The Resume

(May 11, 1907-April 11, 1987)
Born in Nashua, Iowa
Birth name was Louis William Weiss
Acted in 'Merrily We Go to Hell (1932),' 'Cradle Song (1933),' 'Death Takes a Holiday (1934),' 'Half Past Midnight (1948),' 'Payment on Demand (1951),' 'Track the Man Down (1955),' 'Brides of Blood (1968),' 'Satan's Sadists (1969),' 'The Mighty Gorga (1969),' 'Brain of Blood (1971),' 'Blood of Ghastly Horror (1972),' 'Angels' Wild Women (1972),' and 'Girls for Rent (1974)'
Portrayed the title role in the detective series 'Boston Blackie' (1951-53)
Portrayed Captain Jim Flagg in ABC's 'The Rough Riders' (1958-59)

Why he might be annoying:

He is better known for being the inspiration for half of the name of Superman alter ego Clark Kent (along with Clark Gable) than for any actual film role of his.
Ironically, Kent Taylor wasn't even his real name.
He was always seen as Paramount's B-movie answer to Clark Gable or Errol Flynn, but lacking the charm of the former and the athleticism of the latter.
He spent the final years of his career in low budget biker 'turkeys' and 'Grade Z' horror films.

Why he might not be annoying:

He started out working as a film extra in 1931 on the advice of a friend.
Prior to this, he was co-operator of an awning service shop with his father.
He excelled more in racy pre-code movies than their more family friendly counterparts (for instance, he stood out as Mae West's rich and already-engaged suitor who showers her with gifts in the pre-code sex comedy 'I'm No Angel').
He wisely resuscitated his fading movie career by switching to the growing medium of television.
He died after suffering complications from heart surgery.
He was Jerry Siegel's wife's brother-in-law - hence the Superman connection.
If he had kept his birth name, we would have Clark Weiss! (Which definitely would have confirmed Superman as being Jewish!)

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• B-Movie Hunks
• BoyWiththeGreenHair’s Profiles [Series 21]
• Celebrities Born on the Same Date [May] (Ranked: 5111907)
• Coolest Jews in Hollywood
• Cowboys and Gals
• Entertainers Loved by Geeks and Nerds
• I am an Iowan
• I Died in 1987 (Ranked: 79)
• I Have a Heart Murmur
• I Probably Banged Mae West
• I'm Buried at Pierce Brothers' Westwood Memorial Park [Calif]
• Mustaches
• People who Have Similar Names on Am I Annoying (Ranked: 846)
• Presidential Names
• Profiles 54251-54500 (Ranked: 54367)
• The Rifleman and Guests
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19870411)
• Widow's Peak

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 0% Annoying