Tom London
Known for Acting · 404 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
Perry Mason
1957
as Cabbie
Maverick
1957
as Farmer
Wagon Train
1957
as Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited)
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)
Lawman
1958
as Pete
TV Shows (19)
Perry Mason
1957
as Cabbie
Maverick
1957
as Farmer
Wagon Train
1957
as Man Holding Booth's Horse (uncredited)
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)
Lawman
1958
as Pete
Bat Masterson
1958
as Prisoner (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Sheriff Allbright / Sheriff Dexter
Adventures of Superman
1952
as Peter Thomas
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Ranson
Bronco
1958
as Rowdy O'Brien
The Gene Autry Show
1950
as The Sheriff
Lock-Up
1959
as Carrey - Watchman
Annie Oakley
1954
as Ranch Hand / Buckhorn - Diablo Stage Manager / Pop Leeds / Ike Simmons
Law of the Plainsman
1959
as Stagecoach Driver
The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse
1953
Broken Arrow
1956
as (uncredited)
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Deputy Sheriff Carlson (uncredited)
Western von gestern
1978
as O'Shea
Movies (385)
High Noon
1952
as Sam (uncredited)
All Quiet on the Western Front
1930
as 1st Medic Orderly (uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1931
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Batman
1943
as Andrews
Jesse James
1939
as Soldier (uncredited)
Man of the West
1958
as Tom (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
1938
as Henchman Felton
Friendly Persuasion
1956
as Farmer on Front Line with Gard (uncredited)
The Ox-Bow Incident
1943
as Deputy (uncredited)
Lady for a Day
1933
as Reception Guest (uncredited)
Rancho Notorious
1952
as Deputy in Gunsight (uncredited)
Western Union
1941
as Slade Henchman #3
Our Hospitality
1923
as James Canfield (uncredited)
13 West Street
1962
as Prisoner (uncredited)
King of the Forest Rangers
1946
as Tom Judson
Captain America
1944
as Mack
When the Daltons Rode
1940
as Lyncher
Made for Each Other
1939
as Ranger (uncredited)
The Sheepman
1958
as Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Boom Town
1940
as Sheriff Harris (uncredited)
The Tall Stranger
1957
Billy the Kid
1941
as Leader (uncredited)
Northwest Passage
1940
as Ranger
A Volta do Besouro Verde
1940
as Thug with Explosives
Silver Spurs
1943
as Henchman
Let Us Live
1939
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Idaho
1943
as Henchman
Flame of Barbary Coast
1945
as Thompson, Townsman in Mob
Platinum Blonde
1931
as Reporter (uncredited)
Captive Wild Woman
1943
as Ship's Captain (archive footage)
American Empire
1942
as Rider with Crowder's Posse (uncredited)
Santa Fe Stampede
1938
as Marshal Jim Wood
The Fighting Seabees
1944
as Johnson (uncredited)
Overland Mail Robbery
1943
as Sheriff
Cheyenne Wildcat
1944
as Harrison Colby
Blackmail
1947
as Tom - Cashier
I'm No Angel
1933
as Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
Allegheny Uprising
1939
as Settler at McDowell's Mill
Forbidden Trails
1941
as Marshal Tom
The Secret of Convict Lake
1951
as Jerry - Posse Member (uncredited)
The Secret Six
1931
as Blackjacking Gangster (uncredited)
West of Broadway
1931
as Cowhand (uncredited)
Melody Ranch
1940
as Henchman Joe #2
Baby Take a Bow
1934
as Man on Train (Uncredited)
Domino Kid
1957
The Night Riders
1939
as Rancher Wilson
False Colors
1943
as Poncho Townsman
The Yellow Rose of Texas
1944
as Sheriff Allen
Dick Tracy's Dilemma
1947
as Cop in Squad Car (uncredited)
In Old Arizona
1928
as Man in Saloon (uncredited)
Full Confession
1939
as Prison Guard (uncredited)
The Thirteenth Guest
1932
as Detective Carter (Uncredited)
Dark Command
1940
as Messenger
The Shadow
1940
as Hijacked Truck Driver
Way Down East
1935
as Town Choir Singer (uncredited)
Homesteaders of Paradise Valley
1947
as Rancher
Hi-Yo Silver
1940
as Felton
The Oregon Trail
1939
as Pete Cave Henchman
Grissly's Millions
1945
as Policeman Ralph
Call of the Prairie
1936
as Dealer
Lone Cowboy
1933
as Conductor (uncredited)
Night Train to Memphis
1946
as Train Conductor
The Woman Racket
1930
as Hennessy
Song of Texas
1943
as Race Official
Sunset Trail
1939
as Jake
Red River Robin Hood
1942
as Del Auston
Jungle Menace
1937
as Detective Interrogating Pete
The Lawless Nineties
1936
as Henchman Ward
Santa Fe Scouts
1943
as Billy Dawson
The Invisible Informer
1946
as Eph Shroud
Sunset in El Dorado
1945
as Sheriff Gridley
Bandit Ranger
1942
as Cattle Rustler (uncredited)
Hell's Heroes
1929
as Croupier (uncredited)
The Miracle Rider
1935
as Sewell
The Nuisance
1933
as Kelley's Associate (uncredited)
Mystery Mountain
1934
as Rattler Henchman Morgan
Deadwood Dick
1940
as Jake
Faces in the Fog
1944
as Auto Court Manager
Twilight on the Trail
1941
as Henchman Gregg
Brigham Young
1940
as Raider
Stick to Your Guns
1941
as Ranch Foreman Waffles
Made on Broadway
1933
as Plainclothesman
Bullets and Saddles
1943
as Marshal (archive footage)
Smashing the Rackets
1938
as Dixon - Detective
Southward Ho!
1939
as Phoney Union Sergeant
Gordon of Ghost City
1933
as Pat Campbell
Viva Cisco Kid
1940
as Town Marshal
South of Rio
1949
as Jim Weston
Red Desert
1949
as Colonel
California Gold Rush
1946
as Sheriff Peabody
Juvenile Court
1938
as Policeman at Accident (uncredited)
Canyon City
1943
as Sheriff Slocum
The Secret Code
1942
as Weather Bureau Guard
Riders of the West
1942
as Slim - Lanky Henchman
Trail of Kit Carson
1945
as John Benton
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury
1941
as Curley - Saloon Henchman
I Believed in You
1934
as Policeman
No Place for a Lady
1943
as Air Raid Warden (? - ever seen in final cut?)
Gun Smoke
1931
as Hank Bailey (uncredited)
The Girl Who Dared
1944
as Neilson - Gas Station Owner (uncredited)
Stage to Chino
1940
as Dolan - Henchman
Spy Smasher
1942
as Crane
Gaucho Serenade
1940
as Sheriff Tom Olson
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
1956
as Livery Stableman (uncredited)
The Lady and the Monster
1944
as Man Who Tails Cory (Uncredited)
Ridin' Down the Canyon
1942
as Henchman
Angel's Holiday
1937
as Truck Driver
The Old Frontier
1950
as Banker
Girls of the Big House
1945
as Sheriff at Alma's Cell
Mark of the Lash
1948
as Lem Kimmerly
Under Colorado Skies
1947
as Sheriff Blanchard
Apache Country
1952
as Patches - Stage Driver (uncredited)
The Test
1935
as Trapper (uncredited)
Valley of the Sun
1942
as Trooper Parker (uncredited)
Out California Way
1946
as Johnny
Westbound Stage
1939
as Henchman Parker
Don't Fence Me In
1945
as Ben Duncan
Marshal of Amarillo
1948
as Mr. Snodgrass
The Old West
1952
as Chadwick (uncredited)
The Wolf Dog
1933
as Brooks
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 404 credits spanning from 1916 to 1978, Tom London has appeared in 385 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)
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) — as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
- Batman (1943) — as Andrews
- Jesse James (1939) — as Soldier (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.