--- name: "Lloyd Nolan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/lloyd-nolan" fi1m_id: "lloyd-nolan" imdb_id: "nm0634313" tmdb_id: 19411 wikidata_id: "Q280666" roles: ["Actor"] born: "11 August 1902" died: "27 September 1985" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 69 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-09-20T05:21:49.441488+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." --- # Lloyd Nolan ## Identity Lloyd Nolan - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/lloyd-nolan - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** lloyd-nolan - **IMDb ID:** nm0634313 - **TMDB ID:** 19411 - **Wikidata ID:** Q280666 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Nolan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q280666, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634313/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/19411 Actor. Born 11 August 1902 in San Francisco, California, USA. Died 27 September 1985. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 11 August 1902, San Francisco, California, USA - **Died:** 27 September 1985 - **Active:** 1957–1986 - **Also known as:** Lloyd Benedict Nolan - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 64 (1), 1970s 56 (1), 1980s 88 (1) - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 3, Action 1, Comedy 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1 - **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $141m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Nolan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q280666, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0634313/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/19411 ## Streaming the US now - **Pluto TV:** [*Hannah and Her Sisters*](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) (88) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Lloyd Nolan > Lloyd Nolan spent half a century on screen as the man the others turn to: the detective, the doctor, the officer who has heard it all before. He was rarely given the film, and he was rarely the reason it failed. In *Peyton Place* (1957) he is the doctor who keeps everyone's secrets. In a town of a dozen households coming apart, he is the one who knows what is behind each door and says less than he knows. That is the Nolan part, and he played it in one uniform or another for fifty years: policemen, detectives, doctors, men with a badge or a bag who are not the story but are asked to tidy it up. He came to Hollywood in 1935, after stage work that began in the late 1920s and a training at the Pasadena Playhouse, and Paramount and Fox put him to work in B-pictures as cops and gangsters, including a run as the private detective Michael Shayne. Two 1945 films show what the studios had and did not quite use. In *The House on 92nd Street* he is the FBI inspector in a semi-documentary wartime thriller shot partly on location; in *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* he is Officer McShane, the beat policeman, and the warmth of the part is the point. The complaint against him then, and it was a fair one, was that the notices were good and the parts stayed small. The turn came on stage. In 1954 he originated Captain Queeg in *The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial* and played him again on television in 1955, a detailed study of a man coming to pieces under questioning, and for once the whole play was built around him. He described the work, to an interviewer that year, as "a workout, not a strain", which is roughly how he seems to have treated everything. Television kept him afterwards: three seasons as Dr Morton Chegley opposite Diahann Carroll in *Julia* (1968–71), and character parts in films and on television up to his death in 1985. His last screen role was Evan in Woody Allen's *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986). We liked that film a good deal, and honesty requires us to say our review did not single him out; he is one voice in a large and well-tuned ensemble, and that is where he spent most of his working life. It is *Peyton Place* where we noticed him. The film is longer and politer than it should be, and among all those doors being opened one at a time, his was the one we were glad to see swing back, because he plays the town's doctor as a man who has already decided what he thinks and is waiting to see whether anyone will ask. Watch *Peyton Place* for Hope Lange and Diane Varsi, as we said at the time, and then notice who the town goes to when it is in trouble. It is usually Nolan, and he is usually right. ## Biography Lloyd Benedict Nolan (11 August 1902 – 27 September 1985) was an American stage, film and television actor. Born in San Francisco, California, he attended Santa Clara Preparatory School and briefly studied at Stanford University before pursuing acting. He began his career on stage with the Dennis Players in Cape Cod and later moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films, often as doctors, private detectives or policemen. Nolan originated the role of private investigator Michael Shayne in a series of 1940s B movies and played notable parts in films including *The House on 92nd Street* (1945). On television he starred in *Julia* (1968–1971) and guest-starred in series such as *Bonanza*, *Murder, She Wrote* and *Remington Steele*. One of his final roles was as Evan, opposite Maureen O'Sullivan, in Woody Allen's *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), released after his death. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), Fi1m 88, as Evan — [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) - *Airport* (1970), Fi1m 56, as Harry Standish — [page](https://film.one/film/airport.md) - *Peyton Place* (1957), Fi1m 64, as Dr. Matthew Swain — [page](https://film.one/film/peyton-place.md) ## Complete filmography (144) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Why We Fight: World War II: The Battle of China / War Comes to America* (2000), as Narrator - *Hannah and Her Sisters* (1986), as Evan — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/hannah-and-her-sisters.md) - *Prince Jack* (1985), as Joe Kennedy - *It Came Upon the Midnight Clear* (1984), as Monsignor Donoghue - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Julian Tenley - *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Lloyd Nolan - *Galyon* (1980), as Willard Morgan - *Valentine* (1979), as Brother Joe - *$weepstake$* (1979), series, as Dr. Warnecke - *My Boys Are Good Boys* (1978), as Dan Montgomery - *The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover* (1977), as Attorney General Harlan Stone - *Fire!* (1977), as Doc Bennett - *Flight to Holocaust* (1977), as Wilton Bender - *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, Actor - *The November Plan* (1977), as Gen. Smedley Butler - *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, Actor - *City of Angels* (1976), series, Actor - *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, Actor - *The Abduction of Saint Anne* (1975), as Carl Gentry - *The Sky's the Limit* (1975), as Cornwall - *Earthquake* (1974), as Dr. James Vance - *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor - *Lincoln* (1974), series, as William H. Seward - *The Magician* (1973), series, as Charles Keegan - *Isn't It Shocking?* (1973), as Jesse Chapin - *The Waltons* (1972), series, as Cyrus Guthrie - *Airport* (1970), as Harry Standish — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/airport.md) - *McCloud* (1970), series, Actor - *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Dr. Karl Richardson - *Julia* (1968), series, as Dr. Morton Chegley - *Ice Station Zebra* (1968), as Admiral Garvey - *Sergeant Ryker* (1968), as Gen. Amos Bailey - *Mannix* (1967), series, as Sam Dubrio - *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, Actor - *The Double Man* (1967), as Edwards - *Wings of Fire* (1967), as Max Clarity - *An American Dream* (1966), as Barney Kelly - *Never Too Late* (1965), as Mayor Crane - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Judge Harper - *Daniel Boone* (1964), series, as Ben Hanks - *The Bing Crosby Show* (1964), series, Actor - *Circus World* (1964), as Cap Carson - *Kraft Suspense Theatre* (1963), series, as Gen. Amos Bailey - *The Great Adventure* (1963), series, as Col. Fraser - *The Outer Limits* (1963), series, as Tom Kagan - *The Girl Hunters* (1963), as Arthur Rickerby - *We Joined the Navy* (1963), as Vice Admiral Ryan - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Wade Anders, Abe Clayton, Tom Foster - *Susan Slade* (1961), as Roger Slade - *Bus Stop* (1961), series, Actor - *Girl of the Night* (1960), as Dr. Mitchell - *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor - *The Barbara Stanwyck Show* (1960), series, as George McShane - *Portrait in Black* (1960), as Matthew S. Cabot - *Startime* (1959), series, as Narrator - *Laramie* (1959), series, Actor - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Inspector Charles Leduque - *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor - *Peyton Place* (1957), as Dr. Matthew Swain — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/peyton-place.md) - *A Hatful of Rain* (1957), as John Pope, Sr - *Seven Waves Away* (1957), as Frank Kelly - *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Dr. Elisha Pittman - *Toward the Unknown* (1956), as Brig. Gen. Bill Banner - *Santiago* (1956), as Clay Pike - *The Last Hunt* (1956), as Woodfoot - *The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial* (1955), Actor - *Ford Star Jubilee* (1955), series, Actor - *Climax!* (1954), series, as Jack London - *Crazylegs* (1953), as Win Brockmeyer - *Island in the Sky* (1953), as Captain Stutz - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Robert Hale, Michael Bowen - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Nat Miller - *The Lemon Drop Kid* (1951), as Oxford Charley - *Easy Living* (1949), as Lenahan - *Martin Kane, Private Eye* (1949), series, Actor - *The Sun Comes Up* (1949), as Thomas I. Chandler - *Bad Boy* (1949), as Marshall Brown - *The Ford Theatre Hour* (1948), series, as Nifty Miller - *The Street with No Name* (1948), as Inspector George A. Briggs - *Green Grass of Wyoming* (1948), as Rob McLaughlin - *Wild Harvest* (1947), as Kink - *Lady in the Lake* (1946), as Lieutenant DeGarmot - *Somewhere in the Night* (1946), as Police Lt. Donald Kendall - *Two Smart People* (1946), as Bob Simms - *The House on 92nd Street* (1945), as Agent George A. Briggs - *Captain Eddie* (1945), as Lt. Jim Whitaker - *War Comes to America* (1945), as Narrator - *Circumstantial Evidence* (1945), as Sam Lord - *A Tree Grows in Brooklyn* (1945), as Officer McShane - *Resisting Enemy Interrogation* (1944), as USAF Debriefing Officer / Narrator - *Attack! The Battle for New Britain* (1944), as Narrator (voice) - *Guadalcanal Diary* (1943), as Sgt. Hook Malone - *Don't Be a Sucker!* (1943), as Commentator (voice) - *Bataan* (1943), as Cpl. Barney Todd - *Time to Kill* (1942), as Michael Shayne - *Manila Calling* (1942), as Lucky Matthews - *Apache Trail* (1942), as Trigger Bill Folliard - *Just Off Broadway* (1942), as Michael Shayne - *It Happened in Flatbush* (1942), as Frank 'Butterfingers' Maguire - *The Man Who Wouldn't Die* (1942), as Michael Shayne - *Blue, White and Perfect* (1942), as Michael Shayne - *Steel Against the Sky* (1941), as Rocky Evans - *Blues in the Night* (1941), as Del Davis - *Buy Me That Town* (1941), as Rickey Deane - *Dressed to Kill* (1941), as Michael Shayne - *Sleepers West* (1941), as Michael Shayne - *Mr. Dynamite* (1941), as Tommy N. Thornton ('Mr. Dynamite') - *Behind the News* (1940), as Stuart Woodrow - *Michael Shayne: Private Detective* (1940), as Michael Shayne - *Charter Pilot* (1940), as King Morgan - *The Golden Fleecing* (1940), as Gus Fender - *The Man I Married* (1940), as Kenneth Delane - *Pier 13* (1940), as Danny Dolan - *Gangs of Chicago* (1940), as Matthew J. 'Matty' Burns - *Johnny Apollo* (1940), as Mickey Dwyer - *The House Across the Bay* (1940), as Slant Kolma - *The Man Who Wouldn't Talk* (1940), as Joe Monday - *The Magnificent Fraud* (1939), as Sam Barr - *Undercover Doctor* (1939), as Robert Anders - *St. Louis Blues* (1939), as Dave Geurney - *Ambush* (1939), as Tony Andrews - *King of Alcatraz* (1938), as Raymond Grayson - *Prison Farm* (1938), as Larry Harrison - *Hunted Men* (1938), as Joe Albany - *Tip-Off Girls* (1938), as Bob Anders - *Dangerous to Know* (1938), as Inspector Brandon - *Wells Fargo* (1937), as Dal Slade - *Every Day's a Holiday* (1937), as John Quade - *Ebb Tide* (1937), as Attwater - *Exclusive* (1937), as Charles Gillette - *King of Gamblers* (1937), as Jim Adams - *Internes Can't Take Money* (1937), as Hanlon - *15 Maiden Lane* (1936), as Det. Sgt. Walsh - *The Texas Rangers* (1936), as Sam 'Polka Dot' McGee - *Counterfeit* (1936), as Capper Stevens - *Devil's Squadron* (1936), as Dana Kirk - *Big Brown Eyes* (1936), as Russ Cortig - *Lady of Secrets* (1936), as Michael Harvey - *You May Be Next!* (1936), as Neil Bennett - *One Way Ticket* (1935), as Jerry - *She Couldn't Take It* (1935), as Tex - *Atlantic Adventure* (1935), as Dan Miller - *'G' Men* (1935), as Hugh Farrell - *Stolen Harmony* (1935), as Chesty Burrage ## Gallery - ![Advertisement for the 1945 film A Tree Grows in Brooklyn](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-880296ea09a9.jpg) Advertisement for the 1945 film A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — Time Inc.; advertisement by 20th Century Fox, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/A-Tree-Grows-in-Brooklyn-LIFE-Ad-1945.jpg/1280px-A-Tree-Grows-in-Brooklyn-LIFE-Ad-1945.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Theatrical release poster for the 1945 film A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-5f60425a567f.jpg) Theatrical release poster for the 1945 film A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. — Designer unknown. Distributed by 20th Century Fox., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_%281945_poster%29.jpg/1280px-A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn_%281945_poster%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![New Paramount Personalities 1937 (2)](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-9901a9a3706e.jpg) New Paramount Personalities 1937 (2) — Paramount Pictures / Photographers not credited, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/New_Paramount_Personalities_1937_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-ee031024a159.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-d88a43d59125.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-fdf7d80bae84.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-5471a04e61eb.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-c4bf0b6b293f.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB - ![Lloyd Nolan](https://film.one/media/person/118603/gallery-be0cc5fee37c.jpg) Lloyd Nolan — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1956: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Ford Star Jubilee* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © 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/lloyd-nolan