---
name: "Victor McLaglen"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/victor-mclaglen"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "9 December 1886"
died: "7 November 1959"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-20T02:23:14.826639+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."
---

# Victor McLaglen

Actor. Born 9 December 1886 in Stepney, East London, England, UK. Died 7 November 1959.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 9 December 1886, Stepney, East London, England, UK
- **Died:** 7 November 1959
- **Active:** 1935–1952
- **Also known as:** Victor Andrew de Bier Everleigh McLaglen, Victor Everleigh McLaglen
- **Frequently works with:** [John Ford](https://film.one/person/john-ford.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 73 (1), 1950s 78 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_McLaglen, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q329577, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0572142/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/30495

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Quiet Man*](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Victor McLaglen

> A boxer's body and a face that takes a long time to catch up. Under John Ford that slowness became the point, and *The Informer* still holds because of it; left to himself, McLaglen tended to shout with his hands.

Watch what McLaglen does when the money arrives. In *The Informer* (1935) an officer counts out twenty pounds and pushes the notes across with his stick rather than touch the man who has earned them, and Gypo Nolan does nothing for a long moment, then picks them up as if they were hot. That is the McLaglen we rate: a big man with a slow mind, shoulders forward, hands hanging, a face that reaches each thought several seconds after we have. The scene got at us more than we expected, and it did so because nobody says a word. The shame is all in the pause.

He came to acting late and sideways. He had been a professional boxer and a British soldier, serving in the First World War as Provost Marshal in Baghdad, before British silent films took him in 1920; in 1936 he said, "My getting into pictures was all accidental." Hollywood followed in 1925, and for a while he was a leading man in action pictures and dramas. Sound moved him into character parts, and that is where Ford found a use for him: as the sergeant of *The Lost Patrol* (1934), then as Gypo, and on through twelve films together, ending with *The Quiet Man* (1952).

A Stepney boy of Scottish descent, he spent most of those years playing Irishmen, usually large, usually loud, frequently drunk. Sergeant Mulcahy in *Fort Apache* (1948) set the pattern for the cavalry pictures; Red Will Danaher squaring up to John Wayne in *The Quiet Man* is the version most people remember. He made seven films with Wayne, and Ford liked him best as the rogue or the comic turn at the edge of the frame. *Gunga Din* (1939), without Ford, gave the same persona an adventure to run about in. We have not reviewed these, so we will only say the man on screen is the one from Dublin, turned up for laughs.

The complaint that has followed him is fair as far as it goes. His style belongs to its time: gestures sized for the back of the stalls, a grimace where a later actor would hold still, and away from Ford it could slide into mugging. Ford's answer was to slow him down. In *The Informer* the fog does half the work, and McLaglen's job is to stand in it and be frightened, which he does with his whole body and no help from the dialogue. It is a broad performance about a simple man, and the fit is exact. What lets the film down is elsewhere, in Max Steiner's score and Dudley Nichols's script, which keep announcing what his face has already told us.

Start with *The Informer*, and watch the hands as closely as the face. Then, if you want him happy, find him beside Wayne with Ford behind the camera. Without Ford, go carefully: the body is all still there, but nobody is telling it to wait.

## Biography

Victor McLaglen was a British-American actor and former boxer. Born in Stepney, East London, he appeared in films from the 1920s to the 1950s, initially as a leading man and later as a character actor, often in Westerns and action roles.

He is best known for his performance as Gypo Nolan in John Ford's *The Informer* (1935), for which he received the Academy Award for Best Actor. McLaglen collaborated frequently with Ford, appearing in films including *Fort Apache* (1948), *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949), *Rio Grande* (1950) and *The Quiet Man* (1952). Other notable credits include *Gunga Din* (1939) and *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956).

His son, Andrew V. McLaglen, became a film and television director.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Quiet Man* (1952), Fi1m 78, as Squire 'Red' Will Danaher — [page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md)
- *The Informer* (1935), Fi1m 73, as Gypo Nolan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-informer.md)

## Complete filmography (122)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *On Location with Gunga Din* (2004), as MacChesney (archive footage)
- *Rawhide* (1959), series, as Harry Wittman
- *Sea Fury* (1958), as Bellew
- *The Italians They Are Crazy* (1958), as Sergente O'Riley
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Mike O'Hare
- *The Abductors* (1957), as Tom Muldoon
- *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), as SS Henrietta Helmsman
- *Lady Godiva of Coventry* (1955), as Grimald
- *Bengazi* (1955), as Robert Emmett Donovan
- *City of Shadows* (1955), as Big Tim Channing
- *Many Rivers to Cross* (1955), as Cadmus Cherne
- *Trouble in the Glen* (1954), as Parlan
- *Prince Valiant* (1954), as Boltar
- *Fair Wind to Java* (1953), as O'Brien
- *The Quiet Man* (1952), as Squire 'Red' Will Danaher — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-man.md)
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor
- *O'Mara's Chain Miracle* (1951), as Officer O'Mara
- *Rio Grande* (1950), as Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Michael O'Reilly
- *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949), as First Sergeant Quincannon
- *Fort Apache* (1948), as Sgt. Festus Mulcahy
- *The Foxes of Harrow* (1947), as Mike Farrell
- *Michigan Kid* (1947), as Curley Davis
- *Calendar Girl* (1947), as Matthew O'Neill
- *Whistle Stop* (1946), as Gitlo
- *Love, Honor and Goodbye* (1945), as Terry O'Farrell
- *Rough, Tough and Ready* (1945), as Owen McCarey
- *The Princess and the Pirate* (1944), as Captain Barrett / The Hook
- *Roger Touhy, Gangster* (1944), as Herman "Owl" Banghart
- *Tampico* (1944), as Fred Adamson
- *Forever and a Day* (1943), as Archibald Spavin
- *China Girl* (1942), as Bull Weed
- *Powder Town* (1942), as Jeems O'Shea
- *Call Out the Marines* (1942), as Sgt. Jimmy McGinnis
- *Broadway Limited* (1941), as Maurice "Mike" Monaghan
- *Diamond Frontier* (1940), as Terrence Regan
- *South of Pago Pago* (1940), as Bucko Larson
- *The Big Guy* (1939), as Warden Bill Whitlock
- *Rio* (1939), as Dirk
- *Full Confession* (1939), as Pat McGinnis
- *Captain Fury* (1939), as Jerry Black aka Blackie
- *Ex-Champ* (1939), as Tom 'Gunner' Grey
- *Let Freedom Ring* (1939), as Chris Mulligan
- *Gunga Din* (1939), as MacChesney
- *Pacific Liner* (1939), as Crusher McKay
- *We're Going to Be Rich* (1938), as "Dobbie" Dobson
- *The Devil's Party* (1938), as Marty Malone
- *Battle of Broadway* (1938), as Big Ben Wheeler
- *Wee Willie Winkie* (1937), as Sgt. Donald MacDuff
- *This Is My Affair* (1937), as Jock Ramsay
- *Nancy Steele Is Missing!* (1937), as Dannie O'Neill
- *Sea Devils* (1937), as Steve Webb
- *The Magnificent Brute* (1936), as 'Big Steve' Andrews
- *Under Two Flags* (1936), as J.C. Doyle
- *Klondike Annie* (1936), as Bull Brackett
- *Professional Soldier* (1935), as Colonel Michael Donovan
- *The Informer* (1935), as Gypo Nolan — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-informer.md)
- *The Great Hotel Murder* (1935), as Andrew W. 'Andy' McCabe
- *Under Pressure* (1935), as Jumbo Smith
- *The Captain Hates the Sea* (1934), as Junius P. Schulte
- *Murder at the Vanities* (1934), as Bill Murdock
- *Wharf Angel* (1934), as Turk
- *No More Women* (1934), as Forty-Fathoms
- *Hollywood on Parade No. B-1* (1934), Actor
- *The Lost Patrol* (1934), as The Sergeant
- *Dick Turpin* (1933), as Dick Turpin
- *Laughing at Life* (1933), as Dennis P. McHale / Burke / Captain Hale
- *Hot Pepper* (1933), as Jim Flagg
- *Rackety Rax* (1932), as 'Knucks' McGloin
- *Guilty as Hell* (1932), as Detective Capt. T.R. McKinley
- *While Paris Sleeps* (1932), as Jacques Costaud
- *Devil's Lottery* (1932), as Jem Meech
- *The Gay Caballero* (1932), as Don Bob Harkness / El Coyote
- *Wicked* (1931), as Scott Burrows
- *Annabelle's Affairs* (1931), as John Rawson / Hefly Jack
- *Women of All Nations* (1931), as Captain Jim Flagg
- *Dishonored* (1931), as Colonel Kranau
- *The Stolen Jools* (1931), as Sergeant Flagg
- *Three Rogues* (1931), as Bull Stanley
- *A Devil with Women* (1930), as Jerry Maxton
- *On the Level* (1930), as Biff Williams
- *Hot for Paris* (1929), as John Patrick Duke
- *The Cock-Eyed World* (1929), as Top Sergeant Flagg
- *Happy Days* (1929), as Minstrel Show Performer
- *The Black Watch* (1929), as Captain Donald King
- *Strong Boy* (1929), as Strong Boy
- *Captain Lash* (1929), as Captain Lash
- *The River Pirate* (1928), as Sailor Fritz
- *Hangman's House* (1928), as Denis Hogan
- *A Girl in Every Port* (1928), as Spike Madden
- *Mother Machree* (1927), as The Giant of Kilkenny
- *The Loves of Carmen* (1927), as Escamillo
- *Life in Hollywood No. 5* (1927), Actor
- *What Price Glory* (1926), as Capt. Flagg
- *Beau Geste* (1926), as Hank
- *Men of Steel* (1926), as Pete Masarick
- *The Isle of Retribution* (1926), as Doomsdorf
- *The Fighting Heart* (1925), as Soapy Williams
- *Winds of Chance* (1925), as Poleon Doret
- *The Unholy Three* (1925), as Hercules
- *Percy* (1925), as Reedy Jenkins
- *The Hunted Woman* (1925), as Quade
- *The Beloved Brute* (1924), as Charles Hinges
- *The Passionate Adventure* (1924), as Herb Harris
- *The Gay Corinthian* (1924), as Squire Hardcastle
- *Women and Diamonds* (1924), as Brian Owen
- *In the Blood* (1924), as Tony Crabtree
- *The Boatswain's Mate* (1924), as Ned Travers
- *M'Lord of the White Road* (1923), as Lord Annerley / John
- *Heartstrings* (1923), as Frank Wilson
- *Woman to Woman* (1923), as Nubian Slave (uncredited)
- *The Romany* (1923), as The Chief
- *The Crimson Circle* (1922), Actor
- *A Sailor Tramp* (1922), as The Sailor Tramp
- *The Glorious Adventure* (1922), as Bulfinch
- *Little Brother of God* (1922), as King Kennidy
- *A Romance of Old Baghdad* (1922), as Miski
- *The Sport of Kings* (1921), as Frank Rosedale
- *The Prey of the Dragon* (1921), as Brett 'Dragon' Mercer
- *Carnival* (1921), as Baron
- *Corinthian Jack* (1921), as Jack Halstead
- *The Call of the Road* (1920), as Alfred Truscott

## Gallery

- ![Victor McLaglen](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-0598380e24c9.jpg) Victor McLaglen — Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Victor_McLaglen%2C_1935.jpg/1280px-Victor_McLaglen%2C_1935.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Captain Lash Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors (1928)](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-ce96e473be41.jpg) Captain Lash Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actresses, actors (1928) — Autrey, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Captain_Lash_%28SAYRE_14635%29.jpg/1280px-Captain_Lash_%28SAYRE_14635%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Still from the romantic musical film Hot for Paris (1929). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors, actresses](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-3804c80b7744.jpg) Still from the romantic musical film Hot for Paris (1929). Subjects (LCTGM): motion pictures, actors, actresses — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Hot_for_Paris_%28SAYRE_15782%29.jpg/1280px-Hot_for_Paris_%28SAYRE_15782%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Lobby card for the American drama film Dishonored (1931).](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-847df0b0cc65.jpg) Lobby card for the American drama film Dishonored (1931). — Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Dishonored_lobby_card.jpg/1280px-Dishonored_lobby_card.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Victor McLaglen](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-d9527ab5cdbe.jpg) Victor McLaglen — Image via TMDB
- ![Victor McLaglen & Cary Grant in Gunga Din - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1939)](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-4a95787e59ec.jpg) Victor McLaglen & Cary Grant in Gunga Din - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1939) — trailer screenshot (RKO Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Gunga_Din_%281939%29_trailer_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Eddie Gribbon, Fay Wray and Victor McLaglen in Not Exactly Gentlemen](https://film.one/media/person/1228173/gallery-fb459aa940c8.jpg) Eddie Gribbon, Fay Wray and Victor McLaglen in Not Exactly Gentlemen — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Eddie_Gribbon%2C_Fay_Wray_and_Victor_McLaglen_-_Not_Exactly_Gentlemen_%281931%29_%2849733154898%29.jpg/1280px-Eddie_Gribbon%2C_Fay_Wray_and_Victor_McLaglen_-_Not_Exactly_Gentlemen_%281931%29_%2849733154898%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 1953: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *The Quiet Man*
- 1936: Best Actor (won), for *The Informer*

*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/victor-mclaglen