George E. Stone, born Gerschon Lichtenstein on May 18, 1903, was a Polish-born actor who spent over three decades playing colorful characters in the style of writer Damon Runyan. He was a close friend of Runyan and played numerous "dees, dem and dos" cronies throughout the 1920s, '30s, and '40s, often taking on roles with memorable names such as Johnnie the Shiek, Boots Burnett, Ice Box Hamilton, Wires Kagel, Ropes McGonigle, Society Max, and Toothpick Charlie.
As a vaudeville and Broadway performer, Stone eventually landed his first major role as the Sewer Rat in the 1927 silent drama 7th Heaven, starring Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor. He later began billing himself as "George E. Stone" instead of "Georgie" due to the latter sounding too childlike.
Stone became typecast as a tough guy and often played henchmen or thugs in Warner Bros. films, frequently appearing in "tough guy" potboilers. His characters often possessed a yellow streak and could be both comedic and threatening, with some meeting their demise on screen.
Throughout his career, Stone appeared in numerous notable films, including The Racket, Cimarron, Five Star Final, 42nd Street, Viva Villa!, Anthony Adverse, North West Mounted Police, Pickup on South Street, The Robe, Broken Lance, The Man with the Golden Arm, Guys and Dolls, Some Came Running, Some Like It Hot, and Pocketful of Miracles.
One of Stone's most popular roles was as The Runt in the "Boston Blackie" film series, replacing Charles Wagenheim in Confessions of Boston Blackie (1941). The series lasted eight years and featured Chester Morris as the title detective.
In later years, Stone struggled with failing eyesight, becoming virtually blind by the late 1950s. Despite this, he managed to secure sporadic film and TV work, including a recurring role as a court clerk on the popular courtroom series Perry Mason (1957) from 1958 onwards.
Stone married his second wife, Marjorie Ramey, in 1946 and passed away on May 26, 1967, at the age of 64, following a stroke. He was survived by his two sisters.
