Michael Whalen
Joseph Kenneth Shovlin (June 30, 1902 – April 14, 1974), known professionally as Michael Whalen, was an American actor who starred in motion pictures and television, including Son of a Badman and Wee Willie Winkie.
The young Joe Shovlin was headed for a career in retail; he managed a Woolworth's department store in his native Pennsylvania until he resigned the post in 1925. A visit to New York led to his working on the stage and in radio; he sang on stations WGBS and WABC. He moved to Los Angeles in 1933 to continue his stage career, and was signed as a potential leading man by 20th Century-Fox in 1935. He adopted his mother's maiden name Whalen professionally.
Fox cast Whalen as the juvenile lead in four big-budget "A" pictures, where the darkly handsome actor registered pleasantly but not outstandingly. From then on Fox gave Whalen leading roles in lower-budget "B" pictures, in which he worked steadily. During the 1938-39 season, Whalen starred in three "Roving Reporters" features as crime-busting newspaperman Barney Callahan, but the series didn't catch on (the advertising for these films actually emphasized the supporting character players over Whalen). Whalen left Fox in 1939.
He freelanced at smaller studios for the next few years, before quitting the movies and returning to the Broadway stage. He returned to Hollywood in 1947 and worked in "B" pictures, mostly for producer Robert L. Lippert. With the major studios cutting back on their low-budget productions, many established players found themselves underemployed. Lippert could sign them economically for flat fees, giving his modest productions some luster for the marquee. Whalen also worked in television throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.
Acted in
My Three Sons
1960
as Dr. Burke
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
1960
Elmer Gantry
1960
as Rev. Phillips (uncredited)
Missile to the Moon
1958
as Dirk Green
Bat Masterson
1958
as Marshal
Sea Hunt
1958
as Oliver Brandon
Tombstone Territory
1957
as Mayor Fred Donolon
The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues
1955
as Prof. King
Highway Patrol
1955
Outlaw Treasure
1955
as Maj. Cooper
The Silver Star
1955
as Shakespeare
Lassie
1954
as Phil Potter
Waco
1952
as Banker Barnes
The Living Bible
1952
as Pharisee
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Otis Crane
The Adventures of Boston Blackie
1951
as Doctor
The Adventures of Boston Blackie
1951
G.I. Jane
1951
as James Simpkins
According to Mrs. Hoyle
1951
as Rev. Haverford
Kentucky Jubilee
1951
as Touhy
Mask of the Dragon
1951
as Maj. Clinton
Fingerprints Don't Lie
1951
as Police Commissioner Frank Kelso
The Living Christ
1951
as Simon the Zealot
King of the Bullwhip
1950
as Thurman
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950
as Joe Bagley
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Peterson
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as George Cooper
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Blaisdell
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Carson
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Pete
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Pete Sturgis
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Cain Haggar / Matt Haggar
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Hank Winters
Cody of the Pony Express
1950
as Maj. Walker (uncredited)
Everybody's Dancin'
1950
as Mr. London
Sarumba
1950
as Señor Valdez
Tough Assignment
1949
as 'Hutch' Hutchison
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Monk Gow
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Sheriff McClelland
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Marshal Mason
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Marshal Hawkins
The Lone Ranger
1949
as Tom Harding
Treasure of Monte Cristo
1949
as Lt. Michael Perry
Sky Liner
1949
as Ben Howard
Wild Weed
1949
as Jonathan Treanor
Omoo-Omoo the Shark God
1949
as 'Chips'
Batman and Robin
1949
as Private Investigator Dunne [Chs. 2, 9, 12]
Son of a Badman
1949
as Doc Jarvis
Highway 13
1948
as Frank Denton
Shep Comes Home
1948
as 'Chance' Martin
Parole, Inc.
1948
as Kid Redmond
Thunder in the Pines
1948
as Pete
Blonde Ice
1948
as Stanley Mason, Attorney
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
1947
as Lance Carter
Tahiti Honey
1943
as Lt. John Barton
The Dawn Express
1942
as Robert Norton
I'll Sell My Life
1941
as Mordecai Breen
Sign of the Wolf
1941
as Rod Freeman
Ellery Queen, Master Detective
1940
as Dr. James Rogers
They Asked For It
1939
as Howard Adams
Outside These Walls
1939
as Dan Sparling
Inside Story
1939
as Barney Callahan
Pardon Our Nerve
1939
as Dick Malone
The Mysterious Miss X
1939
as Keith Neville
While New York Sleeps
1938
as Barney Callahan
Time Out for Murder
1938
as Barney Callahan
Speed to Burn
1938
as Matt Kerry
Island in the Sky
1938
as Michael Fraser
Walking Down Broadway
1938
as Peter Claybourne
Change of Heart
1938
as Anthony Murdock
Wee Willie Winkie
1937
as Lt. Brandes aka 'Coppy'
The Lady Escapes
1937
as Michael Hilton
Time Out for Romance
1937
as Bob Reynolds
Woman-Wise
1937
as Tracey Browne
Career Woman
1936
as Barry Conant
The Man I Marry
1936
as Ken Durkin
Sing, Baby, Sing
1936
as Ted Blake
Poor Little Rich Girl
1936
as Richard Barry
White Fang
1936
as Gordon Weedon Scott
The Country Doctor
1936
as Tony Luke
Song and Dance Man
1936
as Alan Davis
Professional Soldier
1935
as George Foster