RANDOLPH SCOTT BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Randolph Scott was born George Randolph Crane on January 23rd, 1898 in Orange County, Virginia to parents George Randolph, an administrative engineer and Lucy Scott Crane.  He was the second of 6 children and his family was of Scottish decent.  Due to  his family's financial status, Randolph was able to attend private schools such as Woodberry Forest School. From an early age, Scott was very athletic and excelled in  football, baseball, horse racing, and swimming.

Scott served in the military during World War I as a member of the United States Army and served most of his time in France.  Upon his return attended college at Georgia Tech with the goal of becoming an all American Football player, however, due to a fotoball injury he eneded up moving to the University of North Carolina where he graduated with a degree in textile engineering and manufacturing.  During his college years, Scott developed an appreciation and admiration for the theater and in 1928, after gtradutation, he decided to relocate to California. 

Along with his best friend Jack Heath, the two men took a letter of introduction from Scott's father to a famous film director, Howard Hughes.  Hughes helped Scott get a small role in a film and then introduced him to Fox Studios where he made his debut in, "The Far Call" (1929) starring Charles Morton, Leila Hyams, Charles Middleton and Warner Baxter.

Cecile B. DeMille, took notice to Scott and sent him to study acting at the Pasadena Playhouse for two years.  After completion, Scott tested for the lead,"Dynamite" (1929), but he was not cast in this role, however, he did receive a small un credited role in, "The Virginian" (1929) starring Gary Cooper, Walter Huston and Richard Arlen.  

His film career was at a slowly taking off with additonal roles in, "Women Men Marry" (1931) co-starring Sally Blane, "A Succesful Calamity" (1932) starring George Arliss and Mary Astor, "Hot Saturday" (1932) co-starring Nancy Carroll and Cary Grant, "Hello Everybody!" (1932) with Sally Blane again and also Kate Smith, "Murders In the Zoo" (1932) starring Charlie Ruggles, Lionel Atwill and Gail Patrick, "Supernatural" (1933) sharing top billing with Carole Lombard, "Cocktail Hour" starring with Bebe Daniels and "Broken Dreams" starring Martha Sleeper and Joseph Cawthron, all 1933 and also before signing a contract with Paramount, assumed starring roles in the studio's extensive series of 'B' Westerns based on Zane Grey novels.  Some of which were, "Wild Horse Mesa" (1932) partnering up with Sally Blabe a third time, "Heritage of the Desert" and a 4th time with Sally Blane as his costar, "To the Last Man" with an allstar cast of Esther Ralston, Barton MacLane, Larry 'Buster' Crabbe, John Carradine, Jack La Rue, Noah Beery Sr., Shirley Temple and John Forrest 'Fuzzy' Knight , "Man of the Forest" starring Noah Beery Sr., Barton MacLane, Larry 'Buster' Crabbe, Harry Carey and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, "The Thundering Herd" co-starring Harry Carey, Noah Beery Sr., Larry 'Buster' Crabbe, Barton MacLane, Monte Blue and Raymond Hatton, "Sunset Pass" starring alongside of Tom Keene, Harry Carey and Noah Beery Sr., all (1933), "Wagon Wheels" starring with Gail Patrick, Monte Blue and Raymond Hatton, "The Last Round-Up" also starring Monte Blue and John Forrest 'Fuzzy' Knight, both (1934), "Home on the Range" starring with Jackie Coogan, Ann Sheridan, Dean Jagger, Evelyn Brent, Addison Richards and John Forrest 'Fuzzy' Knight and "Rocky Mountain Mystery" which was also known under the title of "The Fighting Westerner" starring with Ann Sheridan again, both (1935).

By the mid 1930's, Scott was cast in even better roles.  Paramount even moved him up from his 'B' Western status to a star of 'A' features, many on loan out.  His big break was in, "The Last of the Mohicans" (1936) starring Binnie Barnes, Henry Wilcoxon, Bruce Cabot and Heather Angel, again in, "Western Union" (1941) co-starring Robert Young, Dean Jagger, Virginia Gilmore, Minor Watson, Chill Wills, Barton MacLane, John Carradine and Chief Thundercloud, his big break into stardom.  Scott had also appeared on, "Roberta" (1935) starring with Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and "Follow the Fleet" (1936) starring with Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Harriet Hilliard Nelson, both with RKO Studio's.  Scott also starred in the remake of remake of, "She" (1935).
 
Scott portrayed an easygoing charm in his early films that helped any limitations as an actor.  As he matured, Scott's acting improved while his physical appearance became leathery, turning him into the ideal "strong, silent" type of stoic hero.

Scott worked with many other famous entertainers such as opposite Mae West in, "Go West, Young Man" (1936), Irene Dunne in "High, Wide and Handsome" (1937), Shirley Temple in, "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" (1938) and "Susannah of the Mounties" (1939).  Scott even supported, Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda in, "Jesse James" (1939) along with Henry Hull, Nancy Kelly, John Carradine, Brian Donlevy and Lon Chaney Jr.  Scott had finished his contract with Paramount in 1938 and began to work freelance.

Scott remained most popular in Westerns, some of the more well known ones were, "Virginia City" co-starring Errol Flynn, Mirian Hopkins, Humphrey Bogart, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale Sr., Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, John Litel, Douglass Dumbrille, Victor Kilian and Charles Middleton, "When the Daltons Rode" both (1940) also starring Kay Francis, Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford, George Bancroft, Andy Devine, Stu Erwin and Frank Albertson and "Belle Starr" with Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, Joe Sawyer, Chill Wills and Louise Beavers, both (1941). Scott also played military men in "Coast Guard" (1939) with Frances Dee, Ralph Bellamy, Walter Connelly and Stanley Andrews, "To the Shores of Tripoli" (1942) starring alongside John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, Nancy Kelly, Minor Watson, Harry Morgan, Max 'Slapsie Maxie' Rosenbloom and Alan Hale Jr., "Bombardier" starring with Pat O'Brien, Anne Shirley, Barton MacLane, Eddie Albert and Robert Ryan, "Corvette K-225" co-starring Ella Raines, Barry Fitzgerald, Andy Devine, John Forrest 'Fuzzy' Knight, James Brown and Noah Beery Jr. and "Gung Ho!" featuring Noah Beery Jr., Alan Curtis, Robert Mitchum, J. Carrol Naish, Milburn Stone, David Bruce, Irving Bacon and Rod Cameron, all (1943).

Randolph was maried twice, but after divoricing his first wife, he married Patricia Stillman in 1944, with whom he adopted two children. The marriage lasted until Scott's 1987 death.

He did appear in two more films, "Captain Kidd" (1945) with Charles Laughton, Barbara Britton, John Carradine, John Qualen, William Farnum, Gilbert Roland, Reginald Owen and Sheldon Leonard and "Home, Sweet Homicide" (1946) with Peggy Ann Garner, Lynn Bari, Dean Stockwell and Connie Marshall, but then decided he was happiest in westerns.  Scott chose to return to work on large budget color westerns such as, "Abilene Town" (1946) starring with Ann Dvorak, Lloyd Bridges, Rhonda Fleming, Chubby Johnson and Edgar Buchanan, "Badman's Territory" (1946) also starring Ann Richards, George 'Gabby' Hayes, Tom Tyler, Ray Collins, Steve Brodie, Chief Thundercloud and Lawrence Tierney, "Trail Street", "Gunfighters" co-starring Barbara Britton, Bruce Cabot, Dorothy Hart, Forrest Tucker, Charlie Grapewin and Grant Withers, both (1947), "Albuquerque", "Coroner Creek", "Return of the Badmen" all (1948), "The Walking Hills" also starring Ella Raines, William Bishop, Edgar Buchanan, Arthur Kennedy and John Ireland, "Canadian Pacific" with Jane Wyatt, J. Carrol Naish, Nancy Olsen and Victor Jory, "The Doolins of Oklahoma" all (1949), "The Nevadan", "Colt .45", "Cariboo Trail" co-starring George 'Gabby' Hayes, Victory Jory and Bill Williams, all (1950), "Sugarfoot", "Santa Fe" and "Fort Worth" starring with David Brian, Phyllis Thaxter, Helena Carter and Dickie Jones, all (1951).  His westerns were budgeted at about 1 million dollars.
 
Scott was a major box office draw during the early 1950's.  He appeared in the Quigley’s "Top Ten Money Makers Poll" from 1950 to 1953 and also was one of the top ten box-office stars of the Fifties in Westerns.  His salary was averaging, $100,000 per picture.   Scott also owned his own company, Ranown and produced a number of films, some of which were the best middle ground budget westerns ever made.  he was definitely beginning to age and this showed in his facial features, but that did not stop him from acting.  He continued well in to the 1950's to appear on a number of films such as, "Carson City" with Lucille Norman, Raymond Massey, Richard Webb, Thurston Hall, James Millican and George Cleveland, "Hangman's Knot" co-starring Donna Reed, Claude Jarman Jr., Lee Marvin, Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Frank Faylen, Richard Denning, Ray Teal, Jeanette Nolan and Monte Blue, both (1952), "Man Behind the Gun" also starring Patrice Wymore, Dick Wesson, Philip Carey, Morris Ankrum, Katharine Warren, Douglas Fowley and Alan Hale Jr., "The Stranger Wore a Gun" co-starring Claire Trevor, Joan Weldon, George Macready, Alfonso Bedoya, Clem Bevan, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, "Thunder Over the Plains" starring with Lex Barker, Charles McGraw, Henry Hull, Phyllis Kirk, Elisha Cook Jr., Fess Parker, Lane Chandler and James Brown, all (1953), "Riding Shotgun", "The Bounty Hunter" with Marie Windsor, Dolores Dorn, Howard Petrie, Dub Taylor, Paul Picerni and Ernest Borgnine, both (1954), "Ten Wanted Men" co-starring Jocelyn Brando, Richard Boone, Skip Homeier, Leo Gordon, Clem Bevans, Dennis Weaver, Minor Watson and Lee Van Cleef, "Rage at Dawn" starring with Denver Pyle, Edgar Buchanan, Forrest Tucker and J. Carrol Naish, "Tall Man Riding", "A Lawless Street" all (1955), "Seven Men From Now" and "Seventh Cavalry" both (1956).  

By 1956 Scott was 58 years old, an age where the careers of most leading men would be winding down. Scott, however, was about to enter his finest and most acclaimed period.  With even more star rles on, "The Tall T" starring with Richard Boone, Maureen O'Sullivan, Skip Homeier, Arthur Hunnicutt and Henry Silva, "Shootout at Medicine Bend" also starring James Garner and Angie Dickinson, "Decision at Sundown" all (1957) with John Carroll, Karen Steele, Ray Teal, Valerie French, Andrew Duggan, Vaughn Taylor, Richard Deacon, John Litel, James Westerfield and Noah Beery Jr. and  "Buchanan Rides Alone" (1958) with Craig Stevens, Joe de Santis, Barry Kelley, Jennifer Holden and L. Q. Jones, "Ride Lonesome" starring with Karen Steele, James Coburn, Pernell Roberts, Lee Van Cleef and James Best, "Westbound" co-starring Karen Steele, Virginia Mayo and Andrew Duggan, both (1959), and "Comanche Station" (1960) also starring Nancy Gates, Claude Akins, Richard Rust and Skip Homeier.  
 
Randolph Scott was a producer and leading man who developed into one of Hollywood's greatest and most popular Western stars.  Scott's last movie was, by far, one of his greatest, "Ride the High Country" alongside another western star Joel McCrea (1962) which was directed by Sam Peckinpah in a touching, elegant tale of aged gunfighters, now on opposite sides of the law, reunited in one last adventure.
 
Randolph Scott retired from acting in 1962 and since he was so wise with his financial investments, he retired a very wealthy man with an estimated fortune of $100 million.  In 1975 Scott was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.  He also received an In Memoriam Golden Boot Award for his work in Westerns and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the Motion Picture Industry.  
 
Scott passed away on March 2nd, 1987 in Beverly Hills, California from heart and lung ailments and was buried in Charlotte, North Carolina at Elmwood cemetery.
  
Filmography

1928   Sharp Shooters
1929   Weary River  
1929   The Far Call  
1929   The Black Watch
1929   Sailor's Holiday  
1929   The Virginian
1929   Dynamite
1930   Born Reckless  
1931   Women Men Marry  
1932   Sky Bride  
1932   A Successful Calamity
1932   Heritage of the Desert
1932   Hot Saturday
1932   Wild Horse Mesa  
1933   Hello, Everybody!  
1933   The Thundering Herd
1933   Murders in the Zoo
1933   Supernatural  
1933   Sunset Pass  
1933   Cocktail Hour  
1933   Man of the Forest
1933   To the Last Man
1933   Broken Dreams
1934   The Last Round-Up  
1934   Wagon Wheels
1935   Home on the Range  
1935   Rocky Mountain Mystery  
1935   Roberta
1935   Village Tale  
1935   She
1935   So Red the Rose  
1936   Follow the Fleet
1936   And Sudden Death  
1936   The Last of the Mohicans
1936   Go West, Young Man
1937   High, Wide, and Handsome
1938   Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
1938   The Texans  
1938   The Road to Reno  
1939   Jesse James
1939   Susannah of the Mounties  
1939   Frontier Marshal
1939   Coast Guard  
1939   20,000 Men a Year  
1940   Virginia City
1940   My Favorite Wife
1940   When the Daltons Rode
1941   Western Union
1941   Belle Starr
1941   Paris Calling  
1942   To the Shores of Tripoli
1942   The Spoilers
1942   Pittsburgh
1943   Bombardier  
1943   The Desperadoes  
1943   Corvette K-225
1943   Gung Ho!
1944   Follow the Boys
1944   Belle of the Yukon  
1945   China Sky  
1945   Captain Kidd
1946   Abilene Town
1946   Badman's Territory
1946   Home, Sweet Homicide
1947   Trail Street
1947   Gunfighters
1947   Christmas Eve
1948   Albuquerque  
1948   Coroner Creek
1948   Return of the Bad Men  
1949   The Walking Hills  
1949   Canadian Pacific
1949   The Doolins of Oklahoma  
1949   Fighting Man of the Plains  
1950   The Nevadan  
1950   Colt .45
1950   The Cariboo Trail  
1951   Sugarfoot
1951   Santa Fe
1951   Fort Worth
1951   Man in the Saddle
1951   Starlift
1952   Carson City
1952   Hangman's Knot
1953   The Man Behind the Gun
1953   The Stranger Wore a Gun
1953   Thunder Over the Plains
1954   Riding Shotgun
1954   The Bounty Hunter
1955   Ten Wanted Men
1955   Rage at Dawn
1955   Tall Man Riding  
1955   A Lawless Street
1956   Seven Men from Now
1956   7th Cavalry
1957   The Tall T
1957   Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend
1957   Decision at Sundown
1958   Buchanan Rides Alone
1959   Westbound  
1959   Ride Lonesome
1960   Comanche Station
1962   Ride the High Country