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{{Short description|American actor (1918–1961)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = John L. Cason
| name = John Cason
| image = JohnLCarson.jpg
| image = John Cason in Sunset Carson Rides Again (1948).jpg
| caption =
| caption = Cason in ''[[Sunset Carson Rides Again]]'' (1948)
⚫
| birth_name = John Lacy Cason
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|7|30}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|07|30|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Valley View, Texas|Valley View]], [[Texas]], United States
| birth_place = [[Valley View, Texas|Valley View]], [[Texas]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1961|7|7|1918|7|30}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|1961|07|07|1918|07|30}}
| death_place = [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], [[California]], United States
| death_place = [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]], [[California]], U.S.
⚫
| birthname = John Lacy Cason
| resting_place = Grangeville Cemetery, [[Armona, California]]
| occupation = Actor
| spouse =
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1941–1961
| yearsactive = 1941—61
| spouse =
}}
}}


'''John L. Cason''' (July 30, 1918 – July 7, 1961), also known as '''Bob Cason''' or simply as '''John Cason''', was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20 year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is best known for his work on the television program ''[[The Adventures of Kit Carson]]'', where he appeared in several roles from 1951—53.
'''John Lacy Cason''' (July 30, 1918 – July 7, 1961), also credited as '''Bob Cason''' and '''John L. Cason''', was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20-year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is best known for his work on the television program ''[[The Adventures of Kit Carson]]'', where he appeared in several roles from 1951 to 1953.


==Life and career==
==Life and career==
Cason was born on July 30, 1918 in Valley View, Texas. He made his film debut, as a fighter in the 1941 classic [[Abbott and Costello]] comedy, ''[[Buck Privates]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26634 | title=Buck Privates: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Cason was often cast as the bad guy, or henchman during his career, as in 1952's ''[[Black Hills Ambush]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50423 | title=Black Hills Ambush: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Most of his roles were un-credited, but he occasionally he received named billing, such as Henchman Lucas in the 1944 Western ''[[Wild Horse Phantom]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=24660 | title=Wild Horse Phantom: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> as Blazer in ''[[Rimfire (film)|Rimfire]]'' (1949),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26078 | title=Rimfire: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as Westy in the 1953 Western, ''[[Gun Fury]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50865 | title=Gun Fury: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Other notable films in which Cason appears include: ''[[Her Husband's Affairs]]'' (1947), starring [[Lucille Ball]], [[Franchot Tone]], and [[Edward Everett Horton]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=25196 | title=Her Husband's Affairs: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> 1949's ''[[Tough Assignment]]'', a crime film starring [[Don "Red" Barry|Don Barry]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26153 | title=Tough Assignment: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> as Corporal Paluso in the classic war melodrama ''[[From Here to Eternity]]'', starring [[Burt Lancaster]], [[Montgomery Clift]], and [[Frank Sinatra]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50845 | title=From Here to Eternity: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> the 1957 comedy, ''[[Don't Go Near the Water (film)|Don't Go Near the Water]]'', starring [[Glenn Ford]] and [[Gia Scala]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52160 | title=Don't Go Near the Water: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as one of Glenn Ford's henchmen in the classic Western ''[[3:10 to Yuma (1957 film)|3:10 to Yuma]]'', which also stars [[Van Heflin]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52402 | title=3:10 to Yuma: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Cason also appeared in several [[serial film|film serials]], including the featured role of Hopper in 1953's ''[[The Lost Planet]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046012/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_80 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=The Lost Planet (1953) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> the recurring role of Casey in ''[[Desperadoes of the West]]'' (1950) starring [[Tom Keene (actor)|Tom Keene]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042390/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_109 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Desperadoes of the West (1950) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as Smoky in 1952's ''[[Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger]]'' starring [[Clayton Moore]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045176/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_84 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger (1952) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His final film performance was in the role of Suggs in yet another Glen Ford Western, 1960's ''[[Cimarron (1960 film)|Cimarron]]'', which also stars [[Maria Schell]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=53484 | title=Cimarron: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref>
Cason was born on July 30, 1918, in Valley View, Texas. He made his film debut, as a fighter in the 1941 classic [[Abbott and Costello]] comedy, ''[[Buck Privates]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26634 | title=Buck Privates: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Cason was often cast as the bad guy, or henchman during his career, as in 1952's ''[[Black Hills Ambush]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50423 | title=Black Hills Ambush: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Most of his roles were un-credited, but he occasionally he received named billing, such as Henchman Lucas in the 1944 Western ''[[Wild Horse Phantom]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=24660 | title=Wild Horse Phantom: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> as Blazer in ''[[Rimfire (film)|Rimfire]]'' (1949),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26078 | title=Rimfire: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as Westy in the 1953 Western, ''[[Gun Fury]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50865 | title=Gun Fury: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Other notable films in which Cason appears include: ''[[Her Husband's Affairs]]'' (1947), starring [[Lucille Ball]], [[Franchot Tone]], and [[Edward Everett Horton]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=25196 | title=Her Husband's Affairs: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> 1949's ''[[Tough Assignment]]'', a crime film starring [[Don "Red" Barry|Don Barry]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26153 | title=Tough Assignment: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> as Corporal Paluso in the classic war melodrama ''[[From Here to Eternity]]'', starring [[Burt Lancaster]], [[Montgomery Clift]], and [[Frank Sinatra]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=50845 | title=From Here to Eternity: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> the 1957 comedy, ''[[Don't Go Near the Water (film)|Don't Go Near the Water]]'', starring [[Glenn Ford]] and [[Gia Scala]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52160 | title=Don't Go Near the Water: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as one of Glenn Ford's henchmen in the classic Western ''[[3:10 to Yuma (1957 film)|3:10 to Yuma]]'', which also stars [[Van Heflin]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=52402 | title=3:10 to Yuma: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref> Cason also appeared in several [[serial film|film serials]], including the featured role of Hopper in 1953's ''[[The Lost Planet]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046012/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_80 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=The Lost Planet (1953) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> the recurring role of Casey in ''[[Desperadoes of the West]]'' (1950) starring [[Tom Keene (actor)|Tom Keene]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042390/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_109 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Desperadoes of the West (1950) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> and as Smoky in 1952's ''[[Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger]]'' starring [[Clayton Moore]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045176/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_84 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger (1952) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His final film performance was in the role of Suggs in yet another Glenn Ford Western, 1960's ''[[Cimarron (1960 film)|Cimarron]]'', which also stars [[Maria Schell]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=53484 | title=Cimarron: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate= August 5, 2015}}</ref>


With the advent of television, Cason began appearing in television series. His first appearance on the small screen was in 1949, in the first season of the series ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]'', appearing as a henchman.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0635535/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_411 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=The Lone Ranger: Season 1, Episode 6, War Horse (20 Oct. 1949) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> Other television series he appeared on include: ''[[Hopalong Cassidy#Television and radio|Hopalong Cassidy]]'' (1952), several different roles from 1951—53 on ''[[The Adventures of Kit Carson]]'', several appearances on ''[[The Roy Rogers Show]]'' from 1953—57, in different roles on several episodes of ''[[Judge Roy Bean]]'' in 1956, as several different guest roles on ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]'' from 1956—59, on both ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'' and ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' in 1960, and on ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' and ''[[Bat Masterson (TV series)|Bat Masterson]]'' in 1961.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0143806/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=John L. Cason (1918–1961) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His final performance was on the 1961 episode of ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]'', "By the Book", in which he played the character Brad Oliver, which aired after his death in December 1961.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0629935/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Lawman: Season 4, Episode 15, By the Book (24 Dec. 1961) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>
With the advent of television, Cason began appearing in television series. His first appearance on the small screen was in 1949, in the first season of the series ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]'', appearing as a henchman.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0635535/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_411 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=The Lone Ranger: Season 1, Episode 6, War Horse (20 Oct. 1949) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> Other television series he appeared on include: ''[[Hopalong Cassidy#Television and radio|Hopalong Cassidy]]'' (1952), several different roles from 1951 to 1953 on ''[[The Adventures of Kit Carson]]'', several appearances on ''[[The Roy Rogers Show]]'' from 1953 to 1957, in different roles on several episodes of ''[[Judge Roy Bean]]'' in 1956, as several different guest roles on ''[[The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp]]'' from 1956 to 1959, on both ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'' and ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' in 1960, and on ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' and ''[[Bat Masterson (TV series)|Bat Masterson]]'' in 1961.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0143806/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=John L. Cason (1918–1961) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref> His final performance was on the 1961 episode of ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]'', "By the Book", in which he played the character Brad Oliver, which aired after his death in December 1961.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0629935/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_1 | publisher=Internet Movie Database | title=Lawman: Season 4, Episode 15, By the Book (24 Dec. 1961) | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>


==Death==
Cason was killed in a car accident on July 7, 1961. He was buried in Grangeville Cemetery, in [[Armona, California]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Cason&GSfn=John&GSby=1918&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1961&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=6490524&df=all& | publisher=Find a Grave | title=John Lacy Cason | accessdate=August 5, 2015}}</ref>
Cason was killed in a car accident on July 7, 1961. He was buried in Grangeville Cemetery, in [[Armona, California]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellenberger |first1=Allan R. |title=Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory |date=2001 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786409839 |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8bOJCgAAQBAJ&q=%22Iris+Adrian+Hostetter%22&pg=PA79 |access-date=11 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
*''[[Buck Privates]]'' (1941)
*''[[Buck Privates]]'' (1941) - Fighter (uncredited)
*''[[Fugitive Valley]]'' (1941) - Whip Rider (uncredited)
*''
*''[[Badlands of Dakota]]'' (1941) - Townsman (uncredited)
*''
*''[[The Apache Kid (1941 film)|The Apache Kid]]'' (1941) - Deputy Tom (uncredited)
*''
*''[[You'll Never Get Rich]]'' (1941) - Soldier (uncredited)
*''
*''
*''[[Death Valley Outlaws]]'' (1941) - Vigilante (uncredited)
*''[[Death Valley Outlaws]]'' (1941) - Vigilante (uncredited)
*''[[Down Mexico Way]]'' (1941) - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[Down Mexico Way]]'' (1941) - Henchman (uncredited)
Line 36: Line 40:
*''[[The Lone Star Vigilantes]]'' (1942) - Henchman Soldier (uncredited)
*''[[The Lone Star Vigilantes]]'' (1942) - Henchman Soldier (uncredited)
*''[[Valley of the Sun (film)|Valley of the Sun]]'' (1942) - Officer at Court Martial (uncredited)
*''[[Valley of the Sun (film)|Valley of the Sun]]'' (1942) - Officer at Court Martial (uncredited)
*''[[Raiders of the West]]'' (1942) - Gene - First Auction Wiseguy (uncredited)
*''Raiders of the West'' (1942) - Gene - First Auction Wiseguy (uncredited)
*''[[Raiders of the Range]]'' (1942) - Posse Rider (uncredited)
*''[[Raiders of the Range]]'' (1942) - Posse Rider (uncredited)
*''[[Down Rio Grande Way]]'' (1942) - Red (uncredited)
*''[[Down Rio Grande Way]]'' (1942) - Red (uncredited)
Line 50: Line 54:
*''The Vigilantes Ride'' (1943) - Henchman (uncredited)
*''The Vigilantes Ride'' (1943) - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[Frontier Outlaws]]'' (1944) - Rancher (uncredited)
*''[[Frontier Outlaws]]'' (1944) - Rancher (uncredited)
*''[[Follow the Boys]]'' (1944) - Soldier Listening to Radio (uncredited)
*''[[Follow the Boys (1944 film)|Follow the Boys]]'' (1944) - Soldier Listening to Radio (uncredited)
*''[[Valley of Vengeance]]'' (1944) - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[Valley of Vengeance]]'' (1944) - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[The Contender (1944 film)|The Contender]]'' (1944) - The Koko Kid (uncredited)
*''[[The Contender (1944 film)|The Contender]]'' (1944) - The Koko Kid (uncredited)
Line 86: Line 90:
*''[[Ghost of Hidden Valley]]'' (1946) - Henchman Buck
*''[[Ghost of Hidden Valley]]'' (1946) - Henchman Buck
*''[[Prairie Badmen]]'' (1946) - Steve
*''[[Prairie Badmen]]'' (1946) - Steve
*''Overland Riders'' (1946) - Henchman
*''[[Overland Riders]]'' (1946) - Henchman
*''[[Outlaws of the Plains]]'' (1946) - Joe Dayton (uncredited)
*''[[Outlaws of the Plains]]'' (1946) - Joe Dayton (uncredited)
*''[[South of the Chisholm Trail]]'' (1947) - Fight Spectator (uncredited)
*''[[South of the Chisholm Trail]]'' (1947) - Fight Spectator (uncredited)
Line 94: Line 98:
*''The Last Round-up'' (1947) - Henchman Carter (uncredited)
*''The Last Round-up'' (1947) - Henchman Carter (uncredited)
*''[[Her Husband's Affairs]]'' (1947) - Heckler (uncredited)
*''[[Her Husband's Affairs]]'' (1947) - Heckler (uncredited)
*''Six-Gun Law'' (1948) - Ben - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[Six-Gun Law]]'' (1948) - Ben - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[The Wreck of the Hesperus (1948 film)|The Wreck of the Hesperus]]'' (1948) - Thug (uncredited)
*''[[The Wreck of the Hesperus (1948 film)|The Wreck of the Hesperus]]'' (1948) - Thug (uncredited)
*''[[Relentless (1948 film)|Relentless]]'' (1948) - Deputy Posse Member (uncredited)
*''[[Relentless (1948 film)|Relentless]]'' (1948) - Deputy Posse Member (uncredited)
Line 136: Line 140:
*''[[The Black Lash]]'' (1952) - Henchman Cord
*''[[The Black Lash]]'' (1952) - Henchman Cord
*''[[The Hawk of Wild River]]'' (1952) - Duke - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[The Hawk of Wild River]]'' (1952) - Duke - Henchman (uncredited)
*''[[High Noon]]'' (1952) - Barfly (uncredited)
*''[[Black Hills Ambush]]'' (1952) - Henchman Jake
*''[[Black Hills Ambush]]'' (1952) - Henchman Jake
*''[[The Kid from Broken Gun]]'' (1952) - Chuck (uncredited)
*''[[The Kid from Broken Gun]]'' (1952) - Chuck (uncredited)
*''[[Hellgate (1952 film)|Hellgate]]'' (1952) - Guard (uncredited)
*''[[Hellgate (1952 film)|Hellgate]]'' (1952) - Guard (uncredited)
*''[[Wagon Team]]'' (1952) - Henchman Slim
*''[[Wagon Team]]'' (1952) - Henchman Slim
*''[[Son of Geronimo]]'' (1952, Serial) - Smoky (ch's 10-12) (uncredited)
*''[[Son of Geronimo]]'' (1952, Serial) - Smoky (ch's 10–12) (uncredited)
*''[[Voodoo Tiger]]'' (1952) - Jerry Masters (uncredited)
*''[[Voodoo Tiger]]'' (1952) - Jerry Masters (uncredited)
*''[[Jungle Drums of Africa]]'' (1953, Serial) - Regas
*''[[Jungle Drums of Africa]]'' (1953, Serial) - Regas
Line 176: Line 181:
*''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mimi]]'' (1958) - Herb (uncredited)
*''[[Screaming Mimi (film)|Screaming Mimi]]'' (1958) - Herb (uncredited)
*''[[Gunman's Walk]]'' (1958) - Wrangler (uncredited)
*''[[Gunman's Walk]]'' (1958) - Wrangler (uncredited)
*''[[The Restless Gun]]'' (1958) in Episode "The Manhunters"
*''[[Gunmen from Laredo]]'' (1959) - Bob Sutton (uncredited)
*''[[Gunmen from Laredo]]'' (1959) - Bob Sutton (uncredited)
*''[[Cimarron (1960 film)|Cimarron]]'' (1960) - Suggs (uncredited)
*''[[Cimarron (1960 film)|Cimarron]]'' (1960) - Suggs (uncredited)
Line 184: Line 190:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0143806}}
* {{IMDb name|0143806}}


Line 192: Line 199:
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:1961 deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from Texas]]
[[Category:Male actors from Texas]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in California]]

Latest revision as of 22:44, 26 June 2023

John Cason
Cason in Sunset Carson Rides Again (1948)
Born
John Lacy Cason

(1918-07-30)July 30, 1918
Valley View, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 7, 1961(1961-07-07) (aged 42)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Resting placeGrangeville Cemetery, Armona, California
OccupationActor
Years active1941–1961

John Lacy Cason (July 30, 1918 – July 7, 1961), also credited as Bob Cason and John L. Cason, was an American actor active in both films and television. During his 20-year career he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He is best known for his work on the television program The Adventures of Kit Carson, where he appeared in several roles from 1951 to 1953.

Life and career[edit]

Cason was born on July 30, 1918, in Valley View, Texas. He made his film debut, as a fighter in the 1941 classic Abbott and Costello comedy, Buck Privates.[1] Cason was often cast as the bad guy, or henchman during his career, as in 1952's Black Hills Ambush.[2] Most of his roles were un-credited, but he occasionally he received named billing, such as Henchman Lucas in the 1944 Western Wild Horse Phantom,[3] as Blazer in Rimfire (1949),[4] and as Westy in the 1953 Western, Gun Fury.[5] Other notable films in which Cason appears include: Her Husband's Affairs (1947), starring Lucille Ball, Franchot Tone, and Edward Everett Horton;[6] 1949's Tough Assignment, a crime film starring Don Barry;[7] as Corporal Paluso in the classic war melodrama From Here to Eternity, starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, and Frank Sinatra;[8] the 1957 comedy, Don't Go Near the Water, starring Glenn Ford and Gia Scala;[9] and as one of Glenn Ford's henchmen in the classic Western 3:10 to Yuma, which also stars Van Heflin;[10] Cason also appeared in several film serials, including the featured role of Hopper in 1953's The Lost Planet,[11] the recurring role of Casey in Desperadoes of the West (1950) starring Tom Keene,[12] and as Smoky in 1952's Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger starring Clayton Moore.[13] His final film performance was in the role of Suggs in yet another Glenn Ford Western, 1960's Cimarron, which also stars Maria Schell.[14]

With the advent of television, Cason began appearing in television series. His first appearance on the small screen was in 1949, in the first season of the series The Lone Ranger, appearing as a henchman.[15] Other television series he appeared on include: Hopalong Cassidy (1952), several different roles from 1951 to 1953 on The Adventures of Kit Carson, several appearances on The Roy Rogers Show from 1953 to 1957, in different roles on several episodes of Judge Roy Bean in 1956, as several different guest roles on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp from 1956 to 1959, on both Maverick and Rawhide in 1960, and on The Untouchables and Bat Masterson in 1961.[16] His final performance was on the 1961 episode of Lawman, "By the Book", in which he played the character Brad Oliver, which aired after his death in December 1961.[17]

Death[edit]

Cason was killed in a car accident on July 7, 1961. He was buried in Grangeville Cemetery, in Armona, California.[18]

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Buck Privates: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "Black Hills Ambush: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  3. ^ "Wild Horse Phantom: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  4. ^ "Rimfire: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Gun Fury: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  6. ^ "Her Husband's Affairs: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tough Assignment: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "From Here to Eternity: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  9. ^ "Don't Go Near the Water: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  10. ^ "3:10 to Yuma: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "The Lost Planet (1953)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "Desperadoes of the West (1950)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  13. ^ "Son of Geronimo: Apache Avenger (1952)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  14. ^ "Cimarron: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  15. ^ "The Lone Ranger: Season 1, Episode 6, War Horse (20 Oct. 1949)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  16. ^ "John L. Cason (1918–1961)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  17. ^ "Lawman: Season 4, Episode 15, By the Book (24 Dec. 1961)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  18. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 79. ISBN 9780786409839. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Cason (actor).
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