Comments on: Hank Worden: Ol’ Mose Knows

By: Joe C. Copeland

Joe C. Copeland — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:45:37 +0000

Loved your article on Hank Worden. I’ve known his name for many years but not the biography you printed. Another great character acter in John Wayne movies was Strother Martin. Any chance you can do a similar article on him?
Keep up the sensational work.

By: donny h.

donny h. — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:12:56 +0000

great piece i,ve enjoyed hanks work for years

By: Jim Beaver

Jim Beaver — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:33:57 +0000

Thanks for this lovely piece on old Hank. He was one of my dearest friends and my roommate for several years when I was just starting out in Hollywood. A more generous, good-hearted man never existed, and I treasure not only his hundreds of film appearances but the memory of our time as friends. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Hank, but this piece had a couple of revelations even for me. Thank you.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:52:31 +0000

Great article about a memorable actor. Do you have any information on Jack Pennick, the ‘dog-faced’ actor in many John Ford movies? It’s become a hobby to try and spot him in other movies.

By: Jack Q.

Jack Q. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:23:38 +0000

When I was in high school in the mid 40s, I worked as an usher in the big theaters, but the usher life is another story. Ushers on a regular schedule would see a movie 14 times a week. That much exposure would get us deep into a movie by the end of the week. We had the stars’ performances covered, the supporters and the authenticity of the sets and details and all the things that that you see in credits that go into a movie. Some of our favorite parts were watching character actors show up again in another role, maybe smaller this time or bigger. In addition to actors like Worden, there were many others that caught our imagination. That ever-mean Nazi, Martin Koslek, and his oily WWII Japanese counterpart (I think he was Chinese), Richard Loo. With a smarmy smile “American dog, I was educated in your universities.” One of my favorites was most usually a very bad guy and often played in John Ford’s and other westerns. That was Tom Tyler who lost the off-screen duel with John Wayne’s Ringo Kid in Stagecoach and went down before Errol Flynn’s guns in (I think) WB’s “San Antonio” and Wayne’s again in “Red River”. When his role wasn’t that prominent, he was often one of Ford’s many cavalrymen or one of a bunch of cowboys. He did get his starring role in a serial. He played “The Phantom” and I didn’t miss an episode of the “ghost who walks”. That was before my ushering days as many of his movies came out before and after my ushering years. Great character actors “made” a lot of the films I’d see 14 times a week. If the quality of performance ran deep in a film, one didn’t tire of studying it. We knew lots of character actors for their schticks. Regis Toomey always died in his movies. Bob Steele was always a very mean guy. And so many others: Andy Devine, Chill Wills, Ben Johnson, Agnes Moorehead, Elisha Cook, Jr., Alan Hale. What would “On the Waterfront” have been without those character actors? What were they really like when they left work for the day? Who did they hang out with? I’d like TCM to run a series of movies based on character actors and their impact on movies. Thanks for a very nice article on Hank Worden. I haven’t spent time on TCM blogs, but I will.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:59:05 +0000

I never knew this character actor’s name until today–even though his presence brightened both good and bad movies over the years. Thanks so much for filling in the blanks on Hank Worden.

By: Walter Watson

Walter Watson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:36:17 +0000

Thanks so much for this little tribute. I came to love and recognize Hank W. as Mose in the Searchers. But I think my favorite role was in Fort Apache. The way his character is instantly propelled to a high status in the recruits. Due to his prowess as a natural horseman. It’s a rare moment to play a hero. Or is it? When you look at his roles. He often plays an almost insignificant hero. A key player, hidden behind a vale of quirk. I Love it!!!!

By: suzidoll

suzidoll — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:47:28 +0000

What an interesting life Worden led. Sadly, we no longer live in an era where a life like that would be possible. Thanks for bringing attention to this colorful character actor.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:04:58 +0000

Yeah, Moira!! An interesting read and it was good to find out more about Hank Worden. I think I recall him more in the Ford Calvary pics, but your writing about The Searchers, I can remember his character sitting in a rocking chair. He did have a sing-songy way of saying his lines-great description.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:27:20 +0000

Thank you so much for the background information on the charming Mr. Worden. It’s strange that I knew so little about someone who feels like family.