Noah Beery Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Noah Beery Jr.
Beery Jr. in The Rockford Files (1974)
Born	Noah Lindsey Beery (1913-08-10)August 10, 1913 New York City, U.S.
Died	November 1, 1994(1994-11-01) (aged 81) Tehachapi, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1920–1986
Spouse(s)	Maxine Jones ​ ​ (m. 1940; div. 1966)​ Lisa Thorman ​ (m. 1968)​
Children	3
Parent(s)	Noah Beery Sr. (father)
Relatives	Wallace Beery (uncle)

Noah Lindsey Beery (born August 10, 1913 – died November 1, 1994) was an American actor. He was known for playing friendly characters. His acting style was similar to his famous uncle, Wallace Beery, who won an Oscar.

Noah Beery Jr. often played supporting roles. He acted in films and on television for over 50 years. Many people remember him best as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford. This was the father of James Garner's character in the TV show The Rockford Files (1974–1980). His own father, Noah Beery Sr., was also a well-known actor.

Early Life and Family

Noah Beery Jr. with his father Noah Beery Sr. in 1922

Noah Beery Sr. in 1925

Noah Beery Jr. was born in New York City. His father was a stage actor there. A famous person named Josie Cohan gave him the nickname "Pidge."

In 1915, his family moved to California. His father started acting in movies. Noah Jr. went to school in Los Angeles. Later, they moved to a ranch in the San Fernando Valley. He loved this way of life and kept it for his whole life.

He started acting at age seven. His first movie was The Mark of Zorro (1920). He acted alongside his father in this film. Like his father, Noah Jr. became a respected character actor. His uncle, Wallace Beery, was a very famous actor. By 1932, Wallace Beery was one of the highest-paid actors in the world. Noah Jr. and his father had long careers, even if they weren't as famous as his uncle. The three Beery actors looked very much alike. However, Noah Beery Jr. did not have the strong voice his father and uncle had.

Acting Career Highlights

Noah Beery Jr. in 1940

Noah Beery Jr. appeared in many movies. He had an important early role with John Wayne in The Trail Beyond (1934). He was 21 years old at the time. He also acted in Only Angels Have Wings (1939) with Cary Grant.

He worked with his uncle Wallace Beery in 20 Mule Team (1940). Later, he joined John Wayne again in Red River (1948). Montgomery Clift also starred in that movie.

In the mid-1950s, Beery worked on early television. He played Joey the Clown in the show Circus Boy. In 1960, he joined the NBC Western series Riverboat. He became the co-starring sidekick with Darren McGavin.

He also appeared in other TV shows. These included The Real McCoys and The Virginian. He guest-starred on Wagon Train and Perry Mason. In Perry Mason, he played different characters in two episodes.

In 1967, he played Buffalo Baker in the TV series Hondo. This role was first played by Ward Bond in the movie version.

Most Famous Role: The Rockford Files

Noah Beery Jr. is best known for his role as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford. He played Jim Rockford's father in The Rockford Files. James Garner played Jim Rockford. The show ran from 1974 to 1980. Rocky was a kind but sometimes grumpy father. This role made Beery Jr. very popular with TV viewers.

Personal Life and Legacy

Noah Beery Jr.'s first wife was Maxine Jones. She was the daughter of Western movie star Buck Jones. They were married until 1966. His second wife was Lisa Thorman. They married in 1968 and stayed together until his death.

He had two daughters, Muffett and Melissa. He also had a son named Bucklind Beery, who became an actor too. He had three step-children: Page, Sean Slattery, and Lerena Barbe.

On February 8, 1960, Noah Beery Jr. received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7047 Hollywood Blvd.. This honor was for his work in television.

Noah Beery Jr. passed away on November 1, 1994. He was 81 years old. He died in Tehachapi, California, due to a health issue. He was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Film and TV Appearances

Noah Beery Jr. had a long career. Here are some of his many film and television appearances:

See also

In Spanish: Noah Beery, Jr. para niños