J.P. McGowan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 23, 1880
- Died
- March 26, 1952
- Birthplace
- Terowie, Australia
From Wikipedia John Paterson McGowan (February 24, 1880 – March 26, 1952) was a pioneering Hollywood actor and director and occasionally a screenwriter and producer. J. P. McGowan, as he was usually known, remains the only Australian to have been made a life member of the Screen Directors Guild (now Directors Guild of America). Born in the then-bustling railway centre of Terowie in South Australia, McGowan grew up in Adelaide (Islington) and Sydney. He was a capable horseman and served in the Second Boer War with Montmorency's Scouts as a special dispatch rider. McGowan directed and often acted in the first 33 episodes of Kalem's 1914 adventure film series, The Hazards of Helen, which eventually ran to 54 episodes, some still with McGowan's participation. While filming he began a relationship with Helen Holmes, the film's star, and the two married. They left Kalem to set up their own production company, Signal Films, which successfully made a series of railroad melodramas but lost out when their distributor (Mutual) failed. The collaboration ended when they divorced in 1925. There was an adopted daughter, Kaye. McGowan successfully made the transition from silent film to talkies. While never a major star, in a busy career that spanned four decades he is credited with acting in 232 films—mostly strong roles like sheriff or villain—writing 26 screenplays and directing 242 productions. In 1932 he directed a young John Wayne in the 12-episode rail vs airplane serial The Hurricane Express for the independent Mascot Pictures. From 1938 to 1951, as Executive Secretary of the Screen Directors Guild, he fought to secure recognition for the director within the studio systems of the film and emerging television industry. J.P. McGowan died in 1952 in Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Filmography
- Danger Quest
Danger Quest TBA
as Col. Spiffy
Savage Fury 1956
as Ship's Captain
The Lady and the Bandit 1951
as Old Man
Stagecoach 1939
as Bit Part (uncredited)
Code of the Fearless 1939
as Undetermined Minor Role
The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok 1938
as Scudder
Hunted Men 1938
as Cop
Kidnapped 1938
as Clansman
The Buccaneer 1938
as Jailer
Where the West Begins 1938
Director
Prairie Thunder 1937
as Col. Stanton
Heart of the Rockies 1937
as Ed Dawson
Roaring Six Guns 1937
Director
Rough Riding Rhythm 1937
as Pete Hobart, Director
Empty Holsters 1937
as U.S. Marshal Billy O'Neill
She Had to Eat 1937
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Slave Ship 1937
as Helmsman
What Price Vengeance 1937
Writer
Hit the Saddle 1937
as Rance McGowan
Borderland 1937
as El Rio Sheriff
Jungle Jim 1937
as Ship Captain J.S. Robinson
Sinner Take All 1936
as Police Officer Murphy (uncredited)
Stampede 1936
as Matt Stevens
The Accusing Finger 1936
as Inner Guard
The Three Mesquiteers 1936
as Brack Canfield
Fury and the Woman 1936
as Anderson
Ride 'Em Cowboy 1936
as Jim Howard
Guns and Guitars 1936
as Dave Morgan
Secret Patrol 1936
as Blacksmith Barstow, Screenplay
Robin Hood of El Dorado 1936
as Danglong
The Prisoner of Shark Island 1936
as Ship's Captain (uncredited)
Silverspurs 1936
as Webb Allison
Bar 20 Rides Again 1935
as Buck Peters
East of Java 1935
as Sergeant, Rescue Party
The Silent Code 1935
as Commissioner
Diamond Jim 1935
as Engineer
Border Brigands 1935
as Inspector Winston - RCMP
Murder in the Fleet 1935
as Chief of Police (Uncredited)
Whispering Smith Speaks 1935
as Caboose Passenger (uncredited)
Les Misérables 1935
as Javert's Plainclothesman
The Call of the Savage 1935
as Freighter Captain
Mississippi 1935
as Dealer (uncredited)
The Outlaw Tamer 1935
as Sheriff Jim Porter, Director
The Lone Bandit 1935
Director
Rustlers of Red Dog 1935
as Capt. Trent [Chs. 3-4]
When Lightning Strikes 1934
as Lafe Broderick
Wagon Wheels 1934
as Couch
The Red Rider 1934
as Scotty McKee
No More Women 1934
as Captain of The Hawk
War of the Range 1933
Director
Somewhere in Sonora 1933
as Monte Black
Deadwood Pass 1933
Director
Drum Taps 1933
Director, Screenplay
When a Man Rides Alone 1933
Director
Flaming Gold 1932
as Mack
The Hurricane Express 1932
Director, Screenplay
The Scarlet Brand 1932
Director
Tangled Fortunes 1932
Director
Lawless Valley 1932
as Big Mike Carter, aka El Lobo, aka Texas Rand, Director
Mark of the Spur 1932
Director
Human Targets 1932
Director
Quick Trigger Lee 1931
as Brings note / Director, Director
Shotgun Pass 1931
Director
- The Cyclone Kid
The Cyclone Kid 1931
Director
Headin' for Trouble 1931
Director
So This Is Arizona 1931
Director
Riders of the North 1931
Director
Under Texas Skies 1930
Director
The Code of Honor 1930
Director
Beyond the Law 1930
Director
Canyon Hawks 1930
Director
The Oklahoma Sheriff 1930
Director
Near the Rainbow's End 1930
Director
The Canyon of Missing Men 1930
as Slug Sagel, Director
- Western Honor
Western Honor 1930
Director
- The Man from Nowhere
The Man from Nowhere 1930
Director
The Hunted Men 1930
Director
The Call of the Desert 1930
Director
- Covered Wagon Trails
Covered Wagon Trails 1930
Actor, Director
- Breezy Bill
Breezy Bill 1930
as Sheriff, Director
- The Parting of the Trails
The Parting of the Trails 1930
Director
O'Malley Rides Alone 1930
as Angus McGregor, Director, Producer
A Texas Cowboy 1929
as Brute Kettle, Director
Señor Americano 1929
as Maddox
Code of the West 1929
Director
Pioneers of the West 1929
as Tom Dorgan, Director, Adaptation, Producer
The Oklahoma Kid 1929
Actor, Director
The Cowboy and the Outlaw 1929
as Pepper Hardcastle, Director
- The Invaders
The Invaders 1929
Actor, Director
- Riders of the Rio Grande
Riders of the Rio Grande 1929
Director
The Law of the Plains 1929
as Seagrue, Director
The Man from Nevada 1929
Director, Producer
The Fighting Terror 1929
Actor, Director
- Wyoming Tornado
Wyoming Tornado 1929
Actor, Director, Writer
The Last Roundup 1929
as Hash, Director
Captain Cowboy 1929
Director, Writer
- An Oklahoma Cowboy
An Oklahoma Cowboy 1929
Actor, Director, Writer
Plunging Hoofs 1929
as Jim Wales
Bad Men's Money 1929
as Sheriff Bud Jennings, Director, Screenplay, Story
The Lawless Legion 1929
as Matson
Headin' Westward 1929
as Sneezer Clark, Director
Below the Deadline 1929
as Taggart, Director
'Neath Western Skies 1929
as Dugan, Director, Producer
Ships of the Night 1928
as Motilla
Two Outlaws 1928
as Abner Whitcomb
- The Old Code
The Old Code 1928
as Raoul de Valle
Manhattan Cowboy 1928
Director
- The Lightnin’ Shot
The Lightnin’ Shot 1928
Actor, Director, Writer
The Black Ace 1928
Actor
The Chinatown Mystery 1928
Actor, Director
- Arizona Days
Arizona Days 1928
as Ed Hicks, Director
Mystery Valley 1928
Director, Writer
The Code of the Scarlet 1928
as Blake
- The Devil’s Tower
The Devil’s Tower 1928
as George Stilwell, Director
- Dugan of the Dugouts
Dugan of the Dugouts 1928
as Capt. von Brinken, Writer
- Trail Raiders
Trail Raiders 1928
Director, Writer
- Trailin’ Back
Trailin’ Back 1928
Director, Writer
- Painted Trail
Painted Trail 1928
Director
- The Slaver
The Slaver 1927
as ’Iron' Larsen
Gun Gospel 1927
as Bill Brogan
The Red Raiders 1927
as Captain Ortwell
Arizona Nights 1927
as Jeff Decker
- The Royal American
The Royal American 1927
as Capt. Burke
The Outlaw Dog 1927
Director
- The Lost Limited
The Lost Limited 1927
as Thomas Webber, Director
Thunderbolt's Tracks 1927
Director
Tarzan and the Golden Lion 1927
Director
- When a Dog Loves
When a Dog Loves 1927
Director
Red Signals 1927
as Jim Twyler, Director
Perils of the Rail 1926
as Barker's Accomplice at Smelter Junction, Director
Crack O' Dawn 1926
as Earle Thorpe Sr.
Crossed Signals 1926
Director
The Lost Express 1926
as Train Engineer, Director
Moran of the Mounted 1926
as Sgt. Churchill
Senor Daredevil 1926
as Jesse Wilks
The Brown Derby 1926
Writer
The Patent Leather Pug 1925
as James Curtis
Peggy of the Secret Service 1925
Director
Webs of Steel 1925
Director
The Road Agent 1925
Director
The Ace of Clubs 1925
Director
The Bandit Tamer 1925
Director
- A Desperate Chance
A Desperate Chance 1925
Director
- Ambushed
Ambushed 1925
Director
Red Blood 1925
as Eagle Custer, Director
The Fast Freight 1925
Actor, Director, Scenario Writer
- Mistaken Orders
Mistaken Orders 1925
Director
Cold Nerve 1925
Director
The Fighting Sheriff 1925
Director
Duped 1925
as 'Hard Rock' Ralston, Director
Barriers of the Law 1925
as Steve Redding, Director
Outwitted 1925
as Tiger McGuire, Writer, Director
Courage 1924
Director
A Desperate Adventure 1924
Director
Crossed Trails 1924
as 'Pepper' Baldwin, Director
A Two Fisted Tenderfoot 1924
as Stephen Lawlor, Director
- The Whipping Boss
The Whipping Boss 1924
as Livingston, Director
Baffled 1924
as Jack Norton, Director
Stormy Seas 1923
as Capt. Morgan, Director
Perils of the Yukon 1922
Director
Captain Kidd 1922
Director
Hills of Missing Men 1922
as Capt. Brandt / The Dragon, Director, Writer
Below the Deadline 1921
Director
Cold Steel 1921
as Steele Weir
Tiger True 1921
Director
Do or Die 1921
as Capt. Alvarez / Satan, Director
The Vanishing Dagger 1920
Director
Elmo the Fearless 1920
Actor, Director
King of the Circus 1920
Actor, Director
The Red Glove 1919
Director
Elmo, the Mighty 1919
Director
The Lure of the Circus 1918
Director
The Lost Express 1917
Director, Writer, Producer
The Railroad Raiders 1917
as Thomas Desmond, Director, Editor, Producer
The Hazards of Helen 1917
as Various roles, Director
The Manager of the B & A 1916
Director
- The Diamond Runners
The Diamond Runners 1916
Director, Scenario Writer
Judith of the Cumberlands 1916
Director, Producer
Medicine Bend 1916
as Whispering Smith, Director
Whispering Smith 1916
as Whispering Smith, Director
A Lass of the Lumberlands 1916
Director, Producer
- When Rogues Fall Out
When Rogues Fall Out 1915
Director
- A Desperate Leap
A Desperate Leap 1915
Actor, Director
The Mettle of Jerry McGuire 1915
as Jerry McGuire, Director
Blackbirds 1915
Director
The Broken Rail 1915
as Trow - of the Working Crew
The Girl on the Engine 1915
Director
A Deed of Daring 1915
Director
The Fate of Number One 1915
Director
A Wild Ride 1915
Director
The Midnight Limited 1915
Director
In Danger's Path 1915
Director
Near Eternity 1915
Director
The Pay Train 1915
Director
The Human Chain 1915
Director
A Railroader's Bravery 1915
as Thomas - the Chief of the Gang, Director
The Broken Train 1915
as Warren - Railroad Employee, Director
The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine 1915
Director
The Box Car Trap 1915
Director
A Race for a Crossing 1915
Director
The Girl Engineer 1915
Director
The Girl on the Trestle 1915
Director
A Life in the Balance 1915
Director
The Girl at Lone Point 1915
Director
The Railroad Raiders of '62 1915
as Lockwood - the old one-armed Flagman, Director
The Death Train 1915
Director
The Open Drawbridge 1915
Director
The Engineer's Peril 1915
Director
The Little Engineer 1915
Director
The Fast Mail's Danger 1915
Director
The Broken Circuit 1915
Director
The Leap from the Water Tower 1915
as Rand - the Fireman, Director
The Girl and the Game 1915
as Spike, Director, Writer
The Girl Telegrapher's Peril 1915
as Blake - a Lineman, Director
The Escape on the Limited 1914
as Brandt - a Defaulting Cashier, Director
The Black Diamond Express 1914
as Dan Haddon - a Cowboy, Director
The Flying Freight's Captive 1914
as Rand - a Yeggman, Director
The Stolen Engine 1914
Director
The Girl at the Throttle 1914
Director
The Plot at the Railroad Cut 1914
Director
His Nemesis 1914
as Mammoth - Manning's Business Rival, Director, Writer
Helen's Sacrifice 1914
as Benton, Director
The Lost Mail Sack 1914
Director
- The Car of Death
The Car of Death 1914
Director
- The Operator at Black Rock
The Operator at Black Rock 1914
Director
- Kaintucky Bill
Kaintucky Bill 1914
as Kaintucky Bill - a Moonshiner, Director
The Flaw in the Alibi 1914
Director
- A String of Pearls
A String of Pearls 1914
Director
The Pursuit of the Smugglers 1913
Director
- A Sawmill Hazard
A Sawmill Hazard 1913
Director
The Wives of Jamestown 1913
as The O’Rourke
- The Shaughraun
The Shaughraun 1912
as Corry Kinchela
Ireland, the Oppressed 1912
as Lord Kilhannack
- The Mayor from Ireland
The Mayor from Ireland 1912
as Shamus Foley
The Little Gluers 1912
as Valentine Hay
From the Manger to the Cross 1912
as Wise Man 1
The Poacher's Pardon 1912
as Mr. Wallace - the Gamekeeper
The Grit of the Girl Telegrapher 1912
Actor, Director
Winning a Widow 1912
Actor
Tragedy of the Desert 1912
as The Arab Sheik
Captured by Bedouins 1912
as Lt. Greig
An Arabian Tragedy 1912
Actor
Dust of the Desert 1912
as Sheik Mohammad
Far from Erin's Isle 1912
Actor
- Vagabonds
Vagabonds 1912
as Big Jim
His Mother 1912
as John Foster
- The Fishermaid of Ballydavid
The Fishermaid of Ballydavid 1911
as Policeman
The Colleen Bawn 1911
as Hardress Cregan
Rory O'More 1911
as Commander of the English troops
- The Special Messenger
The Special Messenger 1911
as Royal
Railroad Raiders of '62 1911
as Federal Officer
When the Dead Return 1911
as Jacques
- The Fiddler’s Requiem
The Fiddler’s Requiem 1911
as Dolores' father
- Slim Jim's Last Chance
Slim Jim's Last Chance 1911
as The Rancher
By a Woman's Wit 1911
Actor
- A Sawmill Hero
A Sawmill Hero 1911
Actor
- When Lovers Part
When Lovers Part 1910
Actor
The Lad from Old Ireland 1910
as Election Agent
Credits from TMDB.