Walter Baldwin
Acting
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Walter S. Baldwin Jr. (January 2, 1889 − January 27, 1977) was a prolific character actor whose career spanned five decades and 150 film and television roles, and numerous stage performances. Baldwin was born in Lima, Ohio from a theatrical family and served in the First World War. He was probably best known for playing the father of the handicapped sailor in The Best Years of Our Lives. He was the first actor to portray "Floyd the Barber" on The Andy Griffith Show. Prior to his first film roles in 1939, Baldwin had appeared in more than a dozen Broadway plays. He played Whit in the first Broadway production of Of Mice and Men, and also appeared in the original Grand Hotel in a small role, as well as serving as the production's stage manager. He originated the role of Bensinger, the prissy Chicago Tribune reporter, in the Broadway production of The Front Page. In the 1960s he had small acting roles in television shows such as Petticoat Junction and Green Acres. He continued to act in motion pictures, and one of his last roles was in Rosemary's Baby. Baldwin was known for playing solid middle class burghers, although sometimes he gave portrayals of eccentric characters. He played a customer seeking a prostitute in The Lost Weekend and the rebellious prison trusty Orvy in Cry of the City. Walter Baldwin was featured in a lot of John Deere Day Movies from 1949-59 where he played the farmer Tom Gordon. In this series of Deere Day movies over a decade he helped to introduce many new pieces of John Deere farm equipment year-by-year. In each yearly movie he would be shown on his in A Tom Gordon Family Film where he would be buying new John Deere farm equipment or a new green and yellow tractor.A picture of Walter Baldwin playing Tom Gordon can be found on page 108 of Bob Pripp's book John Deere Yesterday & Today Hal Erickson writes in Allmovie: "With a pinched Midwestern countenance that enabled him to portray taciturn farmers, obsequious grocery store clerks and the occasional sniveling coward, Baldwin was a familiar (if often unbilled) presence in Hollywood films for three decades."
Born: January 1, 1889
Place of Birth: Lima, Ohio, USA
Known For
Filmography
as Mr. Wees (uncredited)
as Luther
as Grandpappy Miller
as Jeremy Wright (uncredited)
as Grandpappy Miller
as Mr. Weaver
as Conductor (uncredited)
as Mr. Spangler (uncredited)
as Floyd Lawson
as Ward Harlan
as Conductor
as Eddie Blake (uncredited)
as 1st Proprietor
as Man Who Warns Vinny (uncredited)
as Boxing fan at Dundee fight (uncredited)
as Doc Brock
as George Patterson
as Farmer Everett
as Briggs
as Old Man
as Jim Owens
as Vince Webb
as Dr. Frank Kenston
as Henry Skinner
as Isaiah Jackson
as Uncle Edgar
as Adam Smith
as Michael Hayward
as Spivak
as Henry Clayburn
as Johnson
as Mr. Meeber - Carrie's Father
as Pa Alexander (uncredited)
as George Kress Sr.
as Sgt. Sullivan
as Coroner Bledsoe
as Cricket Adams
as Watch Buyer (uncredited)
as Jim Bracken (uncredited)
as Officer Riley (uncredited)
as Doc Purdy
as Claude Jarman (uncredited)
as Pop Peters (uncredited)
as Editor Stoneham
as Orvy
as Gallus
as Stagecoach driver
as Muley Wilson
as Superintendent
as Mr. Castle
as Judge Fred Martin
as Amos Ames
as Judge Maynard
as (uncredited)
as Mr. Parrish
as Mr. Ferguson (uncredited)
as Dempsey (uncredited)
as Mr. Hodges (uncredited)
as Tom Wilson (uncredited)
as Miller (Uncredited)
as Man from Albany (uncredited)
as Wilbur Harris
as Jed Morton
as Herb, the Sheriff (uncredited)
as Vic Hardy (uncredited)
as Deputy with Rifle (Uncredited)
as Bart Jackson
as Henry (uncredited)
as Doan, Jury Foreman
as Town Sheriff (Uncredited)
as Attorney
as Fireman (uncredited)
as Stan - Depot Master (uncredited)
as Uncle Sam Bates
as Wilson Campaign Orator (uncredited)
as Music Conductor
as Deputy Sheriff
as Jake Hibbs (uncredited)
as Judge Lorrimer
as Tom Cooney
as Diamond Ed Barnaby
as George Newton
as Bill (uncredited)
as Doctor Peabody (uncredited)
as Jerry the Nitrate Technician (uncredited)
as Worker (uncredited)
as Martin Knox
as Hugo French
as Homer-the Barber
as Bill
as Settler (uncredited)
as Lem Wiggins
as Hank (uncredited)
as Seth Marcy
as Man Who Declares for the South
as Rennick (uncredited)
as Jones
as Finch (uncredited)
as Mr. Mason (uncredited)