Dan Duryea: A Career Appreciation

by Joseph Fusco

Crime dramas and Westerns have produced many villains but few have been as effective and memorable as Dan Duryea. The bulk of his villains were mean-spirited sadists who made life rough for anyone who got in their way. They could be cold-blooded crime bosses or psychotic Western gunslingers. It didn't matter whether the terrain was urban or country, the dead-panned expressions, clipped threats and hyena laughs often resulted in death for someone. The menacing heel screen persona became so pervasive that Dan Duryea changed character-type to broaden his range. Despite his excellent acting ability, audiences still wanted him to be the man they loved to hate. Suffice to say, even his good characters had a touch of larceny to them; if they didn't, they wouldn't have the Duryea touch. Dan Duryea was a durable actor who was able to carry a solid supporting role or hold down the lead in a boisterous Western or pulp melodrama. He's held his own with many leading actors and actresses besides working for many notable directors. Whether or not he was working in a classic film or a low budget pot boiler, he always gave an engaging performance. That is especially true of his expansive television credits. His unique style is highlighted in classic dramas, crime noirs, pulp Westerns, soap opera romances and low budget independents from the 40's to the late 60's. He also has a television resume that covers all of the dramatic, comedy and Western genres of the 50's and 60's, including his own adventure show in the 50's and a recurring role in a 60's prime time soap opera. The irony of Dan Duryea's career is that the man who created a roster of scoundrels, connivers, murderers, and thieves was actually a mild mannered man who enjoyed a fulfilling home life and a marriage that lasted 36 years and produced two sons.