Bernard Punsly (July 11, 1923 – January 20, 2004) was an American actor[1] who later left show business to become a physician.
Bernard Punsly | |
|---|---|
 Punsly in trailer to "Little Tough Guy" (1938) | |
| Born | July 11, 1923 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2004 (aged 80) Torrance, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1937–1943 |
His last name was often spelled incorrectly in film credits as Punsley.
Early life and acting career
editPunsly was born on July 11, 1923, in New York City. In 1935, he auditioned for a part in the play Dead End, because he thought it might be fun. The success of the play led to a number of its child actors being cast in a 1937 film adaptation, Dead End, including Punsly. Its success led to the group appearing in a series of "Dead End Kids" films. He later appeared in an offshoot group of those films starring what were dubbed the "Little Tough Guys". Punsly worked with well known stars such as Ronald Reagan, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, John Garfield, and Humphrey Bogart in these films.
After acting
editEven as an actor, Punsly was known to read medical books in his spare time. He joined the army after his last film, Mug Town, where he received medical training. He served in the Army Air Forces from March 1943 to March 1946.[2] Upon discharge from the army, Punsly entered the Medical College of the University of Georgia, subsequently obtaining his medical degree in 1949. He returned to California and set up a medical practice in Torrance, never returning to show business.
He became chief of staff in the South Bay Hospital in Redondo Beach, California.
Personal life
editPunsly married Marilyn "Lynne" Kufferman in 1950.[3][4] and had two children, Brian and Richard.
He died of cancer on January 20, 2004, at age 80, in a hospital in Torrance, California.[1]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Dead End | Milty | |
| 1938 | The Big Broadcast of 1938 | Caddy | Uncredited |
| 1938 | Crime School | George "Fats" Papadopoulos | |
| 1938 | Little Tough Guy | Ape | |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Hunky | |
| 1939 | They Made Me a Criminal | Milt | |
| 1939 | Hell's Kitchen | Patrick Henry 'Ouch' Rosenbloom | |
| 1939 | The Angels Wash Their Faces | Sleepy Arkelian | |
| 1939 | On Dress Parade | Dutch | |
| 1940 | You're Not So Tough | Ape | |
| 1940 | Junior G-Men | Lug | Serial |
| 1940 | Give Us Wings | Ape | |
| 1941 | Hit the Road | ||
| 1941 | Mob Town | ||
| 1941 | Sea Raiders | Butch | Serial |
| 1942 | Junior G-Men of the Air | 'Creaseball' Plunkett | Serial |
| 1942 | Tough as They Come | Ape | |
| 1942 | Junior Army | Bad Eye - Gang Member | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Mug Town | Ape | Final film[5] |
References
edit- ^ a b Lentz, Harris M. III (2005). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 288. ISBN 9780786421039. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Index Record for Bernard Punsly (1923) Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem Death File", Fold3 by Ancestry.com website. Retrieved December 11, 2022. Enlistment Dates are listed as "5 Mar 1943" and "4 Dec 1950", and Release Dates are listed as "17 Mar 1946" and "11 Sep 1952".
- ^ Punsly, Bernard (31 Oct 1950). "Los Angeles Mirror 31 Oct 1950, page 33". Los Angeles Mirror. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Associated Press (24 January 2004). "Bernard Punsly, 80, Actor in Dead End Kids". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "In Remembrance: Bernard Punsly". Film Buff Online. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
