Tom London
Known for Acting · 405 credits
- Born
- 1889-08-23
- Died
- 1963-12-05
- Place of birth
- Louisville, Kentucky, USA
- Also known as
- Len Clapham · Leonard Clapham · Leonard Clapman · Leonard T. Clapman
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (19)
Perry Mason
1957
as Cabbie
Wagon Train
1957
as Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited)
Adventures of Superman
1952
as Peter Thomas
Maverick
1957
as Farmer
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Sheriff Allbright / Sheriff Dexter
Lawman
1958
as Pete
Cheyenne
1955
as Old-Timer (uncredited)
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
1955
as Old Man Craig (uncredited) / Jigger (uncredited) / Stableman (uncredited) / Moss Grimmick (uncredited)
Bat Masterson
1958
as Prisoner (uncredited)
Lock-Up
1959
as Carrey - Watchman
The Gene Autry Show
1950
as The Sheriff
Broken Arrow
1956
as (uncredited)
Annie Oakley
1954
as Ranch Hand / Buckhorn - Diablo Stage Manager / Pop Leeds / Ike Simmons
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited)
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Ranson
Western von gestern
1978
as O'Shea
Bronco
1958
as Rowdy O'Brien
Law of the Plainsman
1959
as Stagecoach Driver
Movies (386)
High Noon
1952
as Sam (uncredited)
All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
as 1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
Fighting Fury
1934
as Chet
Spy Smasher
1942
as Crane
Friendly Persuasion
1956
as Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
1934
as Detective (uncredited)
Batman
1943
as Andrews
Brigham Young
1940
as Raider
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1931
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Our Hospitality
1923
as James Canfield (uncredited)
Border Vengeance
1925
as Flash Denby
Sheer Luck
1931
as Police Lieutenant
Man of the West
1958
as Tom (uncredited)
Forbidden Trails
1941
as Marshal Tom
Dude Cowboy
1941
as Silver City Sheriff
Chasing Trouble
1926
as Jerome Garrett
A Volta do Besouro Verde
1940
as Thug with Explosives
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
1947
as Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
The Sheepman
1958
as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Fighting Hero
1934
as Sheriff
The Tall Stranger
1957
Jesse James
1939
as Soldier (uncredited)
The Social Buccaneer
1923
as Louis Lenoir
Western Union
1941
as Slade Henchman #3
The Arizona Terror
1931
as Henchman Chuckawalla
Captain America
1944
as Mack
Rawhide Mail
1934
as Barfly Al
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943
as Deputy (uncredited)
The Mystery Rider
1928
as David Manning / The Claw
Tex Takes a Holiday
1932
as Sheriff
I'm No Angel
1933
as Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
The Crime Doctor
1934
as Detective at Airport Arrest (uncredited)
Timber Terrors
1935
as Burke
The Bar-C Mystery
1926
The Fighting Seabees
1944
as Johnson (uncredited)
Dark Command
1940
as Messenger
Flame of Barbary Coast
1945
as Thompson, Townsman in Mob
Lady for a Day
1933
as Reception Guest (uncredited)
Captive Wild Woman
1943
as Ship's Captain (archive footage)
The Night Riders
1939
as Rancher Wilson
Justice Takes a Holiday
1933
as Convict (Uncredited)
Northwest Passage
1940
as Ranger
Desert Greed
1926
as Ranger (uncredited)
The Sons of the Pioneers
1942
as Joe #1 - Henchman
Boom Town
1940
as Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
Outlaws of Sonora
1938
as Sheriff Trask
Ridin' Double
1924
as Gabe Lawrence
Grissly's Millions
1945
as Policeman Ralph
Billy the Kid
1941
as Leader (uncredited)
Saddle Pals
1947
as Dad Gardner
Made for Each Other
1939
as Ranger (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode
1940
as Lyncher
The Lady and the Monster
1944
as Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
Law of the Ranger
1937
as Henchman Pete
Money, Women and Guns
1958
as Old Prospector (uncredited)
13 West Street
1962
as Prisoner (uncredited)
The Right of the Strongest
1924
as Fred Dearing
The Air Hawk
1924
as Kellar
Allegheny Uprising
1939
as Settler at McDowell's Mill
The Lawless Nineties
1936
as Henchman Ward
Santa Fe Stampede
1938
as Marshal Jim Wood
In Old Arizona
1928
as Man in Saloon (uncredited)
Overland Mail Robbery
1943
as Sheriff
Ridin' Down the Canyon
1942
as Henchman
The Renegade Ranger
1938
as Henchman Red
The Long Loop on the Pecos
1927
as Laird
The Yellow Cameo
1928
as Spraker
The Girl Who Dared
1944
as Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
The Cherokee Flash
1945
as Utah
Let No Man Write My Epitaph
1960
as Bum at Bar (uncredited)
Rancho Notorious
1952
as Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
American Empire
1942
as Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
Bullets and Saddles
1943
as Marshal (archive footage)
The Secret of Convict Lake
1951
as Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
Under Northern Lights
1920
as Jacques Foucharde
Don't Fence Me In
1945
as Ben Duncan
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
1956
as Livery Stableman (uncredited)
Without Honor
1932
as 'Sholt' Fletcher
The Lion Man
1919
as Lacey
Southward Ho!
1939
as Phoney Union Sergeant
Let Us Live
1939
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Platinum Blonde
1931
as Reporter (uncredited)
The Demon Rider
1925
as Black Hawk
Smashing the Rackets
1938
as Dixon - Detective
Wild Horse Range
1940
as Arnold
Twilight on the Trail
1941
as Henchman Gregg
The Night Rider
1932
as Jeff Barton
Zorro's Black Whip
1944
as James Bradley
Stagecoach to Monterey
1944
as Chester Wade
Way Down East
1935
as Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
False Colors
1943
as Poncho Townsman
Heroes of the Range
1936
as Bud
Man from Rainbow Valley
1946
as Healey
Lillian Russell
1940
as Frank
Wolf Tracks
1920
Blue Canadian Rockies
1952
as Pop Phillips
Riders in the Sky
1949
as Old Man Robert
The Green Archer
1940
as Detective with Shiner
Melody Ranch
1940
as Henchman Joe #2
Sunset in El Dorado
1945
as Sheriff Gridley
Along the Oregon Trail
1947
as Wagon Boss
The Thirteenth Guest
1932
as Detective Carter (Uncredited)
The Apache Raider
1928
as Griffin Dawson
Marshal of Cripple Creek
1947
as Baker
Domino Kid
1957
The Ranger and the Lady
1940
as Independent Freight Wagon Driver
Beggars in Ermine
1934
as Steel Worker (uncredited)
The Boss of Rustler's Roost
1928
as Pronto Giles
The Cowboy and the Lady
1922
as Joe
Junior G-Men
1940
as Kearney - Riot Squad Cop (uncredited)
Stick to Your Guns
1941
as Ranch Foreman Waffles
Silver Spurs
1943
as Henchman
Wagon Tracks West
1943
as Lem Martin
Sunset Trail
1939
as Jake
Gun Play
1935
as Meeker
Guns and Guitars
1936
as Henchman Connor
Gaucho Serenade
1940
as Sheriff Tom Olson
Mandrake the Magician
1939
as Mill River Inn Henchman
Juvenile Court
1938
as Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
The Secret Six
1931
as Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
About Tom London
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… With 405 credits spanning from 1916 to 1978, Tom London has appeared in 386 films and 19 TV shows.
Fans searching for Tom London movies, Tom London filmography, or the latest projects starring Tom London can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Tom London Movies
- High Noon (1952) — as Sam (uncredited)
- All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) — as 1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
- Fighting Fury (1934) — as Chet
- Spy Smasher (1942) — as Crane
- Friendly Persuasion (1956) — as Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
Where to Watch Tom London Films
Most Tom London movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Tom London, check our movies catalogue and browse page.