Paul Causey Hurst (October 15, 1888 – February 27, 1953) was an American film actor and director.
Born in Traver, California , and raised on a ranch, he appeared in hundreds of films during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. However, he got his start painting scenery as part of the backstage crew during the silent movie era. By 1911, he was active in films as an actor, writer and director. He freelanced and worked for many of the movie studios, building a solid reputation for his work both on and off screen.
Hurst is best remembered for two roles: as the Yankee deserter who trespasses at Tara and is shot by Scarlett in Gone with the Wind (1939); and his memorable characterization of the drunken and sadistic vigilante Smith in The Ox Bow Incident (1943). However, he was most proud of his role as a crotchety, old rancher who refuses water to a Quaker family in the movie Angel and the Badman , until John Wayne 's character convinces him to share the water. It was after this latter role that Republic Pictures signed him as the comic sidekick in Monte Hale 's Western series.
His last film was John Ford 's The Sun Shines Bright .
Hurst was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 1952, and committed suicide in February 1953. He is buried in Reedley Cemetery in Reedley, California .
The Hazards of Helen (1914 serial) (uncredited)A Woman in the Web (1918 serial)Play Straight or Fight (1918)Actor
1953
The Sun Shines Bright as
Army Sgt. Jimmy Bagby
1952
Toughest Man in Arizona as
Dalton
1952
Big Jim McLain as
Mr. Lexiter (uncredited)
1951
Million Dollar Pursuit as
Ray Harvey
1950
The Missourians as
John X. Finn
1950
The Old Frontier as
Skipper Horton
1950
The Vanishing Westerner as
Waldorf Worthington
1949
Pioneer Marshal as
Huck Homer
1949
Ranger of Cherokee Strip as
Sheriff Jug Mason
1949
San Antone Ambush as
Happy Daniels
1949
South of Rio as
Andy Weems
1949
Outcasts of the Trail as
Doc Meadowlark
1949
Law of the Golden West as
Otis Ellis
1949
Prince of the Plains as
Sheriff Hank Hartley
1948
Gun Smugglers as
Sergeant Hasty Jones
1948
Yellow Sky as
Drunk (uncredited)
1948
Son of God's Country as
Eli Walker
1948
The Arizona Ranger as
Ben Riddle
1948
Heart of Virginia as
Whit Galtry
1948
Old Los Angeles as
Bartender (uncredited)
1948
Who Killed 'Doc' Robbin? as
Jailer
1948
California Firebrand as
Chuck Waggoner
1948
Madonna of the Desert as
Pete Connors
1948
On Our Merry Way as
Sheriff (uncredited)
1947
Under Colorado Skies as
Lucky John Hawkins
1947
Angel and the Badman as
Frederick Carson
1946
Plainsman and the Lady as
Al
1946
Death Valley as
Sergeant Dailey
1946
In Old Sacramento as
Stagecoach Driver
1946
The Virginian as
Bartender (uncredited)
1946
Murder in the Music Hall as
Hobarth
1945
The Dolly Sisters as
Tim Dowling (uncredited)
1945
Midnight Manhunt as
Murphy
1945
Steppin' in Society as
Cookie
1945
Penthouse Rhythm as
Police Desk Sergeant
1945
Nob Hill as
El Dorado Doorman (uncredited)
1945
Her Lucky Night as
Maloney (uncredited)
1945
The Big Show-Off as
The Devil
1944
Something for the Boys as
Defense Plant Foreman (uncredited)
1944
Barbary Coast Gent as
Jake Compton
1944
Greenwich Village as
Milkman (scenes deleted)
1944
Summer Storm as
Officer Orloff
1944
The Ghost That Walks Alone as
Sheriff Slim Carson (uncredited)
1943
December 7th (Documentary) as
World War I Ghost Soldier
1943
Jack London as
'Lucky Luke' Lannigan
1943
The Sky's the Limit as
Dock Foreman (uncredited)
1943
The Ox-Bow Incident as
Monty Smith
1943
Hi'Ya Chum as
Archie Billings
1943
Young and Willing as
First Cop
1943
Calaboose as
Ed - Bartender
1942
Night in New Orleans as
Sergeant Casper Riordan
1942
Dudes Are Pretty People (Short) as
Two-Gun
1942
Pardon My Stripes as
Feets
1941
Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring as
Page
1941
This Woman Is Mine as
Second Mate Mumford
1941
The Parson of Panamint as
Jake Waldren
1941
Caught in the Draft as
Sgt. Burns
1941
Glove Affair (Short) as
Chuck Brenner
1941
The Great Mr. Nobody as
Michael O'Connor
1941
Petticoat Politics as
Slats O'Dell
1941
Fresh as a Freshman (Short) as
Chuck Brenner
1941
Tall, Dark and Handsome as
Biff Sage
1940
Bowery Boy as
Blubber Mullins
1940
Street of Memories as
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1940
Goin' Fishin' (Short) as
Bus conductor
1940
Tugboat Annie Sails Again as
Pete
1940
Spring Parade as
Headwaiter (uncredited)
1940
Men Against the Sky as
Mechanic (uncredited)
1940
The Westerner as
Chickenfoot
1940
South to Karanga as
Slats
1940
They Drive by Night as
Pete Haig (uncredited)
1940
Edison, the Man as
Sheriff
1940
Star Dust as
Mac, Amalgamated Lab Tech
1940
Castle on the Hudson as
Guard (uncredited)
1939
Gone with the Wind as
Yankee Deserter
1939
Glove Slingers (Short) as
Chuck Brenner
1939
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence as
Empire State Building Guard (uncredited)
1939
On Your Toes as
Variety Club Bartender (uncredited)
1939
Quick Millions as
Sheriff
1939
Each Dawn I Die as
Garsky
1939
It Could Happen to You as
Sandy
1939
The Kid from Kokomo as
First Old Man in Fistfight
1939
Broadway Serenade as
Reynolds
1939
Cafe Society as
Bartender
1938
Topper Takes a Trip as
Bartender
1938
Thanks for Everything as
Guard
1938
Secrets of a Nurse as
Slice Cavanaugh
1938
The Last Express as
Asst. Dist. Atty. Springer
1938
Hold That Co-ed as
Slapsy
1938
Josette as
A. Adolphus Heyman
1938
Alexander's Ragtime Band as
Bill Mulligan
1938
Island in the Sky as
Happy
1938
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm as
Florabelle's Father
1938
No Time to Marry as
Sergeant
1937
45 Fathers as
Policeman (uncredited)
1937
Second Honeymoon as
Dennis Huggins
1937
Ali Baba Goes to Town as
Captain
1937
The Lady Fights Back as
Maloney
1937
Danger - Love at Work as
Police Officer
1937
Wife, Doctor and Nurse as
Bill
1937
You Can't Have Everything as
Truck Driver (uncredited)
1937
The Legion of Missing Men as
Muggsy
1937
Super-Sleuth as
Motorcycle Cop
1937
Wake Up and Live as
McCabe
1937
You Can't Beat Love as
Foreman Butch Mehaffey
1937
Fifty Roads to Town as
Tom
1937
Angel's Holiday as
Sergeant Murphy
1937
This Is My Affair as
Bowler
1937
Song of the City as
First Detective (uncredited)
1937
Trouble in Morocco as
Tiger Malone
1936
We Who Are About to Die as
Tip Fuller
1936
The Gay Desperado as
American Detective
1936
I'd Give My Life as
Conly
1936
To Mary - with Love as
Drunk
1936
Blackmailer as
Inspector Killian
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town as
1st Deputy (uncredited)
1936
Robin Hood of El Dorado as
Wilson
1936
It Had to Happen as
Workman (uncredited)
1935
The Gay Deception as
Bell Captain
1935
The Daring Young Man as
Prison Guard (uncredited)
1935
Calm Yourself as
Detective Roscoe
1935
Public Hero Number 1 as
Rufe Parker
1935
Star of Midnight as
Detective Corbett (uncredited)
1935
The Case of the Curious Bride as
Fibo Morgan - Florabelle's Cousin (uncredited)
1935
Wilderness Mail as
Jules - Henchman
1935
Times Square Lady (scenes deleted)
1935
Carnival as
Policeman (uncredited)
1935
Shadow of Doubt as
Police Lt. Jack Sackville
1935
Maybe It's Love as
Expressman (uncredited)
1934
Romance in Manhattan as
Joe - Policeman (uncredited)
1934
The Ballad of Paducah Jail (Short) as
Escaped Felon
1934
Tomorrow's Youth as
Detective
1934
Among the Missing as
Police Capt. Bill Connors
1934
Take the Stand as
Denny O'Brien
1934
Midnight Alibi as
Babe the Butcher
1934
Charlie Chan's Courage as
Undetermined Role
1934
There Ain't No Justice (Short)
1934
Sing and Like It as
Tied Up Mug (uncredited)
1934
A Very Honorable Guy as
Butler (uncredited)
1934
The Line-Up as
Detective Sgt. Doyle
1934
Nana as
Nana's First Employer (uncredited)
1933
Queen Christina as
Swedish Soldier Betting on 6 (uncredited)
1933
The Big Race as
Skipper O'Neal
1933
The Women in His Life as
Paul
1933
The Big Race as
Skipper O'Neal
1933
Day of Reckoning as
Harry
1933
Saturday's Millions as
Doc Maloney, Trainer
1933
Hold Your Man as
Aubrey C. Mitchell (uncredited)
1933
The Sphinx as
Detective Terrence Aloysius Hogan
1933
Terror Aboard as
Boatswain
1933
Out All Night as
Henry (uncredited)
1933
Grand Slam as
Canadian Bridge Player (uncredited)
1932
Island of Lost Souls as
Donahue
1932
Men Are Such Fools as
Stiles
1932
The Big Stampede as
Arizona
1932
The Phantom President as
Sailor (uncredited)
1932
Hold 'Em Jail as
Coach Butch
1932
The Thirteenth Guest as
Detective Grump
1932
State's Attorney as
Captain Morgan
1931
The Secret Witness as
Officer Brannigan (uncredited)
1931
Bad Company as
Goldie's Butler
1931
The Public Defender as
Doc
1931
That's My Line (Short) as
Mexican Bandit
1931
Sweepstakes as
Cantina Bartender
1931
The Missing Link (Short)
1931
Kick In as
Detective Whip Fogarty
1931
The Tale of a Flea (Short)
1931
The Secret 6 as
Nick Mizoski - the Gouger
1931
One Punch O'Toole (Short) as
One Punch O'Toole
1930
De Woild's Champeen (Short) as
The Contender
1930
The Third Alarm as
'Beauty' Johnson
1930
The Lottery Bride as
Lottery Agent (uncredited)
1930
Borrowed Wives as
Bull Morgan
1930
Paradise Island as
Beauty
1930
Hot Curves as
'Slug', Baseball Player
1930
Shadow of the Law as
Pete Shore
1930
Mountain Justice as
Lem Harland
1930
The Runaway Bride as
Sergeant Daly
1930
Officer O'Brien as
Captain Antrim
1930
Lucky Larkin as
Pete Brierson
1929
His First Command as
Sgt. Westbrook
1929
Oh, Yeah? as
Railroad-Yard Superintendent
1929
Sailor's Holiday as
Jimmylegs
1929
The California Mail as
Rowdy Ryan
1929
The Lawless Legion as
Ramirez
1928
Lilac Time (uncredited)
1927
Buttons as
Slugger McGlue
1927
The Valley of the Giants as
Randeau
1927
The Red Raiders as
Sergeant Murphy
1927
The Devil's Saddle as
'Swig' Moran
1927
The Man from Hard Pan as
Larry Lackey
1927
The Overland Stage as
Hell-A-Poppin' Casey
1927
Rider of the Law as
Henry Baker
1926
The Outlaw Express as
Secretary
1926
The High Hand as
Chris Doble
1926
The Roaring Road as
Checking Board Tabulator (uncredited)
1924
The Medicine Hat (Short)
1924
The Mandan's Oath (Short)(unconfirmed)
1924
The Man Who Smiled (Short)
1924
The Man Who Would Not Die (Short)
1923
The Hunchback of Notre Dame as
Emeraldas Torturer (uncredited)
1921
A Crook's Romance as
Paul
1919
Lightning Bryce as
Powder Solvang
1918
Smashing Through as
Stevens
1918
Rimrock Jones as
Ike Bray
1917
The Further Adventures of Stingaree as
Howie (as Paul C. Hurst)
1917
The Man Hunt at San Remo (Short) as
'Maverick' Charley
1917
The Railroad Raiders as
Steve Arnold (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
A Lass of the Lumberlands (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Manager of the B & A as
Roger Oakley (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Diamond Runners as
Paul - the Brains of the I.D.B.
1916
Judith of the Cumberlands as
Blatchley Turrentine (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
Medicine Bend as
Murray Sinclair
1916
Whispering Smith as
Murray Sinclair (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Missing Millionaire (Short) as
Wentworth (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Millionaire Plunger (Short) as
Deering's 1st Henchman
1916
The War of Wits (Short) as
Billings (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Parasite (Short) as
Stallings
1916
The Corsican Sisters (Short) as
Mona's Accomplice
1916
The Little Monte Carlo (Short) as
Stallings, Mona's Accomplice
1916
The Social Pirates as
Mona's Accomplice (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Darkest Hour (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Moth and the Star (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Villain Worshipper (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Duel in the Desert (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Purification of Mulfera (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
The Honor of the Road (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Taking of Stingaree (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
A Bushranger at Bay (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
To the Vile Dust (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Black Hole of Glenrenald (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
A Voice in the Wilderness (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
An Enemy of Mankind (Short) as
Howie, Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
Stingaree as
Howie - Stingaree's Partner (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Pitfall as
Garvin - a Crooked Politician (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Man in Irons (Short) as
Rufus King - a Counterfeiter (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Wolf's Prey (Short)
1915
When Thieves Fall Out (Short) as
Benny Berg - Whalen's Lieutenant (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
A Double Identity (Short) as
Paul Brooks / Brant (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Substituted Jewel (Short) as
Jeffries - Balmer's Assistant (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Secret Code (Short) as
Manning - Secret Service Agent
1915
The Disappearing Necklace (Short) as
Buck - Duncan's Pal (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
Mysteries of the Grand Hotel as
Various Roles
1915
The Frame-Up (Short) as
Thompson - the Frog's Accomplice (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Vivisectionist (Short) as
Bart - Jardine's Servant (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Figure in Black (Short) as
Blake - the House Detective
1915
The Closed Door (Short) as
Dalton - Barry's Henchman
1915
The Clairvoyant Swindlers (Short) as
Kelly
1915
The Tattooed Hand (Short) as
Bat Dorgan
1915
Mike Donegal's Escape (Short) as
Mike Donegal - Master Crook
1915
Old Isaacson's Diamonds (Short) as
Snake Henely
1915
The Red Signal (Short) as
Chief Dispatcher (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Disappearance of Harry Warrington (Short) as
Michaels - an Architect
1915
The Apartment House Mystery (Short) as
Thompson
1915
The Affair of the Deserted House (Short) as
Blau - the Counterfeiter's Confederate
1915
The Girl Detective (Short)(Episode #1, 2, etc.)
1915
The Tragedy of Bear Mountain (Short) as
Steve Barty
1914
The Fatal Opal (Short) as
Sandy McGee
1914
The Smugglers of Lone Isle (Short) as
Jim Crompton - Head of the Smugglers
1914
The Plot at the Railroad Cut (Short) as
Benton, the Foreman (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
The Hazards of Helen as
Benton - a Foreman [Ch. 2]
1914
The Prison Stain (Short) as
Dick Kelsey
1914
The Invisible Power as
Lorenzo
1914
The Primitive Instinct (Short) as
A Primitive Man
1914
The Bond Eternal (Short) as
Dan Sheppard - a Drunkard
1914
The Rajah's Vow (Short) as
Gunga Lal - the Rajah's Servant
1914
The Chief of Police (Short) as
Daniels (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
Shannon of the Sixth as
Captain Arlington (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
The Quicksands (Short) as
Captain Lanning - Osborn's Rival (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
The Barrier of Ignorance (Short) as
Jim Ferris - Nancy's Husband
1914
The Death Sign at High Noon (Short)(as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
Captured by Mexicans (Short) as
Pete - a Mexican (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
The District Attorney's Duty (Short) as
Bill Savage - Sibley's Henchman (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
Trapped (Short) as
Dan Brent - a Crook
1913
The Big Horn Massacre (Short) as
Hawkeye (as Paul C. Hurst)
1913
The Cave Men's War (Short) as
Rex Axe - of the Cave Dwellers
1913
The Plot of India's Hillmen (Short) as
Messlah - the Commandant's Servant (as Paul C. Hurst)
1913
The Man Who Vanished (Short) as
Grexton
1913
A Daughter of the Underworld (Short) as
Dave - Malva's Brother
1913
Trooper Billy (Short) as
Sunrise Beek - a Half-Breed
1913
The Invaders (Short) as
The Killer
1913
The Skeleton in the Closet (Short) as
Mason
1913
Intemperance (Short) as
Bert - Kitty's Intemperate Husband
1913
The Fight at Grizzly Gulch (Short) as
The Medicine Man (as Paul C. Hurst)
1913
The Struggle (Short) as
Mooney - the Foreman
1913
On the Brink of Ruin (Short) as
Fred
1913
The Circle of Fate (Short) as
The Husband
1913
The Poet and the Soldier (Short)
1913
The Cheyenne Massacre (Short) as
Lt. Allen
1913
The California Oil Crooks (Short) as
Todd
1913
The Redemption (Short) as
Shifty Benner
1913
The Last Blockhouse (Short) as
Crow - a Half-Breed
1913
The Pride of Angry Bear (Short) as
Colonel Wright - U.S. Cavalry
1913
A Dangerous Wager (Short) as
Ned - Jack's Rival
1912
The Two Runaways (Short)
1912
The Mayor's Crusade (Short) as
Ralph Hale
1912
The Driver of the Deadwood Coach (Short) as
Bad Bill - a Desperado
1912
Red Wing and the Paleface (Short) as
Red Fox - Red Wing's Father
1912
Days of '49 (Short) as
Spike
1912
The Redskin Raiders (Short) as
Anapa - Chief of the Poncas
1912
When Youth Meets Youth (Short) as
Will Thurvell - the Foreman
1912
The Loneliness of the Hills (Short) as
The Indian Chief
1912
The Outlaw (Short) as
Black Pete
1912
The Stolen Invention (Short) as
John Rawley, a Promoter
1912
Jean of the Jail (Short) as
Alcalde (as Paul C. Hurst)
Director
1926
The Law of the Snow Country
1925
The Were-Tiger (Short)
1924
The Passing of Wolf MacLean
1924
The Courageous Coward
1924
The Medicine Hat (Short)
1924
The Dirty Little Half Breed (Short)
1924
The Mandan's Oath (Short)
1924
The White Man Who Turned Indian (Short)
1924
The Man Who Smiled (Short)
1924
The Man Who Would Not Die (Short)
1922
South of Northern Lights
1918
Play Straight or Fight (Short)
1917
The Further Adventures of Stingaree (as Paul C. Hurst)
1917
The Railroad Raiders (as Paul C. Hurst)
1916
A Lass of the Lumberlands
1915
The Red Signal (Short) (as Paul C. Hurst)
1915
The Escape on the Fast Freight (Short) (as Paul C. Hurst)
1914
The Hazards of Helen (uncredited)
Writer
1924
Branded a Bandit (story and scenario)
1922
Table Top Ranch (scenario) / (story)
1922
The Heart of a Texan (scenario)
1922
Rangeland (scenario) / (story)
1921
KingFisher's Roost (scenario) / (story)
1917
The Railroad Raiders (scenario)
Producer
1921
Black Sheep (producer)
Soundtrack
1941
The Great Mr. Nobody (performer: "Jingle Bells" (1857) - uncredited)
Archive Footage
1981
James Cagney: That Yankee Doodle Dandy (TV Movie documentary)
1976
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch as
Aging Sidekick (uncredited)