Edward Gargan was born of Irish parents in Brooklyn, New York in 1902. He was the elder brother of actor William Gargan whose July 17 birthday he shared.
Edward Gargan started as a musical comedy actor on Broadway. He sang in "Good News", "Rose-Marie", and other hit musicals of the 1920s, and also in opera. One of his early shows was "Polly of Hollywood" in 1927. He portrayed Patrolman Mulligan, one of the principals of "Strictly Dishonorable", in 1930.
He went to Hollywood in 1932 and the next year was in the cast of the film "David Harum". For the next 19 years he appeared in a variety of movies. Gargan was one of the most prolific bit players in the history of the movies, specializing in dumb policemen and dense sidekicks. He appeared in nearly 300 feature films over a three-decade span between 1921 and 1952, and television work from 1951 to 1953.
Gargan died in New York City in 1964.
1953
as Frankie
1951
as Milt (uncredited)
1951
as Policeman (as Ed Gargan)
1950
1950
as Garrity
1950
1950
1950
as Officer Murphy
1950
as Moving Man with Door (uncredited)
1950
as Sam
1950
as S.F. Cop - Fire Escape (uncredited)
1949
as Policeman Burton
1948
as Mack
1948
as Detective (Uncredited)
1948
as Deputy Sheriff
1948
as Tap-It Bowers
1948
as Ted (uncredited)
1948
as Motorcycle Cop
1947
as Frankie
1947
as Big Mac
1947
as Newsstand man
1947
as Uncle George
1947
as Dolan, Restaurant Owner
1947
as Jailer
1947
as Mike
1947
as Pie Truck Driver (uncredited)
1947
as Policeman in Park (uncredited)
1947
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
1946
as Cop in Arcade (Uncredited)
1946
as Parking Ticket Cop
1946
as Eustace Kelly
1946
as Detective Dixon
1946
as Bouncer (uncredited)
1946
as Riley
1946
as Police Sergeant (Uncredited)
1946
as Policeman (uncredited)
1946
as Bartender
1945
as Butch
1945
as Hundefänger (uncredited)
1945
as Cab Driver
1945
as Jailer
1945
as 1st Cop
1945
as Baxter - Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
1945
as Policeman in Park
1945
as Police Sgt. at Kempen's Apartment (uncredited)
1945
as Mike Ryan
1945
as Outraged Baseball Fan (uncredited)
1945
as Policeman
1945
as Cal Williams
1944
as Keno
1944
as Mike Storm
1944
as Kurtz
1944
as Homicide Detective Bates
1943
as Kelsey, Palace Hotel Waiter
1943
as Detective Bates
1943
as Duke
1943
as Slugged Pedestrian (uncredited)
1943
as Doorman (uncredited)
1943
as Donovan
1943
as Det. Bates
1943
as Bank Policeman (uncredited)
1943
as George, the Bartender
1943
as Detective Bates
1943
as Detective Stone
1942
as Mr. Johnson - Detective
1942
as Detective Bates
1942
as Murphy - Policeman (uncredited)
1942
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
1942
as Police Lt. Foster
1942
as Sergeant
1942
as Bombardier (uncredited)
1942
as Deputy
1942
as Policeman
1942
as Detective Bates (Uncredited)
1942
as Joe
1942
as Moving Man
1942
as Mulrooney
1942
as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
1942
as Willie Brooks
1942
as Officer Charlie Prescott
1942
as Detective Bates (uncredited)
1942
as Police Sergeant
1941
as Chuck
1941
as Joe, the Bouncer
1941
as Policeman
1941
as Sylvester
1941
as Dudley Kane
1941
as Joe
1941
as Hotel Doorman
1941
as Harry (uncredited)
1940
as Hank
1940
as Police Officer
1940
as Railroad Ticket Seller (uncredited)
1940
as Mike Sullivan
1940
as Chimp
1940
as Bartender (uncredited)
1940
as Inga - the Fortune Teller
1940
as Joe - Foreman (uncredited)
1940
as Poker Player
1940
as Bank Guard
1940
as Cabbie (uncredited)
1940
as Policeman
1940
as New York Policeman
1940
as George, the Doorman (uncredited)
1940
as Policeman Guarding Courtroom (uncredited)
1940
as Detective (uncredited)
1940
as Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
as Bill - Sailor (uncredited)
1940
as Lou
1940
as Plant Workman
1940
as Capt. Butterfield
1940
as Death Row Guard (uncredited)
1940
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1940
as W. Thornton Upshaw
1940
as Cab Driver
1939
as Officer Riley - Police Guard (uncredited)
1939
as Detective Quinn (uncredited)
1939
as Truck Driver
1939
as Dunk
1939
as Sentry
1939
as First Policeman
1939
as Ironmansky (uncredited)
1939
as George "Bugs" Jacklin
1939
as Police Officer Flannigan
1939
as Tom, Taxi Driver (Uncredited)
1939
as Policeman
1939
as Jake
1939
as J.R. Robinson
1939
as Cop
1939
as Pinky Budd
1939
as Garden Café Doorman (uncredited)
1939
as Cop
1939
as Police Officer
1939
as Second Detective
1939
as Cop
1938
as Sgt. White
1938
as Tiny
1938
as Flanahan
1938
as Jim - a Policeman
1938
as Longshoreman at dance
1938
as Detective Globe
1938
as Policeman (uncredited)
1938
as Chief Petty Officer (uncredited)
1938
as Guard
1938
as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1938
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
1938
as Officer Hogan
1938
as Big Furniture Mover
1938
as Zoo Official (uncredited)
1937
as [scenes deleted]
1937
as John Donovan
1937
as Eddie
1937
as Mate of Dorcas
1937
as Policeman at Train Wreck (uncredited)
1937
as Foreman
1937
as Police Officer Riley (uncredited)
1937
as Butch (uncredited)
1937
as O. R.Smith
1937
as Policeman in Park
1937
as Policeman Driving Radio Car (uncredited)
1937
as Officer Clark
1936
as Henchman Al
1936
as Detective (uncredited)
1936
1936
as Officer
1936
as Rordan
1936
as Detective (uncredited)
1936
as Policeman Burke
1936
as Andy
1936
as Bodyguard (uncredited)
1936
as Pa's Guest (uncredited)
1936
as Wagon Driver
1936
as Guard Sitting Outside Warden's Office (uncredited)
1936
as Bosun
1936
as Detective
1936
as Doc Wilson
1935
as Cab Driver
1935
as Mike O'Reilly
1935
as Pinky Kelly (uncredited)
1935
as Taxi Driver
1935
as Clancy O'Rourke
1935
as Patrolman
1935
as Moran - a Cop
1935
as Trench
1935
as Subway Guard
1935
1934
as Lumberjack
1934
as Warden's assistant
1934
as Porky the Freda's 'Crew'
1934
as Higgins
1934
as Stogie (Ruby's agent)
1934
as Eddie Sparks
1934
as Officer Pat O'Brien
1934
as Bill Montague (uncredited)
1934
as Gang Leader (uncredited)
1933
as Drinker Betting on 9 (uncredited)
1933
as Whitaker (uncredited)
1933
as Second Immigration Officer (uncredited)
1933
as 'Captain' the Policeman (uncredited)
1933
1933
as Deputy (uncredited)
1933
as Lt. 'Babs' Riley
1931
as Man
1931
1931
as Detective
1931
1931
1931
as Al - Man in Bar
1930
as Jerry