Howard Duff

Biography

Howard Green Duff (November 24, 1913 – July 8, 1990) was a versatile American actor whose talents spanned film, television, stage, and radio. Born in Charleston, Washington, which is now part of Bremerton, he graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1932. Duff's acting journey began unexpectedly after he was cut from the basketball team, leading him to participate in school productions.

His film debut came with a role as an inmate in "Brute Force," and he went on to feature in notable films such as "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). Throughout his career, Duff frequently collaborated with his first wife, actress and director Ida Lupino. One of his notable later roles was as the attorney for Dustin Hoffman in the Academy Award-winning film "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979).

In the realm of radio, Duff gained fame as Dashiell Hammett's iconic detective Sam Spade from 1946 to 1950, appearing in "The Adventures of Sam Spade" on multiple networks. His television credits include starring alongside Lupino in "Mr. Adams and Eve" (1957-1958), playing a young Mark Twain in "Bonanza," and taking on roles in "The Twilight Zone," "Dante," and "Felony Squad." Duff continued to act into the 1980s, making appearances in series like "Flamingo Road," "Knots Landing," and "Dallas," leaving behind a rich legacy in the entertainment industry.