John Bowman Duncan (December 7, 1923 – February 8, 2016) was an American actor. In addition to managing several business ventures, he made appearances at comic book conventions and collectors' shows worldwide.
Johnny Duncan | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Bowman Duncan December 7, 1923 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 2016 (aged 92) |
| Other names | Johnnie Duncan |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1939–1960 |
| Spouse | Susan Duncan (m. ????) |
Biography
editCareer
editJohnny Duncan learned to dance Jitterbug as a teen and by the age of 19, he had made his first major appearance in a dance role in the "King of Swing" Benny Goodman camp classic musical The Gang's All Here. This kicked off Duncan's career as a movie swing dancer and actor and led to numerous appearances in other films, and a contract with 20th Century Fox, where he appeared in productions with Shirley Temple and Jane Withers. Notable roles include parts in The East Side Kids, The Bowery Boys, Mystery of the 13th Guest and the 1949 serial Batman and Robin as Dick Grayson / Robin, the Boy Wonder.[1] He was so young looking that he was twenty-five years old when he was hired to play the Boy Wonder.[2]
He later appeared in bit parts in a number of films including Plan 9 from Outer Space. He played a member of The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club in the classic Marlon Brando film The Wild One in 1952. His final film appearance was in the 1960 film Spartacus.[2]
Personal life
editDuncan made occasional appearances at movie conventions, often signing photos from The East Side Kids and Batman and Robin until his death in February 2016 at the age of 92.[3]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | The Arizona Wildcat | Townsboy | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Call of the Canyon | Jitterbug | Uncredited |
| 1942 | Junior Army | Cadet | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Clancy Street Boys | Cherry Streeter | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Action in the North Atlantic | Sailor | Uncredited |
| 1943 | The Unknown Guest | Teenager at Carnival | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Teen Age | Dan Murray | |
| 1943 | Swing Fever | Dancer, USO Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1943 | The Mystery of the 13th Guest | Harold Morgan | as John Morgan |
| 1943 | Campus Rhythm | Freshie | |
| 1943 | Where Are Your Children? | Jitterbug Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Jive Junction | Frank | |
| 1944 | Million Dollar Kid | Roy Cortland | as Johnnie Duncan |
| 1944 | Ghost Catchers | Jitterbug | Uncredited |
| 1944 | A Fig Leaf for Eve | Bellboy | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Delinquent Daughters | Rocky Webster | |
| 1944 | Youth Aflame | Jitterbugger | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Irish Eyes are Smiling | Call Boy | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Heavenly Days | Teenager Blowing Noisemaker | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo | Jitterbugger | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Salty O'Rourke | Ralph | Uncredited |
| 1945 | The Horn Blows at Midnight | Jitterbug Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Twice Blessd | Teenager | Uncredited |
| 1945 | Mr. Muggs Rides Again | Squeegie Robinson | |
| 1945 | Come Out Fighting | Gilbert Mitchell | |
| 1946 | Gay Blades | Bellboy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | From This Day Forward | Young Lieutenant | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Cinderella Jones | Newsboy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | The Walls Came Tumbling Down | Bellboy | Uncredited |
| 1946 | Inside Job | Messenger | Uncredited |
| 1946 | No Leave, No Love | Hotel Bellhop | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Johnny O'Clock | Newsboy | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Trail to San Antone | Ted Malloy | as John Duncan |
| 1947 | Beat the Band | Jitterbug | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Mr. District Attorney | Newsboy | Uncredited |
| 1947 | Sport of Kings | Jockey | Uncredited |
| 1947 | It Had to Be You | John | Scenes deleted |
| 1948 | Good Sam | Jitterbug | Uncredited |
| 1948 | Street Corner | Hal | John Duncan |
| 1949 | Fighting Fools | Fighter in Gym | Uncredited |
| 1949 | City Across the River | Student in Shop Class | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Batman and Robin | Robin / Dick Grayson | John Duncan |
| 1949 | Take One False Step | Bellhop | Uncredited |
| 1949 | The Woman on Pier 13 | Bellhop | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Whirlpool | Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1950 | When Willie Comes Marching Home | Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1950 | A Wonderful Life | College Boy at Party | Short, uncredited |
| 1950 | Summer Stock | Stock Company Member | Uncredited |
| 1950 | Walk Softly, Stranger | Office Messenger | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Bedtime for Bonzo | Paperboy | Uncredited |
| 1951 | The Harlem Globetrotters | Attendant | Uncredited |
| 1951 | He Ran All the Way | Boy at the Pool | Uncredited |
| 1951 | David and Bathsheba | Jessie's Third Boy | Uncredited |
| 1951 | Two Dollar Bettor | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1951 | The Big Night | Motorcycle Boy | Uncredited |
| 1952 | With a Song in my Heart | Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1952 | With the Pride of St. Louis | Western Union Boy | Uncredited |
| 1952 | Off Limits | Soldier in Fatigues | Uncredited |
| 1953 | So You Want to Be a Musician | Jitterbugger | Short, uncredited |
| 1953 | All Ashore | Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1953 | Miss Sadie Thompson | Marine | Uncredited |
| 1953 | The Wild One | Gang Member | Uncredited |
| 1953 | The Flaming Urge | Ralph Jarvis | |
| 1954 | Highway Dragnet | Marine | Uncredited |
| 1954 | The Caine Mutiny | Sailor | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Running Wild | Jitterbug Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1956 | Rock Around the Clock | Prom Dancer | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Plan 9 From Outer Space | Second Stretcher Bearer | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Spartacus | Beheaded Man | Uncredited |
| 1989 | Batmania from Comics to Screen | Robin / Dick Grayson | Documentary, archival footage |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | The Stu Erwin Show | Self | Episode: "The Big Game", as Johnnie Duncan |
| 1953 | The Ford Television Theatre | Episode: "To Any Soldier" | |
| 1954 | Public Defender | Bob | Episode: "Step Child", as John Duncan |
| 1956 | The Cisco Kid | Mickey Doan / Mail Rider | 2 Episodes, as John B. Duncan |
| 1957 | Whirlybirds | Eddie James | Episode: "Cycle of Terror", as John Duncan |
| 1963 | Rawhide | Unnamed Cowboy |
References
edit- ^ "Article on Johnny Duncan's dance partner Genevieve Grazis". Robert White. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
- ^ a b "Batman Really Begins: 'I Went From A Kid On The Farm To Robin'". NPR.org.
- ^ "John Bowman Duncan Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information". Archived from the original on 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
External links
edit- Johnny Duncan at IMDb
- Interview with Johnny Duncan
- Website for Johnny Duncan (Now defunct after his passing)
- NPR profile of Johnny Duncan
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