J.P. McGowan
255 movies
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Feb 23, 1880
- Died
- Mar 26, 1952 (age 72)
- Place of birth
- Terowie, Australia
- Also known as
- John Paterson McGowan
Biography
From Wikipedia
John Paterson McGowan (February 24, 1880 – March 26, 1952) was a pioneering Hollywood actor and director and occasionally a screenwriter and producer. J. P. McGowan, as he was usually known, remains the only Australian to have been made a life member of the Screen Directors Guild (now Directors Guild of America).
Read the full biography
Born in the then-bustling railway centre of Terowie in South Australia, McGowan grew up in Adelaide (Islington) and Sydney. He was a capable horseman and served in the Second Boer War with Montmorency's Scouts as a special dispatch rider.
McGowan directed and often acted in the first 33 episodes of Kalem's 1914 adventure film series, The Hazards of Helen, which eventually ran to 54 episodes, some still with McGowan's participation. While filming he began a relationship with Helen Holmes, the film's star, and the two married. They left Kalem to set up their own production company, Signal Films, which successfully made a series of railroad melodramas but lost out when their distributor (Mutual) failed. The collaboration ended when they divorced in 1925. There was an adopted daughter, Kaye.
McGowan successfully made the transition from silent film to talkies. While never a major star, in a busy career that spanned four decades he is credited with acting in 232 films—mostly strong roles like sheriff or villain—writing 26 screenplays and directing 242 productions. In 1932 he directed a young John Wayne in the 12-episode rail vs airplane serial The Hurricane Express for the independent Mascot Pictures. From 1938 to 1951, as Executive Secretary of the Screen Directors Guild, he fought to secure recognition for the director within the studio systems of the film and emerging television industry.
J.P. McGowan died in 1952 in Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Profiles IMDb
Known for
J.P. McGowan: movies and TV shows
Acting (153)
- Upcoming Danger Quest
as Col. Spiffy
- 1956 Savage Fury
as Ship's Captain
- 1951 The Lady and the Bandit
as Old Man
- 1939 Stagecoach
as Bit Part (uncredited)
- 1939 Code of the Fearless
as Undetermined Minor Role
- 1938 The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
as Scudder
- 1938 Kidnapped
as Clansman
- 1938 Hunted Men
as Cop
- 1938 The Buccaneer
as Jailer
- 1937 Prairie Thunder
as Col. Stanton
- 1937 Heart of the Rockies
as Ed Dawson
- 1937 Rough Riding Rhythm
as Pete Hobart
- 1937 Empty Holsters
as U.S. Marshal Billy O'Neill
- 1937 She Had to Eat
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- 1937 Slave Ship
as Helmsman
- 1937 Hit the Saddle
as Rance McGowan
- 1937 Borderland
as El Rio Sheriff
- 1937 Jungle Jim
as Ship Captain J.S. Robinson
- 1936 Sinner Take All
as Police Officer Murphy (uncredited)
- 1936 Stampede
as Matt Stevens
- 1936 The Accusing Finger
as Inner Guard
- 1936 Fury and the Woman
as Anderson
- 1936 The Three Mesquiteers
as Brack Canfield
- 1936 Ride 'Em Cowboy
as Jim Howard
- 1936 Guns and Guitars
as Dave Morgan
- 1936 Secret Patrol
as Blacksmith Barstow
- 1936 Robin Hood of El Dorado
as Danglong
- 1936 The Prisoner of Shark Island
as Ship's Captain (uncredited)
- 1936 Silverspurs
as Webb Allison
- 1935 Bar 20 Rides Again
as Buck Peters
- 1935 East of Java
as Sergeant, Rescue Party
- 1935 The Silent Code
as Commissioner
- 1935 Diamond Jim
as Engineer
- 1935 Border Brigands
as Inspector Winston - RCMP
- 1935 Murder in the Fleet
as Chief of Police (Uncredited)
- 1935 Whispering Smith Speaks
as Caboose Passenger (uncredited)
- 1935 Les Misérables
as Javert's Plainclothesman
- 1935 The Call of the Savage
as Freighter Captain
- 1935 Mississippi
as Dealer (uncredited)
- 1935 The Outlaw Tamer
as Sheriff Jim Porter
- 1935 Rustlers of Red Dog
as Capt. Trent [Chs. 3-4]
- 1934 When Lightning Strikes
as Lafe Broderick
- 1934 Wagon Wheels
as Couch
- 1934 The Red Rider
as Scotty McKee
- 1934 No More Women
as Captain of The Hawk
- 1933 Somewhere in Sonora
as Monte Black
- 1932 Flaming Gold
as Mack
- 1932 Lawless Valley
as Big Mike Carter, aka El Lobo, aka Texas Rand
- 1931 Quick Trigger Lee
as Brings note / Director
- 1930 The Canyon of Missing Men
as Slug Sagel
- 1930
- 1930 Breezy Bill
as Sheriff
- 1930 O'Malley Rides Alone
as Angus McGregor
- 1929 A Texas Cowboy
as Brute Kettle
- 1929 Señor Americano
as Maddox
- 1929
- 1929 Pioneers of the West
as Tom Dorgan
- 1929
- 1929 The Cowboy and the Outlaw
as Pepper Hardcastle
- 1929 The Law of the Plains
as Seagrue
- 1929
- 1929 The Last Roundup
as Hash
- 1929 Plunging Hoofs
as Jim Wales
- 1929 Bad Men's Money
as Sheriff Bud Jennings
- 1929 The Lawless Legion
as Matson
- 1929 Headin' Westward
as Sneezer Clark
- 1929 Below the Deadline
as Taggart
- 1929 'Neath Western Skies
as Dugan
- 1928 Ships of the Night
as Motilla
- 1928 Two Outlaws
as Abner Whitcomb
- 1928 The Old Code
as Raoul de Valle
- 1928
- 1928
- 1928
- 1928 Arizona Days
as Ed Hicks
- 1928 The Code of the Scarlet
as Blake
- 1928 The Devil’s Tower
as George Stilwell
- 1928 Dugan of the Dugouts
as Capt. von Brinken
- 1927 The Slaver
as ’Iron' Larsen
- 1927 Gun Gospel
as Bill Brogan
- 1927 The Red Raiders
as Captain Ortwell
- 1927 Arizona Nights
as Jeff Decker
- 1927 The Royal American
as Capt. Burke
- 1927 The Lost Limited
as Thomas Webber
- 1927 Red Signals
as Jim Twyler
- 1926 Perils of the Rail
as Barker's Accomplice at Smelter Junction
- 1926 Crack O' Dawn
as Earle Thorpe Sr.
- 1926 The Lost Express
as Train Engineer
- 1926 Moran of the Mounted
as Sgt. Churchill
- 1926 Senor Daredevil
as Jesse Wilks
- 1925 The Patent Leather Pug
as James Curtis
- 1925
- 1925 Red Blood
as Eagle Custer
- 1925 Duped
as 'Hard Rock' Ralston
- 1925 Barriers of the Law
as Steve Redding
- 1925 Outwitted
as Tiger McGuire
- 1924 Crossed Trails
as 'Pepper' Baldwin
- 1924 A Two Fisted Tenderfoot
as Stephen Lawlor
- 1924 The Whipping Boss
as Livingston
- 1924 Baffled
as Jack Norton
- 1923 Stormy Seas
as Capt. Morgan
- 1922 Hills of Missing Men
as Capt. Brandt / The Dragon
- 1921 Cold Steel
as Steele Weir
- 1921 Do or Die
as Capt. Alvarez / Satan
- 1920
- 1920
- 1917 The Railroad Raiders
as Thomas Desmond
- 1917 The Hazards of Helen
as Various roles
- 1916 Medicine Bend
as Whispering Smith
- 1916 Whispering Smith
as Whispering Smith
- 1915
- 1915 The Mettle of Jerry McGuire
as Jerry McGuire
- 1915 The Broken Rail
as Trow - of the Working Crew
- 1915 A Railroader's Bravery
as Thomas - the Chief of the Gang
- 1915 The Broken Train
as Warren - Railroad Employee
- 1915 The Railroad Raiders of '62
as Lockwood - the old one-armed Flagman
- 1915 The Leap from the Water Tower
as Rand - the Fireman
- 1915 The Girl Telegrapher's Peril
as Blake - a Lineman
- 1915 The Girl and the Game
as Spike
- 1914 The Escape on the Limited
as Brandt - a Defaulting Cashier
- 1914 The Black Diamond Express
as Dan Haddon - a Cowboy
- 1914 The Flying Freight's Captive
as Rand - a Yeggman
- 1914 His Nemesis
as Mammoth - Manning's Business Rival
- 1914 Helen's Sacrifice
as Benton
- 1914 Kaintucky Bill
as Kaintucky Bill - a Moonshiner
- 1913 The Wives of Jamestown
as The O’Rourke
- 1912 The Shaughraun
as Corry Kinchela
- 1912 Ireland, the Oppressed
as Lord Kilhannack
- 1912 The Mayor from Ireland
as Shamus Foley
- 1912 The Little Gluers
as Valentine Hay
- 1912 From the Manger to the Cross
as Wise Man 1
- 1912 The Poacher's Pardon
as Mr. Wallace - the Gamekeeper
- 1912
- 1912
- 1912 Tragedy of the Desert
as The Arab Sheik
- 1912 Captured by Bedouins
as Lt. Greig
- 1912
- 1912 Dust of the Desert
as Sheik Mohammad
- 1912
- 1912 Vagabonds
as Big Jim
- 1912 His Mother
as John Foster
- 1911 The Fishermaid of Ballydavid
as Policeman
- 1911 The Colleen Bawn
as Hardress Cregan
- 1911 Rory O'More
as Commander of the English troops
- 1911 The Special Messenger
as Royal
- 1911 Railroad Raiders of '62
as Federal Officer
- 1911 When the Dead Return
as Jacques
- 1911 The Fiddler’s Requiem
as Dolores' father
- 1911 Slim Jim's Last Chance
as The Rancher
- 1911
- 1911
- 1910
- 1910 The Lad from Old Ireland
as Election Agent
Behind the camera (165)
- 1938 Where the West Begins
Director
- 1937 Roaring Six Guns
Director
- 1937 Rough Riding Rhythm
Director
- 1937 What Price Vengeance
Writer
- 1936 Secret Patrol
Screenplay
- 1935 The Outlaw Tamer
Director
- 1935 The Lone Bandit
Director
- 1933 War of the Range
Director
- 1933 Deadwood Pass
Director
- 1933 Drum Taps
Director, Screenplay
- 1933 When a Man Rides Alone
Director
- 1932 The Hurricane Express
Screenplay, Director
- 1932 The Scarlet Brand
Director
- 1932 Tangled Fortunes
Director
- 1932 Lawless Valley
Director
- 1932 Mark of the Spur
Director
- 1932 Human Targets
Director
- 1931 Quick Trigger Lee
Director
- 1931 Shotgun Pass
Director
- 1931 The Cyclone Kid
Director
- 1931 Headin' for Trouble
Director
- 1931 So This Is Arizona
Director
- 1931 Riders of the North
Director
- 1930 Under Texas Skies
Director
- 1930 The Code of Honor
Director
- 1930 Beyond the Law
Director
- 1930 Canyon Hawks
Director
- 1930 The Oklahoma Sheriff
Director
- 1930 Near the Rainbow's End
Director
- 1930 The Canyon of Missing Men
Director
- 1930 Western Honor
Director
- 1930 The Man from Nowhere
Director
- 1930 The Hunted Men
Director
- 1930 The Call of the Desert
Director
- 1930 Covered Wagon Trails
Director
- 1930 Breezy Bill
Director
- 1930 O'Malley Rides Alone
Producer, Director
- 1929 A Texas Cowboy
Director
- 1929 The Oklahoma Kid
Director
- 1929 Pioneers of the West
Director, Adaptation, Producer
- 1929 Code of the West
Director
- 1929 The Invaders
Director
- 1929 The Cowboy and the Outlaw
Director
- 1929 Riders of the Rio Grande
Director
- 1929 The Law of the Plains
Director
- 1929 The Fighting Terror
Director
- 1929 The Man from Nevada
Director, Producer
- 1929 The Last Roundup
Director
- 1929 Captain Cowboy
Director, Writer
- 1929 Bad Men's Money
Director, Screenplay, Story
- 1929 Headin' Westward
Director
- 1929 Below the Deadline
Director
- 1929 'Neath Western Skies
Director, Producer
- 1928 Manhattan Cowboy
Director
- 1928 The Lightnin’ Shot
Director, Writer
- 1928 The Chinatown Mystery
Director
- 1928 Arizona Days
Director
- 1928 Mystery Valley
Director, Writer
- 1928 The Devil’s Tower
Director
- 1928 Dugan of the Dugouts
Writer
- 1928 Trail Raiders
Director, Writer
- 1928 Trailin’ Back
Director, Writer
- 1928 Painted Trail
Director
- 1927 The Outlaw Dog
Director
- 1927 The Lost Limited
Director
- 1927 Thunderbolt's Tracks
Director
- 1927 Tarzan and the Golden Lion
Director
- 1927 Red Signals
Director
- 1927 When a Dog Loves
Director
- 1926 Perils of the Rail
Director
- 1926 Crossed Signals
Director
- 1926 The Lost Express
Director
- 1926 The Brown Derby
Writer
- 1925 Peggy of the Secret Service
Director
- 1925 Webs of Steel
Director
- 1925 The Road Agent
Director
- 1925 The Ace of Clubs
Director
- 1925 The Bandit Tamer
Director
- 1925 The Fast Freight
Scenario Writer, Director
- 1925 Red Blood
Director
- 1925 Ambushed
Director
- 1925 A Desperate Chance
Director
- 1925 Mistaken Orders
Director
- 1925 Cold Nerve
Director
- 1925 The Fighting Sheriff
Director
- 1925 Duped
Director
- 1925 Barriers of the Law
Director
- 1925 Outwitted
Writer, Director
- 1924 Courage
Director
- 1924 A Desperate Adventure
Director
- 1924 Crossed Trails
Director
- 1924 A Two Fisted Tenderfoot
Director
- 1924 The Whipping Boss
Director
- 1924 Baffled
Director
- 1923 Stormy Seas
Director
- 1922 Perils of the Yukon
Director
- 1922 Captain Kidd
Director
- 1922 Hills of Missing Men
Director, Writer
- 1921 Below the Deadline
Director
- 1921 Tiger True
Director
- 1921 Do or Die
Director
- 1920 The Vanishing Dagger
Director
- 1920 King of the Circus
Director
- 1920 Elmo the Fearless
Director
- 1919 The Red Glove
Director
- 1919 Elmo, the Mighty
Director
- 1918 The Lure of the Circus
Director
- 1917 The Lost Express
Director, Writer, Producer
- 1917 The Railroad Raiders
Director, Producer, Editor
- 1917 The Hazards of Helen
Director
- 1916 The Manager of the B & A
Director
- 1916 The Diamond Runners
Director, Scenario Writer
- 1916 Judith of the Cumberlands
Director, Producer
- 1916 Medicine Bend
Director
- 1916 Whispering Smith
Director
- 1916 A Lass of the Lumberlands
Director, Producer
- 1915 When Rogues Fall Out
Director
- 1915 A Desperate Leap
Director
- 1915 The Mettle of Jerry McGuire
Director
- 1915 Blackbirds
Director
- 1915 The Girl on the Engine
Director
- 1915 A Deed of Daring
Director
- 1915 The Fate of Number One
Director
- 1915 A Wild Ride
Director
- 1915 The Midnight Limited
Director
- 1915 In Danger's Path
Director
- 1915 Near Eternity
Director
- 1915 The Pay Train
Director
- 1915 The Human Chain
Director
- 1915 A Railroader's Bravery
Director
- 1915 The Broken Train
Director
- 1915
- 1915 The Box Car Trap
Director
- 1915 A Race for a Crossing
Director
- 1915 The Girl Engineer
Director
- 1915 The Girl on the Trestle
Director
- 1915 A Life in the Balance
Director
- 1915 The Girl at Lone Point
Director
- 1915 The Railroad Raiders of '62
Director
- 1915 The Death Train
Director
- 1915 The Open Drawbridge
Director
- 1915 The Engineer's Peril
Director
- 1915 The Little Engineer
Director
- 1915 The Fast Mail's Danger
Director
- 1915 The Broken Circuit
Director
- 1915 The Leap from the Water Tower
Director
- 1915 The Girl Telegrapher's Peril
Director
- 1915 The Girl and the Game
Director, Writer
- 1914 The Escape on the Limited
Director
- 1914 The Black Diamond Express
Director
- 1914 The Flying Freight's Captive
Director
- 1914 The Stolen Engine
Director
- 1914 The Girl at the Throttle
Director
- 1914 The Plot at the Railroad Cut
Director
- 1914 His Nemesis
Director, Writer
- 1914 Helen's Sacrifice
Director
- 1914 The Lost Mail Sack
Director
- 1914 The Car of Death
Director
- 1914 The Operator at Black Rock
Director
- 1914 Kaintucky Bill
Director
- 1914 The Flaw in the Alibi
Director
- 1914 A String of Pearls
Director
- 1913 The Pursuit of the Smugglers
Director
- 1913 A Sawmill Hazard
Director
- 1912 The Grit of the Girl Telegrapher
Director