Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
February 10, 1910
Place of Birth:
Princeton, Illinois, USA
Social Media
Douglas Spencer
Biography
Douglas Spencer (born July 4, 1910 – March 5, 1960) was an American actor, best known for his roles in classic science fiction films and film noirs during the 1940s and 1950s.
Spencer was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was drawn to the entertainment industry early on and began his career in theater before transitioning to films. He often played characters with a tough, no-nonsense edge, making him a popular choice for a variety of roles in films of the time.
Spencer's big break came when he landed a role in the influential science fiction film *The Thing from Another World* (1951), directed by Christian Nyby and produced by Howard Hawks. In the film, Spencer played the role of a reporter named Ned Scott, who is among the group of scientists and military personnel investigating a mysterious alien threat in the Arctic. *The Thing from Another World* became a classic of the genre and remains one of Spencer’s most memorable roles.
In addition to his work in science fiction, Spencer appeared in several other films across a range of genres. He was frequently cast in supporting roles in film noirs, thrillers, and dramas, and his distinctive, gravelly voice and sharp screen presence made him a recognizable face in Hollywood.
Other notable films he appeared in include *The Big Clock* (1948), a crime thriller directed by John Farrow, and *The Green Glove* (1952), a suspenseful drama.
Douglas Spencer was married to actress *Ann Wedgeworth*, and their marriage lasted for several years. After the height of his film career, Spencer continued working in television and on stage, although he never achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries.
Spencer’s career was cut short when he died from cancer at the age of 49, on March 5, 1960. Despite his relatively brief career, he remains fondly remembered by fans of classic sci-fi and noir films.
Douglas Spencer's legacy is primarily tied to his memorable performance in *The Thing from Another World*, but his work across various genres helped solidify him as a dependable and versatile character actor in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His contributions to the sci-fi and noir genres continue to be appreciated by film enthusiasts today.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Sins of Rachel Cade | Doctor Bikel |
| 1959 | The Diary of Anne Frank | Kraler |
| 1958 | Cole Younger, Gunfighter | Marshal Fred Woodruff |
| 1958 | Saddle the Wind | Hemp Scribner |
| 1957 | The Three Faces of Eve | Mr. Black |
| 1957 | Short Cut to Hell | Train Conductor |
| 1957 | Omar Khayyam | Pigeon Keeper |
| 1957 | The Unholy Wife | Judge |
| 1956 | Pardners | Smith |
| 1956 | Man from Del Rio | Sheriff Jack Tillman |
| 1955 | This Island Earth | The Monitor of Metaluna |
| 1955 | Smoke Signal | Garode |
| 1955 | A Man Alone | Henry Slocum |
| 1955 | The Kentuckian | Frome Brother (uncredited) |
| 1954 | River of No Return | Sam Benson |
| 1954 | The Raid | Rev. Douglas |
| 1953 | Shane | Axel 'Swede' Shipstead |
| 1953 | The Glass Wall | Inspector Bailey |
| 1953 | Houdini | Simms |
| 1953 | She's Back on Broadway | Lew Ludlow |
| 1953 | Trouble Along the Way | Father Procurator aka George |
| 1952 | Monkey Business | Dr. Brunner |
| 1952 | Untamed Frontier | Clayton Vance |
| 1952 | Something to Live For | Joey (uncredited) |
| 1951 | The Thing from Another World | Ned 'Scotty' Scott |
| 1951 | The Redhead and The Cowboy | Perry (Union agent) |
| 1951 | A Place in the Sun | Boatkeeper (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Warpath | Kelso |
| 1951 | Come Fill the Cup | Ike Bashaw |
| 1950 | Father of the Bride | Fritz the Organist (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Union Station | Stationmaster (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Follow Me Quietly | Phony Judge |
| 1949 | It Happens Every Spring | Train Conductor (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Bride of Vengeance | False Physician |
| 1949 | Trapped | Sam Hooker (uncredited) |
| 1949 | The Heiress | Minister (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Red, Hot and Blue | Actor in Theatre Group (uncredited) |
| 1949 | Alias Nick Beal | Henry T. Finch |
| 1949 | My Friend Irma | Interior Decorator (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Night Has a Thousand Eyes | Dr. Ramsdell |
| 1948 | The Big Clock | Bert Finch |
| 1948 | The Sainted Sisters | Townsman (uncredited) |
| 1947 | Adventure Island | Prisoner sharing cell with Herrick and Lochlin (uncredited) |
| 1946 | The Dark Corner | Deli Customer (uncredited) |
| 1945 | The Lost Weekend | Hospital Patient Seeing Imaginary Beetles (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Incendiary Blonde | New Years Eve Party Patron (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Kitty | Guest (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Double Indemnity | Lou Schwartz (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Princess O'Rourke | Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Fall In | Military Policeman |
| 1942 | A Date with the Falcon | Witness at Accident (uncredited) |
| 1941 | The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Hotel Guest |
| 1941 | Lady Scarface | Police Secretary |
| 1940 | Christmas in July | Man Listening to Radio (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Little Nellie Kelly | Policeman in Dance Line (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Men Against the Sky | Mechanic |
| 1940 | Lucky Partners | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Allegheny Uprising | Prisoner in Irons |
| 1939 | The Day the Bookies Wept | Auction Spectator (uncredited) |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone | 1st Martian |
| 1959 | The Rebel | Joe Shandell |
| 1959 | Bonanza | Alonzo McFadden |
| 1958 | The Rifleman | |
| 1956 | Wire Service | Mason |
| 1955 | Cheyenne | |
| 1955 | The Millionaire | Joe Brock |
| 1954 | Studio 57 | |
| 1950 | Lux Video Theatre | Jonas |