Joe Downing

Joe Downing (June 26, 1903 – October 16, 1975) was an American stage, TV and B-movie actor who made more than 70 appearances.

Joe Downing
Downing in The Devil's Party (1938)
Born	(1903-06-26)June 26, 1903 New York City, U.S.
Died	October 16, 1975(1975-10-16) (aged 72) Canoga Park, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1935–1963

Career

Downing's early acting experience included work with the Theatre Guild, particularly dancing in The Garrick Gaieties.^[1] His Broadway credits include Ramshackle Inn (1944), Cross-town (1937), Dead End (1935), Ceiling Zero (1935), Page Miss Glory (1934), The Drums Begin (1933), Heat Lightning (1933), Shooting Star (1933), and A Farewell to Arms (1930).^[2]

Downing's film debut came in Doctor Socrates.^[3] Often cast as gangsters, his film credits include A Slight Case of Murder, Danger on the Air, Racket Busters, Each Dawn I Die, and The Big Shot. His television credits include three appearances on Alfred Hitchcock Presents from 1956 to 1958, as well as other anthology series popular during the era.

Partial filmography

• The Case of the Lucky Legs (1935) as George Sanborne
• Dr. Socrates (1935) as Cinq Laval
• Borrowing Trouble (1937) as Charlie
• A Slight Case of Murder (1938) as Innocence
• Wide Open Faces (1938) as Stretch
• The Lady in the Morgue (1938) as Steve Collins
• The Devil's Party (1938) as Frank Diamond
• Danger on the Air (1938) as Joe Carney
• Racket Busters (1938) as Joe Pender, Martin's Henchman
• I Am the Law (1938) as Tom Cronin (uncredited)
• The Night Hawk (1938) as Lefty
• Angels with Dirty Faces (1938) as Steve (uncredited)
• North of Shanghai (1939) as Chandler
• You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939) as Smitty
• Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) as Spuds O'Brien
• The Forgotten Woman (1939) as Johnny Bradshaw
• Each Dawn I Die (1939) as Limpy Julien
• Smashing the Money Ring (1939) as Dice Mathews
• Beware Spooks! (1939) (uncredited)
• Missing Evidence (1939) as Marty Peters
• Another Thin Man (1939) as Hoodlum (uncredited)
• Invisible Stripes (1939) as Johnny
• Oh Johnny, How You Can Love (1940) as 'Doc' Kendrick, Bank Robber
• Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Gangster in Car (uncredited)
• Sandy Is a Lady (1940) as Nick Case
• The Secret Seven (1940) as Lou Bodie
• The San Francisco Docks (1940) as Cassidy
• Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941) as Cigar Store Killer (uncredited)
• Double Date (1941) as Burglar
• Strange Alibi (1941) as Benny McKaye
• Belle Starr (1941) as Jim Cole
• Unholy Partners (1941) as Jerry, Henchman
• Johnny Eager (1941) as Ryan
• Sealed Lips (1942) as Trigger Dolan (uncredited)
• Larceny, Inc. (1942) as Smitty
• My Gal Sal (1942) as Slip (uncredited)
• The Big Shot (1942) as Frenchy (credited as Joseph Downing)
• You Can't Escape Forever (1942) as Varney (uncredited)
• Lucky Jordan (1942) as Harrison (uncredited)
• Las Vegas Shakedown (1955) as Henchman Matty
• Fighting Trouble (1956) as Handsome Hal Lomax
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 1 Episode 15: "The Big Switch") (1956) as Lieutenant Al Hawkshaw (credited as Joseph Downing)
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 1 Episode 22: "Place of Shadows") (1956) as Floyd Unser (credited as Joseph Downing)
• Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) as Eddie 'Cockeye' Cook
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 3 Episode 26: "Bull in a China Shop") (1958) as Detective Kramer (credited as Joseph Downing)