LeRoy Franklin Mason(July 2, 1903 – October 13, 1947) was an American film actor who worked primarily inWesternsin both the silent and sound film eras. Mason was born inLarimore, North Dakota,on July 2, 1903.[1]

LeRoy Mason
Mason inWestern Mail(1942)
Born
LeRoy Franklin Mason

(1903-07-02)July 2, 1903
DiedOctober 13, 1947(1947-10-13)(aged 44)
OccupationActor
Years active1924–1947
Spouse(s)
(m.1928;div.1936)
[citation needed]
Bo Ling(m. 1937–his death)

Career

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1920s

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Mason's first film wasHit and RunoppositeHoot Gibson(1924).[2]He was officially credited inBorn to Battle(1926) oppositeTom TylerandJean Arthur.[2]In 1926, Mason starred inThe Arizona Streakopposite Tom Tyler,Frankie Darro,andAda Mae Vaughn.[2]Also in 1926, he starred inLightning HutchoppositeCharles HutchisonandEdith Thornton.[2]Mason starred opposite Tom Tyler,Doris Hill,andFrankie DarroinTom and His Pals(1926). He starred oppositeWilliam Fairbanks,Alice Calhoun,andFrank RiceinFlying High(1926).[3]He starred inClosed Gates(1928) oppositeJohn Harron,Jane Novak,andLucy Beaumont.Mason starred inGolden Shackles(1928) oppositeGrant WithersandPriscilla Bonner.He starred inThe Avenging Shadow(1928) oppositeMargaret Morris.Mason starred inThe Law's Lash(1928) oppositeRobert EllisandMary Mayberry.He starred inHit of the Show(1928), originally asilent film,oppositeJoe E. Brown,Gertrude Olmstead,andWilliam Bailey.Mason starred inRevenge(1928)Dolores del Río,James A. Marcus,andRita Carewe.[4][5]He starred inThe Viking(1928) oppositePauline StarkeandDonald Crisp.[6][7]Mason starred inBride of the Desert(1929) oppositeAlice CalhounandEthan Laidlaw.He starred inThe Woman Who Was Forgotten(1930) oppositeBelle BennettandJack Mower.[8]

1930s

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Mason starred opposite ofLon Chaney Jr.inThe Last Frontier(1932).[9]He starred oppositeRay "Crash" CorriganinThe Painted Stallion(1937).[9]Mason starred oppositeJohn WayneinWyoming Outlaw(1939)[10]andNew Frontier(1939).[11]

1940s

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Mason starred oppositeDavid SharpeinSilver Stallion(1941).[12]He starred oppositeWild Bill ElliottinHidden Valley Outlaws(1944). In the film, Mason andJohn Jamessings the songOh Susanna.[13]

Personal life and death

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Mason marriedRita Carewein 1928 and divorced her in 1936. He was married to actressBo Ling;they had no children and eventually separated.[14]A shooting accident on a film set in the 1930s caused him to lose sight in his right eye.[2]

On October 13, 1947, Mason died of "acute myocardial infarctiondue tocoronary thrombosis"in theBirmingham Veterans Administration HospitalinVan Nuys, California.He had been there for 31 days after suffering a heart attack on the set ofCalifornia Firebrand.[2]AnAssociated Pressnews story published October 14, 1947, says that Mason "collapsed on a Republic Studio set Monday and died a few hours later of a heart ailment."[15]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Director (s) Notes
1924 Hit and Run Spectator Edward Sedgwick
1926 Born to Battle Daley Robert De Lacey Silentwestern film
The Arizona Streak Velvet Hamilton
Lightning Hutch Frank Proctor Charles Hutchison Silentaction film
Tom and His Pals Courtney Robert De Lacey Silent western film
Flying High Lester Swope Charles Hutchison Silent action film
1927 Closed Gates Harvey Newell Phil Rosen Silentmelodrama film
1928 Golden Shackles Herbert Fordyce Dallas M. Fitzgerald Silentdrama film
The Avenging Shadow George Brooks, Deputy Warden Ray Taylor Silent action film
The Law's Lash Pete Rogan - Henchman Noel M. Smith
Hit of the Show Woody Ralph Ince
Revenge Jorga Edwin Carewe Silent drama film
The Viking Alwin Roy William Neill
1929 Bride of the Desert Fugitive Duke Worne Western film
1930 The Woman Who Was Forgotten Richard Atwell Richard Thomas
The Climax Dr. Gardoni Renaud Hoffman Thriller film
See America Thirst Attorney William James Craft
1932 Texas Pioneers Mark Collins Harry L. Fraser
Shopworn Toby Nick Grinde
Mason of the Mounted Calhoun Harry Fraser
Merrily We Go to Hell Party Guest Dorothy Arzner Uncredited
The Last Frontier Buck Spencer Gordon Bennet Serial
1933 The Monkey's Paw Afghan Wesley Ruggles Uncredited
Luxury Liner Ship Passenger at Bar Lothar Mendes Uncredited
King Kong New York Theatergoer Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack Uncredited
The Phantom of the Air Mortimer Crome Ray Taylor Serial
Life in the Raw Lamson's Henchman Louis King Uncredited
The Last Trail Withers, Henchman James Tinling Uncredited
I Loved a Woman Martha's Coachman Alfred E. Green Uncredited
Smoky Lefty Eugene Forde
Maizie Paul Barnes Dallas M. Fitzgerald
1934 Are We Civilized? Paul Franklin Jr. Edwin Carewe
The Dude Ranger Dale Hyslip Edward F. Cline
Redhead Pretty Boy Melville W. Brown
The Fighting Trooper Andre La Farge Ray Taylor
When a Man Sees Red Dick Brady Alan James
1935 Texas Terror Joe Dickson Robert N. Bradbury With John Wayne
Northern Frontier Stone Sam Newfield
The Mystery Man The Eel, Gangster Ray McCarey
Rainbow Valley Rogers Robert N. Bradbury With John Wayne
Men of Action Jim Denton - Construction Engineer Alan James
Call of the Wild Pimp in Mary's Room William A. Wellman Uncredited
Valley of Wanted Men Larry Doyle Alan James
1936 Black Gold Henry 'Hank' Langford Russell Hopton
Comin' Round the Mountain Matt Ford Mack V. Wright
Go-Get-'Em, Haines Tony Marchetti Sam Newfield
The Border Patrolman Courtney Maybrook David Howard
Ghost-Town Gold Dirk Barrington Joseph Kane
Fury Below Fred Johnson Harry Fraser

The following were withJohn Wayne:

Other films:

References

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Citations

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  1. ^Katchmer 2009,p. 236.
  2. ^abcdefMayer 2017,p. 205.
  3. ^Munden 1997,p. 256.
  4. ^Curtis, James(2015).William Cameron Menzies: The Shape of Films to Come(1st ed.).New York City:Pantheon Books.ISBN978-0375424724.
  5. ^Goble 2011,p. 928.
  6. ^Klepper 1999,p. 493.
  7. ^Matheson 2011,p. 302.
  8. ^Paietta 2007,p. 220.
  9. ^abCline 2000,p. 125.
  10. ^Reid 2005a,p. 212.
  11. ^Davis, Ronald L. (1998).Duke: The Life and Image of John Wayne.Norman, Oklahoma:University of Oklahoma Press.ISBN978-0806130156.
  12. ^Holland 1989,p. 173.
  13. ^Blottner 2011,p. 64.
  14. ^Cho & The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 2013,p. 30.
  15. ^"Film Actor Leroy Mason Dies from Heart Attack".Winnipeg Tribune.Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada:Southam Newspapers.Associated Press. October 14, 1947. p. 2.RetrievedOctober 20,2017– viaNewspapers.
  16. ^Usai 2018,p. 61.
  17. ^Helgason 2017,p. 155.
  18. ^Reid 2005b,p. 237.

Sources

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