Noah Beery Jr.

Noah Beery Jr., born Noah Lindsey Beery on August 10, 1913 in New York City, was a prolific American actor whose career spanned more than six decades, from the silent‑era short “The Mutiny of the Elsinore” in 1920 to his final television appearances in the mid‑1980s. He grew up in a theatrical family; his father, Noah Beery Sr., was a respected character actor and his uncle, Oscar‑winning Wallace Beery, was one of Hollywood’s highest‑paid stars in the early 1930s. Although the younger Beery never achieved the same marquee fame, he carved out his own niche as a warm, affable supporting player, frequently portraying sidekicks, fathers, and down‑home types that resonated with audiences. After moving to California in 1915, the family settled on a ranch in the San Fernando Valley, a lifestyle that shaped his grounded on‑screen persona. He debuted on screen at age seven alongside his father in “The Mark of Zorro” and quickly began a steady flow of roles in both film and television. Notable early film work includes partnering with John Wayne in “The Trail Beyond” (1934), appearing with Cary Grant in “Only Angels Have Wings” (1939), and sharing the screen with Montgomery Clift in the classic western “Red River” (1948). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s he became a regular guest star on popular series such as “The Virginian,” “Wagon Train,” and “Perry Mason,” and he even stepped in as Burt Reynolds’ replacement on the NBC western “Riverboat.” His most iconic role arrived in the 1970s when he portrayed Joseph “Rocky” Rockford, the endearing yet occasionally cantankerous father of Jim Rockford on the landmark series “The Rockford Files,” a part he inhabited for the show’s entire run from 1974 to 1980. Off‑screen, Beery married twice – first to Maxine Jones, daughter of cow‑boy star Buck Jones, and later to Lisa Thorman – and fathered three children, including actor Bucklind Beery. He earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for his television contributions. Noah Beery Jr. passed away on November 1, 1994 in Tehachapi, California, leaving behind a legacy of more than 200 screen credits that continue to illustrate the enduring charm of classic American character acting.