Paul Ford
Paul Ford Weaver, who cleaved off his surname to make a two-syllable stage name, was a latecomer to acting notoriety. Despite being a natural performer, Ford initially avoided show business since, like many Americans at the time, he was struggling to make a living and feed his family during the Great Depression. But as the economy began looking up, he decided to plunge into performance and scored bit parts in 1940s movies, largely in dramatic fare such as the 1945 spy thriller "The House on 92nd Street" and the 1949 political saga "All the King's Men." Ford's career really took off in the following decade when he was cast as the buffoonish Colonel Hall, the eternal foil to hero Sergeant Bilko, in the hugely popular sitcom "The Phil Silvers Show." Ford's humorous expressions and expert timing made him an ideal character actor for comedic material, and he excelled in that niche. He appeared in many television series and films until very late in his life. He did a memorable turn as the puzzled mayor in the cheerful adaptation of the con artist musical "The Music Man" in 1962. Ford's last appearance before his death in 1976 was as the voice of Uncle Henry in the animated "Journey Back to Oz," a sequel to the popular book and film "The Wizard of Oz."
Photos
Paul Ford
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
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Journey Back to Oz | Uncle Henry (Voice) | - | 1974 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fairplay | F.O. McGill (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
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Lola | Mr. Wardman (Character) | - | 1969 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | In Name Only | Elwy Pertwhistle (Character) | - | 1969 |
27% |
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The Comedians | Smith (Character) | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Comedians In Africa | Self | - | 1967 |
No Score Yet |
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A Big Hand for the Little Lady | Ballinger (Character) | - | 1966 |
83% |
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The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! | Fendall Hawkins (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Spy With a Cold Nose | American General (Character) | - | 1966 |
No Score Yet |
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Never Too Late | Harry M. Lambert (Character) | - | 1965 |
No Score Yet |
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Who's Got the Action? | Judge Boatwright (Character) | - | 1962 |
77% |
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Advise and Consent | Sen. Stanley Danta (Character) | - | 1962 |
94% |
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The Music Man | Mayor George Shinn (Character) | - | 1962 |
No Score Yet |
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The Matchmaker | Horace Vandergelder (Character) | - | 1958 |
No Score Yet |
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The Missouri Traveler | Finas Daugherty (Character) | - | 1958 |
86% |
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The Teahouse of the August Moon | Col. Wainwright Purdy III (Character) | - | 1956 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Kid From Texas | Sheriff Copeland (Character) | - | 1950 |
No Score Yet |
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Perfect Strangers | Judge James Byron (Character) | - | 1950 |
No Score Yet |
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Lust for Gold | Sheriff Lynn Early (Character) | - | 1949 |
50% |
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The House on 92nd Street | Police Sergeant (Character) | - | 1945 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What's My Line? | Guest | 1963 1966 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Red Skelton Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Danny Kaye Show | Guest | 1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Lloyd Bridges Show | George Tuppman (Guest Star) | 1962 |
No Score Yet | 87% | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Prof. Jarvis (Character) | 1961 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Phil Silvers Show | Col. John T. Hall (Character) | 1955-1959 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Suspense | Unknown (Character) | 1952 |