Cleve Richardson, better known as John Crawford, was a burly, handsome, and rugged character actor who made a lasting impact in the entertainment industry with his extensive career spanning over 40 years. Born on September 13, 1920, in Colfax, Washington, Crawford's life took a dramatic turn when he was discovered by a Warner Bros. scout while attending the University of Washington's School of Drama.
Although he failed his screen test, Crawford's determination and perseverance led him to join RKO as a laborer. He then got a job building sets at Circle Theater in Los Angeles, where he eventually persuaded the producers to cast him in some of their plays. This breakthrough led to his signing with Columbia Pictures, where he began acting in secondary roles in westerns.
The late 1950s marked a significant turning point in Crawford's career as he graduated to bigger parts in films such as "Orders to Kill" (1958),"The Key" (1958),and "Hell Is a City" (1960),all of which were made in the UK. He returned to America in the early 1960s and went on to have a prolific career in both movies and TV series, up until 1986.
Throughout his illustrious career, Crawford appeared in over 200 films and TV shows, often cast as tough and/or villainous characters. Some of his most memorable film roles include the ill-fated chief engineer in "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972),the hearty Tom Iverson in "Night Moves" (1975),the bumbling mayor of San Francisco in "The Enforcer" (1976),hard-nosed police chief Buzz Cavanaugh in "Outlaw Blues" (1977),and amiable old mine hand Brian Deerling in "The Boogens" (1981).
In addition to his film work, Crawford also had recurring parts in several TV shows, including "The Waltons" (1972) and "Police Woman" (1974). His impressive resume also includes guest appearances in numerous TV shows, such as "The Lone Ranger" (1949),"Adventures of Superman" (1952),"I Spy" (1965),"The Twilight Zone" (1959),"The Untouchables" (1959),"Wagon Train" (1957),"The Fugitive" (1963),"Star Trek" (1966),"Lost in Space" (1965),"Bonanza" (1959),"Hogan's Heroes" (1965),"Mission: Impossible" (1966),"Gunsmoke" (1955),"The Bionic Woman" (1976),"Dallas" (1978),and "Dynasty" (1981).
John Crawford's remarkable life came to a close on September 21, 2010, at the age of 90, following complications from a stroke. He is survived by his ex-wife Ann Wakefield, four daughters, and two grandchildren.
