Richard "Skeets" Gallagher

Richard "Skeets" Gallagher (July 28, 1891 – May 22, 1955) was an American actor.[1] He had blue eyes and his naturally blond hair was tinged with grey from the age of sixteen.

For the American basketball coach, see Richard F. Gallagher.
For the Scottish boxer (born 1925), see Skeets Gallacher.
Richard "Skeets" Gallagher
Gallagher in 1944.
Born(1891-07-28)July 28, 1891
Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
DiedMay 22, 1955(1955-05-22) (aged 63)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1915–1952
Spouse(s)Irene Martin (divorced)
Pauline Mason (1929–1955) (his death) 2 children

Biography

He was born on July 28, 1891 in Terre Haute, Indiana. As a child he was nicknamed "Skeets" short for mosquito, due to his frequent speedy bursts of running.[2]

Gallagher was educated at Rose Polytechnic Institute and Indiana University. He first studied civil engineering and then law, but ended up on the stage. He began his career by writing a one-act skit that he took to a local theatre group.

He started acting in vaudeville, and later signed up with Paramount Pictures.

He was often billed as Skeets Gallagher on Broadway and in Hollywood. He appeared in Frank Capra's first feature film For the Love of Mike (1927), a silent film which is now considered a lost film, and several early sound films.

He died on May 22, 1955, in Santa Monica, California, of a heart attack.[1]

Partial filmography

References
  1. "Skeets Gallagher, Comedian, Dies at 64. Vaudeville Headliner. Acted in Movies". New York Times. May 23, 1955. Retrieved 2013-12-23. Mr. Gallagher, who had been retired for the last four years, suffered a heart attack ...
  2. p. 133 Quinlan, David Quinlan's Illustrated Directory of Film Character Actors Batsford, 1995

Further reading
  • Film Star: Who's Who on the Screen (1938), British Film Magazine
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