John Merton
John Merton
Born John Myrtland LaVarre, John Merton has appeared on Broadway as "Myrtland LaVarre" in the Theatre Guild's hit production of Karel Capek's R.U.R. (1922). More theater work followed and he was spotted in the background of several silent films, including as a fireman in W.C. Fields' It's the Old Army Game (1926). But the handsome, slightly frosty-looking actor found his rightful place in B-Westerns and serials. He would appear in a total of 170 films, turning up as an assortment of blackguards. Usually a bit more sophisticated than the average "dog heavy," Merton could nevertheless rough it with the best of 'em, a talent he passed on to his equally tough-looking son, Lane Bradford. Father and son appeared in six films together, including 1947's Jack Armstrong. (Another son played supporting roles on television in the '50s under the moniker of Robert La Varre.) Retiring after a bit in Cecil B. DeMille's gigantic The Ten Commandments (1956), Merton died of a heart attack at the age of 58. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide
Filmography of John Merton:
- The Law Commands with Tom Keene , Matthew Betz , Carl Stockdale , David Sharpe , Laraine Day , Fred Burns
- The Gold Raiders with George O'Brien , Moe Howard , Shemp Howard , Larry Fine , Sheila Ryan , Clem Bevans , Monte Blue , Lyle Talbot , Fuzzy Knight , Robert Ginty
- Unconquered with Gary Cooper , Paulette Goddard , Howard DaSilva , Boris Karloff , Ward Bond , Katherine DeMille , Richard Gaines , Cecil Kellaway , Porter Hall , Marc Lawrence , Mike Mazurki , Gavin Muir , Alan Napier , Jane Nigh , C. Aubrey Smith , Victor Varconi , Henry Wilcoxon , Dorothy Adams , Eddie Albert , Erville Alderson , Richard Alexander , Lloyd Bridges , Lex Barker , Griff Barnett , Paul E. Burns , Lane R. Chandler , Chief Thundercloud , Davison Clark , Iron Eyes Cody , Jeff Corey , Edgar Dearing , Julia Faye , Al Ferguson , Byron K. Foulger , Greta Granstedt , Virginia Grey , William Haade , Frank S. Hagney , Chuck Hamilton , Raymond Hatton , Olaf Hytten , Si Jenks , Noble Johnson , Fred Jr. Kohler , Robert F. Kortman , Charles B. Middleton , John Miljan , Belle Mitchell , Art Mix , Clarence Muse , Ottola Nesmith , Buddy Roosevelt , Sid Saylor , Jay Silverheels , Ray Teal , Ethel Wales , Frank Wilcox , Jeff York , Mary Field , Francis Ford , Jack Pennick , Robert Warwick
- The Old West with Gene Autry , Pat Buttram , Gail Davis , Lyle Talbot , Louis Jean Heydt , Don Harvey , Tom London , Pat O'Malley , House Sr. Peters , Buddy Roosevelt , Sid Saylor , Bob Woodward
- The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston , Yul Brynner , Anne Baxter , Edward G. Robinson , Yvonne DeCarlo , Debra Paget , John Derek , Nina Foch , Cedric Hardwicke , Martha Scott , Judith Anderson , Vincent Price , John Carradine , Douglas Dumbrille , Frank DeKova , Henry Wilcoxon , Eduard Franz , Lawrence Dobkin , H.B. Warner , Julia Faye , John Miljan , Francis J. McDonald , Ian Keith , Joan Woodbury , Woody Strode , Charlton Heston , Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer , Dorothy Adams , Luis Alberni , Michael Ansara , Henry Brandon , Olive Carey , Steven Darrell , Frankie Darro , Edward Earle , Franklin Farnum , Walter Woolf King , Fred Jr. Kohler , Frank Lackteen , Emmett Lynn , Kenneth MacDonald , Peter Mamakos , Joanna Merlin , Addison W. Richards , Onslow Stevens , Robert Vaughn , Clint Walker , Frank Wilcox , Robert Clarke , Michael Connors , Cecil B. DeMille , John Hart , George H. Melford , Stanley Price , James Coburn
- Melody Ranch with Gene Autry , Jimmy Durante , Ann Miller , Barton MacLane , George "Gabby" Hayes , Jerome Cowan , Joseph Sawyer , Clarence H. Wilson , William Benedict , Veda Ann Borg , George Chandler , George Cheseboro , Edmund Cobb , Dick Elliott , Jack Kirk , Tom London , Horace McMahon , Merrill McCormack , Art Mix , Horace Murphy , Charles "Slim" Whitaker
- The Greatest Show on Earth with Betty Hutton , Cornel Wilde , Charlton Heston , Dorothy Lamour , Gloria Grahame , James Stewart , Henry Wilcoxon , Lyle Bettger , Lawrence Tierney , John G. Kellogg , John Ridgely , Frank Wilcox , Julia Faye , Dorothy Adams , Stanley Andrews , Lane R. Chandler , Davison Clark , Lester Dorr , Bess Flowers , Kathleen Freeman , Mona Freeman , Nancy Gates , Greta Granstedt , Milton Kibbee , Fred Jr. Kohler , Ethan Laidlaw , Ottola Nesmith , David Newell , Sid Saylor , Dale vanSickel , Josephine Whittell , Mary Field , Howard J. Negley
- Gilda with Rita Hayworth , Glenn Ford , George MacReady , Joseph Calleia , Steven Geray , Joseph Sawyer , Gerald Mohr , Ludwig Donath , Donald Douglas , Lionel Royce , George J. Lewis , Eugene Borden , Eduardo Ciannelli , Jean DelVal , Herbert Evans , Sam Flint , Alphonse Martell , Forbes Murray , Ruth Roman , George Sorel , John Tyrrell , Philip vanZandt , Robert Stevens
- Flaming Lead with Ken Maynard , Walter Long , Tom London , Ralph Peters , Carleton G. Young , Reed Howes , Dave O'Brien , Kenne Duncan , Carl Mathews
- The Dark Command with Claire Trevor , John Wayne , Walter Pidgeon , Roy Rogers , George "Gabby" Hayes , Porter Hall , Marjorie Main , Raymond Walburn , Joseph Sawyer , John Farrell MacDonald , Trevor Bardette , Ernie S. Adams , Richard Alexander , Al Bridge , Edmund Cobb , Harry Cording , John Dilson , Edward Earle , Frank S. Hagney , Edward Hearn , Howard C. Hickman , Tom London , Cliff Lyons , Dick Rich , Jack Rockwell , Harry Strang , Glenn Strange , Hal Taliaferro , Ferris Taylor , Yakima Canutt , Harry Woods
- Along Came Jones with Gary Cooper , Loretta Young , William Demarest , Dan Duryea , Frank Sully , Russell Simpson , Arthur Loft , Willard Robertson , Don Costello , Ray Teal , Ernie S. Adams , Erville Alderson , Paul E. Burns , Lane R. Chandler , Ralph Dunn , Frank S. Hagney , Herbert Heywood , Robert F. Kortman , Chris-Pin Martin , Frank McCarroll , Walter Sande , Douglas Morrow
John Merton Trivia
When was John Merton born?
John Merton date of birth: February 18, 1901
Who did John Merton play in Galloping Dynamite?
John Merton was Reed in Galloping Dynamite
What role did John Merton portray in Roaring Six Guns?
John Merton played Mileaway in Roaring Six Guns
What role did John Merton play in Phantom Ranger?
John Merton played Bud in Phantom Ranger
Who did John Merton portray in The Law Commands?
John Merton was Clark in The Law Commands
What role did John Merton play in Gang Bullets?
John Merton played Red in Gang Bullets
Who did John Merton play in The Gold Raiders?
John Merton was Clete in The Gold Raiders
What role did John Merton play in Aces and Eights?
John Merton played Gambler in Aces and Eights
What role did John Merton play in Drums of Fu Manchu?
John Merton played Loki in Drums of Fu Manchu
Who did John Merton play in The Great Commandment?
John Merton was Under officer in The Great Commandment
What role did John Merton play in White Eagle?
John Merton played Romino in White Eagle
Who did John Merton play in Under Fiesta Stars?
John Merton was Tommick in Under Fiesta Stars
Who did John Merton portray in Unconquered?
John Merton was Corporal in Unconquered
What role did John Merton play in Thieves' Highway?
John Merton played State Highway Policeman in Thieves' Highway
Who did John Merton play in Female Fugitive?
John Merton was Mort in Female Fugitive
Who did John Merton play in Zorro's Black Whip [Serial]?
John Merton was Harris in Zorro's Black Whip [Serial]
What role did John Merton play in Slaves in Bondage?
John Merton played Nick in Slaves in Bondage
What role did John Merton play in The Greatest Show on Earth?
John Merton played Chuck in The Greatest Show on Earth
What role did John Merton portray in Gilda?
John Merton played Policeman in Gilda
Who did John Merton portray in The Dark Command?
John Merton was Cantrell Man in The Dark Command
Who did John Merton play in The Big Heat?
John Merton was Man in The Big Heat
Who did John Merton portray in Along Came Jones?
John Merton was Card Player in Along Came Jones
