Eddie Dew
Encyclopedia
Eddie Dew was an American
actor
, film director
, and television director
. As an actor he is best remembered for his starring roles in B movie
western
film
s during the 1940s. In the 1950s he became active in directing both for film and television, most notably for the television series Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.
(1940) and Henchman French in Dude Cowboy
. His first starring role was as Scott Yager in Red River Robin Hood
(1942). This was followed by two leading roles for Republic Pictures
in the westerns Beyond the Last Frontier
(1943) and Raiders of Sunset Pass
(1943). Afterwords Dew worked for Universal Pictures
for the next decade, appearing mostly in supporting roles. Many of the pictures he made with Universal during the 1940s were with Rod Cameron
, such as Trigger Trail
(1944) and Renegades of the Rio Grande
(1945).
In the early 1950s, Dews' career transferred more into working as a film and television director, although he still acted in the occasional film and television show up until his retirement in 1969. His last movie was Pagan Island
(1961) and his television credits include appearances on Annie Oakley
, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Hawaii Five-O
. Dews directed six films during his career: The Living Bible
(1952), The Living Bible: Last Journey to Jerusalem (1952), Naked Gun (1956), The Old Testament Scriptures (1958), Stump Run (1959), and Wings of Chance (1961). His work as a director, however, is most associated with the television show Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, for which he directed 40 episodes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, and television director
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
. As an actor he is best remembered for his starring roles in B movie
B movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s during the 1940s. In the 1950s he became active in directing both for film and television, most notably for the television series Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.
Career
Dew began his acting career in the mid 1930s appearing small film roles. His first film roles of any substance were as Captain Kendall in Military AcademyMilitary academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
(1940) and Henchman French in Dude Cowboy
Dude Cowboy
Dude Cowboy is a 1941 American film about a federal agent, Terry McVey, who goes undercover as a cowboy staying at the Silver Bar Dude Ranch to investigate the disappearance of Frank Adams, a noted engraver, which is possibly connected to a counterfeit money case. David Howard directed the film and...
. His first starring role was as Scott Yager in Red River Robin Hood
Red River Robin Hood
Red River Robin Hood is a 1942 American film directed by Lesley Selander and using a screenplay by Bennett Cohen. The film stars Russell Wade as Chet Andrews, Tim Holt as Jim Carey, Cliff Edwards as Ike, Eddie Dew as Scott Yager, Otto Hoffman as Sam Sterling, Barbara Moffett as Carol, and Bob...
(1942). This was followed by two leading roles for Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
in the westerns Beyond the Last Frontier
Beyond the Last Frontier
Beyond the Last Frontier is a 1943 American film about an undercover Texas Ranger, Johnny Revere, within Big Bill Hadley's gang of crooks. Howard Bretherton directed the film and John K. Butler and Morton Grant wrote the screenplay...
(1943) and Raiders of Sunset Pass
Raiders of Sunset Pass
Raiders of Sunset Pass is a 1943 American film directed by John English with a screenplay by John K. Butler. The film is set in Texas during World War II when most of the able-bodied men of military age are away fighting for the United States...
(1943). Afterwords Dew worked for Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
for the next decade, appearing mostly in supporting roles. Many of the pictures he made with Universal during the 1940s were with Rod Cameron
Rod Cameron
Rod Cameron was a Canadian-born movie actor whose career extended from the 1930s to the 1970s. He appeared in horror, war, action and science fiction movies, but is best remembered for his many Westerns....
, such as Trigger Trail
Trigger Trail
Trigger Trail is a 1944 American film about a crooked financier and a corrupt sheriff that conspire to steal land from ranchers in Oklahoma Territory for the purposes of a railroad right-of-way. A young lawyer, Clint Farrell, comes to the resuce with the aid of some fighting-mad ranchers. Lewis D....
(1944) and Renegades of the Rio Grande
Renegades of the Rio Grande
Renegades of the Rio Grande is a 1945 American film about a crooked financier and a corrupt sheriff that conspire to steal land from ranchers in Oklahoma Territory for the purposes of a railroad right-of-way. A young lawyer, Clint Farrell, comes to the resuce with the aid of some fighting-mad...
(1945).
In the early 1950s, Dews' career transferred more into working as a film and television director, although he still acted in the occasional film and television show up until his retirement in 1969. His last movie was Pagan Island
Pagan Island
Pagan is an island of the Northern Mariana Islands chain,located at , approximately 320 kilometers northof Saipan.Pagan has an area of 47.23 km² , making it the fourth largest island of the Northern Marianas, and consists of two stratovolcanoes joined by a narrow strip of land.The...
(1961) and his television credits include appearances on Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley , born Phoebe Ann Mosey, was an American sharpshooter and exhibition shooter. Oakley's amazing talent and timely rise to fame led to a starring role in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which propelled her to become the first American female superstar.Oakley's most famous trick is perhaps...
, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
. Dews directed six films during his career: The Living Bible
The Living Bible
The Living Bible is an English version of the Bible created by Kenneth N. Taylor. It was first published in 1971. Unlike most English Bibles, The Living Bible is a paraphrase. Mr...
(1952), The Living Bible: Last Journey to Jerusalem (1952), Naked Gun (1956), The Old Testament Scriptures (1958), Stump Run (1959), and Wings of Chance (1961). His work as a director, however, is most associated with the television show Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, for which he directed 40 episodes.