Kelton Garwood

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Kelton B. Garwood
Born
Kelton Bradford Garwood

(1928-05-21)May 21, 1928
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.[1]
DiedJuly 28, 1991(1991-07-28) (aged 63)
Chatsworth, California, U.S.
EducationAmerican Theatre Wing
Alma materOhio State University
OccupationActor
Years active1952–1988
OrganizationScreen Actors Guild
Children2, including Doug Garwood

Kelton Bradford Garwood, also known and credited as Jonathan Harper, and John Harper,[2] (May 21, 1928 – July 28, 1991)[1] was an American actor on stage, film and television,[3] perhaps best known as undertaker Percy Crump on the western television show Gunsmoke.[1]

Early life[edit]

Kelton Bradford Garwood was born in Columbus, Ohio, the middle of three sons for William E. Garwood, a bank teller, and Marquise V. Trott.[4][5] He was still in high school when he registered for the draft on his eighteenth birthday in 1946.[6] The draft registrar recorded him as being 6'3" (191 cm), 160 pounds (73 kg), with blue eyes and blonde hair.[6]

Military service and college[edit]

Following high school, Garwood enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where by July 1947 he was a private assigned to photographic reconnisance squadron VMP-354 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.[7]

Upon his discharge, Garwood enrolled at Ohio State University, majoring in Drama.[8][9] He graduated in Spring 1952, by which time he had already acquired some professional stage experience.[9]

Early stage career[edit]

After college Garwood joined the Pine Tree Players in Laurel, Maryland for the 1952 summer stock season.[10] He performed in one week runs of My Sister Eileen, Light Up the Sky, All My Sons, and Guest in the House.[10][11][12][13] He was granted a room and board scholarship to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for the Summer of 1952.[9]

From Fall 1952 through Spring 1953 he was in New York City, taking advanced seminars from the American Theatre Wing.[14] He specialized in theatrical fencing, studying with Eddie Lucia, an Olympic Coach.[14] While in New York, he also did some television work, though details of this are not known.[14] Garwood put his specialty to work in a season of summer stock during 1953 in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he both performed Shakespeare with the Antioch Area Theater and served as their fencing master.[14] He performed with Robert Preston and Jack Klugman in a production of Detective Story at York, Pennsylvania during October 1953.[15] He then moved south to Baltimore where he spent the winter season with a troupe of players at the Hilltop Theatre-Parkway, performing in Stalag 17,[16] Mister Roberts,[17] Kiss and Tell with Margaret O'Brien,[18] Ramshackle Inn with ZaSu Pitts,[19] and several other plays.

Garwood returned to the Antioch Area Theater for the 1954 summer season, again serving in a dual capacity as actor and fencing master.[20] He also performed with the Antioch players in a winter production of The Tempest at Cincinnati Music Hall, accompanied by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the American debut of incidental music for the play, composed by Jean Sibelius in 1925.[21]

Further stage career[edit]

His first starring stage role and longest-running stage performance was as Osceola in Florida Aflame from January thru April 1955.[22][23] Garwood had auditioned for the part in New York City, for this outdoor production in a new amphitheater built in Philippe Park at Safety Harbor, Florida.[22][24] This was not a pageant, but an actual drama by John Caldwell in which Garwood portrayed the tragic hero.[24]

Garwood performed again with the Antioch Area Theatre's annual Shakespeare festival during the Summer of 1955.[25] A guest director at the festival, Jack Landau, cast Garwood for his Fall production of The Carefree Tree.[26] This play by Aldyth Morris opened at the Phoenix Theatre in New York City on October 11, 1955; Farley Granger and Janice Rule starred, with Edith Meiser, Blanche Yurka, Alvin Ailey and Jerry Stiller in supporting roles.[27] Garwood had a small feature part in this two-act play based on an ancient Chinese legend, his first Broadway performance.[27] The writing was panned by critics, and the show closed November 6, 1955.[28]

From February thru April 1956 Garwood again performed in an outdoor drama, this time at the Suncoast Amphitheatre in Ruskin, Florida.[29] Voice in the Wind by Kermit Hunter concerned events during the first two Seminole Wars; Garwood had a supporting role as the villain.[29] He then returned to the Antioch Area Theatre for its Shakespeare festival from late June through early September 1956,[30] and again the following summer of 1957.[31]

Garwood's second Broadway performance came during January 1958, when The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco, staged by Tony Richardson, had its American debut at the Phoenix Theatre.[32] It was part of a double-bill that included another one-act play by Ionecso, The Lesson; both were performed for a limited engagement of two weeks. Garwood played The Orator; his co-stars were Joan Plowright (The Old Woman) and Eli Wallach (The Old Man).[32] Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times said "these odd, elliptical fantastifications are amusing and provocative",[33] while columnist Joan Hanauer felt they were "for people who like to be bothered and bewildered".[32]

Screen career[edit]

After doing Ionesco on Broadway, Garwood relocated to Los Angeles.[34] Director Blake Edwards was so impressed that he arranged for Garwood to begin a film career, with a supporting role of Magician in the 1959 episode "Murder on the Midway" of the television series Peter Gunn.[1][35] Afterwards, he became a notable supporting character actor in over 45 features, often portraying husbands, fathers, eccentrics, aristocrats, cowboys, sheriffs, policemen, reporters, detectives, clerks, and in his later years, patriarchs.

His film career including roles in The Miracle of the Hills (1959),[1] The Story of Ruth (1960), The Wizard of Baghdad (1961), Move Over, Darling (1963), The Sandpiper (1965), A Covenant with Death (1967), Big Daddy (1969), and Return to Snowy River (1988).

On television, he was a familiar face in the guest cast of Bachelor Father, The Big Valley, Captain Nice, The Danny Kaye Show, Destry, I Dream of Jeannie, Empire, Get Smart, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Have Gun – Will Travel, Hondo, Hotel de Paree, Iron Horse, Laredo, The Magical World of Disney, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Mister Ed, The Monkees, The Munsters, Overland Trail, Rawhide, The Rebel, The Red Skelton Hour, The Rifleman, Ripcord, Sea Hunt, Tales of Wells Fargo, Tate, Two Faces West, The Untouchables, Wagon Train, The Waltons and of course twelve appearances on Gunsmoke, nine of which are as Undertaker Percy Crump.[36] In The Twilight Zone, he guest-starred as the hobo in the episode "Five Characters in Search of an Exit".[37] He also played the recurring role of the character Beauregard O'Hanlon in Bourbon Street Beat.[1]

On stage, his appearances include the play A Touch of the Poet (1963).[38]

Personal life[edit]

From 1958 until his death, Garwood was married to interior designer Janet Garwood and the couple had two sons, one of whom became professional golfer Doug Garwood.[39]

Filmography[edit]

A partial filmography follows.

Film[edit]

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Peter Gunn[1][35] Magician "Murder on the Midway"
1959-1960 Bourbon Street Beat.[1] Beauregard O'Hanlon 5 episodes
1961 The Twilight Zone[37] The Tramp "Five Characters in Search of an Exit"
1961 Gunsmoke Sam Jones "Colorado Sheriff"
1962 Gunsmoke Fred "The Hunger"
1965 Gunsmoke Vain (uncredited) "Seven Hours to Dawn"
1966-1972 Gunsmoke Percy Crump 9 episodes

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Rubin, Steven (November 1, 2017). Twilight Zone Encyclopedia. Chicago Review Press. p. 360. ISBN 9781613738917 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ Greenland, David (August 2013). The Gunsmoke Chronicles: A New History of Television's Greatest Western. p. 233. ISBN 9781593937331 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Veteran Actor Selected To Play Lead Male Roles In Antioch Amphitheater". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. May 12, 1963. p. 20. Retrieved August 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ^ Kelton Bradford Garwood in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claim Index 1936-2007, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  5. ^ 1930 United States Federal Census for Kelton Garwood, Ohio > Franklin > Columbus > District 0016, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  6. ^ a b US, World War II Draft Cards for Young Men, 1940-1947 for Kelton Bradford Garwood, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  7. ^ U.S., Marine Corps Muster Roll, 1798-1958 for Kelton B Garwood, T977 - US Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1893-1958 > Roll 1240, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  8. ^ 1950 United States Federal Census for Kelton B Garwood, Ohio > Franklin > Columbus > 94-68, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  9. ^ a b c "Ten Young Actors Given Scholarships". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. May 15, 1952. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Kirkley, Donald (June 29, 1952). "Little Scandal' Opens at the Hilltop". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Pine Tree Players Open with 'Sky'". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. July 7, 1952. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Kirkley, Donald (July 18, 1952). "'All My Sons' at Avondale". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Kirkley, Donald (July 31, 1952). "'One Touch of Venus'". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b c d "He Puts Reality into Stage Combat". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. August 2, 1953. p. 92 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Critic's Corner". York Daily Record. York, Pennsylvania. October 27, 1953. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Gardner, R. H. (December 29, 1953). "'Stalag 17' at Hilltop". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Gardner, R. H. (January 5, 1954). "'Mister Roberts'". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "On the Stage". The Evening Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. January 12, 1954. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Catling, Patrick Skene (February 17, 1954). "Mystery Farce". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore, Maryland. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Kany, A. S. (June 26, 1954). "Shakespeare's Women". The Journal Herald. Dayton, Ohio. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Bell, Eleanor (November 27, 1954). "Play with Music". Cincinnati Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "'Florida Aflame' Has Full House on Opening Night". The Tampa Times. Tampa, Florida. January 24, 1955. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Orphanage Boys See Seminole Drama". The Tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. March 7, 1955. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b "Workmen and Actors Busy Getting Ready For Florida Aflame Opening January 22". The tampa Tribune. Tampa, Florida. January 13, 1955. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "They Come From Afar To Play At Antioch". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. June 19, 1955. p. 119 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ ""Shakespeare-Under-Stars" Sets Records At Antioch". The Journal Herald. Dayton, Ohio. September 13, 1955. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b McHarry, Charles (October 12, 1955). "'Carefree Tree' Wilts In Debut At Phoenix". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 525 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "In Short". Newsday (Nassau edition). Hempstead, New York. October 28, 1955. p. 76 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b Swain, Harrison (February 5, 1956). "'Voice in the Wind' Epic Fast-Paced, Spectacular". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, Florida. p. 41 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Casting Is Now Completed for Antioch Area Theater". Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, Ohio. June 10, 1956. p. 127 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Summer Shakespeare Series To Open At Antioch Area Theater Wednesday". Springfield News-Sun. Springfield, Ohio. July 21, 1957. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b c Hanauer, Joan (January 10, 1958). "Offbeat Plays Are Bewildering". Corsicana Daily Sun. Corsicana, Texas. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Atkinson, Brooks (January 10, 1958). "Theatre: Ionesco's Fantastifications". New York Times. New York, New York. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Los Angeles County Voters Registration for 1958, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  35. ^ a b "Carnival Girl Involves Gunn". Victoria Advocate. 1 February 1959. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  36. ^ "Kelton Garwood". TV Guide. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  37. ^ a b Parisi, Nicholas (October 24, 2018). Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination. University Press of Mississippi. p. 256. ISBN 9781496819451 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ "Garwood, Flanagan, Laming Head Cast". Dayton Daily News. Dayton, Ohio. July 14, 1963. p. 64. Retrieved August 16, 2022 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  39. ^ "Doug Garwood – Profile". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 16, 2022.

External links[edit]

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