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{{Ahort description|American character actor (1891–1968)}}
{{Short description|American character actor (1891–1968)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2022}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Film IMDb refimprove|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Harry Cheshire
| name = Harry Cheshire
| image = Harry Cheshire.jpg
| image = Harry Cheshire in Impact.jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = Cheshire in ''[[Adventures of Gallant Bess]]'' (1948)
| caption = Cheshire in ''[[Impact (1949 film)|Impact]]'' (1949)
| birth_name = Harry V. Cheshire
| birth_name = Harry V. Cheshire
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1891|08|16|mf=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1891|08|16|mf=yes}}
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| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Hollywood Hills]]
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Hollywood Hills]]
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1940–1963
| years_active = 1940–1964
| known_for = Judge Ben Wiley on<br/>''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]''<br/>Judge Trager on ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]''
| known_for = Judge Ben Wiley on<br/>''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]''<br/>Judge Trager on ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]''
| spouse =
| spouse = Myrtle Cheshire
}}
}}


'''Harry V. Cheshire''' (August 16, 1891 &ndash; June 16, 1968), originally from [[Emporia, Kansas]],<ref name= "Boynton">[https://www.newspapers.com/image/702222790/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 Yvonne Boynton, Westchester Whirl, ''Evening Vanguard'', June 20, 1968, page 5]</ref> was an American [[character actor]] who appeared in over 100 films, mostly playing small roles.<ref name= "Brode">[https://books.google.com/books?id=CZGyDAAAQBAJ&dq=Harry+Cheshire+in+The+Lawman&pg=PA81 Douglas Brode, ''Shooting Stars of the Small Screen'', pages 81-82, University of Texas Press, 2009]</ref> He was also a stage actor<ref name= "Kansas">[https://www.newspapers.com/image/675338188/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 About Town, ''The Kansas City Times'', June 29, 1968, page 45]</ref> and performed on a St. Louis radio station's musical program.<ref name= "Boynton"/> He may be best known for playing Judge Ben Wiley on ''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]''<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/126317550/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 47 Years a Showman, ''Sullivan Tri-County News'' (Sullivan, Missouri), November 10, 1955, page 6]</ref>
'''Harry V. Cheshire''' (August 16, 1891 &ndash; June 16, 1968) was an American [[character actor]] originally from [[Emporia, Kansas|Emporia]], [[Kansas]], with more than 150 film appearances to his credit.


==Career==
==Early career==
Cheshire was active on stage with the Hi Jinks Company and Liberty Players acting troupes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Hi Jinks Player Rejoins Liberty Company |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23588979/harry_cheshire/ |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=June 25, 1922 |location=Oklahoma, Oklahoma City |page=22|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = September 9, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref>
Cheshire began his show business career in 1908, entertaining the audience between reels of short silent movies at the Old Nickelodeon Theater in [[ Kansas City, Kansas|Kansas City]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/693973391/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 'Pappy' a Real Vet, ''Los Angeles Mirror'', September 29, 1955, page 34]</ref> He was active in stage work with the Hi Jinks Company and Liberty Players acting troupes<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Hi Jinks Player Rejoins Liberty Company |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/23588979/harry_cheshire/ |work=The Daily Oklahoman |date=June 25, 1922 |location=Oklahoma, Oklahoma City |page=22|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = September 9, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> during the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name= "Kansas"/>


He acquired the nickname Pappy after appearing as Pappy Cheshire with his Hilly Billy Band<ref name= "Boynton"/> on the St. Louis radio station [[KMOX]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/140436190/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 Two Unscheduled Thrills at Rodeo, ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', August 22, 1956, page 20]</ref>
⚫
With a raspy voice, Cheshire frequently played the parts of bankers and [[Western (genre)|western]] townsmen but occasionally [[outlaw]]s too. He was perhaps best known for his role as Judge "Fair and Square" Ben Wiley in the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] western [[television series]], ''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]'', in which he is the founder and leading citizen of the fictional town of Wileyville, [[Texas]].<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=144|edition=2nd}}</ref>


==Film and television work==
<!-- While in the [[Black Hills]] of [[South Dakota]], Wiley rescued two children, a brother and his sister who were [[orphan]]ed in a massacre of their [[wagon train]]. He adopted and renamed the two children "Buffalo Bill, Jr." and "Calamity" after the western figures [[Buffalo Bill|Buffalo Bill Cody]] and [[Calamity Jane]]. His co-stars were [[Dick Jones (actor)|Dick Jones]] (1927-2014) as Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Nancy Gilbert as Calamity.<ref>Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967", ''[[West Texas Historical Association|West Texas Historical Review]]'', Vol. 89 (2013), pp. 113-114</ref> Judge Wiley is also a businessman. The sign on his shop reads, "Wileyville General Store / Groceries - Hardware - Dry Goods / Judge Ben 'Fair 'n' Square' Wiley, Prop. / Justice of the Peace / Town Marshal / Physician & Surgeon / Blacksmith / Haircuts - Legal Advice / By Appointment Only".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132652/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2|title=''Buffalo Bill, Jr.''|publisher=[[Internet Movie Data Base]]|accessdate=July 24, 2014}}</ref> -->
Cheshire's first film role was as Pappy Cheshire in the 1940 [[Republic Pictures]]' musical ''[[Barnyard Follies]]''.<ref name= "Boynton"/> He was the minister who marries George Bailey ([[James Stewart]]) and Mary Hatch ([[Donna Reed]]) in ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'', and played small-town judges in the westerns ''[[Sioux City Sue (film)|Sioux City Sue]]'', ''[[The Fabulous Texan]]'' and ''[[Carbine Williams]]''.<ref name= "Brode"/> He played Doctor Gray in ''[[Adventures of Gallant Bess]]''.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/445985821/?terms=%22The%20Adventures%20of%20Gallant%20Bess%22&match=1 B'llyn Strand Shows Latest 'Gallant Bess', ''Daily News'', October 23, 1948, page 322]</ref> In 1955, during a two-week break from filming episodes of the television series ''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]'', Cheshire was able to fit in a supporting role in the film ''[[Soldier of Fortune (1955 film)|Soldier of Fortune]]''.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/image/760872390/?terms=%22Harry%20Cheshire%22&match=1 Change of Scenery, ''The Richmond News Leader'', May 28, 1955, page 20]</ref>


⚫
In addition to playing judges in films, Cheshire also played characters following the same occupation on two television series. From 1955 - 1956 he was Judge "Fair and Square" Ben Wiley in the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] western [[television series]], ''[[Buffalo Bill, Jr.]]''.<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=144|edition=2nd}}</ref> From 1958-1962 he was Judge Traeger in episodes of the ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]''.<ref name= "Brode"/>
Cheshire appeared as Judge Trager between 1958 and 1962 in fifteen episodes of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]/[[Warner Brothers]] western series, ''[[Lawman (TV series)|Lawman]]'', with [[John Russell (actor)|John Russell]] and [[Peter Brown (actor)|Peter Brown]].<ref name=hvcheshire/>


Cheshire's film appearances include ''[[Barnyard Follies]]'' (1940), ''[[O, My Darling Clementine]]'' (1943), ''[[The Best Years of Our Lives]]'' (1946), ''[[Dangerous Mission]]'' (1954), and an uncredited role in ''[[Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair]]'' (1952). He guest starred in other television programs, including the westerns, ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]'', ''[[The Range Rider]]'', ''[[Annie Oakley (TV series)|Annie Oakley]]'', ''[[Tales of the Texas Rangers]]'', ''[[The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin]]'', ''[[The Texan (TV series)|The Texan]]'', and ''[[Maverick (TV series)|Maverick]]'', and the [[situation comedy|situation comedies]], ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[My Little Margie]]'', ''[[December Bride]]'', ''[[The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show]]'', ''[[The People's Choice (TV series)|The People's Choice]]'', ''[[The Donna Reed Show]]'', ''[[The Real McCoys]]'', ''[[Pete and Gladys]]'', ''[[Dennis the Menace (1959 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'', and ''[[The Ann Sothern Show]]''.<ref name=hvcheshire>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0156190/|title=Harry Cheshire|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|accessdate=July 31, 2014}}</ref>
He guest starred in other television programs, including ''[[The Lone Ranger (TV series)|The Lone Ranger]]'', ''[[Annie Oakley (TV series)|Annie Oakley]]'', ''[[The Gene Autry Show]]'',<ref name= "Brode"/> ''[[The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show]]'',<ref name= "Kansas"/> ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' and ''[[The Red Skelton Show]]''.<ref name= "Boynton"/>

One writer stated that Cheshire had the ability "to appear genial and grumpy at the same time."<ref name= "Brode"/>

==Personal life==
Harry Cheshire was married to Myrtle Cheshire.<ref name= "Kansas"/> They had two children, son Harry Jr. and daughter Leona, and in February 1968 the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.<ref name= "Boynton"/> Cheshire died in 1968. He is interred at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] in the [[Hollywood Hills]] of [[Los Angeles]].<ref>Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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* ''[[Smooth as Silk]]'' (1946) - Wolcott
* ''[[Smooth as Silk]]'' (1946) - Wolcott
* ''[[Traffic in Crime]]'' (1946) - Dan Marlowe
* ''[[Traffic in Crime]]'' (1946) - Dan Marlowe
* ''[[Big Town (film)|Big Town]]'' (1946) - Police Chief Masters (uncredited)
* ''[[Big Town (1947 film)|Big Town]]'' (1946) - Police Chief Masters (uncredited)
* ''[[If I'm Lucky (film)|If I'm Lucky]]'' (1946) - Phil Gargan, State Engineer (uncredited)
* ''[[If I'm Lucky (film)|If I'm Lucky]]'' (1946) - Phil Gargan, State Engineer (uncredited)
* ''[[Child of Divorce]]'' (1946) - Judge
* ''[[Child of Divorce]]'' (1946) - Judge
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* ''[[Here Comes Trouble (1948 film)|Here Comes Trouble]]'' (1948) - Judge J.J. Bellinger (uncredited)
* ''[[Here Comes Trouble (1948 film)|Here Comes Trouble]]'' (1948) - Judge J.J. Bellinger (uncredited)
* ''[[Mr. Reckless]]'' (1948) - Doctor at Wedding (uncredited)
* ''[[Mr. Reckless]]'' (1948) - Doctor at Wedding (uncredited)
* ''[[Ruthless (film)|Ruthless]]'' (1948) - Lawyer Nevin (uncredited)
* ''[[Ruthless (1948 film)|Ruthless]]'' (1948) - Lawyer Nevin (uncredited)
* ''[[Sixteen Fathoms Deep (1948 film)|Sixteen Fathoms Deep]]'' (1948) - Uncle Mike
* ''[[Sixteen Fathoms Deep (1948 film)|Sixteen Fathoms Deep]]'' (1948) - Uncle Mike
* ''[[The Babe Ruth Story]]'' (1948) - Cap Huston (uncredited)
* ''[[The Babe Ruth Story]]'' (1948) - Cap Huston (uncredited)
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* ''[[The Big Country]]'' (1958) - Party Guest (uncredited)
* ''[[The Big Country]]'' (1958) - Party Guest (uncredited)
* ''[[Don't Give Up the Ship (film)|Don't Give Up the Ship]]'' (1959) - Judge Whipple - Wedding Guest with Cake in Hat (uncredited)
* ''[[Don't Give Up the Ship (film)|Don't Give Up the Ship]]'' (1959) - Judge Whipple - Wedding Guest with Cake in Hat (uncredited)
* ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1960) (Season 6 Episode 1: "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat") - Mr. Gorman
* ''[[Heller in Pink Tights]]'' (1960) - Poker Player (uncredited)
* ''[[Heller in Pink Tights]]'' (1960) - Poker Player (uncredited)
* ''[[From the Terrace]]'' (1960) - Partner (uncredited)
* ''[[From the Terrace]]'' (1960) - Partner (uncredited)
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[[Category:People from Emporia, Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Emporia, Kansas]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kansas]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kansas]]
[[Category:People from Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

Latest revision as of 05:43, 12 December 2023

Harry Cheshire
Cheshire in Impact (1949)
Born
Harry V. Cheshire

(1891-08-16)August 16, 1891
Emporia, Kansas, U.S.
DiedJune 16, 1968(1968-06-16) (aged 76)
Orange County, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
OccupationActor
Years active1940–1964
Known forJudge Ben Wiley on
Buffalo Bill, Jr.
Judge Trager on Lawman
SpouseMyrtle Cheshire

Harry V. Cheshire (August 16, 1891 – June 16, 1968), originally from Emporia, Kansas,[1] was an American character actor who appeared in over 100 films, mostly playing small roles.[2] He was also a stage actor[3] and performed on a St. Louis radio station's musical program.[1] He may be best known for playing Judge Ben Wiley on Buffalo Bill, Jr.[4]

Early career[edit]

Cheshire began his show business career in 1908, entertaining the audience between reels of short silent movies at the Old Nickelodeon Theater in Kansas City.[5] He was active in stage work with the Hi Jinks Company and Liberty Players acting troupes[6] during the 1920s and 1930s.[3]

He acquired the nickname Pappy after appearing as Pappy Cheshire with his Hilly Billy Band[1] on the St. Louis radio station KMOX.[7]

Film and television work[edit]

Cheshire's first film role was as Pappy Cheshire in the 1940 Republic Pictures' musical Barnyard Follies.[1] He was the minister who marries George Bailey (James Stewart) and Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) in It's a Wonderful Life, and played small-town judges in the westerns Sioux City Sue, The Fabulous Texan and Carbine Williams.[2] He played Doctor Gray in Adventures of Gallant Bess.[8] In 1955, during a two-week break from filming episodes of the television series Buffalo Bill, Jr., Cheshire was able to fit in a supporting role in the film Soldier of Fortune.[9]

In addition to playing judges in films, Cheshire also played characters following the same occupation on two television series. From 1955 - 1956 he was Judge "Fair and Square" Ben Wiley in the syndicated western television series, Buffalo Bill, Jr..[10] From 1958-1962 he was Judge Traeger in episodes of the Lawman.[2]

He guest starred in other television programs, including The Lone Ranger, Annie Oakley, The Gene Autry Show,[2] The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show,[3] I Love Lucy and The Red Skelton Show.[1]

One writer stated that Cheshire had the ability "to appear genial and grumpy at the same time."[2]

Personal life[edit]

Harry Cheshire was married to Myrtle Cheshire.[3] They had two children, son Harry Jr. and daughter Leona, and in February 1968 the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.[1] Cheshire died in 1968. He is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.[11]

Selected filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Yvonne Boynton, Westchester Whirl, Evening Vanguard, June 20, 1968, page 5
  2. ^ a b c d e Douglas Brode, Shooting Stars of the Small Screen, pages 81-82, University of Texas Press, 2009
  3. ^ a b c d About Town, The Kansas City Times, June 29, 1968, page 45
  4. ^ 47 Years a Showman, Sullivan Tri-County News (Sullivan, Missouri), November 10, 1955, page 6
  5. ^ 'Pappy' a Real Vet, Los Angeles Mirror, September 29, 1955, page 34
  6. ^ "Former Hi Jinks Player Rejoins Liberty Company". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. June 25, 1922. p. 22. Retrieved September 9, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ Two Unscheduled Thrills at Rodeo, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 22, 1956, page 20
  8. ^ B'llyn Strand Shows Latest 'Gallant Bess', Daily News, October 23, 1948, page 322
  9. ^ Change of Scenery, The Richmond News Leader, May 28, 1955, page 20
  10. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  11. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Harry Cheshire.
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