Crahan Denton

Crahan Denton (born Arthur Denton, March 20, 1914 – December 4, 1966) (pronunciation: "kran") was an American stage and television actor. One of his most famous film roles was in To Kill A Mockingbird where he portrays "Walter Cunningham," a client of the main character, Atticus Finch, and the leader of a mob which attempts to lynch another of Finch's clients.

Early years

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Denton,[1] he was born in Seattle, Washington, United States. He studied drama at the University of California, Berkeley[2] and at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.[3]

Career

Denton was active in Little Theater productions during his time as a student at the University of California, Berkeley.[3]

His Broadway credits include Winesburg, Ohio (1958), Orpheus Descending (1957), Bus Stop (1955), Fragile Fox (1954), Liberty Jones (1941), and Key Largo (1940).[4]

From 1945 until his death in 1966, Denton starred in many films, including The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery, The Parent Trap, Birdman of Alcatraz, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Bus Riley's Back in Town. He was also a guest star on many television shows, including Bonanza (1961 episode "The Secret"), Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Gunsmoke, Have Gun Will Travel, The Fugitive, The Donna Reed Show (1962 episode Once Upon a Timepiece).

In 1960, he also co-starred in an unsold pilot titled, "Mountain Man" about a Rocky Mountain fur trading station in the 1840s.

Denton made two guest appearances on the CBS courtroom drama series Perry Mason, including the role of murder victim Frank Jarrett in the 1960 episode, "The Case of the Nimble Nephew" and the role of Templeton Cortland in the 1961 episode "The Case of the Missing Melody".

In 1963 Denton appeared as John Lewis on The Virginian in the episode "Run Away Home."

Personal life

Denton married Eleanor Brown in 1955.[5]

Death

In 1966, Denton died after suffering a heart attack in Piedmont, California. He was 52 years old.[5]

Recognition

Denton won an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Performances in Supporting Roles for 1954-1955 for his work in Bus Stop (1955).[6]

Filmography

Title|			Notes
Crime, Inc.	1945	Vannie Denton	Uncredited
The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery	1959	John Egan
The Young One	1960	Jackson
The Parent Trap	1961	Hecky
Walk on the Wild Side	1962	Bit Part	Uncredited
Birdman of Alcatraz	1962	Kramer
To Kill a Mockingbird	1962	Walter Cunningham Sr.
Hud	1963	Jesse
Captain Newman, M.D.	1963	Major Snowden
Bus Riley's Back in Town	1965	Spencer

References

1. "Society Medley". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. 19 June 1952. p. 27. Retrieved December 28, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "TDPS History". Theater Dance & Performance Studies. University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
3. Fishgall, Gary (2002). Gregory Peck: A Biography. Simon and Schuster. p. 48. ISBN 9780684852904. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
4. "Crahan Denton". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
5. "Crahan Denton". MyHeritage.com. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
6. "Awards for 1954-1955". Outer Critics Circle. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.

External links

• Crahan Denton on IMDb
• Crahan Denton at the Internet Broadway Database
• Crahan Denton at Find a Grave