Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

Ralph Dunn

Ralph Dunn was an American film, television, and stage actor.

Last revised
Jul 24, 2026
Read time
≈ 13 min
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Source
Ralph Dunn
Dunn in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
Born(1900-05-23)May 23, 1900
DiedFebruary 19, 1968(1968-02-19) (aged 67)
Flushing, Queens, New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1932–1967
Spouse
Pat West
(div. 1944)

Ralph Dunn (May 23, 1900 – February 19, 1968) was an American film, television, and stage actor.

Early years

Dunn was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania, on May 23, 1900.1 His father was a veterinarian for the U.S. Army during World War I, and his mother was an actress. Dunn was enrolled briefly at the University of Pennsylvania, but left after a short time to join a vaudeville troupe.

Career

Dunn's career began when he was a member of a minstrel show touring the southern United States. He performed on stage from 1920 to 1935, made more than 120 films in Hollywood from 1935 to 1950, and then returned to Broadway.2

Dunn's Broadway credits included Once for the Asking (1963), Tenderloin (1960), Happy Town (1959), Make a Million (1958), The Pajama Game (1954), Room Service (1953), The Moon Is Blue (1951), An Enemy of the People (1950), and The Seventh Heart (1927).1

Dunn acted in hundreds of minor feature-film roles and supporting appearances in two-reel comedies. He came to Hollywood during the early talkie era, beginning his film career with 1932's The Crowd Roars. He appeared in the Three Stooges comedy Mummy's Dummies, as well as Who Done It? and its remake, For Crimin' Out Loud.

Dunn kept busy into the 1960s, appearing in TV series such as Kitty Foyle, The Edge of Night and Norby, and films such as Black Like Me.

Personal life

Dunn was married to actress Pat West. They divorced on May 12, 1944.3

Death

On February 19, 1968, Dunn died in Flushing, New York.1

Selected filmography

References

References

  1. "Ralph Dunn". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved April 8, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. Staff (May 22, 1959). "Echoes". The Titusville Herald. p. 10. Retrieved April 6, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Divorces". Billboard. May 27, 1944. p. 32. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  4. Great Movie Musicals on DVD - A Classic Movie Fan's Guide by John Howard Reid - Google search with book preview
External links