February 2 Birthday Wishes

Frank McGrath [1903 - 1967]

Dave Sharpe [1910 - 1980]

Bo Hopkins [1942 - ]

Howdy Manco!!

Ole Frank McGrath!! This l'il fella played Charlie Weaver on the t.v. series Wagon Train for about 8 years. He also appeared in bit parts in several western films. He was always being harassed by Ward Bond/Major Adams about something he did, the bad coffee, the bad food etc. I think he should have give Bond/Adams an attitude adjustment and run over him with the chuck wagon.

I'm not familiar with Sharpe, but that's a beautiful rig he's got around his shoulders. Somebody should have told him not to fool with it, because he's got the small holster buckle on backwards.

Bo Hopkins has been around since the early 70's. That photo is from the movie. The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing. He has appeared in many many more. The 1st time I ever saw him was in the 70's comedy film, American Graffiti with Ron Howard, Charles Smith, Cindy Williams and Richard Dreyfus. If you'll recall, this was also one of the 1st appearances for Harrison Ford. I think Hopkins was the leader for the teenage gang, the Pharohs.
Great actor!!

Ed

Ed -- David Sharpe not only was an actor in a number of B westerns and serials, but was one of the top stuntmen in the business.

David Sharpe had a long career as a stunt man, from 1922 to 1978, with a lot of TV shows under his belt, including The Lone Ranger, Batman, Star Trek, and the Wild Wild West. Ed, I'm with you, I haven't heard of him before today, as most of his stunt work is uncredited. But thanks to this Internet thing, I now know who David Sharpe, "The Clown Prince of Daredevils" is.

Ed, I also gotta correct you, pard. Frank McGrath played Charlie Wooster, not Weaver, on Wagon Train. He did a lot of uncredited work before TV came along. He was one of the "acting corporals" in Fort Apache, he played the bugler and an Indian in She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, he was a Ranger in The Searchers, and a posse member in The Ox-Bow Incident.

And what about Bo Hopkins at the beginning of The Wild Bunch? His first major role was as Burt Reynolds' sidekick in White Lightning in 1973. He looked a lot like Jerry Reed, and was cast as Reed's brother in What Comes Around. Did a lot of TV episode in the '60s and '70s.

Howdy Tinhorn!!

You're right, Tinhorn!! I'd forgotten about Bo Hopkins appearance in The Wild Bunch and that was a late 60's film, if I'm not mistaken.
Sorry bout the Weaver/Wooster thing, but as the mechanical navigator in Walt Disney's movie " The Navigator" said to the little boy, " we filled up your brain with star charts and we found out it leaks"!!

Ed

P.S.
I jest remembered that ole Charlie Weaver used to appear on the ole Hollywood Squares show. Guess that's whut confused me!!

Yes, David Sharpe made a lot of those old action stars look great in fights and such. Frank McGrath also worked as a stunt man in a number of films, again (as with Davy Sharpe) uncredited.