--- name: "Douglas Fowley" canonical: "https://film.one/person/douglas-fowley" fi1m_id: "douglas-fowley" imdb_id: "nm0288830" tmdb_id: 13298 wikidata_id: "Q1252302" roles: ["Actor"] born: "30 May 1911" died: "21 May 1998" reviewed_on_fi1m: 6 average_fi1m_score: 82 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-25T05:19:45.168725+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Douglas Fowley ## Identity Douglas Fowley - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/douglas-fowley - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** douglas-fowley - **IMDb ID:** nm0288830 - **TMDB ID:** 13298 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1252302 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fowley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1252302, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0288830/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13298 Actor. Born 30 May 1911 in The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. Died 21 May 1998. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 30 May 1911, The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA - **Died:** 21 May 1998 - **Active:** 1938–1974 - **Also known as:** Daniel Vincent Fowley, Douglas V. Fowley, Doug Fowley, Douglas V. Frowley - **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 4 acting, 2 other - **Average Fi1m score:** 82, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 77 (2), 1940s 80 (1), 1950s 88 (2), 1970s 83 (1) - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 2, Action 1, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Music 1 - **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $11m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Fowley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1252302, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0288830/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13298 ## Streaming the US now - **HBO Max:** [*Singin' in the Rain*](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md) (93) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Douglas Fowley > Douglas Fowley spent two decades playing hoods and reporters in B-pictures, then took out his false teeth and became a western codger. In between he gave us Roscoe Dexter, the director in *Singin' in the Rain*, and that is the part that has lasted. Douglas Fowley had a trick, and he was happy to explain it. He lost his upper teeth to an explosion aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific during the war, and for the rest of his career he wore a plate. When a part called for an old man, out it came. "I started playing old character roles by removing my false upper plate, adding a beard, voice and gait to match my interpretation," he said in 1994. No talk of inner life there; that is a working actor describing his tools. The career runs in two halves with the plate as the hinge. He started in 1933 in *The Mad Game* with Spencer Tracy, after stage and nightclub work, and for the next fifteen years he was a heavy: gangsters, slick villains, fast-talking reporters, the sort of man who turns up in a Charlie Chan picture. He drove a taxi, uncredited, in *The Thin Man* (1934). Then the Navy, then the teeth, and by *Battleground* (1949) he was using the plate for laughs. From 1955 to 1961 he was Doc Holliday, and before that Doc Fabrique, opposite Hugh O'Brian on *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp*, a run of more than thirty appearances together. The part in the middle is the one to see. Roscoe Dexter in *Singin' in the Rain* (1952) is the director whose job has changed under him overnight, trying to get a silent star to say her lines into a machine that will not cooperate. Our review scored the film 93 and did not single Fowley out, which is the character actor's lot: the picture is so full of good work that the man shouting from behind the camera gets lost in the count. We laughed at Dexter harder than at almost anyone else in it, because Fowley plays him as the one person on the set who is not enjoying himself, and the less he enjoys it the funnier it gets. He turned up again a year later, uncredited, as the auctioneer in *The Band Wagon* (1953), another Comden and Green musical. The limits are plain enough. For most of his working life the budgets were small and the parts were smaller, and the heavies of the 1930s and 1940s are interchangeable by design. We have not reviewed the westerns and will not pretend to judge them, though the record suggests he found more room in them. His best film role is a supporting one in someone else's picture. Still, not many actors have a career you can date by whether their teeth are in. Watch *Singin' in the Rain* again and keep an eye on the man behind the camera. He is the only one in the picture having a bad day, and it is one of the reasons we have a good one. ## Biography Douglas Fowley (born Daniel Vincent Fowley) was an American actor. He appeared in more than 240 films and dozens of television programmes between 1933 and 1982. Fowley made his film debut in *The Mad Game* (1933). He is best known for his role as the frustrated director Roscoe Dexter in *Singin' in the Rain* (1952) and for his regular supporting role as Doc Holliday in the television series *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955–1961). He also appeared in numerous other films and series, including *The Thin Man* (1934), *The Band Wagon* (1953) and *Walking Tall* (1973). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (6) ### Performed in (4) — the average rests on these - *The Rockford Files* (1974), Fi1m 83, as Ted — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *Singin' in the Rain* (1952), Fi1m 93, as Roscoe Dexter — [page](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md) - *Battleground* (1949), Fi1m 80, as 'Kipp' Kippton — [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md) - *Alexander's Ragtime Band* (1938), Fi1m 70, as Snapper — [page](https://film.one/film/alexanders-ragtime-band.md) ### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *The Band Wagon* (1953), Fi1m 84, as Auctioneer (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-band-wagon.md) - *The Thin Man* (1934), Fi1m 84, as Taxi Driver (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-man.md) ## Complete filmography (278) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone* (1994), as Doc Holliday / Doc Fabrique (flashback sequences) (archive footage) - *Detective School* (1979), series, Actor - *The North Avenue Irregulars* (1979), as Delaney - *Sunshine Christmas* (1977), as Stanley - *CHiPs* (1977), series, as Barney (as Douglas V. Fowley) - *The White Buffalo* (1977), as Amos Bixby - *Black Oak Conspiracy* (1977), as Bryan Hancock (as Douglas V. Fowley) - *The Golden Dog* (1977), as Narrator - *From Noon Till Three* (1976), as Buck Bowers - *Family* (1976), series, as Watchman - *Switch* (1975), series, as Jake - *Starsky & Hutch* (1975), as Lijah - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Ted — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974), series, as The Super - *Homebodies* (1974), as Mr. Crawford - *Walking Tall* (1973), as Judge Clarke - *Run, Cougar, Run* (1972), as Joe Bickley - *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Trapper - *Here Comes the Judge* (1972), Actor - *O'Hara, U.S. Treasury* (1971), series, Actor - *The Good Guys and the Bad Guys* (1969), as Grundy - *My World and Welcome to It* (1969), series, Actor - *Mayberry R.F.D.* (1968), series, as Judson - *The Guns of Will Sonnett* (1967), series, Actor - *The Second Hundred Years* (1967), series, as Henry Sykes - *Pistols 'n' Petticoats* (1967), as Grandpa Andrew Hanks - *Pistols 'n' Petticoats* (1966), series, as Grandpa Andrew Hanks - *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor - *Branded* (1965), series, as Jed Peck - *Guns of Diablo* (1964), as Mr. Knudsen - *Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.* (1964), series, Actor - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Rufus C. Hoops - *7 Faces of Dr. Lao* (1964), as Toothless Cowboy - *The Bill Dana Show* (1963), series, Actor - *Temple Houston* (1963), series, as Doc Webb - *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Indian Chief - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Sorrowful, Sheriff Ben Tolliver - *Barabbas* (1961), as Vasasio - *Hazel* (1961), series, as Mr. Jeffries - *Buffalo Gun* (1961), as Sheriff - *Desire in the Dust* (1960), as Zuba Wilson - *The Andy Griffith Show* (1960), series, as Hobo - *My Three Sons* (1960), series, as Toby Chambers - *Macumba Love* (1960), Director, Producer - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Ned Conrad - *Tightrope* (1959), series, as Max Rommey - *The Geisha Boy* (1958), as GI in Korea (uncredited) - *The Texan* (1958), series, Actor - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Tolliver Bender - *Jefferson Drum* (1958), series, as Wooley - *Sea Hunt* (1958), series, as Pop - *A Gift for Heidi* (1958), as Alm Uncle - *Raiders of Old California* (1957), as Sheriff - *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Carlson - *Alcoa Theatre* (1957), series, as Pop - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Rubin Cason - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ed Graham - *Richard Diamond, Private Detective* (1957), series, as Bailey - *Bayou* (1957), as Emil Hebert - *The Badge of Marshal Brennan* (1957), as Marshal Brennan - *Kelly and Me* (1957), as Dave Gans - *Rock, Pretty Baby* (1956), as Pop Wright - *Man from Del Rio* (1956), as Doc Adams - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Luke - *State Trooper* (1956), series, as Matt 'Pop' Porter, Doc Crippin - *Bandido!* (1956), as McGhee - *The Broken Star* (1956), as Hiram Charleton - *Texas Lady* (1955), as Clay Ballard (Clarion owner) - *Cheyenne* (1955), series, as Pritchard - *The Great Gildersleeve* (1955), series, Actor - *The Girl Rush* (1955), as Charlie - Stickman - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Buck Doolin - *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, as Doc Holliday, Doc Fabrique, Grandpa Logan, Dr. John H. Holliday - *The Lonesome Trail* (1955), as Crazy Charley Bonesteel - *The Matchmaking Marshal* (1955), as Jack Ruskin - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Tom Diamond - *Deep in My Heart* (1954), as Harold Butterfield (uncredited) - *December Bride* (1954), series, Actor - *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor - *Lassie* (1954), series, Actor - *The High and the Mighty* (1954), as Alsop - *The Lone Gun* (1954), as Bartender - *Casanova's Big Night* (1954), as Second Prisoner - *Southwest Passage* (1954), as Toad Ellis - *Untamed Heiress* (1954), as Pal - *Public Defender* (1954), series, Actor - *The Naked Jungle* (1954), as Medicine Man - *With This Ring* (1954), as Gordon · Miller Executive - *Red River Shore* (1953), as Case Lockwood - *The Pride of the Family* (1953), series, as Bushnell (uncredited) - *City Detective* (1953), series, Actor - *Cat-Women of the Moon* (1953), as Walter 'Walt' Walters - *The Band Wagon* (1953), as Auctioneer (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-band-wagon.md) - *Cruisin' Down the River* (1953), as Humphrey Hepburn - *Revlon Mirror Theatre* (1953), series, Actor - *A Slight Case of Larceny* (1953), as Mr. White - *Kansas Pacific* (1953), as Max Janus - *The Man Behind The Gun* (1953), as Buckley Saloon Manager - *The Life Of Riley* (1953), series, as Eddie - *The Abbott and Costello Show* (1952), series, as Lefty - *Horizons West* (1952), as Ed Tompkins - *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Frank Harvey, Police Lt. - *Singin' in the Rain* (1952), as Roscoe Dexter — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/singin-in-the-rain.md) - *Just This Once* (1952), as Frank Pirosh - *This Woman Is Dangerous* (1952), as Saunders (Uncredited) - *Finders Keepers* (1952), as Franke Simmons - *Callaway Went Thataway* (1951), as Gaffer (uncredited) - *Angels in the Outfield* (1951), as Cab Driver (uncredited) - *South of Caliente* (1951), as Dave Norris - *Across the Wide Missouri* (1951), as Tin Cup Owens (uncredited) - *Criminal Lawyer* (1951), as Harry Cheney - *Chain of Circumstance* (1951), as Lt. Fenning - *The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok* (1951), series, as Ed Ruskin - *Tarzan's Peril* (1951), as Herbert Trask - *Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone* (1950), as Steve Kepplar - *He's a Cockeyed Wonder* (1950), as 'Crabs' Freeley - *Stage to Tucson* (1950), as Ira Prentiss - *Rio Grande Patrol* (1950), as Bragg Orcutt - *The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show* (1950), series, as Charles Lowe - *Bunco Squad* (1950), as Det. Sgt. Mack McManus - *Edge of Doom* (1950), as Detective #2 - *Armored Car Robbery* (1950), as Benjamin 'Benny' McBride - *Rider from Tucson* (1950), as Bob Rankin - *Hoedown* (1950), as Gang Leader (uncredited) - *So You Think You're Not Guilty* (1950), as Convict (uncredited) - *Killer Shark* (1950), as Louie Bracado - *Renegades of the Sage* (1949), as Sloper - *Battleground* (1949), as 'Kipp' Kippton — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/battleground.md) - *Satan's Cradle* (1949), as Steve Gentry - *Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch* (1949), as Thurston - *Any Number Can Play* (1949), as Smitty (uncredited) - *Mighty Joe Young* (1949), as Jones - *Clunked in the Clink* (1949), Actor - *Massacre River* (1949), as Simms - *Arson, Inc.* (1949), as Frederick P. 'Fred' Fender - *Susanna Pass* (1949), as Roberts aka Walter P. Johnson - *Search for Danger* (1949), as The Inspector - *Manhattan Angel* (1949), as Mr. Fowley - Press Photographer (uncredited) - *Flaxy Martin* (1949), as Max, Detective - *Gun Smugglers* (1948), as Steve Reeves - *The Denver Kid* (1948), as Henchman Slip - *Joe Palooka in Winner Take All* (1948), as Reporter - *Behind Locked Doors* (1948), as Larson - *Coroner Creek* (1948), as Stew Shallis - *Waterfront at Midnight* (1948), as Joe Sargus - *The Dude Goes West* (1948), as Beetle - *Docks of New Orleans* (1948), as Grock - *Black Bart* (1948), as Sheriff Mix (uncredited) - *So You Want to Be a Gambler* (1948), as Honest John (uncredited) - *If You Knew Susie* (1948), as Marty - *Rose of Santa Rosa* (1947), as Larry Fish - *Roses Are Red* (1947), as Ace Oliver (as Doug Fowley) - *Merton of the Movies* (1947), as Phil - *Key Witness* (1947), as Jim Guthrie (uncredited) - *Ridin' Down the Trail* (1947), as Mark Butler - *The Gas House Kids in Hollywood* (1947), as Mitch Gordon - *Jungle Flight* (1947), as Tom Hammond - *The Hucksters* (1947), as Georgie Gaver - *The Trespasser* (1947), as Bill Monroe - *Desperate* (1947), as Pete - *Fun on a Weekend* (1947), as Gambling House Owner (uncredited) - *The Sea of Grass* (1947), as Joe Horton (uncredited) - *Three on a Ticket* (1947), as Mace Morgan - *Yankee Fakir* (1947), as Murgatroyd Bartholomew Davis - *Fall Guy* (1947), as Inspector Shannon - *Backlash* (1947), as Red Bailey - *Undercover Maisie* (1947), as Daniels - *Scared to Death* (1947), as Terry Lee - *Wild Country* (1947), as Clark Varney - *North of the Border* (1946), as Nails Nelson - *'Neath Canadian Skies* (1946), as Ned Thompson - *High School Hero* (1946), as Coach Carter - *Chick Carter, Detective* (1946), as Rusty Farrell - *In Fast Company* (1946), as Steve Trent - *Larceny in Her Heart* (1946), as Doc H. C. Patterson - *The Glass Alibi* (1946), as Joe Eykner - *Blonde Alibi* (1946), as Henchman Willie (Uncredited) - *Drifting Along* (1946), as Jack Dailey - *Life with Blondie* (1945), as Blackie Leonard (uncredited) - *Don't Fence Me In* (1945), as Jack Gordon - *Along the Navajo Trail* (1945), as J. Richard Bentley - *One Body Too Many* (1944), as Henry Rutherford - *Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore* (1944), as Rudy (uncredited) - *The Story of Dr. Wassell* (1944), as Bit Part (uncredited) - *Detective Kitty O'Day* (1944), as Harry Downs - *And the Angels Sing* (1944), as N.Y. Cafe Manager (uncredited) - *Shake Hands with Murder* (1944), as Steve Morgan - *Rationing* (1944), as Dixie Samson - *See Here, Private Hargrove* (1944), as Capt. R.S. Manville - *Lady in the Death House* (1944), as Dr. Dwight 'Brad' Bradford - *The Racket Man* (1944), as Toby Sykes - *Riding High* (1943), as Brown - *Minesweeper* (1943), as Cutter Lieutenant Wells - *The Chance of a Lifetime* (1943), as Nails Blanton (Uncredited) - *Bar 20* (1943), as Henchman Slash - *Swing Shift Maisie* (1943), as Investigator (Uncredited) - *The Kansan* (1943), as Ben Nash - *Sleepy Lagoon* (1943), as J. 'The Brain' Lucarno - *Colt Comrades* (1943), as Joe Brass - *Jitterbugs* (1943), as Malcolm Bennett - *Gildersleeve's Bad Day* (1943), as Louie Barton - *Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case* (1943), as Wallace (uncredited) - *Stand by for Action* (1942), as Ensign Martin - *Lost Canyon* (1942), as Jeff Burton - *The Devil with Hitler* (1942), as Walter Beeter - *The Man in the Trunk* (1942), as Ed Mygatt - *For the Common Defense!* (1942), as Dutch Mullner - *I Live on Danger* (1942), as Joey Farr - *So's Your Aunt Emma!* (1942), as Gus Hammond - *Mississippi Gambler* (1942), as Chet Matthews - *Sunset on the Desert* (1942), as Ramsay McCall - *Mr. Wise Guy* (1942), as Bill Collins - *Hay Foot* (1942), as Captain Rossmead - *Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case* (1941), as Vincent Mackay - *Secret of the Wastelands* (1941), as Slade Salters - *Doctors Don't Tell* (1941), as Joe Grant - *Tanks a Million* (1941), as Capt. Rossmead - *Dangerous Lady* (1941), as Police Sgt. Brent - *The Parson of Panamint* (1941), as Chappie Ellerton - *The Great Swindle* (1941), as Rocky Andrews - *Ellery Queen, Master Detective* (1940), as Rocky Taylor - *East of the River* (1940), as Cy Turner - *Cherokee Strip* (1940), as Alf Barrett - *The Leather Pushers* (1940), as Slick Connolly - *Pier 13* (1940), as Johnnie Hale - *Wagons Westward* (1940), as Bill Marsden - *20 Mule Team* (1940), as Stag Roper - *Cafe Hostess* (1940), as Eddie Morgan - *Slightly Honorable* (1939), as Madder - *Henry Goes Arizona* (1939), as Ricky Dole - *Charlie Chan at Treasure Island* (1939), as Peter Lewis - *It Could Happen to You* (1939), as Freddie Barlow - *Boy Friend* (1939), as Ed Boyd - *Lucky Night* (1939), as George - *Dodge City* (1939), as Munger - *Inside Story* (1939), as Gus Brawley - *The Arizona Wildcat* (1939), as Rufe Galloway - *Submarine Patrol* (1938), as Seaman Pinky Brett - *Time Out for Murder* (1938), as J.E. 'Dutch' Moran - *Keep Smiling* (1938), as Cedric Hunt - *Passport Husband* (1938), as Tiger Martin - *Alexander's Ragtime Band* (1938), as Snapper — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/alexanders-ragtime-band.md) - *Mr. Moto's Gamble* (1938), as Nick Crowder - *Walking Down Broadway* (1938), as Ace Wagner - *City Girl* (1938), as Ritchie - *Love and Hisses* (1937), as Webster - *Charlie Chan on Broadway* (1937), as Johnny Burke - *Wake Up and Live* (1937), as Herman - *One Mile from Heaven* (1937), as Jim Tabor - *Wild and Woolly* (1937), as Blackie Morgan - *She Had to Eat* (1937), as Duke Stacey - *Fifty Roads to Town* (1937), as Dutch Nelson - *This Is My Affair* (1937), as Alec - *On the Avenue* (1937), as Eddie Eads - *Time Out for Romance* (1937), as Roy Webster - *Woman-Wise* (1937), as Stevens - *15 Maiden Lane* (1936), as Nick Shelby - *Sing, Baby, Sing* (1936), as Mac - *Crash Donovan* (1936), as Harris - *36 Hours to Kill* (1936), as Duke Benson - *Private Number* (1936), as Sheik (Uncredited) - *Navy Born* (1936), as Lt. Steve Bassett - *Small Town Girl* (1936), as Chick Page (uncredited) - *Big Brown Eyes* (1936), as Benny Battle - *Ring Around the Moon* (1936), as Ted Curlew - *Two for Tonight* (1935), as Pooch Donahue - *Old Man Rhythm* (1935), as Oyster - *Princess O'Hara* (1935), as Emcee (uncredited) - *Straight from the Heart* (1935), as Speed Spelvin - *Transient Lady* (1935), as Matt Baxter - *Night Life of the Gods* (1935), as Cyril Sparks - *Student Tour* (1934), as Mushy - *The Girl from Missouri* (1934), as New Bellboy with Vase (uncredited) - *Let's Talk It Over* (1934), as Sailor Jones - *The Thin Man* (1934), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-thin-man.md) - *I Hate Women* (1934), as Nelson - *Sleepers East* (1934), as Gangster (uncredited) - *The Woman Who Dared* (1933), as Kay's Boyfriend ## Gallery - ![Douglas Fowley](https://film.one/media/person/59280/gallery-0f0b0c4d94d6.png) Douglas Fowley — tcm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Douglas_Fowley_in_20_Mule_Team_%281940%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Douglas Fowley](https://film.one/media/person/59280/gallery-6c1ac16b2636.jpg) Douglas Fowley — Image via TMDB - ![Douglas Fowley](https://film.one/media/person/59280/gallery-c8469ea5ddbc.jpg) Douglas Fowley — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/douglas-fowley