About

Known credits:
296
Birthday:
1880-02-23
Place of birth:
Terowie, Australia
Website:
N/A

J.P. McGowan

Overview

From Wikipedia

John Paterson McGowan (February 24, 1880 – March 26, 1952) was a pioneering Hollywood actor and director and occasionally a screenwriter and producer. J. P. McGowan, as he was usually known, remains the only Australian to have been made a life member of the Screen Directors Guild (now Directors Guild of America).

Born in the then-bustling railway centre of Terowie in South Australia, McGowan grew up in Adelaide (Islington) and Sydney. He was a capable horseman and served in the Second Boer War with Montmorency's Scouts as a special dispatch rider.

McGowan directed and often acted in the first 33 episodes of Kalem's 1914 adventure film series, The Hazards of Helen, which eventually ran to 54 episodes, some still with McGowan's participation. While filming he began a relationship with Helen Holmes, the film's star, and the two married. They left Kalem to set up their own production company, Signal Films, which successfully made a series of railroad melodramas but lost out when their distributor (Mutual) failed. The collaboration ended when they divorced in 1925. There was an adopted daughter, Kaye.

McGowan successfully made the transition from silent film to talkies. While never a major star, in a busy career that spanned four decades he is credited with acting in 232 films—mostly strong roles like sheriff or villain—writing 26 screenplays and directing 242 productions. In 1932 he directed a young John Wayne in the 12-episode rail vs airplane serial The Hurricane Express for the independent Mascot Pictures. From 1938 to 1951, as Executive Secretary of the Screen Directors Guild, he fought to secure recognition for the director within the studio systems of the film and emerging television industry.

J.P. McGowan died in 1952 in Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Known for

Acting
1951 The Lady and the Bandit Actor Old Man 59
Average
1939 Stagecoach Actor Bit Part (uncredited) 70
Good
1939 Code of the Fearless Actor Undetermined Minor Role 59
Average
1938 The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok Actor Scudder N/A
N/A
1938 Hunted Men Actor Cop 58
Average
1938 Kidnapped Actor Clansman 59
Average
1938 The Buccaneer Actor Jailer 58
Average
1937 Prairie Thunder Actor Col. Stanton 58
Average
1937 Heart of the Rockies Actor Ed Dawson 59
Average
1937 Rough Riding Rhythm Actor Pete Hobart N/A
N/A
1937 Empty Holsters Actor U.S. Marshal Billy O'Neill N/A
N/A
1937 She Had to Eat Actor Police Sergeant (uncredited) 58
Average
1937 Slave Ship Actor Helmsman 58
Average
1937 Hit the Saddle Actor Rance McGowan 58
Average
1937 Borderland Actor El Rio Sheriff N/A
N/A
1937 Jungle Jim Actor Ship Captain J.S. Robinson 58
Average
1936 Sinner Take All Actor Police Officer Murphy (uncredited) 58
Average
1936 Stampede Actor Matt Stevens N/A
N/A
1936 The Accusing Finger Actor Inner Guard 58
Average
1936 Fury and the Woman Actor Anderson N/A
N/A
1936 The Three Mesquiteers Actor Brack Canfield 58
Average
1936 Ride 'Em Cowboy Actor Jim Howard N/A
N/A
1936 Guns and Guitars Actor Dave Morgan 58
Average
1936 Secret Patrol Actor Blacksmith Barstow N/A
N/A
1936 Robin Hood of El Dorado Actor Danglong 58
Average
1936 Silver Spurs Actor Webb Allison N/A
N/A
1935 Bar 20 Rides Again Actor Buck Peters 59
Average
1935 East of Java Actor Sergeant, Rescue Party 59
Average
1935 The Silent Code Actor Commissioner 58
Average
1935 Diamond Jim Actor Engineer 59
Average
1935 Border Brigands Actor Inspector Winston - RCMP N/A
N/A
1935 Murder in the Fleet Actor Chief of Police (Uncredited) 59
Average
1935 Whispering Smith Speaks Actor Caboose Passenger (uncredited) N/A
N/A
1935 Les Misérables Actor Javert's Plainclothesman 60
Fair
1935 The Call of the Savage Actor Freighter Captain 58
Average
1935 Mississippi Actor Dealer (uncredited) 59
Average
1935 The Outlaw Tamer Actor Sheriff Jim Porter N/A
N/A
1935 Rustlers of Red Dog Actor Capt. Trent [Chs. 3-4] 58
Average
1934 When Lightning Strikes Actor Lafe Broderick N/A
N/A
1934 The Red Rider Actor Scotty McKee 59
Average
1934 No More Women Actor Captain of The Hawk 58
Average
1933 Somewhere in Sonora Actor Monte Black 58
Average
1932 Flaming Gold Actor Mack 58
Average
1932 Lawless Valley Actor Big Mike Carter, aka El Lobo, aka Texas Rand 59
Average
1931 Quick Trigger Lee Actor Brings note / Director N/A
N/A
1930 The Canyon of Missing Men Actor Slug Sagel N/A
N/A
1930 Covered Wagon Trails Actor N/A
N/A
1930 Breezy Bill Actor Sheriff N/A
N/A
1930 O'Malley Rides Alone Actor Angus McGregor N/A
N/A
1929 A Texas Cowboy Actor Brute Kettle N/A
N/A
1929 Señor Americano Actor Maddox N/A
N/A
1929 The Oklahoma Kid Actor N/A
N/A
1929 The Cowboy and the Outlaw Actor Pepper Hardcastle N/A
N/A
1929 The Invaders Actor N/A
N/A
1929 Law of the Plains Actor Seagrue N/A
N/A
1929 The Fighting Terror Actor N/A
N/A
1929 The Last Roundup Actor Hash N/A
N/A
1929 Plunging Hoofs Actor Jim Wales N/A
N/A
1929 The Lawless Legion Actor Matson N/A
N/A
1929 Headin' Westward Actor Sneezer Clark N/A
N/A
1929 Below the Deadline Actor Taggart 58
Average
1929 'Neath Western Skies Actor Dugan N/A
N/A
1928 Ships of the Night Actor Motilla N/A
N/A
1928 Two Outlaws Actor Abner Whitcomb N/A
N/A
1928 The Black Ace Actor N/A
N/A
1928 The Chinatown Mystery Actor N/A
N/A
1928 Arizona Days Actor Ed Hicks 58
Average
1928 The Code of the Scarlet Actor Blake N/A
N/A
1928 Dugan of the Dugouts Actor Capt. von Brinken N/A
N/A
1927 Gun Gospel Actor Bill Brogan N/A
N/A
1927 The Red Raiders Actor Captain Ortwell 58
Average
1927 Arizona Nights Actor Jeff Decker N/A
N/A
1927 The Royal American Actor Capt. Burke N/A
N/A
1927 Red Signals Actor Jim Twyler N/A
N/A
1926 Perils of the Rail Actor Barker's Accomplice at Smelter Junction 58
Average
1926 Crack O' Dawn Actor Earle Thorpe Sr. 58
Average
1926 Senor Daredevil Actor Jesse Wilks N/A
N/A
1925 The Lost Express Actor Train Engineer N/A
N/A
1925 The Fast Freight Actor 58
Average
1925 Barriers of the Law Actor Steve Redding N/A
N/A
1925 Outwitted Actor Tiger McGuire N/A
N/A
1924 Crossed Trails Actor 'Pepper' Baldwin N/A
N/A
1924 A Two Fisted Tenderfoot Actor Stephen Lawlor N/A
N/A
1924 The Whipping Boss Actor Livingston N/A
N/A
1924 Baffled Actor Jack Norton N/A
N/A
1923 Stormy Seas Actor Capt. Morgan N/A
N/A
1922 Hills of Missing Men Actor Capt. Brandt / The Dragon N/A
N/A
1921 Do or Die Actor Capt. Alvarez / Satan N/A
N/A
1920 Elmo the Fearless Actor N/A
N/A
1920 King of the Circus Actor N/A
N/A
1917 The Railroad Raiders Actor Thomas Desmond N/A
N/A
1917 The Hazards of Helen Actor Various roles N/A
N/A
1916 Medicine Bend Actor Whispering Smith N/A
N/A
1916 Whispering Smith Actor Whispering Smith N/A
N/A
1915 A Desperate Leap Actor N/A
N/A
1915 The Mettle of Jerry McGuire Actor Jerry McGuire N/A
N/A
1915 The Broken Rail Actor Trow - of the Working Crew N/A
N/A
1915 A Railroader's Bravery Actor Thomas - the Chief of the Gang N/A
N/A
1915 The Broken Train Actor Warren - Railroad Employee N/A
N/A
1915 The Railroad Raiders of '62 Actor Lockwood - the old one-armed Flagman N/A
N/A
1915 The Leap from the Water Tower Actor Rand - the Fireman N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl and the Game Actor Spike N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl Telegrapher's Peril Actor Blake - a Lineman N/A
N/A
1914 The Escape on the Limited Actor Brandt - a Defaulting Cashier N/A
N/A
1914 The Black Diamond Express Actor Dan Haddon - a Cowboy N/A
N/A
1914 The Flying Freight's Captive Actor Rand - a Yeggman N/A
N/A
1914 His Nemesis Actor Mammoth - Manning's Business Rival N/A
N/A
1914 Helen's Sacrifice Actor Benton N/A
N/A
1914 Kaintucky Bill Actor Kaintucky Bill - a Moonshiner N/A
N/A
1913 The Wives of Jamestown Actor The O’Rourke N/A
N/A
1912 The Shaughraun Actor Corry Kinchela N/A
N/A
1912 Ireland, the Oppressed Actor Lord Kilhannack N/A
N/A
1912 The Little Gluers Actor Valentine Hay N/A
N/A
1912 From the Manger to the Cross Actor Wise Man 1 58
Average
1912 The Poacher's Pardon Actor Mr. Wallace - the Gamekeeper N/A
N/A
1912 Winning a Widow Actor N/A
N/A
1912 Tragedy of the Desert Actor The Arab Sheik N/A
N/A
1912 Captured by Bedouins Actor Lt. Greig N/A
N/A
1912 An Arabian Tragedy Actor N/A
N/A
1912 Dust of the Desert Actor Sheik Mohammad N/A
N/A
1912 Far from Erin's Isle Actor N/A
N/A
1912 Vagabonds Actor Big Jim N/A
N/A
1912 His Mother Actor John Foster 58
Average
1911 The Fishermaid of Ballydavid Actor Policeman N/A
N/A
1911 The Colleen Bawn Actor Hardress Cregan 58
Average
1911 Rory O'More Actor Commander of the English troops 58
Average
1911 The Special Messenger Actor Royal N/A
N/A
1911 Railroad Raiders of '62 Actor Federal Officer 58
Average
1911 When the Dead Return Actor Jacques N/A
N/A
1911 The Fiddler’s Requiem Actor Dolores' father N/A
N/A
1911 Slim Jim's Last Chance Actor The Rancher 58
Average
1911 By a Woman's Wit Actor 58
Average
1911 A Sawmill Hero Actor N/A
N/A
1910 When Lovers Part Actor 58
Average
1910 The Lad from Old Ireland Actor Election Agent 58
Average

Directing
1938 Where the West Begins Directing Director 59
Average
1937 Roaring Six Guns Directing Director 59
Average
1937 Rough Riding Rhythm Directing Director N/A
N/A
1935 The Outlaw Tamer Directing Director N/A
N/A
1933 War of the Range Directing Director N/A
N/A
1933 Deadwood Pass Directing Director 59
Average
1933 Drum Taps Directing Director 59
Average
1933 When a Man Rides Alone Directing Director 59
Average
1932 The Hurricane Express Directing Director 58
Average
1932 The Scarlet Brand Directing Director N/A
N/A
1932 Tangled Fortunes Directing Director N/A
N/A
1932 Lawless Valley Directing Director 59
Average
1932 Mark of the Spur Directing Director N/A
N/A
1932 Human Targets Directing Director 58
Average
1931 Quick Trigger Lee Directing Director N/A
N/A
1931 Shotgun Pass Directing Director N/A
N/A
1931 So This Is Arizona Directing Director N/A
N/A
1931 Riders of the North Directing Director 58
Average
1930 Under Texas Skies Directing Director 59
Average
1930 Code of Honor Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Beyond the Law Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Canyon Hawks Directing Director 58
Average
1930 The Oklahoma Sheriff Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Near the Rainbow's End Directing Director 58
Average
1930 The Canyon of Missing Men Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Western Honor Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 The Man from Nowhere Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 The Hunted Men Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Call of the Desert Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Covered Wagon Trails Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 Breezy Bill Directing Director N/A
N/A
1930 O'Malley Rides Alone Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 A Texas Cowboy Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Oklahoma Kid Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Code of the West Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Invaders Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Cowboy and the Outlaw Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Riders of the Rio Grande Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Law of the Plains Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Fighting Terror Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 The Last Roundup Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Captain Cowboy Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Headin' Westward Directing Director N/A
N/A
1929 Below the Deadline Directing Director 58
Average
1929 'Neath Western Skies Directing Director N/A
N/A
1928 Manhattan Cowboy Directing Director N/A
N/A
1928 The Chinatown Mystery Directing Director N/A
N/A
1928 Arizona Days Directing Director 58
Average
1927 The Outlaw Dog Directing Director N/A
N/A
1927 Thunderbolt's Tracks Directing Director N/A
N/A
1927 Tarzan and the Golden Lion Directing Director 58
Average
1927 Red Signals Directing Director N/A
N/A
1926 Perils of the Rail Directing Director 58
Average
1926 Crossed Signals Directing Director 58
Average
1925 Webs of Steel Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 The Road Agent Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 The Lost Express Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 The Ace of Clubs Directing Director 58
Average
1925 Ambushed Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 The Fast Freight Directing Director 58
Average
1925 A Desperate Chance Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Mistaken Orders Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Cold Nerve Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Barriers of the Law Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Outwitted Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 A Desperate Adventure Directing Director 59
Average
1924 Crossed Trails Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 A Two Fisted Tenderfoot Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 The Whipping Boss Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 Baffled Directing Director N/A
N/A
1923 Stormy Seas Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Perils of the Yukon Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Captain Kidd Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Hills of Missing Men Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Below the Deadline Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Tiger True Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Do or Die Directing Director N/A
N/A
1920 The Vanishing Dagger Directing Director N/A
N/A
1920 King of the Circus Directing Director N/A
N/A
1920 Elmo the Fearless Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 The Red Glove Directing Director N/A
N/A
1919 Elmo, the Mighty Directing Director N/A
N/A
1918 The Lure of the Circus Directing Director 58
Average
1917 The Lost Express Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Railroad Raiders Directing Director N/A
N/A
1917 The Hazards of Helen Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 The Manager of the B & A Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 The Diamond Runners Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 Judith of the Cumberlands Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 Medicine Bend Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 Whispering Smith Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 A Lass of the Lumberlands Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 When Rogues Fall Out Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Desperate Leap Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Mettle of Jerry McGuire Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 Blackbirds Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl on the Engine Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Deed of Daring Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Fate of Number One Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Wild Ride Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Midnight Limited Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Hazards of Helen Ep33: In Danger's Path Directing Director 58
Average
1915 Near Eternity Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Pay Train Directing Director 59
Average
1915 The Human Chain Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Railroader's Bravery Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Broken Train Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine Directing Director 59
Average
1915 The Box Car Trap Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Race for a Crossing Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl Engineer Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl on the Trestle Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 A Life in the Balance Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl at Lone Point Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Railroad Raiders of '62 Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Death Train Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Open Drawbridge Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Engineer's Peril Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Little Engineer Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Fast Mail's Danger Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Broken Circuit Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Leap from the Water Tower Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl and the Game Directing Director N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl Telegrapher's Peril Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Escape on the Limited Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Black Diamond Express Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Flying Freight's Captive Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Stolen Engine Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Girl at the Throttle Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Plot at the Railroad Cut Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 His Nemesis Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 Helen's Sacrifice Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Lost Mail Sack Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Car of Death Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Operator at Black Rock Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 Kaintucky Bill Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 The Flaw in the Alibi Directing Director N/A
N/A
1914 A String of Pearls Directing Director N/A
N/A
1913 The Pursuit of the Smugglers Directing Director 58
Average
1913 A Sawmill Hazard Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
1937 What Price Vengeance Writing Writer 59
Average
1936 Secret Patrol Writing Screenplay N/A
N/A
1933 Drum Taps Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1932 The Hurricane Express Writing Screenplay 58
Average
1929 Captain Cowboy Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1928 Dugan of the Dugouts Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1926 The Brown Derby Writing Writer 59
Average
1925 The Fast Freight Writing Scenario Writer 58
Average
1925 Outwitted Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1922 Hills of Missing Men Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1917 The Lost Express Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1916 The Diamond Runners Writing Scenario Writer N/A
N/A
1915 The Girl and the Game Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1914 His Nemesis Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Production
1930 O'Malley Rides Alone Production Producer N/A
N/A
1929 'Neath Western Skies Production Producer N/A
N/A
1917 The Lost Express Production Producer N/A
N/A
1917 The Railroad Raiders Production Producer N/A
N/A
1916 Judith of the Cumberlands Production Producer N/A
N/A
1916 A Lass of the Lumberlands Production Producer N/A
N/A

Editing
1917 The Railroad Raiders Editing Editor N/A
N/A