Dan Duryea
Hollywood's favorite sniveling weasel, an actor who turned a whine and a smirk into a long career playing deliciously hateable villains.
1907–1968 (age 61)·American actor·Birthday: January 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
With his slicked-back hair, nasal voice, and a smile that promised trouble, Dan Duryea didn't just play bad guys; he perfected a specific breed of cowardly, neurotic, and often pathetic antagonist. A graduate of Cornell University, he found his footing on Broadway before Hollywood called. His breakthrough came as the weak-willed Leo in the film noir classic "The Little Foxes," where he more than held his own against Bette Davis. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, Duryea became a staple of noir and westerns, the man you loved to hate in films like "Scarlet Street" and "Winchester '73." He brought a nervous energy to his roles, often playing characters who were more spineless than sinister, which made them all the more compelling. As the studio system waned, he transitioned seamlessly to television, appearing in countless series and even starring in the adventure show "China Smith." Duryea’s career is a testament to the power of character acting; he never became a traditional leading man, but his face and mannerisms became instantly recognizable symbols of cinematic treachery.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Dan was born in 1907, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1907
Dan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1907Born
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1912Started school
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1920Became a teenager
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1923Could drive
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1925Could vote
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1928Turned 21
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1937Turned 30
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 40
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 50
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 60
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1968Died at 61
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
Key Achievements
- Delivered a standout film debut as the sniveling Leo Hubbard in the 1941 drama 'The Little Foxes'.
- Became a defining face of film noir through villainous roles in 'Scarlet Street' and 'The Woman in the Window'.
- Starred as the title character in the early 1950s television adventure series 'China Smith'.
Did You Know?
He was an avid and skilled gardener, known for his prize-winning orchid collection.
Despite his villainous image, he was reportedly a gentle and devoted family man off-screen.
He performed many of his own stunts, including a famous fall down a rocky slope in 'Winchester '73'.
“I never played a villain who thought he was a villain.”
