Earl McCarthy

born: 04 January 1906
Logansport, Indiana,
United States of America
died: 21 May 1933
San Bernardino, California,
United States of America
(pneumonia (or) heart attack, age 27)

Young American actor of film and stage. A graduate of the San Bernardino High School class of 1923, he entered films in 1925-26, briefly headlining the "Hairbreadth Harry" series of comedies (produced by Billy West and his brother George for release through Weiss Brothers Artclass) from 1926-27, then moving into credited and uncredited parts in the early sound era. He had been ill with a heart ailment for the last two months of his life, leading to his untimely death at age 27.
Some sources state he was born 01 January 1906 in Fort Wayne, Indiana; while I can confirm he was born around 1906 in Indiana, and in the earliest record I can find for him -- the 1910 U.S. Census -- he and his parents are indeed living in Fort Wayne, I have not been able to definitively confirm the specifics of his birth. Sources also state he died in Los Angeles, California, but his passing actually occurred at his parents' residence in San Bernardino, California; he returned there about seven weeks before his death when his poor health forced him to leave Hollywood.
Earl's funeral service was conducted by a Christian Science Practitioner; and according to the "Hollywood Reporter" (May 24, 1933, page 3) he died of "pneumonia".
Notably, Earl's 20-year-old roommate in the 1930 LA Census was Thomas Skeoch, an actor/stuntman (and top-notch polo player) who became "Tom Steele" who had a long and distinguished movie career along with his close friend, Dave Sharpe. In an interview, after retiring, Steele said that he had worked in some of Roach's Our Gang comedies.
Real name: Francis Earl McCarthy
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography.

3


1925
Laughing Ladies
Bus passenger

1929
Leaping Love
Nightclub patron

1929
Crazy Feet
Dancer

Acknowledgements:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKLY-XXM (1910 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHWC-SQ2 (1920 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJ1-X59 (1930 Census)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-HF63 (CA Death Index)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-HFRY (CA Death Index)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184877441 (Find a Grave)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19230414.1.11 (San Bernardino Daily Sun, 13 Apr 1923)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19300724.1.9 (San Bernardino Daily Sun, 24 Jul 1930)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19330522.1.3 (San Bernardino Daily Sun, 22 May 1933)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19330523.1.5 (San Bernardino Daily Sun, 23 May 1933)
https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19330524.1.4 (San Bernardino Daily Sun, 24 May 1933)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMBX-KVK 1900 (C Logansport, IN: future Mom Ida Youngker lives 200 Marydyke St)
https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-reporter-jan-04-1906-p-8/ (1906 Jan 04: Vine & Marydyke St: boy born to J.W. McCarthy)
https://archive.org/details/hollywoodreporte1215wilk/page/n946/mode/1up?view=theater&q=%22EARL+McCARTHY%22 (1933 May 24: Pneumonia)
https://www.findagrave.com/ : "Bud" Jamison bio: Christian Scientist
http://www.westernclippings.com/stuntmen/tomsteele_stuntmen.shtml (Roommate Thomas Skeoch/Tom Steele worked Our Gang comedies)
Jesse Brisson (research and bio notes; identification in Laughing Ladies)
Jim Jarvis (addendum notes and research)

This page was last updated on: 20 August 2024