A Birthday Tribute to Barry Sullivan

Actor Barry Sullivan was born in New York City on August 29, 1912.

Sullivan was a fine actor who had a terrific career which stretched for over four decades, as he moved easily back and forth between leading and supporting roles, gradually settling into character parts.

In addition to his long-running film career, he also starred in the TV series HARBORMASTER (1957-58), seen above, and as Pat Garrett in THE TALL MAN (1960-62).

Over the last couple of years I've particularly come to realize just how much I enjoy Sullivan's work, having reviewed over two dozen of the prolific actor's films, with more I look forward to seeing in the future. I find him an exceptionally compelling actor regardless of the size of his part.

My favorite Sullivan roles include his portrayal of Clark Gable's loyal assistant in ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY (1949); he's seen below on the left. He's a seemingly mild-mannered, bespectacled man who dotes on an unseen invalid wife -- but when his boss is crossed he reveals a coolly lethal side which made me wish we learned a lot more about his back story.

He's also fun to watch as the cagey detective in the mystery TENSION (1949), seen here with Cyd Charisse:

1949 was a great year for Sullivan, as he also appeared as Tom Buchanan opposite Alan Ladd in THE GREAT GATSBY (1949) and elevated BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE (1949) with his charismatic performance (seen here with Marjorie Reynolds):

He was terrific in THE MIAMI STORY (1954), seen here with Beverly Garland; he plays a former gangster recruited to help clean corruption out of Miami. Again, his mere presence made what might have been an otherwise fairly minor movie highly enjoyable, and I chose the film as one of my Favorite Film Discoveries of 2019 for the website Rupert Pupkin Speaks.

I love his part as an accused criminal in the Western DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE (1957). When his traveling party comes under Indian attack in the desert, his character proves to be one of the bravest of the bunch, while also finding time to romance Mona Freeman (seen below). Sullivan and Freeman play two imperfect people who come to accept each other and then find love together.

And then there's his wily, dangerous outlaw in SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN (1962), matching wits with Audie Murphy:

Sullivan, who was married three times, had three children; his daughter Patsy married composer Jimmy Webb and daughter Jenny married rock star Jim Messina.

Barry Sullivan died on June 6, 1994, at the age of 81.

Barry Sullivan films reviewed at Laura's Miscellaneous Musings: AND NOW TOMORROW (1944), LADY IN THE DARK (1944), FRAMED (1947), SMART WOMAN (1948), THE GREAT GATSBY (1949), TENSION (1949), BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE (1949), ANY NUMBER CAN PLAY (1949), NANCY GOES TO RIO (1950), THE OUTRIDERS (1950), A LIFE OF HER OWN (1950), NO QUESTIONS ASKED (1951), CAUSE FOR ALARM! (1951), PAYMENT ON DEMAND (1951), THREE GUYS NAMED MIKE (1951), THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (1952) (also here), JEOPARDY (1953), PLAYGIRL (1954), HERE TWELVE MEN (1954), THE MIAMI STORY (1954), LOOPHOLE (1954), STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND (1955) (also here), JULIE (1956), DRAGOON WELLS MASSACRE (1957), LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (1962), and EARTHQUAKE (1974).

Reviewed for my Western Roundup column at Classic Movie Hub: SEVEN WAYS FROM SUNDOWN (1960).

Seen below, THE OUTRIDERS costarring Arlene Dahl and Joel McCrea.

Some of Sullivan's other noteworthy films not yet reviewed include SUSPENSE (1946), THE GANGSTER (1947), QUEEN BEE (1955), THE MAVERICK QUEEN (1956), FORTY GUNS (1957), A GATHERING OF EAGLES (1963), and PAT GARRETT & BILLY THE KID (1973).

I highly recommend delving into Barry Sullivan's highly enjoyable filmography, which provides a great many hours of excellent entertainment.

Update: I've now reviewed SUSPENSE (1946) and QUEEN BEE (1955).