Edward Pawley

Edward Joel Pawley (born March 16, 1901 in Kansas City, Missouri - January 27, 1988) is an American actor. He began his theatrical career in 1920 and reached the Broadway stage in 1923. He starred in various well-known Broadway plays including Elmer Gantry (1928), Two Seconds (1931), Subway Express (1929), The Guardsman (1924), The Shame Woman (1923), and They Knew What They Wanted (1924). Pawley's rich, baritone voice was hailed by leading journalists of the day, such as Walter Winchell and Heywood Hale Broun. While in highschool, he became interested in both journalism and acting. He took drama classes and acted in high school plays. After moving to New York City to pursue a career in the theater, he married his high school sweetheart, Martina May Martin (who had also become a professional stage actress). They had one child, a son named Martin Herbert Pawley. Edward and Martina later divorced then remarried and divorced again. In 1937, he married the then popular Broadway singer/dancer/actress, Helen Shipman of Pennsylvania. They were married for 47 years until her death on April 13, 1984. Pawley had two younger brothers, William Pawley and Anthony Pawley, both of whom also performed on Broadway and in the movies.

Hollywood

Not long after the 'talkie' movies came into vogue, Pawley became interested in acting on the silver screen. He left the theater after 1932 and went to Hollywood where he performed in over 50 movies during a 12-year span. He had feature roles in such movies as Hoosier Schoolboy with Mickey Rooney, G-Men with James Cagney,The Oklahoma Kid with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, King Solomon of Broadway with Edmund Lowe, and Little Tough Guy with Helen Parish, Marjorie Main, and the Dead End Kids. He played mostly 'tough guy' roles in gangster, comedy, and Western films. He became friends with James Cagney with whom he made 5 movies, Jackie Cooper (3 movies), and Francis Lederer. One of his earliest friends in the entertainment industry was Arthur Hughes who played 'Bill Davidson' on the long-running radio show, Just Plain Bill. Arthur was also Pawley's best man at his wedding in 1922.

Related Topics:
Movie - 1932 - Hollywood - Mickey Rooney - James Cagney - Humphrey Bogart - Edmund Lowe - Helen Parish - Marjorie Main - Dead End Kids - Gangster - Comedy - Western films - Jackie Cooper - Francis Lederer - Arthur Hughes - Just Plain Bill - 1922

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