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Donald Cook (actor)
Donald Cook (actor)
Donald Cook (actor)
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Donald Cook (September 26, 1901 – October 1, 1961) was an American stage and film actor who had a prolific career in pre-Code Hollywood films and on Broadway. Cook is perhaps best known for his film roles in The Public Enemy (1931), Safe in Hell (1931), Baby Face (1933), and Viva Villa! (1934), as well as for his stage role as David Naughton in Claudia, which ran for a total of 722 performances on Broadway between 1941 and 1943.[3] He was the first actor to play Ellery Queen.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Cook was born and raised in Portland, Oregon,[1] and originally studied farming but later worked for a lumber company. Cook attended the University of Oregon.[1] One of his elder brothers was Ransom M. Cook, president of Wells Fargo Bank.[2][4] In 1930 he appeared in the Summer stock cast at the Elitch Theatre, in Denver, Colorado.[5][6] He joined the Kansas Community Players and through this received an offer of stage work. He started screen work in "shorts" before going on to feature films.[citation needed]

Donald Cook and Rita Flynn in The Public Enemy (1931)

Cook was known for his portrayal of Mike Powers in the film The Public Enemy. In 1935, Cook's starring role in the film The Spanish Cape Mystery made him the first actor in any medium to play fictional sleuth Ellery Queen. He played the role of Steve opposite Helen Morgan's Julie in the 1936 film adaptation of Show Boat, was one of the suspects in the Philo Vance mystery The Casino Murder Case, and starred as an heroic U.S. Immigrant Inspector of the Deporting Squad in the 1936 movie Ellis Island.

Cook made his Broadway debut in 1926 as Donn Cook in Seed of the Brute,[7] and his New York theatrical career continued over the following three decades. His credits included a 1948 revival of Private Lives and the original 1951 Broadway run of The Moon Is Blue.

Personal life

[edit]

During his 1930 summer stock engagement at Elitch Theatre, Cook met and fell in love with Frances Beranger, another member of the company. “We were in love, and she urged me to go to Hollywood,” Cook said. “I did, and we were married when she returned to the coast from Denver.” The marriage lasted six months. However, “the prestige of my Elitch engagement helped me get my first Hollywood contract – with Warner Brothers.”[8]

Cook was married to Princess[9] Gioia Tasca di Cuto,[10] from 1937 until his death in 1961 (although they were legally separated at the time)[4] from a heart attack in New Haven, Connecticut, five days after his 60th birthday, in the midst of rehearsals for Cook's new play, A Shot in the Dark, an adaptation of L'Idiote.[11] Walter Matthau took over Cook's leading role in the play following his death.[11]

Cook is buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.[12]

For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Cook was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star located at 1718 Vine Street.[13][14]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1931 Unfaithful Terry Houston
1931 The Public Enemy Mike Powers
1931 Party Husband Horace Purcell
1931 Smart Money Nick's Second Accomplice Uncredited
1931 Side Show Joe Palmer
1931 The Mad Genius Fedor Ivanoff
1931 Safe in Hell Carl Bergen
1932 Taxi! Ferdinand Uncredited
1932 The Man Who Played God Harold Van Adam
1932 The Heart of New York Milton
1932 The Trial of Vivienne Ware John Sutherland
1932 The Conquerors Warren Lennox
1932 Penguin Pool Murder Philip Seymour
1932 Frisco Jenny Dan Reynolds
1933 Private Jones Lt. John Gregg
1933 The Circus Queen Murder The Great Sebastian
1933 The Kiss Before the Mirror Maria's Lover
1933 Jennie Gerhardt Lester Kane
1933 The Woman I Stole Corew
1933 Baby Face Stevens
1933 Brief Moment Franklin Deane
1933 Fury of the Jungle "Lucky" Allen
1933 Fog Wentworth Brown
1933 The World Changes Richard Nordholm
1934 Long Lost Father Bill Strong
1934 The Ninth Guest Jim Daley
1934 Viva Villa! Don Felipe de Castillo
1934 Whirlpool Bob Andrews
1934 The Most Precious Thing in Life Bob Kelsey
1934 Jealousy Mark Lambert
1934 Fugitive Lady Jack Howard
1935 Behind the Evidence Ward Cameron
1935 The Night Is Young Toni Berngruber
1935 Gigolette Gregg Emerson
1935 The Casino Murder Case Lynn Llewellyn
1935 Motive for Revenge Barry Webster
1935 Murder in the Fleet Lt. Cmdr. David Tucker
1935 Here Comes the Band Don Trevor
1935 Ladies Love Danger Tom Lennox
1935 The Spanish Cape Mystery Ellery Queen
1935 Confidential FBI Agent Dave Elliott
1935 The Calling of Dan Matthews Frank Blair
1936 The Leavenworth Case Dr. Truman Harwell
1936 Ring Around the Moon Ross Graham
1936 The Girl from Mandalay Kenneth Grainger
1936 Show Boat Steve Baker
1936 Ellis Island Gary Curtis
1936 Can This Be Dixie? Longstreet Butler
1936 Beware of Ladies George Martin
1937 Two Wise Maids Bruce Arnold
1937 Circus Girl Charles Jerome
1944 Freedom Comes High The Captain Short film
1944 Murder in the Blue Room Steve
1944 Bowery to Broadway Dennis Dugan
1945 Here Come the Co-Eds Dean Larry Benson
1945 Patrick the Great Pat Donahue Sr.
1945 Blonde Ransom Duke Randall
1950 Our Very Own Fred Macaulay
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1951 Prudential Family Playhouse Tony Kenyon 1 episode
1952 Lux Video Theatre Tad Bryson / Bruce Wallace / Roger 1 episode
1959 Too Young to Go Steady Tom Blake 7 episodes, (final appearance)

Stage credits

[edit]
Broadway[15]
  • Seed of the Brute (1926)
  • New York Exchange (1927)
  • Spellbound (1927)
  • Paris Bound (1927)
  • Half Gods (1929)
  • Rebound (1930)
  • Wine of Choice (1938)
  • American Landscape (1938)
  • Skylark (1939)
  • Claudia (1941)
  • Foolish Notion (1945)
  • Made in Heaven (1946)
  • Portrait in Black (1947)
  • Private Lives (1948)
  • The Moon Is Blue (1951)
  • King of Hearts (1954)
  • Champagne Complex (1955)
  • Goodbye Again (1956)
  • Love Me Little (1958)

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Donald Cook (actor)

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Donald Cook (September 26, 1901 – October 1, 1961) was an American stage and film actor renowned for his roles in pre-Code Hollywood films and on Broadway during the early to mid-20th century. Born in Portland, Oregon, Cook initially studied farming and worked for a lumber company before pursuing acting, beginning his theatrical career with the Kansas Community Players and at a local little theater in Portland. He graduated from the University of Oregon and made his Broadway debut in 1926 under the stage name Donn Cook in Seed of the Brute, going on to appear in numerous productions through 1959, including revivals of Private Lives (1948) and The Moon Is Blue (1951). Cook transitioned to film in the late 1920s, gaining prominence in pre-Code era pictures with roles such as Mike Powers, the brother of James Cagney's character, in (1931), and a prominent role opposite in Baby Face (1933). He became the first film actor to portray detective in The Spanish Cape Mystery (1935) and appeared in other notable films like Viva Villa! (1934) with , Show Boat (1936) alongside Helen Morgan, The Man Who Played God (1932), * (1936), and * (1932). Over his career, he amassed 65 known credits, often playing refined, upright characters that highlighted his polished presence. In his personal life, Cook was married twice: first to screenwriter Beranger from 1930 to 1931, and then to Italian Gioia Tasca di Cuto from 1937 until his death, though the couple separated but remained on cordial terms; they had no children. Known for his refined interests in and music, he died of a heart attack at age 60 in , and was buried in River View Cemetery in his hometown of Portland. Cook received a star on the at 1718 Vine Street, honoring his contributions to motion pictures.

Early life

Birth and family

Donald Cook was born Donald Fenton Cook on September 26, 1901, in Portland, . He was the son of Frank Ransom Cook, an accountant for a large land and mortgage company in Portland, and Edith Lara (née Parker) Cook, who had moved to the city with her husband after their marriage in 1890. Cook grew up in a stable, middle-class family environment in Portland, the youngest of three brothers; his elder siblings were Mortimer Parker Cook (born 1892) and Ransom McCurdy Cook (born 1899), who later rose to prominence as president of Bank from 1960 to 1964. This Portland upbringing, amid a close-knit household with extended relatives including his maternal grandmother and aunt, shaped his early years in the .

Education

Donald Cook, raised in , pursued higher education at the , from which he graduated with a degree in . Following his completion of studies, Cook initially entered the workforce in the lumber industry, reflecting his early interests in farming before shifting toward performance arts. He briefly worked as a bank clerk, but soon transitioned to theatrical pursuits by joining the Kansas City Community Players, marking his initial organized involvement in drama.

Career

Stage work

Donald Cook began his stage career in New York in the mid-1920s, initially performing under the name Donn Cook, and continued appearing in Broadway productions through the 1950s, with a focus on dramatic and comedic roles that showcased his versatile supporting presence. His early work established him in the theater scene before transitioning to film, and he returned to in the late 1930s after gaining Hollywood experience, contributing to several long-running hits. Cook made his Broadway debut in 1926 as John Roberts in the drama Seed of the Brute, which ran from November 1, 1926, to January 1927 at the Little Theatre. Over the next few years, prior to his move to Hollywood films, he appeared in a series of plays, including New York Exchange (1926–1927, as Ernest), Spellbound (1927, as Rowlie Bateson), the comedy Paris Bound (1927–1928, as Jim Hutton), Half Gods (1929, as Stephen Ferrier), and Rebound (1930, as Bill Truesdale). These roles in original dramas and comedies helped build his reputation on stage and paved the way for screen opportunities. After a hiatus for film work, Cook resumed his Broadway career in 1938 with Wine of Choice (as Laddy Sears) and American Landscape (as Gerald Spinner), followed by the successful comedy Skylark (1939–1940, as Tony Kenyon opposite ). His most prominent stage role came in 1941 as in Rose Franken's Claudia, a about a young wife's maturation that opened February 12, 1941, at the and ran for 722 performances across three venues until January 9, 1943. The production, starring in the title role, marked a high point in Cook's theater career, highlighting his ability to portray steady, supportive husbands. In the post-World War II era, Cook continued with roles in comedies like Foolish Notion (1945, as Gordon Roark), (1946, as Zachary Meredith), and Portrait in Black (1947, as Dr. Philip Graham). He took the lead as Elyot Chase in the 1948 revival of Noël Coward's , opposite as Amanda, which opened October 4, 1948, at the Plymouth Theatre and ran for 248 performances until May 7, 1949. Another significant success followed in 1951 with The Moon Is Blue by F. Hugh Herbert, where he played David Slater in the original production that opened March 8, 1951, at Henry Miller's Theatre and achieved 924 performances through May 30, 1953, noted for its controversial frank dialogue on romance. Cook's later stage work in the included the King of Hearts (1954, as Larry Larkin), Champagne Complex (1955, as Carter Bowen), a revival of Goodbye Again (1956, as Kenneth Bixby), Love Me Little (1958, as Father), and his final Broadway appearance in Masquerade (1959, as Oliver Casey). These productions reflected his enduring commitment to live theater, often in ensemble casts for witty comedies and satires.

Film roles

Donald Cook's film career began in 1931 and remained active primarily through the , during which he appeared in over 50 features, often in supporting or romantic lead roles that capitalized on his clean-cut, upright persona. His Hollywood breakthrough came with the role of Mike Powers in William A. Wellman's The Public Enemy (1931), where he played the principled older brother to James Cagney's ruthless gangster , highlighting themes of family loyalty amid Prohibition-era crime. This performance in the production established Cook as a versatile in the pre-Code era, blending moral rectitude with dramatic tension. In the mid-1930s, Cook solidified his presence in diverse genres, starting with Baby Face (1933), a bold pre-Code drama directed by , in which he portrayed Ned Stevens, a ambitious banker drawn into Barbara Stanwyck's manipulative schemes for social ascent. He then took a key supporting part as Don Felipe, a sympathetic official, in Jack Conway's historical epic Viva Villa! (1934), starring as and emphasizing revolutionary fervor in early 20th-century . Cook's musical turn followed in James Whale's Show Boat (1936), where he played Steve Baker, the husband of Irene Dunne's Magnolia Hawks, contributing to the film's celebrated adaptation of the Jerome Kern-Oscar Hammerstein II score amid its exploration of racial and class divides on the . A highlight of Cook's detective phase was his 1935 portrayal of amateur sleuth in The Spanish Cape Mystery, an RKO adaptation of the Ellery Queen novel that marked one of the character's earliest screen appearances and showcased Cook's analytical poise in unraveling a coastal mansion murder. As the decade progressed, however, his leading opportunities waned, with roles diminishing to character parts in B-films and supporting spots by the early 1940s, reflecting broader industry shifts toward fresher faces and the rise of sound-era stars amid the transition to postwar cinema.

Television appearances

Cook's foray into television began in the early amid the medium's rapid expansion, which drew many established actors to broadcast roles as Hollywood production shifted toward smaller-scale projects. His initial appearances were in , showcasing his versatility in dramatic and comedic sketches adapted from and sources. For instance, he portrayed Tony Kenyon in the Prudential Family Playhouse episode "Skylark" on January 16, 1951. Similarly, in 1952, Cook played Roger in "The Magnolia Touch" on , August 25, and appeared in the episode "Homecoming" that same year. By mid-decade, his work remained sporadic but notable, reflecting the era's growing for character in live broadcasts. In 1957, Cook starred in the Goodyear Television Playhouse production "The Treasure Hunters," aired May 26 on , alongside and . This phase marked a of his stage-honed skills in prestige dramas, leveraging his earlier film visibility from pre-Code era hits like . Cook's final television engagements came in 1959, underscoring his adaptation to the format as networks prioritized family-oriented programming. He guest-starred as Boyd in the Wanted: Dead or Alive episode "Angels of Vengeance," broadcast April 18 on , a Western series emblematic of TV's embrace of storytelling. His last role was as Tom Blake, the father figure in the short-lived Too Young to Go Steady, appearing in all seven episodes from April to June, opposite and ; the series explored teenage life but was canceled after its brief run. These late-career TV spots highlighted Cook's pivot to broadcast amid declining film opportunities for veteran performers.

Personal life

Marriages

Donald Cook's first marriage was to actress Frances Beranger, whom he met during a 1930 summer stock engagement at the Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado. The couple wed shortly after her return to Hollywood, in September 1930, but the union lasted only six months, ending in divorce around February 1931. This brief marriage occurred within the vibrant Hollywood circles of the early sound era, where intermarriages among performers were common as careers flourished in the burgeoning film industry. In 1937, Cook married Princess Gioia Tasca di Cuto, an Italian noblewoman from the ancient Sicilian Tasca di Cuto family, marking a notable union between Hollywood and European . The marriage lasted until Cook's death in 1961, though the couple legally separated later in life but remained on cordial terms, spanning over two decades and reflecting the international social connections that some American actors cultivated during the mid-20th century. This partnership provided Cook with a degree of personal stability amid his shifting career from films to stage work, though the couple had no children.

Later years

Following his final television appearance in 1959, Donald Cook retired from acting and retreated from the public eye. He spent the ensuing years leading a low-profile existence, primarily in the area, where he had relocated during the late 1950s. This period marked a deliberate shift away from the demands of Hollywood and Broadway, allowing Cook to maintain privacy in his personal life without further professional engagements.

Death and legacy

Circumstances of death

Donald Cook suffered a heart attack on September 30, 1961, while in rehearsals for a tryout production of the play A Shot in the Dark in . He was found semi-conscious in his hotel room the following evening and died on October 1, 1961, at the age of 60. Cook's death occurred just five days after his 60th birthday, cutting short his planned return to Broadway. His body was returned to his hometown of Portland, Oregon, where he was interred at River View Cemetery.

Honors and recognition

Cook received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1718 Vine Street on February 8, 1960, in the category of motion pictures, recognizing his contributions to the film industry. Throughout his career, Cook was noted for his roles in films during the early sound era, where his refined and understated portrayals contributed to the era's bold storytelling, as seen in films like Baby Face (1933) and (1931). His work in these productions has been highlighted in analyses of cinema for exemplifying the transition to synchronized sound and the pre-Production Code's thematic freedoms. Cook's portrayal of the fictional in The Spanish Cape Mystery (1935) marked him as the first actor to depict the character in any medium, influencing early adaptations of on screen and contributing to the genre's development in film. Posthumously, his legacy endures through archival revivals of his films in classic cinema retrospectives, underscoring his as a suave and his underappreciated impact on detective narratives.

References

  1. https://walkoffame.com/donald-cook/
  2. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/97775-donald-cook
  3. https://www.moviestarhistory.com/movie-stars-1/donald-cook-401-p
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007219/
  5. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/K8V3-XQ8/donald-f-cook-1901-1961
  6. https://tuscania1918.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wp8-parker-edward-frederick.pdf
  7. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LY91-B6K/frank-ransom-cook-1867-1951
  8. https://www.newspapers.com/article/38002658/obituary_for_ransom_m_cook_aged_86/
  9. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/1009092875/
  10. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/542884973/
  11. https://www.facebook.com/groups/636250369779116/posts/26806103332367129/
  12. https://historicelitchtheatre.org/donald-cook/
  13. https://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/donald-cook/
  14. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/donald-cook-36147
  15. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/seed-of-the-brute-10154
  16. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0007219/otherworks/
  17. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/claudia-1080
  18. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/24/us/rose-franken-92-author-of-the-claudia-stories.html
  19. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/private-lives-2025
  20. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-moon-is-blue-1929
  21. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/king-of-hearts-2445
  22. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/38402%7C40046/Donald-Cook
  23. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2154/the-public-enemy
  24. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/29/baby-face
  25. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/1626/viva-villa
  26. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/14337/show-boat
  27. http://ctva.biz/US/Anthology/PrudentialFamilyPlayhouse.htm
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0637902/
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0695780/
  30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0591238/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022286/
  32. http://ctva.biz/US/Western/WantedDeadOrAlive_01_%281958-59%29.htm
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052518/
  34. https://elcinema.com/en/person/2149090/biographies
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/1961/10/02/archives/donald-cook-60-stage-actor-dies-star-of-light-comedies-had-appeared.html
  36. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-donald-cook-stage-ro/72705177/
  37. https://www.nndb.com/people/665/000161182/
  38. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/14/theater/stage-view-when-these-two-chat-an-era-is-speaking.html
  39. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7318015/donald-cook
  40. https://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/donald-cook/
  41. http://www.brns.com/Hollywood/Pages1/holly420.html
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