John Arthur Doucette (January 21, 1921 – August 16, 1994) was an American character actor who performed in more than 280 film and television productions between 1941 and 1987. A man of stocky build who possessed a deep, rich voice, he proved equally adept at portraying characters in Shakespearean plays, Westerns, and modern crime dramas. He is perhaps best remembered, however, for his villainous roles as a movie and television "tough guy".
Early years John Doucette was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, the eldest of three children of Nellie S. (née Bishop) and Arthur J. Doucette."Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930", Sharon, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, May 1930. Digital copy of original U.S. Census enumeration page, FamilySearch. Retrieved November 7, 2017."Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940", Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, April 5, 1940. FamilySearch. Retrieved November 7, 2017."California Death Index, 1940–1997" database, California Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento, California. FamilySearch. Retrieved November 7, 2017. During his childhood, his family moved frequently, as his father sought work during the Great Depression. He completed grammar school in Haverhill, Massachusetts; graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, California; and later, in April 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Europe as an infantry rifleman during World War II. "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946," National Archives, College Park, Maryland. FamilySearch. Retrieved November 7, 2017. With regard to Doucette's early experience and training as an actor, he began to perform on stage at the age of 15 in plays at his high school. He subsequently performed at the Pasadena Playhouse before being cast in Hollywood films in the early 1940s.
Film career Doucette's film debut, in an uncredited role as a reporter, was in Footsteps in the Dark in 1941. He appeared uncredited in at least two other movies before his budding film career was interrupted by his military service during World War II. Following his discharge, he resumed acting in Hollywood, where he soon began to receive more substantial, credited roles in releases by smaller production companies, such as The Burning Cross and The Road to the Big House for Somerset Pictures Corporation in 1947. Doucette continued to progress in obtaining dramatic roles for larger studios, including a small part as an architect in The Fountainhead in 1949. His other notable performances include bit parts in High Noon, The Robe, The Far Country, Sierra, and the mega-budget Cleopatra. Doucette also appeared in the John Wayne films The Sea Chase, The Sons of Katie Elder, True Grit, and Big Jake as well as portraying Gen. Lucian Truscott in the 1970 epic Patton.
Television Many baby boomers first saw Doucette as the bad guy on television in several episodes of The Lone Ranger. Performing as an outlaw proved to be a natural role for him, considering his rough looks, commanding presence, and skill with a gun. He was considered by many to be among the fastest draws in Hollywood. His roles, however, went well beyond that stereotype. He appeared on a variety of television shows, including The Time Tunnel, Racket Squad, The Range Rider, Wagon Train, The Roy Rogers Show, The Fugitive, The Adventures of Kit Carson, The Cisco Kid, City Detective, Annie Oakley, The Joseph Cotten Show: On Trial, My Friend Flicka, Sky King, The Californians, Broken Arrow, The People's Choice, The Sheriff of Cochise, Bat Masterson, Behind Closed Doors, The Texan, Lawman, The Everglades, Mackenzie's Raiders, Bonanza, The Wild Wild West, The Virginian, Have Gun - Will Travel, Kung Fu, The Rat Patrol, Hogan's Heroes, Adventures of Superman, Sea Hunt, Science Fiction Theatre, Walt Disney Presents, and Tales of Wells Fargo.
Doucette portrayed a police lieutenant, Tom Gregory, on the television version of Big Town. Between 1959 and 1961, he also played Lieutenant Weston on the series Lock-Up, Aaron William Andrews in the comedy The Partners, and bounty hunter Lou Gore in the episode "Dead Aim" on the series Colt .45
Doucette was cast on television as the Apache Chief Geronimo for the 1958 episode "Geronimo" on the Western series Tombstone Territory. He was also cast in 1961 as Captain Cardiff in The Americans, a 17-episode NBC series, starring Darryl Hickman, about how the American Civil War divided families. In 1963 he played "Michael McGoo", a proud & lovable storytelling Irish sailor in the S6E26 edition of Wagon Train.
Personal life and death Doucette in 1948 married opera singer Katherine Sambles, with whom he had five daughters and three sons. Katherine died in 1991; and three years later, on August 16, 1994, John died of cancer at age 73 at his home in Banning, California. His mausoleum is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Selected filmography Films
Footsteps in the Dark (1941) as Reporter (uncredited) King of the Mounties (1942, Serial) as Boat Henchman (ch. 9) (uncredited) Two Tickets to London (1943) as Larsen (uncredited) The Burning Cross (1947) as Toby Mason Ride the Pink Horse (1947) as Thug (uncredited) The Foxes of Harrow (1947) as Crew Member (uncredited) Road to the Big House (1947) as Danny I Wouldn't Be in Your Shoes (1948) as Prisoner Train to Alcatraz (1948) as McHenry Canon City (1948) as George Bauer Station West (1948) as Bartender In This Corner (1948) as Dunkle (Jimmy's 'second') Rogues' Regiment (1948) as Foreign Legion recruit found to have Nazi tattoo (uncredited) The Fighting O'Flynn (1949) as Jack Criss Cross (1949) as Walt Outpost in Morocco (1949) as Card-playing Soldier (uncredited) The Crooked Way (1949) as Sgt. Barrett Red Stallion in the Rockies (1949) as Ivan (uncredited) Batman and Robin (1949, serial) as Henchman [Ch. 2, 3, 6, 10–12, 15] (uncredited) Lust for Gold (1949) as Man in Barber Shop (uncredited) The Fountainhead (1949) as Gus Webb (uncredited) Reign of Terror (1949) as Pierre Blanchard (uncredited) Bandits of El Dorado (1949) as Henchman Tucker (uncredited) And Baby Makes Three (1949) as Husband (uncredited) The Pilgrimage Play (1949) as Lord Zadok Singing Guns (1950) as Miner The Vicious Years (1950) as Giorgio Johnny One-Eye (1950) as Police Detective (uncredited) Customs Agent (1950) as Hank (uncredited) Return of the Frontiersman (1950) as Evans Love That Brute (1950) as Gangster in Big Ed's Cellar (uncredited) Sierra (1950) as Jed Coulter Winchester '73 (1950) as Roan Daley (uncredited) The Iroquois Trail (1950) as Sam Girty Broken Arrow (1950) as Mule Driver (uncredited) Convicted (1950) as Convict Tex (uncredited) Border Treasure (1950) as Bat The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) as Police Radio Dispatcher (uncredited) The Breaking Point (1950) as Gotch Goten (uncredited) Counterspy Meets Scotland Yard (1950) as Larry – a thug The Flying Missile (1950) as Air Base Civilian Security Officer (uncredited) Sierra Passage (1950) as Sutter's Creek Poker Player (uncredited) Up Front (1951) as Walsh (uncredited) The Lemon Drop Kid (1951) as Muscleman (uncredited) Thunder in God's Country (1951) as Slack Breedon Only the Valiant (1951) as Sergeant (uncredited) Tales of Robin Hood (1951) as Wilfred Cavalry Scout (1951) as Varney The Texas Rangers (1951) as Butch Cassidy Mask of the Avenger (1951) as Sentry (uncredited) Strangers on a Train (1951) as Det. Hammond (uncredited) Yukon Manhunt (1951) as Charles Benson Corky of Gasoline Alley (1951) as 'Rocky' Bobbie (uncredited) The Lady Pays Off (1951) as Cab Driver Fixed Bayonets! (1951) as Colonel – 18th Infantry (uncredited) Rose of Cimarron (1952) as Drunk Phone Call from a Stranger (1952) as Arthur (uncredited) The Treasure of Lost Canyon (1952) as Gyppo Rancho Notorious (1952) as Whitey (uncredited) Bugles in the Afternoon (1952) as Bill (uncredited) Deadline - U.S.A. (1952) as Hal (uncredited) Carbine Williams (1952) as Gavrey – Prisoner at chain-gang camp (uncredited) High Noon (1952) as Trumbull (uncredited) The Pride of St. Louis (1952) as Benny (uncredited) The San Francisco Story (1952) as Slade (uncredited) Desert Pursuit (1952) as Kafan Glory Alley (1952) as Thug in Alley (uncredited) Back at the Front (1952) as Military Police Sergeant in bar (uncredited) Toughest Man in Arizona (1952) as Sgt. Wayne (uncredited) Woman in the Dark (1952) as 'Dutch' Bender The Silver Whip (1953) as Josh – Red Rock citizen (uncredited) Perils of the Jungle (1953) as Gorman Ambush at Tomahawk Gap (1953) as Burt – Twin Forks bartender (uncredited) Julius Caesar (1953) – as Carpenter, citizen of Rome Goldtown Ghost Riders (1953) as Bailey (uncredited) War Paint (1953) as Trooper Charnofsky City of Bad Men (1953) as Cinch (uncredited) The Robe (1953) as Ship's Mate (uncredited) The Big Heat (1953) as Mark Reiner (uncredited) All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953) as George (uncredited) Flight to Tangier (1953) as Tirera The Wild One (1953) as Sage Valley race steward (uncredited) Beachhead (1954) as Maj. Scott Casanova's Big Night (1954) as Mounted Guard (uncredited) Executive Suite (1954) as Detective (uncredited) River of No Return (1954) as Man in Saloon (uncredited) The Forty-Niners (1954) as Ernie Walker The Far Country (1954) as Miner who spills gold dust (uncredited) Return from the Sea (1954) as Jimmy The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) as Campbell Cry Vengeance (1954) as Red Miller Destry (1954) as Cowhand There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) as Stage Manager (uncredited) Prince of Players (1955) as Man Who Starts Clapping (uncredited) New York Confidential (1955) as Shorty An Annapolis Story (1955) as Boxing Coach The Sea Chase (1955) as Bos'n House of Bamboo (1955) as Skipper (uncredited) Seven Cities of Gold (1955) as Juan Coronel The Bottom of the Bottle (1956) as Patrolman (uncredited) Red Sundown (1956) as Billy—Wagon Guard (uncredited) Ghost Town (1956) as Doc Clawson Quincannon, Frontier Scout (1956) as Sgt. Calvin The Maverick Queen (1956) as Loudmouth The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) as Ben Buddy Dakota Incident (1956) as Rick Largo Thunder Over Arizona (1956) as Deputy Rand The Burning Hills (1956) as Bartender (uncredited) The True Story of Jesse James (1957) as Sheriff Hillstrom Last of the Badmen (1957) as Johnson The Big Land (1957) as Hagan – Livery Stableman (uncredited) The Phantom Stagecoach (1957) as Harry Farrow The Lawless Eighties (1957) as Art 'Pig' Corbin The Lonely Man (1957) as Sundown Whipple The Crooked Circle (1957) as Larry Ellis Bombers B-52 (1957) as Nielson (uncredited) Sabu and the Magic Ring (1957) as Kimal (stable master) Kiss Them for Me (1957) as Shore Patrol Lieutenant (uncredited) Peyton Place (1957) as Army Sergeant (uncredited) Gunfire at Indian Gap (1957) as Loder Too Much, Too Soon (1958) as Crowley (uncredited) Gang War (1958) as Maxie Meadows The Hunters (1958) as Chief Master Sergeant (uncredited) A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed (1958) as Grayson (uncredited) Here Come the Jets (1959) as Randall Cleopatra (1963) as Achillas 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) as Lucas The Sons of Katie Elder (1965) as Hyselman (undertaker) Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966) as Mr. Belden Nevada Smith (1966) as Uncle Ben McCanles Winchester 73 (1967, TV Movie) as Jake Starret The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967) as Max Alexander the Great (1968, TV Movie) as Kleitos Journey to Shiloh (1968) as Gen. Braxton Bragg True Grit (1969) as Sheriff Patton (1970) as Major General Lucian K. Truscott One More Train to Rob (1971) as Sheriff Monte Big Jake (1971) as Buck Duggan (Head Texas Ranger) One Little Indian (1973) as Sgt. Waller