Clifton Young
Encyclopedia
Robert Howard "Clifton" Young (September 15, 1917 – September 10, 1951) was an American
film actor.
films from 1925 to 1931, his most notable film being School's Out
. As an adult, to avoid confusion with established star Robert Young, he took his mother's maiden name, Clifton (Eva Clifton) as his screen name. Clifton is a family name and originated as a stage name for British Actor, Frederick Clifton, who immigrated to the United States and settled in New York
with his wife, Marie Glover.
Young became a contract player at Warner Bros.
, landing small parts in a number of 1940s film noir
and western
films. Notable credits include Nora Prentiss
, Pursued
, Possessed
, Dark Passage, and Blood on the Moon
.
While at Warners Young was featured prominently in the Joe McDoakes
comedy shorts. He played a variety of roles: a craven mobster in So You Want to Be a Detective, a department-store clerk in So You're Going on Vacation, and memorably as "Homer," Joe's brash, know-it-all office colleague in several McDoakes reels. Young often displayed excellent comedy timing in these films.
western Trail of Robin Hood
, in which he played a sneering villain. In 1951, Young died in a hotel fire that started when he fell asleep while smoking.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor.
Career
Born Robert H. Young, the child actor played "Bonedust" in nineteen Our GangOur Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
films from 1925 to 1931, his most notable film being School's Out
School's Out (1930 film)
School's Out is a 1930 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. Produced by Hal Roach and released to theaters by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was the 102nd Our Gang short to be released.-Plot:...
. As an adult, to avoid confusion with established star Robert Young, he took his mother's maiden name, Clifton (Eva Clifton) as his screen name. Clifton is a family name and originated as a stage name for British Actor, Frederick Clifton, who immigrated to the United States and settled in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with his wife, Marie Glover.
Young became a contract player at Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
, landing small parts in a number of 1940s film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
and western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
films. Notable credits include Nora Prentiss
Nora Prentiss
Nora Prentiss is a 1947 black-and-white drama film. It is shot in the film noir style. The film, considered by some to be a "woman's noir", was directed by Vincent Sherman, who bought the story for $2500 ,. Sherman also directed leading lady Ann Sheridan in another 1947 film noir, The Unfaithful...
, Pursued
Pursued
Pursued is a 1947 movie starring Robert Mitchum that combines western, film noir and psychological melodrama. The film was directed by Raoul Walsh and photographed in black-and-white by James Wong Howe.-Plot summary:...
, Possessed
Possessed (1947 film)
Possessed is a 1947 Warner Bros. film starring Joan Crawford, Van Heflin, and Raymond Massey in a tale about an unstable woman's obsession with her ex-lover. The screenplay by Ranald MacDougall and Silvia Richards was based upon a story by Rita Weiman. The film was directed by Curtis Bernhardt and...
, Dark Passage, and Blood on the Moon
Blood on the Moon
Blood on the Moon is an RKO black-and-white "psychological" western directed by Robert Wise with cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca. The film, starring Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Robert Preston has many film noir elements. It was shot in California and some of the more scenic shots...
.
While at Warners Young was featured prominently in the Joe McDoakes
Joe McDoakes
Joe McDoakes is the protagonist of a series of 63 black and white live action comedy one reel short subjects released between 1942 and 1956. The Joe McDoakes shorts are also known as the Behind the Eight Ball series or the So You Want... series...
comedy shorts. He played a variety of roles: a craven mobster in So You Want to Be a Detective, a department-store clerk in So You're Going on Vacation, and memorably as "Homer," Joe's brash, know-it-all office colleague in several McDoakes reels. Young often displayed excellent comedy timing in these films.
Death
One of Young's last films was the Roy RogersRoy Rogers
Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye , was an American singer and cowboy actor, one of the most heavily marketed and merchandised stars of his era, as well as being the namesake of the Roy Rogers Restaurants franchised chain...
western Trail of Robin Hood
Trail of Robin Hood
Trail of Robin Hood is a 1950 American Trucolor film starring Roy Rogers and filmed in the San Bernardino Mountains and Big Bear Lake California...
, in which he played a sneering villain. In 1951, Young died in a hotel fire that started when he fell asleep while smoking.