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