Paul Hurst

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

211

Gender

Male

Birthday

1888-10-14

Day of death

1953-02-27 (64 years old)

Place of Birth

Traver, California, USA

Paul Hurst

Biography

Paul Hurst (October 15, 1888 - February 27, 1953) was an American character actor of prodigious output who also directed and wrote silent films. Much of his early work was in low budget western films. A native of central California, Hurst had a first-hand knowledge of Western lore, growing up surrounded by the multi-million acre Lux & Miller ranches which ran cattle throughout the state. Visiting San Francisco as a young man, Hurst became involved in amateur theatricals and thereafter traveled to Los Angeles to join in the emerging film industry there. He began appearing in films as early as 1912, most of them Westerns. By 1916, he was directing them as well (some sources report that he served in the First World War as a member of the French Foreign Legion, but the dates of his film projects make this story highly suspect). In the early 1920s, Hurst wrote several scenarios for films he directed and appeared in. He proved adept at working as a director for some of the cheapest producers along Gower Gulch, where movies were normally shot on location in a week or less and where stunt men were often the highest paid folks on the set. Within a few years, he focused all of his energies into acting, notably becoming one of the few successes to emerge from Hollywood's Poverty Row. Hurst quickly became one of the more prolific and familiar characters in American movies. With his blocky build and squinty demeanor, and with a raspy voice that enhanced his memorability once sound pictures came in, Hurst played villains and cops and comedy sidekicks in more than 250 films. His most famous role was that of the deserter shot dead on the stairway of Tara by Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind (1939). Hurst was the sidekick to Monte Hale in a number of B-Westerns. Former Gower Gulch veteran John Wayne hired Hurst for Big Jim McLain (1952) knowing that Hurst was ill with terminal cancer. In 1953, at the age of 64, due to his health problems, Paul Hurst committed suicide. Date of Death: 27 February 1953, Hollywood, California  (suicide)

Known For

  • Torrid Zone

    Torrid Zone

  • Gone with the Wind

    Gone with the Wind

  • The Ox-Bow Incident

    The Ox-Bow Incident

  • The Cossacks

    The Cossacks

  • Borrowed Wives

    Borrowed Wives

  • Terror Aboard

    Terror Aboard

  • California Firebrand

    California Firebrand

  • Remember?

    Remember?

  • The Westerner

    The Westerner

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • Paradise Island

    Paradise Island

  • The Missourians

    The Missourians

  • Queen Christina

    Queen Christina

  • Summer Storm

    Summer Storm

  • Star Dust

    Star Dust

  • Prison Break

    Prison Break

  • The Sphinx

    The Sphinx

  • Glove Slingers

    Glove Slingers

  • Coney Island

    Coney Island

  • Rimrock Jones

    Rimrock Jones

  • Calm Yourself

    Calm Yourself

  • Yellow Sky

    Yellow Sky

  • Broadway Serenade

    Broadway Serenade

  • Bad Lands

    Bad Lands

  • Among the Missing

    Among the Missing

  • Murder in the Music Hall

    Murder in the Music Hall

  • Sequoia

    Sequoia

  • Gun Smugglers

    Gun Smugglers

  • Death Valley

    Death Valley

  • Goin' Fishin'

    Goin' Fishin'

  • Mississippi

    Mississippi

  • Blackmailer

    Blackmailer

  • Tugboat Annie

    Tugboat Annie

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame

    The Hunchback of Notre Dame

  • Riffraff

    Riffraff

  • Panama Flo

    Panama Flo

  • Island of Lost Souls

    Island of Lost Souls

  • Dakota

    Dakota

  • Lilac Time

    Lilac Time

  • December 7th

    December 7th

  • Swellhead

    Swellhead

  • Million Dollar Pursuit

    Million Dollar Pursuit

  • Topper Takes a Trip

    Topper Takes a Trip

  • It Could Happen to You

    It Could Happen to You

  • Pioneer Marshal

    Pioneer Marshal

  • Sundown Jim

    Sundown Jim

  • Whispering Smith

    Whispering Smith

  • Super-Sleuth

    Super-Sleuth

  • Buttons

    Buttons

  • Bad Company

    Bad Company

  • The Racketeer

    The Racketeer

  • Carnival

    Carnival

  • Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

    Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

  • Mountain Justice

    Mountain Justice

  • Medicine Bend

    Medicine Bend

  • Oh, Yeah!

    Oh, Yeah!

  • In Old Chicago

    In Old Chicago

  • Calaboose

    Calaboose

  • Scared Stiff

    Scared Stiff

  • Quick Millions

    Quick Millions

  • The Runaway Bride

    The Runaway Bride

  • Sweepstakes

    Sweepstakes

  • Angel and the Badman

    Angel and the Badman

  • Girl Rush

    Girl Rush

  • Roaring Road

    Roaring Road

  • Spring Parade

    Spring Parade

  • Hot Curves

    Hot Curves

  • Hold Your Man

    Hold Your Man

  • Second Honeymoon

    Second Honeymoon

  • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

    Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

  • Each Dawn I Die

    Each Dawn I Die

  • Stingaree

    Stingaree

  • South to Karanga

    South to Karanga

  • The Sky's the Limit

    The Sky's the Limit

  • Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

    Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

  • Tugboat Annie Sails Again

    Tugboat Annie Sails Again

  • Kick In

    Kick In

  • The Women in His Life

    The Women in His Life

  • The Case of the Curious Bride

    The Case of the Curious Bride

  • Alexander's Ragtime Band

    Alexander's Ragtime Band

  • The Devil's Saddle

    The Devil's Saddle

  • Danger – Love at Work

    Danger – Love at Work

  • The Secret Six

    The Secret Six

  • The Sun Shines Bright

    The Sun Shines Bright

  • Tide of Empire

    Tide of Empire

  • The Phantom President

    The Phantom President

  • Smashing Through

    Smashing Through

  • Edison, the Man

    Edison, the Man

  • Hold 'Em Jail

    Hold 'Em Jail

  • Petticoat Politics

    Petticoat Politics

  • Night in New Orleans

    Night in New Orleans

  • The Great Mr. Nobody

    The Great Mr. Nobody

  • Something for the Boys

    Something for the Boys

  • The Vivisectionist

    The Vivisectionist

  • Toughest Man in Arizona

    Toughest Man in Arizona

  • Sailor's Holiday

    Sailor's Holiday

  • Day of Reckoning

    Day of Reckoning

  • The Plot at the Railroad Cut

    The Plot at the Railroad Cut

  • To Mary - with Love

    To Mary - with Love

  • Big Jim McLain

    Big Jim McLain

  • The Quicksands

    The Quicksands

  • Saturday's Millions

    Saturday's Millions

  • Hold That Co-ed

    Hold That Co-ed

  • The Big Race

    The Big Race

  • Charlie Chan's Courage

    Charlie Chan's Courage

  • The Single Sin

    The Single Sin

  • Trouble in Morocco

    Trouble in Morocco

  • Ali Baba Goes to Town

    Ali Baba Goes to Town

  • Caught in the Draft

    Caught in the Draft

  • The Thirteenth Guest

    The Thirteenth Guest

  • My Pal, the King

    My Pal, the King

  • The Last Express

    The Last Express

  • Public Hero Number 1

    Public Hero Number 1

  • The Secret Witness

    The Secret Witness

  • The Public Defender

    The Public Defender

  • You Can't Beat Love

    You Can't Beat Love

  • The Parson of Panamint

    The Parson of Panamint

  • The California Mail

    The California Mail

  • Outlaw's Paradise

    Outlaw's Paradise

  • That's My Line

    That's My Line

  • They Drive by Night

    They Drive by Night

  • The Legion of Missing Men

    The Legion of Missing Men

  • The Valley of the Giants

    The Valley of the Giants

  • The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight

    The Hazards of Helen: Episode13, The Escape on the Fast Freight

  • Prince of the Plains

    Prince of the Plains

  • Secrets of a Nurse

    Secrets of a Nurse

  • Heart of Virginia

    Heart of Virginia

  • The Big Show-Off

    The Big Show-Off

  • This Woman Is Mine

    This Woman Is Mine

  • The Ghost That Walks Alone

    The Ghost That Walks Alone

  • The Railroad Raiders

    The Railroad Raiders

  • Fifty Roads to Town

    Fifty Roads to Town

  • The Arizona Ranger

    The Arizona Ranger

  • The Plainsman and the Lady

    The Plainsman and the Lady

  • The Man Who Would Not Die

    The Man Who Would Not Die

  • State's Attorney

    State's Attorney

  • Tall, Dark and Handsome

    Tall, Dark and Handsome

  • Maybe It's Love

    Maybe It's Love

  • Maker of Men

    Maker of Men

  • This Is My Affair

    This Is My Affair

  • Island in the Sky

    Island in the Sky

  • I'd Give My Life

    I'd Give My Life

  • Madonna of the Desert

    Madonna of the Desert

  • The Lady Fights Back

    The Lady Fights Back

  • Shadow of the Law

    Shadow of the Law

  • Ranger of Cherokee Strip

    Ranger of Cherokee Strip

  • Shadow of Doubt

    Shadow of Doubt

  • The Third Alarm

    The Third Alarm

  • Men Are Such Fools

    Men Are Such Fools

  • Take the Stand

    Take the Stand

  • On Your Toes

    On Your Toes

  • Law of the Golden West

    Law of the Golden West

  • The Hazards of Helen

    The Hazards of Helen

  • Wake Up and Live

    Wake Up and Live

  • A Very Honorable Guy

    A Very Honorable Guy

  • The Vanishing Westerner

    The Vanishing Westerner

  • The Gay Deception

    The Gay Deception

  • Tomorrow's Youth

    Tomorrow's Youth

  • North of Nome

    North of Nome

  • San Antone Ambush

    San Antone Ambush

  • The Lawless Legion

    The Lawless Legion

  • Angel's Holiday

    Angel's Holiday

  • Pardon My Stripes

    Pardon My Stripes

  • Outcasts of the Trail

    Outcasts of the Trail

  • His First Command

    His First Command

  • The Red Signal

    The Red Signal

  • Hi'ya, Chum

    Hi'ya, Chum

  • The Girl Detective

    The Girl Detective

  • The Gay Desperado

    The Gay Desperado

  • Steppin' in Society

    Steppin' in Society

  • The Manager of the B & A

    The Manager of the B & A

  • Judith of the Cumberlands

    Judith of the Cumberlands

  • The Red Raiders

    The Red Raiders

  • The Big Stampede

    The Big Stampede

  • Son of God’s Country

    Son of God’s Country

  • The Chief of Police

    The Chief of Police

  • The Diamond Runners

    The Diamond Runners

  • A Lass of the Lumberlands

    A Lass of the Lumberlands

  • The Old Frontier

    The Old Frontier

  • In Old Sacramento

    In Old Sacramento

  • You Can't Have Everything

    You Can't Have Everything

  • The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach

    The Driver Of The Deadwood Coach

  • No Time to Marry

    No Time to Marry

  • Robin Hood of El Dorado

    Robin Hood of El Dorado

  • The Ballad of Paducah Jail

    The Ballad of Paducah Jail

  • Slave Ship

    Slave Ship

  • The Cave Men's War

    The Cave Men's War

  • Josette

    Josette

  • Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence

    Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence

  • Who Killed Doc Robbin?

    Who Killed Doc Robbin?

  • The Daring Young Man

    The Daring Young Man

  • Wife, Doctor and Nurse

    Wife, Doctor and Nurse

  • Castle on the Hudson

    Castle on the Hudson

  • Midnight Manhunt

    Midnight Manhunt

  • Cafe Society

    Cafe Society

  • We Who Are About to Die

    We Who Are About to Die

  • Barbary Coast Gent

    Barbary Coast Gent

  • She's No Lady

    She's No Lady

  • Officer O'Brien

    Officer O'Brien

  • Dudes Are Pretty People

    Dudes Are Pretty People

  • South of Rio

    South of Rio

  • Blue Streak O'Neil

    Blue Streak O'Neil

  • Midnight Alibi

    Midnight Alibi

  • Virginia

    Virginia

  • My Lucky Star

    My Lucky Star

  • Under Colorado Skies

    Under Colorado Skies

  • The Further Adventures of Stingaree

    The Further Adventures of Stingaree

  • Grand Slam

    Grand Slam

  • Lightning Bryce

    Lightning Bryce

  • Lucky Larkin

    Lucky Larkin

  • The Fighting Ranger

    The Fighting Ranger