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Clifton Young

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clifton Young
Young as "Bonedust" in his first sound film, School's Out (1930)
Born
Robert Howard Young

(1917-09-15)September 15, 1917
Schenectady, New York, U.S.
DiedSeptember 10, 1951(1951-09-10) (aged 33)
OccupationActor
Years active1925–1951

Robert Howard Young (September 15, 1917 – September 10, 1951) professionally known as Clifton Young, was an American film actor.

Early years

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Young was the son of Edward A. and Eva (Clifton) Young. His father started him in vaudeville when he was 5 years old. When he was 7, he began acting in Our Gang comedies.[1] Young was drafted into the Army during World War II, serving in the South Pacific.[2]

Career

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Young played "Bonedust" in nineteen Our Gang films from 1925 to 1931, his most notable film being School's Out. As an adult, to avoid confusion with established star Robert Young, he took his mother's maiden name, Clifton, as his screen name.

Young became a contract player at Warner Bros., landing small parts in a number of 1940s film noir and western films. Notable credits include Nora Prentiss, Pursued, Possessed, Dark Passage, and Blood on the Moon.[3]

While at Warners, Young was featured prominently in the Joe McDoakes comedy shorts. He played a variety of roles: a craven mobster in So You Want to Be a Detective, a department-store clerk in So You're Going on Vacation, and memorably as "Homer," Joe's brash, know-it-all office colleague in several McDoakes reels.

One of Young's last films was the Roy Rogers western Trail of Robin Hood (1950), in which he played a sneering villain.

Death

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Young died on September 10, 1951, in a hotel fire that started when he fell asleep while smoking.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1927 Three's a Crowd Minor Role – as Bobby Young Uncredited
1928 The Circus Kid Boy at Orphanage Uncredited
1931 Sidewalks of New York Street Gang Member Uncredited
1935 Bright Lights Piano Player at Party Uncredited
1936 Small Town Girl Boy in Car in Montage Uncredited
1936 The Lonely Trail Murdered Rancher's Son Uncredited
1936 Hearts in Bondage Young man waiting to enlist Uncredited
1936 The President's Mystery Townsman Uncredited
1945 The Master Key Loft Building Henchman Serial, Uncredited
1946 Two Guys from Milwaukee Joe – Motorcycle Cop Uncredited
1946 Cloak and Dagger American Commander Uncredited
1946 Deception Taxi Driver Uncredited
1947 The Unfaithful Charlie Voice, Uncredited
1947 Nora Prentiss Policeman arresting Truck Driver Uncredited
1947 That Way with Women Irate Baseball Fan Uncredited
1947 Pursued The Sergeant
1947 Possessed Interne
1947 Dark Passage Baker
1947 Always Together Reporter Uncredited
1947 My Wild Irish Rose Joe Brennan
1948 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Flophouse Bum Uncredited
1948 Two Guys from Texas Announcer Uncredited
1948 Blood on the Moon Joe Shotten
1948 Whiplash Gunman Uncredited
1949 My Dream Is Yours Schwab's Counterman Voice, Uncredited
1949 Illegal Entry Billy Rafferty
1949 Calamity Jane and Sam Bass Link
1949 Abandoned Eddie
1950 Bells of Coronado Ross
1950 Backfire Cabby Uncredited
1950 Borderline Suspect Questioned by Whittaker Uncredited
1950 A Woman of Distinction Chet – Photographer Uncredited
1950 Salt Lake Raiders Luke Condor
1950 Union Station Ambulance Driver Uncredited
1950 The Return of Jesse James Bob Ford
1950 Trail of Robin Hood Mitch McCall
1951 Up Front Clerk Uncredited
1951 The Redhead and the Cowboy Southern Spy Uncredited
1951 Love Nest Uncredited
1952 Zombies of the Stratosphere Ross – Smuggler Boss Serial, [Ch. 4], Uncredited, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ "Actor Clifton Young Dies in Hotel Fire". The Gazette. Canada, Montreal. Associated Press. September 11, 1951. p. 14. Retrieved September 10, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Clifton Young Bio at IMDb. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang, p. 281. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9
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