Harry Watson (actor)
Harry R. Watson (August 31, 1921 – June 8, 2001) was an American child actor, a Coast Guard combat photographer in World War II, and a pioneer in television journalism.
Harry Watson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Harry R. Watson August 31, 1921 |
| Died | June 8, 2001 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Child actor |
| Years active | 1928-1940 |
| Spouse(s) | Peggy Watson |
Biography
Watson was a member of the Watson Family, famous in the early days of Hollywood as being a family of child actors. Brother to Coy Watson Jr., Delmar, Bobs, Garry, Billy, Vivian, Gloria and Louise.[1]
The family lived by Echo Park area of Los Angeles and Harry attended Belmont High School. His high school yearbook the Campanile talked about his photography: "His magnificent sport action shots are the embodiment of perfection. His coach? Big brother Coy, of course."[2]
They were honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing the Watson family star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6674 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California.[3]
Child actor
Performed supporting roles in many early Hollywood movies including, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Penrod and Sam, A Damsel in Distress as little "Albert", as well as many others.
WWII combat photography
Served a tour in the Pacific Theater as a combat photographer.
Film and photo journalism
Pioneering work in bringing same-day coverage to KTTV evening news.
Partial filmography
- Taxi 13 (1928) - Mactavish Child (uncredited)
- Blue Skies (1929)
- Love, Live and Laugh (1929) - Little Boy (uncredited)
- Indiscreet (1931) - Baseball Captain (uncredited)
- Too Many Cooks (1931) - Cousin Harry Cook (uncredited)
- The Star Witness (1931) - Boy Baseball Player (uncredited)
- The Sport Parade (1932) - Kendricks' Boy (uncredited)
- Man's Castle (1933) - Baseball Team Captain (uncredited)
- Call It Luck (1934) - Child (uncredited)
- Life Begins at 40 (1935) - Meriwhether Son (uncredited)
- Silk Hat Kid (1935) - Child (uncredited)
- Magnificent Obsession (1935) - Boy (uncredited)
- Paddy O'Day (1936) - Street Boy (uncredited)
- Under Proof (1936) - (uncredited)
- Let's Sing Again (1936) - Orphan washing dishes (uncredited)
- Show Boat (1936) - Boy (uncredited)
- Bullets or Ballots (1936) - Kid Playing Pinball (uncredited)
- Old Hutch (1936) - Freddie Hutchins
- King of Hockey (1936) - Boy Locating Dugan (uncredited)
- Time Out for Romance (1937) - Messenger (uncredited)
- Love Is News (1937) - Newsboy (uncredited)
- Penrod and Sam (1937) - Sam
- The Road Back (1937) - Boy (uncredited)
- Hot Water (1937) - Newsboy (uncredited)
- A Damsel in Distress (1937) - Albert
- Kidnapped (1938) - Sandy - an Urchin (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) - Ben Donaldson (uncredited)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) - Hopper Boy #3
- I Take This Woman (1940) - Oldest Murphy Kid (scenes deleted) (final film role)
See also
References
- Harry Watson at IMDb
- Campanile 1938, Belmont High School, 1938
- Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films." The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.
Bibliography
- John Holmstrom, The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995, Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 105-106.
