Birth Day: 1888-10-14
Place of birth: Traver, California, USA
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)
Credits
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As Jimmy Bagby
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As Mr. Lexiter
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As Ray Harvey
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As Waldorf Worthington
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As John X. Finn
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As Skipper Horton
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As Andy Weems
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As Happy Daniels
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As Otis Ellis
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As Huck Homer
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As Doc Meadowlark
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As Sheriff Jug Mason
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As Sheriff Hank Hartley
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As Jailer
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As Drunk (uncredited)
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As Whit Galtry
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As Chuck Waggoner
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As Sergeant Hasty Jones
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As Ben Riddle
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As Eli Walker
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As Pete Connors
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As Frederick Carson
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As Lucky John Hawkins
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As Stagecoach Driver
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As Al
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As Sergeant Dailey
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As Hobarth
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As Herbert Trafagan, aka "The Devil", a wrestler
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As Murphy
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As Sheriff
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As Cookie
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As Captain Spotts
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As Sheriff Slim Carson
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As Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
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As Orloff
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As Muley
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As Jake Compton
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As Archie Billings
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As Monty Smith
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As World War I Ghost Soldier
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As Ed the bartender
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As Dock Foreman (uncredited)
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As Louie
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As Two-Gun
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As Sergeant Casper Riordan
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As Feets
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As Broderick
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As Second Mate Mumford
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As Sgt. Burns
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As Thomas
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As Page
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As Biff Sage
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As Slats O'Dell
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As Jake Waldren
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As Michael O'Connor
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As Headwaiter
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As Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
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As Chickenfoot
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As Sheriff
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As Slats
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As Pete Haig (uncredited)
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As Daniels
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As Guard (uncredited)
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As Pete
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As Bartender
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As Chuck Brenner
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As Sheriff
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As Garsky
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As Empire State Building Guard
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As Variety Club Bartender
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As Yankee Deserter
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As Reynolds, a Drunk
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As Sandy
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As Policeman
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As Curly Tom
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As Mitch
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As Charlie - the Bartender
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As Happy
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As A. Adolphus Heyman
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As Arlington Bysshe 'Slice' Cavanaugh
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As Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
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As Soapy
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As Sergeant
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As Louie
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As Slapsy
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As Bill Mulligan
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As Florabelle's Father
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As Dennis Huggins
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As McCabe
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As Muggsy
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As Foreman Butch Mehaffey
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As Motorcycle Cop
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As Bowler
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As Sgt. Murphy
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As Tip Fuller
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As Bill
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As Tiger Malone
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As Drunk
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As Truck Driver (uncredited)
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As Maloney
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As Tom
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As Captain
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As Cop
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As NYC policeman
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As Belcher
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As Wilson
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As 1st Deputy (uncredited)
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As Drunk
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As Inspector Killian
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As American Detective
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As Carlson
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As "Sport" Conly
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As Lt. Sackville
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As Bergman
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As Policeman
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As Rufe Parker
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As Expressman (uncredited)
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As Bell Captain
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As Detective Roscoe
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As Prison Guard
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As Hefty
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As Butler
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As Detective
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As Undetermined Role
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As Escaped Felon
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As Babe the Butcher
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As Capt. W.F. 'Big Bill' Connors
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As Denny O'Brien
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As Skipper O'Neal
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As Sam
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As Man Who Speaks Final Line of the Film
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As Doc Maloney, Trainer
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As Boatswain
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As Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
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As Paul, Perez's Second Bodyguard
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As Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
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As Harry
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As Sailor (uncredited)
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As Detective Grump
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As Police Captain Morgan
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As Capt. Donahue
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As Stiles
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As 'Arizona' Frank Bailey
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As Al
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As Red
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As Butch
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As Paul Hurst
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As Mexican Bandit
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As Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
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As Detective Whip Fogarty
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As Doc
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As Bartender
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As Gabby
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As Slug
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As Officer Brannigan
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As Mugsy
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As Beauty
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As 'Slug', Baseball Player
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As Sergeant Daly
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As Pete Shore
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As Captain Antrim
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As Lem Harland
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As Bull Morgan
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As Pete Brierson
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As 'Beauty' Johnson
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As Mehaffy - Policeman
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As Poppy
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As Jimmylegs
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As Rowdy Ryan
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As Railroad-Yard Superintendent
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As Sgt. Westbrook
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As Ramirez
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As Sitchi
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As (uncredited)
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As 'Swig' Moran
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As Randeau
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As Slugger McGlue
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As McDonald
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As Sergeant Murphy
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As Checking Board Tabulator (uncredited)
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As Emeralda's Torturer (uncredited)
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As Powder Solvang
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As Ike Bray
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As Steve Arnold (as Paul C. Hurst)
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As Benton - a Foreman
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As Howie
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As Blatchley Turrentine
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As Roger Oakley (as Paul C. Hurst)
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As Paul - the Brains of the I.D.B.
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As Murray Sinclair
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As Murray Sinclair
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As Chief Dispatcher
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As Snake Henely
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As (Episode #1, 2, etc.)
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As Howie - Stingaree's Partner
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As A Trainman
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As Daniels
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As Benton, the Foreman
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As Captain Lanning - Osborn's Rival
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As Red Axe
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As Bad Bill - a Desperado