Duke York

American actor (1908–52)

Frances Miles

(m. 1930; div. 1941)

^[1]PartnerCatherine Moench^[1]

Duke York (né Charles Everest Sinsabaugh; October 17, 1908 – January 24, 1952), was an American film actor and stuntman who appeared in nearly 160 films between 1932 and 1952. He was also known as Duke Owl.^[2]

Early years

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Sinsabaugh,^[3] York was born in Danby, New York.

Career

Modern viewers will remember York for his portrayals of grotesque monsters, ape men, or other scary goon-like characters in Three Stooges short films such as Three Little Twirps, Idle Roomers, Three Pests in a Mess, Shivering Sherlocks, and Who Done It? His most prominent non-monster role was as Kelly in Higher Than a Kite. York also played the role of King Kala in the serial Flash Gordon.^[1]

In the 1930s, York worked as a combination lifeguard and bodyguard for actress Ida Lupino.^[4]

Personal life and death

In the 1930s, York married movie stuntwoman Frances Miles, but the union ended in divorce in 1941. Several years later, York was dating Beverly Hills brunette Catherine Moench. They planned to marry, but she called it off, saying that he was "quite jealous and had misunderstood various actions" of hers in the past.^[1] York eventually admitted to Moench that he was wrong, and wanted to get back together, but she refused.^[1]

On January 24, 1952, during a three-hour phone call to Moench, York threatened suicide several times stating he could not live without her. He then shot himself in the head while on the phone with Moench. His body was discovered by friend and fellow actor George Cleveland.^[5]

Selected filmography

York plays a docile wolfman who goes berserk whenever he hears music in The Three Stooges film *Idle Roomers* (1944).

Brothers (1930) - Cafe Customer (uncredited)
Island of Lost Souls (1932) - Beast (uncredited)
Murders in the Zoo (1933) - Seaman (uncredited)
I Love That Man (1933) - Label's Henchman (uncredited)
Footlight Parade (1933) - Sailor on Table in 'Shanghai Lil' (uncredited)
I'm No Angel (1933) - Sideshow Spectator (uncredited)
Roman Scandals (1933) - Valerius' Soldier (uncredited)
No More Women (1934) - Hawk Crew Member (uncredited)
Upper World (1934) - Marine in Burlesque Theatre (uncredited)
Sing and Like It (1934) - Mug in Pool Hall (uncredited)
The Old Fashioned Way (1934) - Stagehand on Bar Set (uncredited)
Elmer and Elsie (1934) - Smith
The Pursuit of Happiness (1934) - Jonathan
Ready for Love (1934) - John Alden at Basket Social (uncredited)
One Hour Late (1934) - Mixer (uncredited)
Wings in the Dark (1935) - Reporter - Last Flight (uncredited)
Car 99 (1935) - Cop (uncredited)
Stolen Harmony (1935) - Duke (uncredited)
Strangers All (1935) - Sig Ruman - Protester at Meeting / Courtroom Witness (uncredited)
So Red the Rose (1935) - Soldier (uncredited)
Two for Tonight (1935) - Cop in Cafe (uncredited)
Redheads on Parade (1935) - Projectionist (uncredited)
Here Comes Cookie (1935) - Milkman (uncredited)
His Family Tree (1935) - Henchman with Frank (uncredited)
It's a Great Life (1935) - Driver (uncredited)
Coronado (1935) - Marine (uncredited)
The Garden Murder Case (1936) - Traffic Cop (uncredited)
Strike Me Pink (1936) - Smiley
Flash Gordon (1936, Serial) - King Kala [Chs. 2-5]
Ticket to Paradise (1936) - Milkman
Rhythm on the Range (1936) - Police Officer (uncredited)
Crash Donovan (1936) - Patrolman (uncredited)
Sworn Enemy (1936) - Al - a Gangster (uncredited)
The Three Mesquiteers (1936) - Chuck (one-armed vet)
Libeled Lady (1936) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Love on the Run (1936) - Paul - Baron's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Mind Your Own Business (1936) - Cruger's Henchman
Dangerous Number (1937) - Policeman (uncredited)
They Gave Him a Gun (1937) - Sourpuss Soldier (uncredited)
Dangerous Holiday (1937) - Gollenger's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Midnight Madonna (1937) - (uncredited)
SOS Coast Guard (1937, Serial) - Sea Heavy #1 (uncredited)
Partners in Crime (1937) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Man-Proof (1938) - Referee (uncredited)
A Slight Case of Murder (1938) - Champ
Reckless Living (1938) - Poker Player (uncredited)
Wide Open Faces (1938) - Joe, a Gangster (uncredited)
The Fighting Devil Dogs (1938, Serial) - Sam (uncredited)
The Marines Are Here (1938) - Native (uncredited)
Professor Beware (1938) - Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag (uncredited)
Sing You Sinners (1938) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Dick Tracy Returns (1938, Serial) - Jack (uncredited)
The Spider's Web (1938, Serial) - Henchman (uncredited)
Gang Bullets (1938) - Collins (uncredited)
Topper Takes a Trip (1938) - Second Bailiff (uncredited)
Navy Secrets (1939) - Babe - Henchman
You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Street of Missing Men (1939) - Butch - One of Darwin's Henchmen (uncredited)
Union Pacific (1939) - Railwayman (uncredited)
Those High Grey Walls (1939) - Guard (uncredited)
Destry Rides Again (1939) - Townsman (uncredited)
Mercy Plane (1939) - Joe
Terry and the Pirates (1940, Serial) - Leopard Man (uncredited)
Nutty But Nice (1940, Short) - Butch - Kidnapper (uncredited)
When the Daltons Rode (1940) - Townsman (uncredited)
How High Is Up? (1940, Short) - Workman (uncredited)
The Secret Seven (1940) - Karpa (uncredited)
Sky Murder (1940) - Enforcer at Cell Block Meeting (uncredited)
The Green Archer (1940, Serial) - Martel - aka Harry Madison (uncredited)
Little Men (1940) - Poker Player (uncredited)
Trail of the Vigilantes (1940) - Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
Back Street (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Meet the Chump (1941) - Mug (uncredited)
A Man Betrayed (1941) - Doorman at Club Inferno (uncredited)
Topper Returns (1941) - Engine Room Sailor-Henchman in Black (uncredited)
Broadway Limited (1941) - Relief Train Engineer (uncredited)
Tight Shoes (1941) - (uncredited)
Hello, Sucker (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941) - Joe - Piano Mover (uncredited)
No Greater Sin (1941) - Scaturo's Henchman (uncredited)
Mob Town (1941) - Burly Man (uncredited)
Burma Convoy (1941) - Bartender (uncredited)
Texas (1941) - Wise Guy (uncredited)
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941) - Tough Guy (uncredited)
Sea Raiders (1941, Serial) - Pete - Whaler Crewman [Chs. 8-9] (uncredited)
Public Enemies (1941) - Holmes
Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) - Valentine - Doorman at Mario's Grotto (uncredited)
Some More of Samoa (1941, Short) - Kingfisher (uncredited)
Bedtime Story (1941) - Phil, Hotel Bouncer (uncredited)
Nazi Agent (1942) - Sailor (uncredited)
Jail House Blues (1942) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Woman of the Year (1942) - Football Player (uncredited)
Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942) - MP Corporal (uncredited)
Alias Boston Blackie (1942) - Johnson - Policeman in Squad Car 29 (uncredited)
Kid Glove Killer (1942) - Card-Playing Henchman (uncredited)
Saboteur (1942) - Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)
The Spoilers (1942) - Miner (uncredited)
Sunday Punch (1942) - Boxer (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man (1942) - Stagehand at Second Theater (uncredited)
Jackass Mail (1942) - Rancher Seeing Baggot with Roan Horse (uncredited)
Invisible Agent (1942) - German Sentry (uncredited)
Give Out, Sisters (1942) - Louie
Panama Hattie (1942) - Bruno (uncredited)
Who Done It? (1942) - Attendant with the Coroner (uncredited)
Behind the Eight Ball (1942) - First Thug (uncredited)
Arabian Nights (1942) - Archer (uncredited)
Stand by for Action (1942) - Sailor (uncredited)
Assignment in Brittany (1943) - German Private (uncredited)
Three Little Twirps (1943, Short) - Sultan of Abadabba (uncredited)
Higher Than a Kite (1943, Short) - Kelly (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) - Wooden Indian (uncredited)
Crazy House (1943) - Dead End Character (uncredited)
Idle Roomers (1943, Short) - Lupe the Wolf Man
Destination Tokyo (1943) - Duke - 'Copperfin' Crewman (uncredited)
Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944) - Boris - the Mad Tenor (uncredited)
Follow the Boys (1944) - Military Policeman (uncredited)
The Contender (1944) - 'Bomber' Brown
Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1944) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
An American Romance (1944) - Steel Mill Worker with Eddie (uncredited)
Lost in a Harem (1944) - Jailer / Clerk (uncredited)
Three Pests in a Mess - Joe (Man in Skeleton costume) (uncredited)
The Story of Kenneth W. Randall, M.D. (1946) - Sam Gregg
Road to Rio (1947) - Roustabout (uncredited)
Shivering Sherlocks (1948, Short) - Angel
California Firebrand (1948) - Chad Mason
A Southern Yankee (1948) - Confederate Guard (uncredited)
That Lady in Ermine (1948) - Sergeant (uncredited)
Isn't It Romantic? (1948) - Townsman (uncredited)
The Paleface (1948) - Terris' Henchman (uncredited)
Who Done It? (1949, Short) - Nikko
Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949) - Bodyguard (uncredited)
Stampede (1949) - Maxie
Mississippi Rhythm (1949)
Francis (1950) - Sgt. Poor, G2 (uncredited)
Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950) - Andrew Hardy
The Gunfighter (1950) - Pete's Pal (uncredited)
Winchester '73 (1950) - Man #1 (uncredited)
Where Danger Lives (1950) - Postville Cowboy (uncredited)
Snow Dog (1950) - Henchman Duprez
Hit Parade of 1951 (1950) - Cal
Let's Dance (1950) - Waiter (uncredited)
Call of the Klondike (1950) - Luke
Rogue River (1951) - Bowers
Oh! Susanna (1951) - Trooper (uncredited)
Texans Never Cry (1951) - Counterfeiter Baker (uncredited)
Fighting Coast Guard (1951) - Riveter (uncredited)
Snake River Desperadoes (1951) - Street Brawler (uncredited)
Silver Canyon (1951) - Recruiting Sergeant (uncredited)
Mask of the Avenger (1951) - Loafer (uncredited)
Fort Worth (1951) - Gunman - Castro's Henchman (uncredited)
The Red Badge of Courage (1951) - Veteran (uncredited)
Fort Defiance (1951) - Joe Doniger, Soldier (uncredited)
Golden Girl (1951) - Quincy Miner in Audience (uncredited)
Valley of Fire (1951) - Piano (uncredited)
Northwest Territory (1951) - Dawson
My Favorite Spy (1951) - Man (uncredited)
Night Stage to Galveston (1952) - Patrolman in Handcuffs (uncredited)
Carbine Williams (1952) - Guard (uncredited)
Confidence Girl (1952) - Nightclub Accomplice with Binoculars (uncredited)
Barbed Wire (1952) - Buttons (uncredited)
Trail Blazers (1953) - Angus (final film role)
Of Cash and Hash (1955, Short) - Angel (uncredited, archive footage)
For Crimin' Out Loud (1956, Short) - Nikko (uncredited, archive footage)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Cappello, Bill (Fall 1992). "Duke York: A Brief Biography". The Three Stooges Journal (63). Gynedd Valley, Pennsylvania: The Three Stooges Fan Club, Inc.: 6–7, 14. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
^ "Couple to Wed Sunday Before Prologue Cast". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. March 31, 1932. p. 27. Retrieved January 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Five generations under one roof". Star-Gazette. New York, Elmira. October 23, 1908. p. 5. Retrieved January 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Lupino's Lifeguard in Bouncer's Role". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. March 27, 1934. p. 18. Retrieved July 2, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Brunette Describes Duke York Suicide". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. January 26, 1952. p. 3. Retrieved July 2, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.