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Tom Tyler

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Actor

The Resume

    (August 9, 1903-May 1, 1954)
    Born in Port Henry, New York
    Birth name was Vincent Markowsk
    Western film star
    Portrayed Kharis in Universal's 'The Mummy's Hand' (1940)
    Portrayed Captain Marvel/Shazam in the serial film 'The Adventures of Captain Marvel' (1941)
    Portrayed the Phantom, in the serial 'The Phantom' (1943)
    Portrayed Sheriff Jim Turner on The Cisco Kid (1950-51)
    Other films include 'Mystery Ranch (1934),' 'The Silver Bullet (1935),' 'Born to Battle (1935),' 'Silent Valley (1935),' 'Fast Bullets (1936),' 'Santa Fe Bound (1936),' 'Cheyenne Rides Again (1937),' 'Feud of the Trail (1937),' 'Outlaws of Cherokee Trail (1941),' 'Riders of the Rio Grande (1943),' and 'Riders of the Range (1950)'

Why he might be annoying:

    His early film appearances were credited under the stage name Bill Burns.
    His Lithuanian accent sometimes came through in his Westerns.
    He was edged out by Tim McCoy at his studio in the B-movie Western genre.
    When his contract wasn't renewed in 1938, he left Hollywood to join the Wallace Brothers Circus.
    He starred in over 100 Westerns but is really only ever remembered for his brief stint as Captain Marvel of Shazam! fame.
    He was cast as Kharis because the studio felt he resembled a younger Boris Karloff well enough to match stock footage of Karloff from 'The Mummy.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He held numerous jobs (sailor, boxer, lumberjack, coal miner) before finding work as a stuntman and movie extra.
    He was a weightlifting champion who won the national AAU weight-lifting championship and even made the U.S. Olympic team (both in 1928).
    He successfully made the transition from silent films to talkies while remaining a star.
    He had bit roles in A-list projects like 'Stagecoach,' 'Grapes of Wrath' and even 'Gone With the Wind.'
    Also appearing in a bit part in 'Gone With the Wind' was Frank 'Junior' Coghlan - who later played his alter ego Billy Batson in the Captain Marvel serials!
    He was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis in 1943, which put a strain on his ability to work.
    He eventually returned - reportedly destitute - to live with his sister in the Detroit area and died there of heart failure at the age of 50.
    Quentin Tarantino called his Captain Marvel 'the most homicidal berserker superhero of cinema.'

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


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Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 20.0% Annoying