Howard Duff

Howard Green Duff (November 24, 1913 – July 8, 1990) was an American actor of film, television, stage, and radio. Duff was born in Charleston, Washington, now a part of Bremerton. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1932 where he began acting in school plays only after he was cut from the basketball team. His first film role was as an inmate in Brute Force. His other movies include The Naked City (1948), All My Sons (1948), Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949), Panic in the City (1968), In Search of America (1971), A Wedding (1978) and No Way Out (1987). He appeared in a number of films with his first wife, actress/director Ida Lupino. One of Duff's later performances was as Dustin Hoffman's attorney in the Academy Award-winning Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). On radio, Duff played Dashiell Hammett's private eye Sam Spade from 1946–1950, starring in The Adventures of Sam Spade on three different networks - ABC, CBS and NBC. In 1951 Steve Dunne took over the role of Sam Spade. Duff also appeared in an episode of Climax! entitled Escape From Fear in 1955. On television, Duff appeared with his then wife Ida Lupino in the CBS comedy Mr. Adams and Eve from January 1957 through September 1958, in which they played husband and wife film stars named Howard Adams and Eve Drake. He played the young Samuel Langhorne Clemens, in his early life in the West as a satirical and crusading journalist, in the TV series Bonanza ("Enter Mark Twain," season 1, episode 5, 1959). ...

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A Wedding (1978)

Muffin's wedding to Dino Corelli is to be a big affair. Except the ageing priest isn't too sure of the ceremony, only the families actually turn up as the Corelli Italian connection is suspect, security guards watch the gifts rather over-zealously, and Dino's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Carol Burnett  •  Desi Arnaz Jr.  •  Geraldine Chaplin  •  Howard Duff

Muffin's wedding to Dino Corelli is to be a big affair. Except the ageing priest isn't too sure of the ceremony, only the families actually turn up as the Corelli Italian connection is suspect, security guards watch the gifts rather over-zealously, and Dino's ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Altman
CAST:  Carol Burnett  •  Desi Arnaz Jr.  •  Geraldine Chaplin  •  Howard Duff

Brute Force (1947)

Timeworn Joe Collins and his fellow inmates live under the heavy thumb of the sadistic, power-tripping guard Captain Munsey. Only Collins' dreams of escape keep him going, but how can he possibly bust out of Munsey's chains?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jules Dassin
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Hume Cronyn  •  Charles Bickford  •  Yvonne De Carlo

Timeworn Joe Collins and his fellow inmates live under the heavy thumb of the sadistic, power-tripping guard Captain Munsey. Only Collins' dreams of escape keep him going, but how can he possibly bust out of Munsey's chains?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jules Dassin
CAST:  Burt Lancaster  •  Hume Cronyn  •  Charles Bickford  •  Yvonne De Carlo

Double Negative (1980)

Mentally tortured photojournalist attempts to track down his wife's murderer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Bloomfield
CAST:  Michael Sarrazin  •  Susan Clark  •  Anthony Perkins  •  Howard Duff

Mentally tortured photojournalist attempts to track down his wife's murderer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Bloomfield
CAST:  Michael Sarrazin  •  Susan Clark  •  Anthony Perkins  •  Howard Duff

No Way Out (1987)

IntenseSlow movingSuspensefulDramatic

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell , and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice, is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Donaldson
CAST:  Kevin Costner  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sean Young  •  Will Patton

Navy Lt. Tom Farrell meets a young woman, Susan Atwell , and they share a passionate fling. Farrell then finds out that his superior, Defense Secretary David Brice, is also romantically involved with Atwell. When the young woman turns up dead, Farrell is put in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Roger Donaldson
CAST:  Kevin Costner  •  Gene Hackman  •  Sean Young  •  Will Patton

Private Hell 36 (1954)

In New York, a bank robbery of $300,000 goes unsolved for a year, until some of the marked bills are found in a Los Angeles drugstore theft. Police detectives Cal Bruner and Jack Farnham investigate and are led from the drugstore to a nightclub, where singer Lili ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Steve Cochran  •  Howard Duff  •  Dean Jagger

In New York, a bank robbery of $300,000 goes unsolved for a year, until some of the marked bills are found in a Los Angeles drugstore theft. Police detectives Cal Bruner and Jack Farnham investigate and are led from the drugstore to a nightclub, where singer Lili ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Siegel
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Steve Cochran  •  Howard Duff  •  Dean Jagger

The Naked City (1948)

The Naked City portrays the police investigation that follows the murder of a young model. A veteran cop is placed in charge of the case and he sets about, with the help of other beat cops and detectives, finding the girl's killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jules Dassin
CAST:  Barry Fitzgerald  •  Howard Duff  •  Dorothy Hart  •  Don Taylor

The Naked City portrays the police investigation that follows the murder of a young model. A veteran cop is placed in charge of the case and he sets about, with the help of other beat cops and detectives, finding the girl's killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jules Dassin
CAST:  Barry Fitzgerald  •  Howard Duff  •  Dorothy Hart  •  Don Taylor

While the City Sleeps (1956)

Newspaper men compete against each other to find a serial killer dubbed "The Lipstick Killer".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fritz Lang
CAST:  Dana Andrews  •  Rhonda Fleming  •  George Sanders  •  Howard Duff

Newspaper men compete against each other to find a serial killer dubbed "The Lipstick Killer".  (more)

DIRECTION:  Fritz Lang
CAST:  Dana Andrews  •  Rhonda Fleming  •  George Sanders  •  Howard Duff

Boys' Night Out (1962)

Fred, George, Doug and Howie are quickly reaching middle-age. Three of them are married, only Fred is still a bachelor. They want something different than their ordinary marriages, children and TV-dinners. In secret, they get themselves an apartment with a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Gordon
CAST:  Kim Novak  •  James Garner  •  Tony Randall  •  Howard Morris

Fred, George, Doug and Howie are quickly reaching middle-age. Three of them are married, only Fred is still a bachelor. They want something different than their ordinary marriages, children and TV-dinners. In secret, they get themselves an apartment with a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Gordon
CAST:  Kim Novak  •  James Garner  •  Tony Randall  •  Howard Morris

Johnny Stool Pigeon (1949)

A federal agent infiltrates a crime syndicate.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Castle
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Shelley Winters  •  Dan Duryea  •  Tony Curtis

A federal agent infiltrates a crime syndicate.  (more)

DIRECTION:  William Castle
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Shelley Winters  •  Dan Duryea  •  Tony Curtis

Spaceways (1953)

The test launch for the first inter-planetary research station goes wrong when the satellite station is inadvertently set up instead of returning to earth. Two people attached to the secret project are missing, presumed murdered, and all suspicions fall on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terence Fisher
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Eva Bartok  •  Alan Wheatley  •  Philip Leaver

The test launch for the first inter-planetary research station goes wrong when the satellite station is inadvertently set up instead of returning to earth. Two people attached to the secret project are missing, presumed murdered, and all suspicions fall on the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terence Fisher
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Eva Bartok  •  Alan Wheatley  •  Philip Leaver

Women's Prison (1955)

A crusading psychiatrist battles a sadistic female warden to improve conditions at a women's prison.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Seiler
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Jan Sterling  •  Cleo Moore  •  Audrey Totter

A crusading psychiatrist battles a sadistic female warden to improve conditions at a women's prison.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lewis Seiler
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Jan Sterling  •  Cleo Moore  •  Audrey Totter

Calamity Jane and Sam Bass (1949)

Drifter Sam Bass shows up in Denton, Texas (soon to host a great horse race) looking for work. Before long, he attracts the attention of pretty storekeeper Katherine Egan (the sheriff's sister) and that wild frontiers woman, Calamity Jane. Circumstances make Sam ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sherman
CAST:  Yvonne De Carlo  •  Howard Duff  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Dorothy Hart

Drifter Sam Bass shows up in Denton, Texas (soon to host a great horse race) looking for work. Before long, he attracts the attention of pretty storekeeper Katherine Egan (the sheriff's sister) and that wild frontiers woman, Calamity Jane. Circumstances make Sam ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sherman
CAST:  Yvonne De Carlo  •  Howard Duff  •  Lloyd Bridges  •  Dorothy Hart

The Yellow Mountain (1954)

A formula brawling-buddies western where one goes bad and then returns to the fold. Pete Menlo owns some gold claims in Nevada where he is joined by his old friend Andy Martin. Crooked mine-owner Bannon wants to merge their interests so they can create a monopoly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jesse Hibbs
CAST:  Lex Barker  •  Mala Powers  •  Howard Duff  •  William Demarest

A formula brawling-buddies western where one goes bad and then returns to the fold. Pete Menlo owns some gold claims in Nevada where he is joined by his old friend Andy Martin. Crooked mine-owner Bannon wants to merge their interests so they can create a monopoly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jesse Hibbs
CAST:  Lex Barker  •  Mala Powers  •  Howard Duff  •  William Demarest

Woman in Hiding (1950)

As far as the rest of the world is concerned, mill heiress Deborah Chandler Clark (Ida Lupino) is dead, killed in a freak auto accident. But Deborah is alive, if not too well. Having discovered a horrible truth about her new husband (Stephen McNally), Deborah is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Gordon
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Stephen McNally  •  Howard Duff  •  Peggy Dow

As far as the rest of the world is concerned, mill heiress Deborah Chandler Clark (Ida Lupino) is dead, killed in a freak auto accident. But Deborah is alive, if not too well. Having discovered a horrible truth about her new husband (Stephen McNally), Deborah is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Gordon
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Stephen McNally  •  Howard Duff  •  Peggy Dow

The Lady from Texas (1951)

An eccentric Civil War widow is accused of being insane.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Pevney
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Mona Freeman  •  Josephine Hull  •  Gene Lockhart

An eccentric Civil War widow is accused of being insane.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joseph Pevney
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Mona Freeman  •  Josephine Hull  •  Gene Lockhart

Illegal Entry (1949)

Long before he became producer/director of The Tonight Show, Fred DeCordova helmed the Universal meller Illegal Entry. Howard Duff, who later worked with DeCordova on the TV series Mr. Adams and Eve, stars as Bert Powers, an undercover agent for the U.S. Department ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frederick de Cordova
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Märta Torén  •  George Brent  •  Gar Moore

Long before he became producer/director of The Tonight Show, Fred DeCordova helmed the Universal meller Illegal Entry. Howard Duff, who later worked with DeCordova on the TV series Mr. Adams and Eve, stars as Bert Powers, an undercover agent for the U.S. Department ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Frederick de Cordova
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Märta Torén  •  George Brent  •  Gar Moore

This Girl For Hire (1983)

In this pilot for a proposed TV series, B.T. Brady is a flippant, but somewhat klutzy female private detective in Hollywood who sets out to solve the murder of a obnoxious mystery writer. Along the way, Brady gets help from her flamboyant mother Zandra, a washed-up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Jameson
CAST:  Bess Armstrong  •  Celeste Holm  •  Cliff DeYoung  •  Ray Walston

In this pilot for a proposed TV series, B.T. Brady is a flippant, but somewhat klutzy female private detective in Hollywood who sets out to solve the murder of a obnoxious mystery writer. Along the way, Brady gets help from her flamboyant mother Zandra, a washed-up ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jerry Jameson
CAST:  Bess Armstrong  •  Celeste Holm  •  Cliff DeYoung  •  Ray Walston

Red Canyon (1949)

A former outlaw goes straight and is determined to catch and tame a wild stallion. Western.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sherman
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Ann Blyth  •  Edgar Buchanan  •  George Brent

A former outlaw goes straight and is determined to catch and tame a wild stallion. Western.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Sherman
CAST:  Howard Duff  •  Ann Blyth  •  Edgar Buchanan  •  George Brent

Settle the Score (1989)

Katherine Whately, a tough, young Chicago cop, comes home to her small town to settle her teenage rape. She is welcomed by her brother but shunned by her father. Josh, the town doctor, is her only ally in her quest for the truth. Together Katherine and Josh find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edwin Sherin
CAST:  Jaclyn Smith  •  Jeffrey DeMunn  •  Amy Wright  •  Howard Duff

Katherine Whately, a tough, young Chicago cop, comes home to her small town to settle her teenage rape. She is welcomed by her brother but shunned by her father. Josh, the town doctor, is her only ally in her quest for the truth. Together Katherine and Josh find ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Edwin Sherin
CAST:  Jaclyn Smith  •  Jeffrey DeMunn  •  Amy Wright  •  Howard Duff

Jennifer (1953)

A young woman is hired to take care of an eerie old mansion, where she finds herself entangled with an enigmatic murderer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Newton
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Howard Duff  •  Robert Nichols  •  Mary Shipp

A young woman is hired to take care of an eerie old mansion, where she finds herself entangled with an enigmatic murderer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joel Newton
CAST:  Ida Lupino  •  Howard Duff  •  Robert Nichols  •  Mary Shipp
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