Horace McMahon

Biography

Born in 1906, Connecticut-born character actor Horace McMahon fell easily into his career while pursuing a law career at Fordham University. A former news reporter, his dark, streetwise mug and attitude proved perfect for playing assorted New York characters -- thugs, cabbies, henchmen, bouncers -- in a slew of late 30s and 40s crime yarns, often with a Runyonesque feel to them. On Broadway from 1931, McMahon scored his best stage role in 1949 with "Detective Story" and was able to solidify it on film in 1951 to critical acclaim. Thereafter his crusty cops and detectives could be found all over, including TV, where he copped an Emmy nomination for his regular role on the Naked City (1958) TV series. Long married to former actress Louise Campbell, McMahon died in 1971.