Edward Gargan was born of Irish parents in Brooklyn, New York in 1902. He was the elder brother of actor William Gargan whose July 17 birthday he shared.
Edward Gargan started as a musical comedy actor on Broadway. He sang in "Good News", "Rose-Marie", and other hit musicals of the 1920s, and also in opera. One of his early shows was "Polly of Hollywood" in 1927. He portrayed Patrolman Mulligan, one of the principals of "Strictly Dishonorable", in 1930.
He went to Hollywood in 1932 and the next year was in the cast of the film "David Harum". For the next 19 years he appeared in a variety of movies. Gargan was one of the most prolific bit players in the history of the movies, specializing in dumb policemen and dense sidekicks. He appeared in nearly 300 feature films over a three-decade span between 1921 and 1952, and television work from 1951 to 1953.
Gargan died in New York City in 1964.
Known For
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Moving Man with Door (uncredited)
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Zoo Official (uncredited)
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Policeman in Park (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Bodyguard (uncredited)
Another Thin Man
(1939)
Detective Quinn (uncredited)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
(1951)
Milt (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
(1936)
Detective (uncredited)
Queen Christina
(1933)
Drinker Betting on 9 (uncredited)
Crack-Up
(1946)
Cop in Arcade (Uncredited)
Northwest Passage
(1940)
Capt. Butterfield
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
(1938)
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Walking Dead
(1936)
Guard Sitting Outside Warden's Office (uncredited)
Go West
(1940)
Railroad Ticket Seller (uncredited)
Wonder Man
(1945)
Policeman in Prospect Park
Little Miss Broadway
(1947)
Uncle George
Full Filmography
Acting
It's All Over
(1930)
Jerry
The Girl Habit
(1931)
Detective
Via Express
(1931)
Tarnished Lady
(1931)
Al - Man in Bar
Two A.M.
(1931)
The Door Knocker
(1931)
Man
The African Dodger
(1931)
Ace of Aces
(1933)
Whitaker (uncredited)
Mary Stevens, M.D.
(1933)
'Captain' the Policeman (uncredited)
Queen Christina
(1933)
Drinker Betting on 9 (uncredited)
The Girl in 419
(1933)
Lt. 'Babs' Riley
Bombshell
(1933)
Second Immigration Officer (uncredited)
Gambling Ship
(1933)
Deputy (uncredited)
We Live Again
(1934)
Warden's assistant
Wild Gold
(1934)
Eddie Sparks
Port of Lost Dreams
(1934)
Porky the Freda's 'Crew'
The Bands Plays On
(1934)
Lumberjack
Registered Nurse
(1934)
Officer Pat O'Brien
She Had to Choose
(1934)
Higgins
Radio Dough
(1934)
Gang Leader (uncredited)
Belle of the Nineties
(1934)
Stogie (Ruby's agent)
Hands Across the Table
(1935)
Pinky Kelly (uncredited)
Man on the Flying Trapeze
(1935)
Patrolman
The Gilded Lily
(1935)
Subway Guard
Behind the Green Lights
(1935)
Moran - a Cop
One New York Night
(1935)
Trench
We're in the Money
(1935)
Clancy O'Rourke
A Notorious Gentleman
(1935)
The Bride Comes Home
(1935)
Cab Driver
False Pretenses
(1935)
Mike O'Reilly
Sutter's Gold
(1936)
Wagon Driver
Great Guy
(1936)
Henchman Al
Roaming Lady
(1936)
Andy
Ceiling Zero
(1936)
Doc Wilson
Dangerous Waters
(1936)
Bosun
Boulder Dam
(1936)
Pa's Guest (uncredited)
Anything Goes
(1936)
Detective
Stage Struck
(1936)
Rordan
Grand Jury
(1936)
Policeman Burke
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
(1936)
Bodyguard (uncredited)
Under Your Spell
(1936)
Detective (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey
(1936)
Detective (uncredited)
The Walking Dead
(1936)
Guard Sitting Outside Warden's Office (uncredited)
Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
(1936)
A Girl with Ideas
(1937)
Eddie
You Can't Buy Luck
(1937)
Butch (uncredited)
The Man Who Found Himself
(1937)
Policeman in Park
Danger Patrol
(1937)
John Donovan
Madame X
(1937)
Mate of Dorcas
The Go-Getter
(1937)
Police officer Riley (uncredited)
Back in Circulation
(1937)
Policeman at Train Wreck (uncredited)
We're on the Jury
(1937)
Officer Clark
High, Wide and Handsome
(1937)
Foreman
Wallaby Jim of the Islands
(1937)
[scenes deleted]
The Great O'Malley
(1937)
Policeman Driving Radio Car (uncredited)
Jim Hanvey, Detective
(1937)
O. R.Smith
Thanks for the Memory
(1938)
Flanahan
Annabel Takes a Tour
(1938)
Longshoreman at dance
Straight, Place and Show
(1938)
Detective Globe
While New York Sleeps
(1938)
Sgt. White
Crime School
(1938)
Officer Hogan
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
(1938)
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Love on a Budget
(1938)
Big Furniture Mover
Up the River
(1938)
Tiny
Spring Madness
(1938)
Jim - a Policeman
Give Me a Sailor
(1938)
Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
The Rage of Paris
(1938)
Truck Driver (uncredited)
Carefree
(1938)
Policeman (uncredited)
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Zoo Official (uncredited)
Gateway
(1938)
Guard
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
(1939)
Truck Driver
Honolulu
(1939)
Second Detective
Cafe Society
(1939)
Cop
The Flying Irishman
(1939)
J.R. Robinson
They All Come Out
(1939)
George "Bugs" Jacklin
Lucky Night
(1939)
Policeman
The Saint Strikes Back
(1939)
Pinky Budd
Yes, My Darling Daughter
(1939)
Police Officer
Night Work
(1939)
Police Officer Flannigan
$1,000 a Touchdown
(1939)
Ironmansky (uncredited)
20,000 Men a Year
(1939)
Dunk
Boy Trouble
(1939)
Cop
Blondie Meets the Boss
(1939)
Garden Café Doorman (uncredited)
Another Thin Man
(1939)
Detective Quinn (uncredited)
A Child Is Born
(1939)
Officer Riley - Police Guard (uncredited)
On Your Toes
(1939)
First Policeman
The Family Next Door
(1939)
Cop
The Spellbinder
(1939)
Tom, Taxi Driver (Uncredited)
Fixer Dugan
(1939)
Jake
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1939)
Sentry
San Francisco Docks
(1940)
Hank
Spring Parade
(1940)
Inga - the Fortune Teller
Susan and God
(1940)
Cabbie (uncredited)
Wolf of New York
(1940)
W. Thornton Upshaw
The Doctor Takes a Wife
(1940)
George - Doorman
Two Girls on Broadway
(1940)
Policeman Guarding Courtroom (uncredited)
The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date
(1940)
Chimp
The Villain Still Pursued Her
(1940)
Bartender (uncredited)
City for Conquest
(1940)
Joe - Foreman (uncredited)
Adventure in Diamonds
(1940)
Lou
Charlie Chan in Panama
(1940)
Plant Workman
Brother Rat and a Baby
(1940)
Cab Driver
The Saint's Double Trouble
(1940)
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Buck Benny Rides Again
(1940)
Policeman
Street of Memories
(1940)
Mike Sullivan
This Thing Called Love
(1940)
Police Officer
An Angel from Texas
(1940)
New York Policeman
Northwest Passage
(1940)
Capt. Butterfield
Road to Singapore
(1940)
Bill - Sailor (uncredited)
Girl from God's Country
(1940)
Poker Player
Go West
(1940)
Railroad Ticket Seller (uncredited)
Queen of the Mob
(1940)
Bank Guard
Johnny Apollo
(1940)
Detective (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
(1940)
Death Row Guard (uncredited)
It All Came True
(1940)
Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Tillie the Toiler
(1941)
Policeman
Niagara Falls
(1941)
Chuck
Three Sons o' Guns
(1941)
Sylvester
Flight from Destiny
(1941)
Hotel Doorman
Here Comes Happiness
(1941)
Joe
Ice-Capades
(1941)
Joe, the Bouncer
Four Mothers
(1941)
Harry (uncredited)
Thieves Fall Out
(1941)
Dudley Kane
What's Cookin'?
(1942)
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
A Date with the Falcon
(1942)
Detective Bates (uncredited)
Lady in a Jam
(1942)
Deputy
My Heart Belongs to Daddy
(1942)
Mr. Johnson - Detective
Over My Dead Body
(1942)
Police Sergeant
Fly-By-Night
(1942)
Officer Charlie Prescott
Meet the Stewarts
(1942)
Moving Man
Flying with Music
(1942)
Joe
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
(1942)
Bombardier (uncredited)
Between Us Girls
(1942)
Cabbie
The Falcon's Brother
(1942)
Detective Bates
Dr. Kildare's Victory
(1942)
Willie Brooks
A-Haunting We Will Go
(1942)
Police Lt. Foster
Blondie for Victory
(1942)
Sergeant
My Sister Eileen
(1942)
Murphy - Policeman (uncredited)
My Favorite Blonde
(1942)
Mulrooney
The Falcon Takes Over
(1942)
Detective Bates (Uncredited)
Miss Annie Rooney
(1942)
Policeman
The West Side Kid
(1943)
Donovan
Tahiti Honey
(1943)
George, the Bartender
My Kingdom for a Cook
(1943)
Duke
In Old Oklahoma
(1943)
Kelsey, Palace Hotel Waiter
The Falcon in Danger
(1943)
Det. Bates
The Falcon Strikes Back
(1943)
Detective Bates
The Falcon and the Co-Eds
(1943)
Detective Bates
Princess O'Rourke
(1943)
Slugged Pedestrian (uncredited)
Something to Shout About
(1943)
Detective Stone
Hit the Ice
(1943)
Bank Policeman (uncredited)
The Great Alaskan Mystery
(1944)
Kurtz
Detective Kitty O'Day
(1944)
Mike Storm
The Falcon Out West
(1944)
Homicide Detective Bates
San Fernando Valley
(1944)
Keno
Dangerous Partners
(1945)
Police Sgt. at Kempen's Apartment (uncredited)
High Powered
(1945)
Cal Williams
Twice Blessed
(1945)
Outraged Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Sing Your Way Home
(1945)
Jailer
She Wouldn't Say Yes
(1945)
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Life with Blondie
(1945)
Hundefänger (uncredited)
A Sporting Chance
(1945)
Mike Ryan
The Naughty Nineties
(1945)
Baxter - Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
Her Highness and the Bellboy
(1945)
1st Cop
Wonder Man
(1945)
Policeman in Prospect Park
Earl Carroll Vanities
(1945)
Policeman
Follow That Woman
(1945)
Butch
Cinderella Jones
(1946)
Riley
Behind the Mask
(1946)
Detective Dixon
The Inner Circle
(1946)
Parking Ticket Cop
Crack-Up
(1946)
Cop in Arcade (Uncredited)
Gay Blades
(1946)
Bartender
Deadline at Dawn
(1946)
Bouncer (uncredited)
Little Giant
(1946)
Policeman (uncredited)
Blonde Alibi
(1946)
Police Sergeant (Uncredited)
The Dark Horse
(1946)
Eustace Kelly
The Brasher Doubloon
(1947)
Truck Driver (uncredited)
Little Miss Broadway
(1947)
Uncle George
Saddle Pals
(1947)
Jailer
Web of Danger
(1947)
Dolan, Restaurant Owner
Linda, Be Good
(1947)
Frankie
Exposed
(1947)
Big Mac
The Ghost Goes Wild
(1947)
Newsstand man
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Policeman in Park (uncredited)
That's My Gal
(1947)
Mike
So You're Going to Be a Father
(1947)
Pie Truck Driver (uncredited)
You Gotta Stay Happy
(1948)
Detective (Uncredited)
Campus Honeymoon
(1948)
Motorcycle Cop
Strike It Rich
(1948)
Mack
Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!
(1948)
Ted (uncredited)
Adventures of Gallant Bess
(1948)
Deputy Sheriff
Daredevils of the Clouds
(1948)
Tap-It Bowers
Hold That Baby!
(1949)
Policeman Burton
Father of the Bride
(1950)
Moving Man with Door (uncredited)
Spooky Wooky
(1950)
Key to the City
(1950)
S.F. Cop - Fire Escape (uncredited)
So You Want to Move
(1950)
So You Want a Raise
(1950)
Hit Parade of 1951
(1950)
Garrity
Belle of Old Mexico
(1950)
Sam
Triple Trouble
(1950)
Officer Murphy
Bedtime for Bonzo
(1951)
Policeman (as Ed Gargan)
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
(1951)
Milt (uncredited)
I Was a Burlesque Queen
(1953)
Frankie