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.
Movies
Apache Country
Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
Firebrand Jordan
Ed Burns
Romance of the West
Canyon City
Sheriff Slocum
American Empire
Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
Twisted Rails
Sheriff James
Liberty
(as Leonard Clapham)
Nan of the North
Dick Driscoll (as Leonard Clapham)
Desert Greed
Ranger (uncredited)
Spell of the Circus
Butte Morgan
Colorado
David Collins (as Leonard Clapham)
The Secret Six
Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
The Last of the Duanes
(as Leonard Clapham)
The Lone Star Ranger
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
Under Texas Skies
Fake Captain Hartford
Pioneer Trail
Sam Harden
Rio Rattler
Ranger Bob Adams
Friendly Persuasion
Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
Lady for a Day
Reception Guest (uncredited)
West of Tombstone
Morris
When Lightning Strikes
Wolf
Western Gold
Clem
Dynamite Canyon
Captain Gray
Rancho Notorious
Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
Rio Grande Ranger
Henchman Sneed
The Man from Texas
Henchman Slim
The Boss of the Rancho
The Third Alarm
Fireman Tom
Fighting Fury
Chet
Bad Man of Deadwood
Townsman
A String of Diamonds
Slippery Jack Elmm
The Storm
Head Mountie
The Fighting Marines
Miller
Three in Exile
Jed Hawkings
Silent Sheldon
Bill Fadden
The Crime Doctor
Detective at Airport Arrest (uncredited)
West of the Rainbow's End
Harry Palmer
Springtime in the Rockies
Tracy
The Blazing Sun
Tom Ellis
Heroes of the Range
Bud
The Oil Raider
Oil Well Driller (uncredited)
Lone Cowboy
Conductor (uncredited)
Santa Fe Stampede
Marshal Jim Wood
Gold
Sheriff
Without Honors
'Sholt' Fletcher
Lone Texan
Old Dan (uncredited)
The Old West
Chadwick (uncredited)
The Lawless Nineties
Henchman Ward
Full Confession
Prison Guard (uncredited)
King of the Circus
Marshal of Cripple Creek
Baker
The Nuisance
Kelley's Associate (uncredited)
Mystery Ranch
Holdup man
Spy Smasher Returns
Crane
Southward Ho!
Phoney Union Sergeant
The Texas Kid
Wolf Tracks
The Yellow Rose of Texas
Sheriff Allen
Trailing Double Trouble
Henchman Kirk
Masked
The Test
Trapper (uncredited)
'in Wrong' Wright
Sheriff
The Galloping Ghost
Mullins
Blue Canadian Rockies
Pop Phillips
Guns and Guitars
Henchman Connor
Stardust on the Sage
Henchman MacGowan
Manhattan Tower
Mechanic (uncredited)
The Night Rider
Jeff Barton
Queen of the Northwoods
Garvin / The Wolf-Devil
The Boiling Point
Pete Mallis - Henchman
Toll of the Desert
Sheriff Jackson
Hong Kong Nights
Blake
Borrowed Wives
Mac, the Motorcycle Cop
Oregon Trail
Sheriff Plenner
Marshal of Reno
Sheriff
Sheriff of Redwood Valley
Sheriff
Ghost Town Law
Ace, Chief Thug
The Miracle Rider
Sewell
San Antonio Kid
Long
Down Texas Way
Bartender Pete
Outlaws of Sonora
Sheriff Trask
The Border Patrolman
Johnson
13 West Street
Prisoner (uncredited)
Dangerous Traffic
Marc Brandon
Romance of the Rio Grande
U. S. Marshal
The Last of the Clintons
Luke Todd
Riders in the Sky
Old Man Robert
Federal Operator 99
Prof. Crawford
Courage of the North
Mordant
Spy Smasher
Crane
St. Louis Woman
Lions Coach Ryan
Bar-Z Bad Men
Sig Bostell
Law of the Ranger
Henchman Pete
Prairie Moon
Henchman Steve
Secret Valley
2nd Taxi Driver (uncredited)
The Cactus Kid
Sheriff
Gun Play
Meeker
Perils of the Royal Mounted
Gaynor
Jesse James Rides Again
Sam Bolton
The Wolf Dog
Brooks
The Phantom Rider
Medicine Man Ceta
Troopers Three
Sgt. Hank Darby
King of the Forest Rangers
Tom Judson
The Fighting Devil Dogs
Henchman Wilson
The Lone Ranger
Henchman Felton
The Valley of Vanishing Men
Slater
Shooting High
Eph Carson
The Woman Racket
Hennessy
The Purple Mask
Robert Jackson, Inventor (as Leonard Clapham)
Black Bandit
Phantom Ranger
Reynolds
The Renegade Ranger
Henchman Red
Phantom Rancher
Sheriff Parker
River's End
Mountie
Sunset Pass
Ben
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger
Mystery Mountain
Rattler Henchman Morgan
Wild Horse Stampede
Henchman Lefty
Flaming Lead
Bart Daggett
The Demon Rider
Black Hawk
The Two Gun Man
Lem Tolliver
The Arizona Terror
Henchman Chuckawalla
Range Law
Henchman Cleve
Cock of the Air
Military Policeman
See America Thirst
Spumoni Hood (uncredited)
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
Bum at Bar (uncredited)
Trail of Kit Carson
John Benton
The Michigan Kid
Minor Role (uncredited)
Santa Fe Uprising
Lafe Dibble
Stagecoach to Monterey
Chester Wade
Trailing the Killer
Sheriff
Beyond the Rockies
Kirk Tracy
The Lost Special
Dirk / Detective Dane
The Sheepman
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Money, Women and Guns
Old Prospector (uncredited)
The Cowboy Musketeer
Joe Dokes
Safety in Numbers
Motorist (uncredited)
I'm No Angel
Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
Westward Bound
Dick - Rustler
Six Shootin' Sheriff
Bar X Foreman
Radio Patrol
Eddie Lewis
Smashing the Rackets
Dixon - Detective
Westbound Stage
Henchman Parker
Crime of the Century
Dr. Jackson
Way Down East
Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
Sworn Enemy
Gangster (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared
Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
Jesse James
Soldier (uncredited)
King of the Jungle
Lion Attendant (uncredited)
The Oregon Trail
Pete Cave Henchman
Avenging Waters
Henchman Huffy
Mandrake the Magician
Mill River Inn Henchman
Made for Each Other
Ranger (uncredited)
Land of the Open Range
Henchman Tracy Briggs
Let Us Live
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Night Riders
Rancher Wilson
Vigilantes of Dodge City
Denver
Allegheny Uprising
Settler at McDowell's Mill
Broadway Thru a Keyhole
Member of Rocci's Mob
Jungle Menace
Detective Interrogating Pete
Stage to Chino
Dolan - Henchman
Gordon of Ghost City
Pat Campbell
Fangs of the Wild
Larry Dean
Pack Train
Dan Coleman
Sheriff of Cimarron
Frank Holden
Riders from Nowhere
Mason
The Iron Master
Turner
Song of the Buckaroo
Sheriff Wade
The Gay Caballero
Man at Fiesta
Viva Cisco Kid
Town Marshal
Rollin' Westward
Sheriff
Call of the Prairie
Dealer
Wild Horse Range
Arnold
Domino Kid
Lure of the Wasteland
Foreman
Man from Rainbow Valley
Healey
Riding the Sunset Trail
Sheriff Hays
Roll Wagons Roll
Henchman Matt Grimes
Wagon Tracks West
Lem Martin
Robbers of the Range
Henchman Monk Saunders
San Antone Ambush
Bartender Tim
Santa Fe Scouts
Billy Dawson
Bad Men of Thunder Gap
Hank Turner
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
Rawhide Mail
Barfly Al
Ferocious Pal
Dave Brownell
The Ox-Bow Incident
Deputy (uncredited)
Timber Terrors
Burke
Red Desert
Colonel
Bar-L Ranch
Henchman (uncredited)
Homesteaders of Paradise Valley
Rancher
Man of the West
Tom (uncredited)
The Green Hornet Strikes Again!
Thug with Explosives
Five Little Peppers at Home
Miner
The Shadow
Hijacked Truck Driver
Our Hospitality
James Canfield (uncredited)
Don't Fence Me In
Ben Duncan
High Noon
Sam (uncredited)
The Ranger and the Lady
Independent Freight Wagon Driver
Brigham Young
Raider
Forbidden Trails
Marshal Tom
Sunset Trail
Jake
Gaucho Serenade
Sheriff Tom Olson
When the Daltons Rode
Lyncher
Boom Town
Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
Dark Command
Messenger
Wagon Train
Henchman Charlie
Smoky
Horse Trader
Deadwood Dick
Jake
Winners of the West
Henchman Webb
Wanderers of the West
Montana Sheriff
Call of the Rockies
Henchman Hansen
Stick to Your Guns
Ranch Foreman Waffles
Twilight on the Trail
Henchman Gregg
Northwest Passage
Ranger
Quick Millions
Atlas Newsreel Man (uncredited)
Lillian Russell
Frank
The Green Archer
Detective with Shiner
Junior G-Men
Kearney - Riot Squad Cop (uncredited)
Melody Ranch
Henchman Joe #2
Dude Cowboy
Silver City Sheriff
Chinatown Nights
Cop
The Renegade
Pete
Blackmail
Tom - Cashier
Twilight on the Rio Grande
U.S. Customs Agent Tom
The Invisible Informer
Eph Shroud
Passkey to Danger
Gerald Bates
Night Train to Memphis
Train Conductor
Girls of the Big House
Sheriff at Alma's Cell
Flame of Barbary Coast
Thompson, Townsman in Mob
Earl Carroll Vanities
Tom the Doorman
Grissly's Millions
Policeman Ralph
Thoroughbreds
Pop
Faces in the Fog
Auto Court Manager
The Fighting Seabees
Johnson (uncredited)
Cody of the Pony Express
Doc Laramie
Rough Riders of Durango
Rancher Evans
Juvenile Court
Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
The Old Frontier
Banker
Cheyenne Wildcat
Harrison Colby
The Wild Frontier
Patrick MacSween
Marshal of Laredo
Barton
Conquest of Cheyenne
Sheriff Dan Perkins
Colorado Pioneers
Sand Snipe
Wagon Wheels Westward
Fake Judge James E. Worth
Sun Valley Cyclone
Sheriff
Rustlers of Devil's Canyon
The Sheriff
California Gold Rush
Sheriff Peabody
Ghost Valley Raiders
Sheriff
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance
Cop Getting Crane
The Son of Davy Crockett
Ranger Logan
The Spider Returns
Detective
Saddle Pals
Dad Gardner
Red River Robin Hood
Sheriff Del Auston
Shadows on the Sage
Franklin
Lone Star Ranger
Henchman (uncredited)
Trail Guide
Old Timer
Hi-Yo Silver
Felton
Hail to the Rangers
Jessup
Fugitive Valley
Marshal Warren
Arizona Terrors
Second Dialogue Tenant-Rancher
Overland Mail Robbery
Sheriff
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Sheriff McBride
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury
Curley - Saloon Henchman
Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
Henchman Pete
West of Texas
Steve Conlon
Code of the Prairie
Henchman Loomis
Beneath Western Skies
Earl Phillips
Firebrands of Arizona
Wagon Driver
The Cherokee Flash
Utah
Corpus Christi Bandits
Rocky - Henchman
Sheriff of Sundown
Sheriff Tom Carpenter
Silver City Kid
Sheriff Gibson
Rough Riders of Cheyenne
Sheriff Edwards
Zorro's Black Whip
James Bradley
The Undercover Woman
Lem
Sunset in El Dorado
Sheriff Gridley
Rio Grande Raiders
Sheriff Tom Hammon
Out California Way
Johnny
Red River Renegades
Pop Underwood
Roll on Texas Moon
Sheriff Bert Morris
Alias Billy the Kid
Dakota
Days of Buffalo Bill
Banty McCabe
Along the Oregon Trail
Wagon Boss
Last Frontier Uprising
Skillet (Ranch Hand)
Under Colorado Skies
Sheriff Blanchard
Sky Racket
Agent-Passenger (Car Chase)
Marshal of Amarillo
Mr. Snodgrass
Mark of the Lash
Lem Kimmerly
Gun Smoke
Hank Bailey
Bandit Ranger
Cattle Rustler (uncredited)
Across the Sierras
Man on Wagon
Western Union
Slade Henchman #3
Sons of the Pioneers
Joe #1 - Henchman
Ridin' Down the Canyon
Henchman
Underground Rustlers
Henchman Tom Harris
Frontier Investigator
Jed
Valley of the Sun
Trooper Parker
The Omaha Trail
Oxen Train Bullwhacker
Riders of the West
Slim - Lanky Henchman
Billy the Kid
Leader (uncredited)
South of Rio
Jim Weston
Silver Spurs
Henchman
The Woman of the Town
Crockett Henchman
False Colors
Poncho Townsman
Idaho
Henchman
Song of Texas
Race Official
Bullets and Saddles
Marshal (archive footage)
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Livery Stableman (uncredited)
Wildcat Saunders
Pete Hawkins
Riders of the Black Hills
Henchman Red Stevens
The Silver Trail
Looney
Skull and Crown
Henchman Jennings
The Lady and the Monster
Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
Angel's Holiday
Truck Driver
The Secret Code
Weather Bureau Guard
Roaring Timber
Henchman Duke
The Heritage of the Desert
Dave Naab
Sid's Long Count
Policeman
Brand of Fear
Marshal Blackjack Flint
Captive Wild Woman
Ship's Captain (archive footage)
Batman
Andrews
Police Car 17
Detective (uncredited)
No Place for a Lady
Air Raid Warden (? - ever seen in final cut?)
The Secret of Convict Lake
Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
Border Vengeance
Flash Denby
The Great Air Robbery
Undetermined Role (as Leonard Clapham)
Code of the Northwest
Pvt. Frank Stafford
Baby Take a Bow
Man on Train (Uncredited)
All Quiet on the Western Front
1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
Detective (uncredited)
Blossoms On Broadway
Cop (uncredited)
The Mystery Rider
David Manning / The Claw
The Harvest of Hate
Martin Trask
The Long Chance
John Corbaly (as Leonard Clapham)
In Old Arizona
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
The Golden Stallion
Jules La Roux
Hell's Heroes
Croupier (uncredited)
To the Last Man
Guy
The Call of the Canyon
Lee Stanton
Mountain Rhythm
Deputy Tom
Captain America
Mack
The Big Cage
Ship Captain
O'Malley of the Mounted
Lefty - Henchman
Perils of Pauline
Soldier at American Consulate
The Thirteenth Guest
Detective Carter (Uncredited)
Honor of the Mounted
Henchman
The Fugitive
Tom
Platinum Blonde
Reporter (uncredited)
Clancy of the Mounted
Corporal McGregor
Mills of the Gods
Workman
Made on Broadway
Plainclothesman
Shows
Law of the Plainsman
Stagecoach Driver
Broken Arrow
(uncredited)
Perry Mason
Cabbie
Lawman
Pete
Maverick
Farmer
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Old Man Craig (uncredited)
The Gene Autry Show
The Sheriff
The Ford Television Theatre
Ranson
Bat Masterson
Prisoner (uncredited)
Western von gestern
O'Shea
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Jigger (uncredited)
Adventures of Superman
Peter Thomas
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Stableman (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Allbright
Cheyenne
Old-Timer (uncredited)
The Wonderful World of Disney
Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
Sheriff Dexter
Annie Oakley
Ranch Hand