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Pierre Frank Watkin (December 29, 1889 – February 3, 1960) was an American character actor in many films, serials, and television series from the 1930s through the 1950s, especially westerns. He is perhaps best remembered for being the father of Eleanor Twitchell, the lady who captures Lou Gehrig's heart in Pride of the Yankees (1942)
Watkin was born in Sioux City, Iowa. In the 1920s, he had his own theatrical troupe, the Pierre Watkin Players. In 1927, the group moved its headquarters from Sioux Falls to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Watkin portrayed Perry White in both of the Superman serials of the late 1940s, which starred Kirk Alyn as the title character and Noel Neill as Lois Lane.
Watkin played a few different characters in the television series Adventures of Superman, in which John Hamilton played Perry White. He was set to reprise his role as the editor of The Daily Planet in a revival of the series in 1959, as Hamilton had died in the interim since the cancellation of the original series. However, series star George Reeves also died in the summer of 1959, and those plans ended. Watkin himself died six months later.
He also cast in 1955 in the episode "Joey and the Gypsies" of the NBC children's western series Fury. Watkin guest starred in the CBS western series Brave Eagle. He was cast twice each on the ABC/Warner Brothers series, Cheyenne (as Harvey Sinclair in "The Law Man") and Annie Oakley (as the Reverend Mills in the 1956 episode "The Reckless Press"). In 1958, Watkin portrayed Dr. Breen of Samaritan Hospital in the episode "San Francisco Story" of Rex Allen's syndicated western series, Frontier Doctor.
During the first season of CBS's Perry Mason from 1957 to 1958, Watkin appeared in three episodes as Judge Keetley. He was also cast during the 1950s on The Range Rider, Tales of the Texas Rangers, in three episodes of the western aviation adventure series Sky King, and five times on The Jack Benny Program.
Watkin played the part of Colonel Duncan in the 1958 episode "Decoy" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45.
Known For
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Senator Barnes
You Can't Take It with You
(1938)
Attorney to Kirby (uncredited)
Monsieur Verdoux
(1947)
Prison Official (uncredited)
The Pride of the Yankees
(1942)
Mr. Twitchell
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Cortlandt Official (uncredited)
Flamingo Road
(1949)
Meet John Doe
(1941)
Hammett
Stage Door
(1937)
Carmichael
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Naval Attache (uncredited)
Marked Woman
(1937)
Judge #2 (uncredited)
Superman
(1948)
Perry White
Dangerous
(1935)
George Sheffield
Geronimo
(1939)
Col. White
Great Guns
(1941)
Col. Wayburn
The Mad Miss Manton
(1938)
Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
He Who Gets Slapped
(1924)
Spectator in Audience at HE's Final Performance
Dangerous
(1935)
George Sheffield
If You Could Only Cook
(1935)
Mr. Balderson (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Arthur Cedar (uncredited)
Two in the Dark
(1936)
City Editor
The Gentleman from Louisiana
(1936)
Roger Leland
It Had to Happen
(1936)
District Attorney
King of Hockey
(1936)
Thomas A. White
Country Gentlemen
(1936)
Mr. Grayson
Under Your Spell
(1936)
Allen's Lawyer (uncredited)
The Big Game
(1936)
The College Chancellor
Love Letters of a Star
(1936)
Hobbs
Wanted: Jane Turner
(1936)
Andrew Norris (uncredited)
China Clipper
(1936)
Secretary of State (uncredited)
Bunker Bean
(1936)
Mr. Barnes (uncredited)
You May Be Next!
(1936)
Bernard Pine (uncredited)
Counterfeit
(1936)
Matt McDonald
Stage Door
(1937)
Carmichael
The Go-Getter
(1937)
Browne
Under Southern Stars
(1937)
Robert E. Lee
Confession
(1937)
Lawyer Stagoff (uncredited)
History Is Made at Night
(1937)
Michael O'Halloran
(1937)
Mark Grave
The Hit Parade
(1937)
J. B. Hawley
Breakfast for Two
(1937)
Gordon Faraday
Marked Woman
(1937)
Judge #2 (uncredited)
Internes Can't Take Money
(1937)
Dr. Fearson
Daughter of Shanghai
(1937)
L.T. Yorkland
Dangerous Number
(1937)
Mr. Stark - the Bridegroom
Mountain Justice
(1937)
Governor
Ever Since Eve
(1937)
Barton
Larceny on the Air
(1937)
Kennedy
The Man Who Cried Wolf
(1937)
Governor
Paradise Isle
(1937)
Dr. Steinmeyer
Sea Devils
(1937)
USS Taroe Commander
The Singing Marine
(1937)
General
The Californian
(1937)
Miller
Green Light
(1937)
Dr. Booth
She's Dangerous
(1937)
H.J. Conrad
Devil's Playground
(1937)
Submarine Commander
Bill Cracks Down
(1937)
William 'Bill' Reardon Sr.
Girls' School
(1938)
Mr. Alfred Simpson
Young Dr. Kildare
(1938)
Mr. Robert Chanler
There's That Woman Again
(1938)
Mr. Nacelle
The Mad Miss Manton
(1938)
Mr. Fenton (uncredited)
Boy Meets Girl
(1938)
B.K. Whitacre
Smashing the Rackets
(1938)
John Nelson Davis
State Police
(1938)
Col. C.B. Clarke
The Lady Objects
(1938)
Mr. Harper
Dangerous to Know
(1938)
Senator Carson
Mr. Moto's Gamble
(1938)
District Attorney (as Pierre Watkins)
You Can't Take It with You
(1938)
Attorney to Kirby (uncredited)
Arsène Lupin Returns
(1938)
Mr. Carter (uncredited)
The Chaser
(1938)
Mr. Beaumont
Tip-Off Girls
(1938)
George Murkil
Midnight Intruder
(1938)
Attorney Peter Winslow
Girls on Probation
(1938)
Mr. Storm
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
(1938)
Mr. Wondel
There's Always a Woman
(1938)
Mr. Ketterling
Illegal Traffic
(1938)
Jigger
Off the Record
(1939)
Barton
Wings of the Navy
(1939)
Capt. March
The Spirit of Culver
(1939)
Capt. Wharton
Risky Business
(1939)
Abernathy
Outside These Walls
(1939)
Hewitt Bronson
Fast and Loose
(1939)
Victor Stockton
The Mysterious Miss X
(1939)
Winslow
The Great Victor Herbert
(1939)
Albert Martin
Society Lawyer
(1939)
Henry V. Adams
Wall Street Cowboy
(1939)
Roger Hammond
Everything's on Ice
(1939)
Hotel Manager
The Jones Family in Hollywood
(1939)
Movie Studio Producer (uncredited)
Rulers of the Sea
(1939)
Mr. Caldwell (Uncredited)
King of the Underworld
(1939)
District Attorney
Geronimo
(1939)
Col. White
The Covered Trailer
(1939)
Horace Cartwright
The Adventures of Jane Arden
(1939)
Albert Thayer
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(1939)
Senator Barnes
They Made Her a Spy
(1939)
Colonel Wilson
Secret Service of the Air
(1939)
Chief of the Secret Service
Captain Caution
(1940)
American Consul
Earthbound
(1940)
President of the Court
Knute Rockne All American
(1940)
Commissioner at Hearing (uncredited)
Mystery Sea Raider
(1940)
Straker
Gangs of Chicago
(1940)
Road to Singapore
(1940)
Morgan Wycott (uncredited)
Out West with the Peppers
(1940)
J.H. King
Teddy the Rough Rider
(1940)
Sen. Platt
Rhythm on the River
(1940)
Uncle John
Sailor's Lady
(1940)
Captain
The Saint Takes Over
(1940)
Ben Egan
Hired Wife
(1940)
Charlie - Phyllis's Escort
Father Is A Prince
(1940)
Mr. Lee
Golden Gloves
(1940)
A.P. Barton - Editor (uncredited)
I Love You Again
(1940)
Mr. W.H. Sims
Five Little Peppers in Trouble
(1940)
J.H. King
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
(1940)
Mr. Robert Chandler
The Bank Dick
(1940)
Mr. Skinner
The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
(1940)
Boss Crogan
No Time for Comedy
(1940)
First-Nighter (uncredited)
Lydia
(1941)
Speaker
Life with Henry
(1941)
Mr. Joseph Anderson
Adventure in Washington
(1941)
Frank Conroy
A Man Betrayed
(1941)
Governor
Jesse James at Bay
(1941)
Phineas Krager - Land Dealer
Nevada City
(1941)
Amos Norton
Great Guns
(1941)
Col. Wayburn
She Knew All the Answers
(1941)
George Wharton
Petticoat Politics
(1941)
Alfred Wilcox
For Beauty's Sake
(1941)
Middlesex
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring
(1941)
Crothers
Cracked Nuts
(1941)
Mr. Benson
Naval Academy
(1941)
Capt. Davis
Buy Me That Town
(1941)
Carlton Williams
Meet John Doe
(1941)
Hammett
The Adventures of Martin Eden
(1942)
Amos Morley
Obliging Young Lady
(1942)
John Markham
The Magnificent Dope
(1942)
Carson
Ice Capades Revue
(1942)
Wiley Stone
The Pride of the Yankees
(1942)
Mr. Twitchell
Whistling in Dixie
(1942)
Doctor
Heart of the Rio Grande
(1942)
Randolph Lane
Nazi Agent
(1942)
Grover Blaine McHenry
Meet the Stewarts
(1942)
Club Guest (uncredited)
Stand By All Networks
(1942)
Grant Neeley
Cinderella Swings It
(1943)
Brock Harris
Crazy House
(1943)
Prosecutor
Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines
(1943)
British Agent Z
It Ain't Hay
(1943)
Maj. Harper (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
(1943)
Naval Attache (uncredited)
Fired Wife
(1943)
Doctor
Destroyer
(1943)
Admiral
Du Barry was a Lady
(1943)
Ambrose
The Chance of a Lifetime
(1943)
State Governor Rutledge (Uncredited)
Swing Shift Maisie
(1943)
Judge
South of Dixie
(1944)
Dean Williamson
Bermuda Mystery
(1944)
Herbert Bond
Jungle Woman
(1944)
Dr. Meredith
Shadow of Suspicion
(1944)
Frank Randall
Dead Man's Eyes
(1944)
Hayden's Lawyer
End of the Road
(1944)
District Attorney
Oh, What a Night!
(1944)
Tom Gordon
Atlantic City
(1944)
Sen. Hodges
Ladies of Washington
(1944)
Dr. John Crane (uncredited)
The Great Mike
(1944)
Colonel Whitley
Dakota
(1945)
Wexton Geary
Strange Illusion
(1945)
District Attorney Wallace Armstrong
Docks of New York
(1945)
Captain Jacobs
I Love a Bandleader
(1945)
Dr. Gardiner
The Phantom Speaks
(1945)
Charlie Davis
Captain Tugboat Annie
(1945)
Dr. Turner
Mr. Muggs Rides Again
(1945)
Dr. Fletcher
Divorce
(1945)
John Carter
Three's a Crowd
(1945)
Marcus Pett
I'll Remember April
(1945)
Dr. Armitage
Apology for Murder
(1945)
Craig Jordan
Adventure
(1945)
Mr. Buckley
Keep Your Powder Dry
(1945)
Mr. Lorrison
I'll Tell the World
(1945)
Dr. Mullins
Here Come the Co-eds
(1945)
Police Chief (uncredited)
Secrets of a Sorority Girl
(1945)
Dr. Harlan Johnson
Over 21
(1945)
Joel I. Nixon (uncredited)
Follow That Woman
(1945)
J.B. Henderson
I Ring Doorbells
(1946)
G.B. Barton
Magnificent Doll
(1946)
Harper
Claudia and David
(1946)
Hartley Naughton
The Shadow Returns
(1946)
Police Commissioner J.R. Weston
The Missing Lady
(1946)
Police Commissioner Weston
Behind the Mask
(1946)
Police Commissioner Weston
Little Giant
(1946)
P.S. Van Loon
Shock
(1946)
Blake - Belmont Arms Hotel Manager
Sioux City Sue
(1946)
G.W. Rhodes
Swamp Fire
(1946)
P.T. Hilton
G.I. War Brides
(1946)
Editor
High School Hero
(1946)
Governor Huffington
Murder Is My Business
(1946)
Arnold Ramsey
The Madonna's Secret
(1946)
District Attorney
Song of Love
(1947)
Duke of X (uncredited)
Monsieur Verdoux
(1947)
Prison Official (uncredited)
Her Husband's Affairs
(1947)
Vice President Beitler
The Red Stallion
(1947)
Richard Moresby
Beyond Our Own
(1947)
Dr. Blake
The Wild Frontier
(1947)
Frank Lane
Brick Bradford
(1947)
Professor Salisbury
Violence
(1947)
Ralph Borden
Hard Boiled Mahoney
(1947)
Dr. Rolfe Carter
Jack Armstrong
(1947)
Uncle Jim Fairfield
Shanghai Chest
(1948)
Judge Wesley Armstrong
Mary Lou
(1948)
Airline President
Daredevils of the Clouds
(1948)
Douglas Harrison
The Strange Mrs. Crane
(1948)
Clinton Crane
The Counterfeiters
(1948)
Carter
Fighting Back
(1948)
Colonel
Incident
(1948)
C. W. Sloan
Superman
(1948)
Perry White
An Innocent Affair
(1948)
T.D. Hendricks
The Gallant Blade
(1948)
Governor
The Hunted
(1948)
Simon Rand, Attorney
Miss Mink of 1949
(1949)
Cranston
Slightly French
(1949)
Publicity Man (uncredited)
Alaska Patrol
(1949)
Mr. Sigmund
The Fountainhead
(1949)
Cortlandt Official (uncredited)
Flamingo Road
(1949)
Zamba
(1949)
Benton
The Story of Seabiscuit
(1949)
Charles S. Howard
Siren of Atlantis
(1949)
Colonel
Knock on Any Door
(1949)
Purcell - Lawyer (uncredited)
Hold That Baby!
(1949)
John Winston
Over the Border
(1950)
Rand Malloy
Sunset in the West
(1950)
Gordon MacKnight
Rock Island Trail
(1950)
Major
Radar Secret Service
(1950)
Mr. Hamilton
Last of the Buccaneers
(1950)
Gov. Claiborne
The Second Face
(1950)
Mr. Hamilton
Redwood Forest Trail
(1950)
Arthur Cameron
The Big Hangover
(1950)
Samuel C. Long
Atom Man vs. Superman
(1950)
Perry White
Blue Grass of Kentucky
(1950)
Head Steward
Mysterious Island
(1951)
Confederate Officer
In Old Amarillo
(1951)
George B. Hills
Two Lost Worlds
(1951)
Magistrate Jeffries
Thundering Caravans
(1952)
Head Marshal
Hold That Line
(1952)
Morgan T. Stanhope
The Stranger Wore a Gun
(1953)
Jason Conroy
The Flaming Urge
(1953)
Albert Cruickshank
The Lost Planet
(1953)
Ned Hilton
Canadian Mounties vs. Atomic Invaders
(1953)
Commissioner Morrison
Johnny Dark
(1954)
Ed J. Winston
About Mrs. Leslie
(1954)
Lewis
Lay That Rifle Down
(1955)
Mr. Coswell
Sudden Danger
(1955)
George Caldwell
Creature with the Atom Brain
(1955)
Mayor Bremer
The Big Bluff
(1955)
Mr. Winthrop
The Maverick Queen
(1956)
McMillan
Thunder Over Arizona
(1956)
Dr. Peterson
Don't Knock The Rock
(1956)
Mayor George Bagley
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
(1956)
Armtrong
Cha-Cha-Cha Boom!
(1956)
Investor
Spook Chasers
(1957)
Dr. Moss
The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin
(1958)
Marjorie Morningstar
(1958)
Civil Official (uncredited)
Rin-Tin-Tin: Hero of the West
(1991)
Doc Hyer