1952-08-30

Kick In
Kick In

1931-05-22

Goin' Fishin'
Goin' Fishin'

1940-10-26

Under Colorado Skies
Under Colorado Skies

1947-12-15

Carnival
Carnival

1935-02-15

The Vanishing Westerner
The Vanishing Westerner

1950-03-31

Law of the Golden West
Law of the Golden West

1949-05-23

Outcasts of the Trail
Outcasts of the Trail

1949-06-08

The Gay Desperado
The Gay Desperado

1936-10-02

Yellow Sky
Yellow Sky

1948-12-24

Barbary Coast Gent
Barbary Coast Gent

1944-09-01

Saturday's Millions
Saturday's Millions

1933-09-30

Heart of Virginia
Heart of Virginia

1948-04-25

Super-Sleuth
Super-Sleuth

1937-07-16

Fifty Roads to Town
Fifty Roads to Town

1937-06-03

Star Dust
Star Dust

1940-04-06

Day of Reckoning
Day of Reckoning

1933-10-26

Murder in the Music Hall
Murder in the Music Hall

1946-04-10

The Big Race
The Big Race

1934-02-14

The Women in His Life
The Women in His Life

1933-12-08

Grand Slam
Grand Slam

1933-02-22

Outlaw's Paradise
Outlaw's Paradise

1927-03-01

Pardon My Stripes
Pardon My Stripes

1942-01-26

The Fighting Ranger
The Fighting Ranger

1926-09-15

The Ghost That Walks Alone
The Ghost That Walks Alone

1944-02-10

Blackmailer
Blackmailer

1936-07-23

South to Karanga
South to Karanga

1940-08-02

Buttons
Buttons

1927-12-24

The Manager of the B & A
The Manager of the B & A

1916-09-25

The Third Alarm
The Third Alarm

1930-11-16

Quick Millions
Quick Millions

1939-08-25

Mississippi
Mississippi

1935-03-22

His First Command
His First Command

1929-12-28

Riffraff
Riffraff

1936-01-03

The Ballad of Paducah Jail
The Ballad of Paducah Jail

1934-10-20

Charlie Chan's Courage
Charlie Chan's Courage

1934-07-06

Calm Yourself
Calm Yourself

1935-06-28

Hold Your Man
Hold Your Man

1933-06-30