From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tom London (August 24, 1889 – December 5, 1963) was an American veteran actor who played frequently in B-Westerns. According to The Guinness Book of Movie Records, London is credited with appearing in the most films in the history of Hollywood, this according to the 2001 book Film Facts, where it states that the performer who played in the most films was "Tom London, who made his first of over 2000 appearances in The Great Train Robbery, 1903.
Born Leonard Clapham in Louisville, Kentucky, he got his start in movies as a props man in Chicago, Illinois. His debut was in 1915 in the Western Lone Larry, performing under his own name. In 1925, after having appeared in many silent films, he changed his name to Tom London, and used that name for the rest of his career. The first film in which he was billed under his new name was Winds of Chance, a World War I film, in which he played "Sgt. Rock". London was a trick rider and roper, and used his trick skills in scores of Westerns. In the silent film era he often played villainous roles, while in later years he often appeared as the sidekick to Western stars like Sunset Carson in several films.
One of the busiest character actors, he appeared in over 600 films. London made many guest appearances in television shows through the 1950s, such as The Range Rider, with Jock Mahoney and Dick Jones. He also played Sam, the attendant of Helen Ramirez (Katy Jurado) in High Noon. His last movie was Underworld U.S.A. in 1961, and his final roles on TV were in Lawman and The Dakotas.
London died at his home in North Hollywood at age 81 and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Known For
High Noon
(1952)
Sam (uncredited)
All Quiet on the Western Front
(1930)
1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
Our Hospitality
(1923)
James Canfield (uncredited)
Man of the West
(1958)
Tom (uncredited)
Batman
(1943)
Andrews
Friendly Persuasion
(1956)
Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
Riders in the Sky
(1949)
Old Man Robert
Jesse James
(1939)
Soldier (uncredited)
The Ox-Bow Incident
(1943)
Deputy (uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1931)
Rancho Notorious
(1952)
Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
Western Union
(1941)
Slade Henchman #3
Made for Each Other
(1939)
Ranger (uncredited)
The Sheepman
(1958)
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Lady for a Day
(1933)
Reception Guest (uncredited)
Boom Town
(1940)
Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Purple Mask
(1916)
Robert Jackson, Inventor (as Leonard Clapham)
Liberty
(1916)
(as Leonard Clapham)
The Great Air Robbery
(1919)
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
The Boss of the Rancho
(1919)
The Lone Star Ranger
(1919)
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
The Last of the Duanes
(1919)
(as Leonard Clapham)
The Texas Kid
(1920)
Masked
(1920)
Wolf Tracks
(1920)
'in Wrong' Wright
(1920)
Sheriff
King of the Circus
(1920)
Colorado
(1921)
David Collins (as Leonard Clapham)
The Long Chance
(1922)
John Corbaly (as Leonard Clapham)
Nan of the North
(1922)
Dick Driscoll (as Leonard Clapham)
The Call of the Canyon
(1923)
Lee Stanton
Our Hospitality
(1923)
James Canfield (uncredited)
To the Last Man
(1923)
Guy
The Heritage of the Desert
(1924)
Dave Naab
The Demon Rider
(1925)
Black Hawk
The Cowboy Musketeer
(1925)
Joe Dokes
Three in Exile
(1925)
Jed Hawkings
Silent Sheldon
(1925)
Bill Fadden
Border Vengeance
(1925)
Flash Denby
A String of Diamonds
(1926)
Slippery Jack Elmm
Desert Greed
(1926)
Ranger (uncredited)
Code of the Northwest
(1926)
Pvt. Frank Stafford
Dangerous Traffic
(1926)
Marc Brandon
West of the Rainbow's End
(1926)
Harry Palmer
The Golden Stallion
(1927)
Jules La Roux
The Mystery Rider
(1928)
David Manning / The Claw
The Michigan Kid
(1928)
Minor Role (uncredited)
In Old Arizona
(1928)
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
Queen of the Northwoods
(1929)
Garvin / The Wolf-Devil
The Harvest of Hate
(1929)
Martin Trask
Hell's Heroes
(1929)
Croupier (uncredited)
Chinatown Nights
(1929)
Cop
See America Thirst
(1930)
Spumoni Hood (uncredited)
Bar-L Ranch
(1930)
Henchman (uncredited)
Spell of the Circus
(1930)
Butte Morgan
Safety in Numbers
(1930)
Motorist (uncredited)
Firebrand Jordan
(1930)
Ed Burns
Under Texas Skies
(1930)
Fake Captain Hartford
Borrowed Wives
(1930)
Mac, the Motorcycle Cop
River's End
(1930)
Mountie
Romance of the West
(1930)
All Quiet on the Western Front
(1930)
1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
The Storm
(1930)
Head Mountie
The Third Alarm
(1930)
Fireman Tom
Westward Bound
(1930)
Dick - Rustler
The Woman Racket
(1930)
Hennessy
Troopers Three
(1930)
Sgt. Hank Darby
Sid's Long Count
(1930)
Policeman
The Two Gun Man
(1931)
Lem Tolliver
The Galloping Ghost
(1931)
Mullins
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1931)
The Secret Six
(1931)
Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
Quick Millions
(1931)
Atlas Newsreel Man (uncredited)
The Arizona Terror
(1931)
Henchman Chuckawalla
Range Law
(1931)
Henchman Cleve
Gun Smoke
(1931)
Hank Bailey
Beyond the Rockies
(1932)
Kirk Tracy
Cock of the Air
(1932)
Military Policeman
Manhattan Tower
(1932)
Mechanic (uncredited)
The Thirteenth Guest
(1932)
Detective Carter (Uncredited)
Honor of the Mounted
(1932)
Henchman
The Lost Special
(1932)
Dirk / Detective Dane
The Boiling Point
(1932)
Pete Mallis - Henchman
The Night Rider
(1932)
Jeff Barton
Without Honors
(1932)
'Sholt' Fletcher
Gold
(1932)
Sheriff
Trailing the Killer
(1932)
Sheriff
The Wolf Dog
(1933)
Brooks
Smoky
(1933)
Horse Trader
I'm No Angel
(1933)
Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
King of the Jungle
(1933)
Lion Attendant (uncredited)
The Fugitive
(1933)
Tom
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
(1933)
Member of Rocci's Mob
The Iron Master
(1933)
Turner
The Big Cage
(1933)
Ship Captain
Perils of Pauline
(1933)
Soldier at American Consulate
Sunset Pass
(1933)
Ben
The Nuisance
(1933)
Kelley's Associate (uncredited)
Police Car 17
(1933)
Detective (uncredited)
Lady for a Day
(1933)
Reception Guest (uncredited)
Gordon of Ghost City
(1933)
Pat Campbell
Lone Cowboy
(1933)
Conductor (uncredited)
Baby Take a Bow
(1934)
Man on Train (Uncredited)
The Oil Raider
(1934)
Oil Well Driller (uncredited)
St. Louis Woman
(1934)
Lions Coach Ryan
Fighting Fury
(1934)
Chet
Bachelor Bait
(1934)
Detective (uncredited)
Rawhide Mail
(1934)
Barfly Al
Mystery Mountain
(1934)
Rattler Henchman Morgan
Mystery Ranch
(1934)
Holdup man
The Crime Doctor
(1934)
Detective at Airport Arrest (uncredited)
Twisted Rails
(1934)
Sheriff James
When Lightning Strikes
(1934)
Wolf
Ferocious Pal
(1934)
Dave Brownell
The Test
(1935)
Trapper (uncredited)
Gun Play
(1935)
Meeker
The Cactus Kid
(1935)
Sheriff
The Last of the Clintons
(1935)
Luke Todd
Rio Rattler
(1935)
Ranger Bob Adams
The Fighting Marines
(1935)
Miller
Hong Kong Nights
(1935)
Blake
Toll of the Desert
(1935)
Sheriff Jackson
Skull and Crown
(1935)
Henchman Jennings
Way Down East
(1935)
Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
The Miracle Rider
(1935)
Sewell
Courage of the North
(1935)
Mordant
Timber Terrors
(1935)
Burke
Call of the Prairie
(1936)
Dealer
Avenging Waters
(1936)
Henchman Huffy
Sworn Enemy
(1936)
Gangster (uncredited)
Heroes of the Range
(1936)
Bud
The Border Patrolman
(1936)
Johnson
Rio Grande Ranger
(1936)
Henchman Sneed
Guns and Guitars
(1936)
Henchman Connor
The Lawless Nineties
(1936)
Henchman Ward
O'Malley of the Mounted
(1936)
Lefty - Henchman
Wildcat Saunders
(1936)
Pete Hawkins
Jungle Menace
(1937)
Detective Interrogating Pete
Angel's Holiday
(1937)
Truck Driver
Radio Patrol
(1937)
Eddie Lewis
Sky Racket
(1937)
Agent-Passenger (Car Chase)
Roaring Timber
(1937)
Henchman Duke
The Silver Trail
(1937)
Looney
Bar-Z Bad Men
(1937)
Sig Bostell
Secret Valley
(1937)
2nd Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Law of the Ranger
(1937)
Henchman Pete
Blossoms On Broadway
(1937)
Cop (uncredited)
Springtime in the Rockies
(1937)
Tracy
Western Gold
(1937)
Clem
Song of the Buckaroo
(1938)
Sheriff Wade
Smashing the Rackets
(1938)
Dixon - Detective
Six Shootin' Sheriff
(1938)
Bar X Foreman
Pioneer Trail
(1938)
Sam Harden
The Renegade Ranger
(1938)
Henchman Red
Phantom Ranger
(1938)
Reynolds
The Fighting Devil Dogs
(1938)
Henchman Wilson
The Lone Ranger
(1938)
Henchman Felton
Prairie Moon
(1938)
Henchman Steve
Outlaws of Sonora
(1938)
Sheriff Trask
Riders of the Black Hills
(1938)
Henchman Red Stevens
Santa Fe Stampede
(1938)
Marshal Jim Wood
Juvenile Court
(1938)
Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
Black Bandit
(1938)
Allegheny Uprising
(1939)
Settler at McDowell's Mill
Let Us Live
(1939)
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Made for Each Other
(1939)
Ranger (uncredited)
The Night Riders
(1939)
Rancher Wilson
Fangs of the Wild
(1939)
Larry Dean
Rollin' Westward
(1939)
Sheriff
The Oregon Trail
(1939)
Pete Cave Henchman
Mandrake the Magician
(1939)
Mill River Inn Henchman
Westbound Stage
(1939)
Henchman Parker
Flaming Lead
(1939)
Bart Daggett
Jesse James
(1939)
Soldier (uncredited)
Full Confession
(1939)
Prison Guard (uncredited)
Mountain Rhythm
(1939)
Deputy Tom
Southward Ho!
(1939)
Phoney Union Sergeant
Lure of the Wasteland
(1939)
Foreman
Sunset Trail
(1939)
Jake
The Man from Texas
(1939)
Henchman Slim
Lillian Russell
(1940)
Frank
Northwest Passage
(1940)
Ranger
Melody Ranch
(1940)
Henchman Joe #2
Wild Horse Range
(1940)
Arnold
Ghost Valley Raiders
(1940)
Sheriff
The Green Archer
(1940)
Detective with Shiner
Riders from Nowhere
(1940)
Mason
Winners of the West
(1940)
Henchman Webb
Junior G-Men
(1940)
Kearney - Riot Squad Cop
Dark Command
(1940)
Messenger
Boom Town
(1940)
Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
Wagon Train
(1940)
Henchman Charlie
Brigham Young
(1940)
Raider
The Ranger and the Lady
(1940)
Independent Freight Wagon Driver
Gaucho Serenade
(1940)
Sheriff Tom Olson
When the Daltons Rode
(1940)
Lyncher
Five Little Peppers at Home
(1940)
Miner
The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
(1940)
Thug with Explosives
Deadwood Dick
(1940)
Jake
The Shadow
(1940)
Hijacked Truck Driver
Viva Cisco Kid
(1940)
Town Marshal
The Gay Caballero
(1940)
Man at Fiesta
Phantom Rancher
(1940)
Sheriff Parker
Stage to Chino
(1940)
Dolan - Henchman
Shooting High
(1940)
Eph Carson
Roll Wagons Roll
(1940)
Henchman Matt Grimes
Trailing Double Trouble
(1940)
Henchman Kirk
Hi-Yo Silver
(1940)
Felton
Dynamite Canyon
(1941)
Captain Gray
Dude Cowboy
(1941)
Silver City Sheriff
Twilight on the Trail
(1941)
Henchman Gregg
Stick to Your Guns
(1941)
Ranch Foreman Waffles
Forbidden Trails
(1941)
Marshal Tom
Wanderers of the West
(1941)
Montana Sheriff
Riding the Sunset Trail
(1941)
Sheriff Hays
Robbers of the Range
(1941)
Henchman Monk Saunders
Romance of the Rio Grande
(1941)
U. S. Marshal
Underground Rustlers
(1941)
Henchman Tom Harris
Bad Man of Deadwood
(1941)
Townsman
Across the Sierras
(1941)
Man on Wagon
Western Union
(1941)
Slade Henchman #3
Fugitive Valley
(1941)
Marshal Warren
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury
(1941)
Curley - Saloon Henchman
The Spider Returns
(1941)
Detective
The Son of Davy Crockett
(1941)
Ranger Logan
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance
(1941)
Cop Getting Crane
Billy the Kid
(1941)
Leader (uncredited)
The Omaha Trail
(1942)
Oxen Train Bullwhacker
The Secret Code
(1942)
Weather Bureau Guard
West of Tombstone
(1942)
Morris
Valley of the Sun
(1942)
Trooper Parker
Land of the Open Range
(1942)
Henchman Tracy Briggs
The Valley of Vanishing Men
(1942)
Slater
Perils of the Royal Mounted
(1942)
Gaynor
Ghost Town Law
(1942)
Ace, Chief Thug
Down Texas Way
(1942)
Bartender Pete
Stardust on the Sage
(1942)
Henchman MacGowan
Spy Smasher
(1942)
Crane
American Empire
(1942)
Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
Lone Star Ranger
(1942)
Henchman (uncredited)
Arizona Terrors
(1942)
Second Dialogue Tenant-Rancher
Red River Robin Hood
(1942)
Sheriff Del Auston
Shadows on the Sage
(1942)
Franklin
Sons of the Pioneers
(1942)
Joe #1 - Henchman
Ridin' Down the Canyon
(1942)
Henchman
Riders of the West
(1942)
Slim - Lanky Henchman
Bandit Ranger
(1942)
Cattle Rustler (uncredited)
Batman
(1943)
Andrews
Canyon City
(1943)
Sheriff Slocum
The Renegade
(1943)
Pete
Santa Fe Scouts
(1943)
Billy Dawson
The Ox-Bow Incident
(1943)
Deputy (uncredited)
Wagon Tracks West
(1943)
Lem Martin
Wild Horse Stampede
(1943)
Henchman Lefty
False Colors
(1943)
Poncho Townsman
The Woman of the Town
(1943)
Crockett Henchman
Bullets and Saddles
(1943)
Marshal (archive footage)
Silver Spurs
(1943)
Henchman
Idaho
(1943)
Henchman
Song of Texas
(1943)
Race Official
No Place for a Lady
(1943)
Air Raid Warden (? - ever seen in final cut?)
West of Texas
(1943)
Steve Conlon
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
(1943)
Henchman Pete
Hail to the Rangers
(1943)
Jessup
Overland Mail Robbery
(1943)
Sheriff
Captive Wild Woman
(1943)
Ship's Captain (archive footage)
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
(1943)
Hank Turner
Cheyenne Wildcat
(1944)
Harrison Colby
Vigilantes of Dodge City
(1944)
Denver
Thoroughbreds
(1944)
Pop
Faces in the Fog
(1944)
Auto Court Manager
The Fighting Seabees
(1944)
Johnson (uncredited)
Call of the Rockies
(1944)
Henchman Hansen
The Girl Who Dared
(1944)
Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
Stagecoach to Monterey
(1944)
Chester Wade
Captain America
(1944)
Mack
San Antonio Kid
(1944)
Long
Marshal of Reno
(1944)
Sheriff
The Yellow Rose of Texas
(1944)
Sheriff Allen
Zorro's Black Whip
(1944)
James Bradley
Silver City Kid
(1944)
Sheriff Gibson
The Lady and the Monster
(1944)
Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
Beneath Western Skies
(1944)
Earl Phillips
Code of the Prairie
(1944)
Henchman Loomis
Hidden Valley Outlaws
(1944)
Sheriff McBride
Firebrands of Arizona
(1944)
Wagon Driver
Sheriff of Sundown
(1944)
Sheriff Tom Carpenter
Wagon Wheels Westward
(1945)
Fake Judge James E. Worth
Colorado Pioneers
(1945)
Sand Snipe
Marshal of Laredo
(1945)
Barton
Earl Carroll Vanities
(1945)
Tom the Doorman
Flame of Barbary Coast
(1945)
Thompson, Townsman in Mob
Grissly's Millions
(1945)
Policeman Ralph
Girls of the Big House
(1945)
Sheriff at Alma's Cell
Don't Fence Me In
(1945)
Ben Duncan
Sheriff of Cimarron
(1945)
Frank Holden
Trail of Kit Carson
(1945)
John Benton
Federal Operator 99
(1945)
Prof. Crawford
Sunset in El Dorado
(1945)
Sheriff Gridley
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
(1945)
Sheriff Edwards
Corpus Christi Bandits
(1945)
Rocky - Henchman
The Cherokee Flash
(1945)
Utah
Oregon Trail
(1945)
Sheriff Plenner
Roll on Texas Moon
(1946)
Sheriff Bert Morris
Red River Renegades
(1946)
Pop Underwood
Out California Way
(1946)
Johnny
Rio Grande Raiders
(1946)
Sheriff Tom Hammon
Alias Billy the Kid
(1946)
Dakota
The Undercover Woman
(1946)
Lem
Days of Buffalo Bill
(1946)
Banty McCabe
Crime of the Century
(1946)
Dr. Jackson
California Gold Rush
(1946)
Sheriff Peabody
Sun Valley Cyclone
(1946)
Sheriff
Conquest of Cheyenne
(1946)
Sheriff Dan Perkins
Night Train to Memphis
(1946)
Train Conductor
The Invisible Informer
(1946)
Eph Shroud
Passkey to Danger
(1946)
Gerald Bates
Santa Fe Uprising
(1946)
Lafe Dibble
Man from Rainbow Valley
(1946)
Healey
The Phantom Rider
(1946)
Medicine Man Ceta
King of the Forest Rangers
(1946)
Tom Judson
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
(1946)
Sheriff
Under Colorado Skies
(1947)
Sheriff Blanchard
Along the Oregon Trail
(1947)
Wagon Boss
Last Frontier Uprising
(1947)
Skillet (Ranch Hand)
Saddle Pals
(1947)
Dad Gardner
The Wild Frontier
(1947)
Patrick MacSween
Blackmail
(1947)
Tom - Cashier
Twilight on the Rio Grande
(1947)
U.S. Customs Agent Tom
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon
(1947)
The Sheriff
Homesteaders of Paradise Valley
(1947)
Rancher
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
(1947)
Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
Jesse James Rides Again
(1947)
Sam Bolton
Marshal of Cripple Creek
(1947)
Baker
Mark of the Lash
(1948)
Lem Kimmerly
Marshal of Amarillo
(1948)
Mr. Snodgrass
Brand of Fear
(1949)
Marshal Blackjack Flint
South of Rio
(1949)
Jim Weston
Frontier Investigator
(1949)
Jed
San Antone Ambush
(1949)
Bartender Tim
Red Desert
(1949)
Colonel
Riders in the Sky
(1949)
Old Man Robert
The Old Frontier
(1950)
Banker
The Blazing Sun
(1950)
Tom Ellis
Cody of the Pony Express
(1950)
Doc Laramie
The Secret of Convict Lake
(1951)
Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
Rough Riders of Durango
(1951)
Rancher Evans
Trail Guide
(1952)
Old Timer
The Old West
(1952)
Chadwick (uncredited)
High Noon
(1952)
Sam (uncredited)
Blue Canadian Rockies
(1952)
Pop Phillips
Apache Country
(1952)
Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
Rancho Notorious
(1952)
Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
Pack Train
(1953)
Dan Coleman
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
(1956)
Livery Stableman (uncredited)
Friendly Persuasion
(1956)
Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger
(1957)
Domino Kid
(1957)
The Sheepman
(1958)
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Money, Women and Guns
(1958)
Old Prospector (uncredited)
Man of the West
(1958)
Tom (uncredited)
Lone Texan
(1959)
Old Dan (uncredited)
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
(1960)
Bum at Bar (uncredited)
13 West Street
(1962)
Prisoner (uncredited)
Spy Smasher Returns
(1966)
Crane