John Merton

John Merton

Known for: Acting
Biography: 1901-02-18
Deathday: 1959-09-19 (58 years old)

Check on Amazon

Biography

John Merton (born Myrtland F. LaVarre; February 18, 1901 – September 19, 1959) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 250 films between 1927 and 1959, mostly as a villain. He was the brother of filmmaker André de la Varre and William LaVarre, the grandfather of actress Diane Delano, and the great uncle of academic Hollis Robbins. Born and raised in Seattle with three other brothers, Franklin, Claude, and William LaVarre, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I.He joined the New York Theatre Guild in 1919 and appeared in a variety of shows, including playing the robot Marius in R.U.R. (1922). He made his film debut as a police officer in Running Wild (1927) filmed in Long Island's Astoria Studios. He travelled to Hollywood in 1932 and began a long career of small parts in major films and villain roles in B-movies and film serials. He met Cecil B. DeMille who cast him as a Roman guard in Cleopatra (1934) that led to him appearing in all of DeMille's films up to and including The Ten Commandments (1956). It was DeMille who suggested he change his name to a more masculine John Merton.Merton's wife, Esther, sued him for divorce in 1940. They had six children.

Advertisement

Filmography

all 162

Movies 161

TV Shows 1

Architect's Assistant
The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Movie
4.25
Shorty
Frontier Gambler

Frontier Gambler (1956)

Movie
Ed Hartman
Timber Country Trouble

Timber Country Trouble (1955)

Movie
Man (uncredited)
The Big Heat

The Big Heat (1953)

Movie
6.75
Daisy's Boyfriend
Up in Daisy's Penthouse

Up in Daisy's Penthouse (1953)

Movie
Dale
Trail Guide

Trail Guide (1952)

Movie
Clete
Gold Raiders

Gold Raiders (1951)

Movie
The Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers (1951)

Movie
Henchman Pete
Man from Sonora

Man from Sonora (1951)

Movie
Jerry Benton (uncredited)
A Snitch in Time

A Snitch in Time (1950)

Movie
Bowen's Henchman (uncredited)
Walk Softly, Stranger

Walk Softly, Stranger (1950)

Movie
Bob Ollinger - Deputy (as John Morton)
I Shot Billy the Kid

I Shot Billy the Kid (1950)

Movie
Otis Kilburn
Arizona Territory

Arizona Territory (1950)

Movie
Tom Croaker - Gangster
Nursie Behave

Nursie Behave (1950)

Movie
Gang Leader
Marinated Mariner

Marinated Mariner (1950)

Movie
Sheriff
West of Wyoming

West of Wyoming (1950)

Movie
Slater
Fence Riders

Fence Riders (1950)

Movie
John Baroda
Radar Patrol vs. Spy King

Radar Patrol vs. Spy King (1949)

Movie
Art - Henchman
Riders of the Dusk

Riders of the Dusk (1949)

Movie
Blacksmith Smitty
Western Renegades

Western Renegades (1949)

Movie
State Highway Policeman (uncredited)
Thieves' Highway

Thieves' Highway (1949)

Movie
Lieutenant Bannister
The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger (1949)

TV
Sheriff Charlie Coombs
Haunted Trails

Haunted Trails (1949)

Movie
Kesler
The Lost Tribe

The Lost Tribe (1949)

Movie
Marshal Clark
Outlaw Country

Outlaw Country (1949)

Movie
Miner (uncredited)
The Golden Eye

The Golden Eye (1948)

Movie
5.3
Settler (uncredited) (uncredited)
Red River

Red River (1948)

Movie
3.5
Bart McCord
Cheyenne Takes Over

Cheyenne Takes Over (1947)

Movie
Preston Durant
Raiders of the South

Raiders of the South (1947)

Movie
Paul Emery
Shadows on the Range

Shadows on the Range (1946)

Movie
Policeman (uncredited)
Gilda

Gilda (1946)

Movie
6
Lewis
The Gay Cavalier

The Gay Cavalier (1946)

Movie
Dr. Tobor
Hop Harrigan: America's Ace of the Airways

Hop Harrigan: America's Ace of the Airways (1946)

Movie
Steve Twining
The Haunted Mine

The Haunted Mine (1946)

Movie
Spike
Border Bandits

Border Bandits (1946)

Movie
Mark Butler aka Blackie
The Cherokee Flash

The Cherokee Flash (1945)

Movie
Cort McKinnon
Bandits of the Badlands

Bandits of the Badlands (1945)

Movie
Harry Stanton
Rustlers' Hideout

Rustlers' Hideout (1945)

Movie
Card Player (uncredited)
Along Came Jones

Along Came Jones (1945)

Movie
Dalt Higgins
Oregon Trail

Oregon Trail (1945)

Movie
Carl Compton
Flame of the West

Flame of the West (1945)

Movie
Cy Manning
Stranger from Santa Fe

Stranger from Santa Fe (1945)

Movie
Joe Schultz (uncredited)
Brenda Starr, Reporter

Brenda Starr, Reporter (1945)

Movie
Matson
Ghost Guns

Ghost Guns (1944)

Movie
Ed Harris
Zorro's Black Whip

Zorro's Black Whip (1944)

Movie
Scully
Girl Rush

Girl Rush (1944)

Movie
Dan Broderick
Land of the Outlaws

Land of the Outlaws (1944)

Movie
Wade Gunnerson
West of the Rio Grande

West of the Rio Grande (1944)

Movie
Henchman Pete
Fuzzy Settles Down

Fuzzy Settles Down (1944)

Movie
Angry German at Play (uncredited)
Address Unknown

Address Unknown (1944)

Movie
Bill
Mystery Man

Mystery Man (1944)

Movie
Burt
Valley Of Vengeance

Valley Of Vengeance (1944)

Movie
Henchman Jeff
Texas Masquerade

Texas Masquerade (1944)

Movie
Loki
Drums of Fu Manchu

Drums of Fu Manchu (1943)

Movie
Jim Higgins
Devil Riders

Devil Riders (1943)

Movie
Henchman Mike Phelps
Bullets and Saddles

Bullets and Saddles (1943)

Movie
Henchman Parry
Black Market Rustlers

Black Market Rustlers (1943)

Movie
Chief Quartermaster
Destroyer

Destroyer (1943)

Movie
Dan Wakely
Fighting Valley

Fighting Valley (1943)

Movie
Henchman Spike
The Law Rides Again

The Law Rides Again (1943)

Movie
Hitler's Madman

Hitler's Madman (1943)

Movie
Henchman Larry Fraser
Cowboy Commandos

Cowboy Commandos (1943)

Movie
Brig Turnkey
For God and Country

For God and Country (1943)

Movie
Burl Mason
Sagebrush Law

Sagebrush Law (1943)

Movie
Deputy Arresting Fuzzy
Fugitive of the Plains

Fugitive of the Plains (1943)

Movie
Pelham
Land of Hunted Men

Land of Hunted Men (1943)

Movie
Dalton Sykes
The Mysterious Rider

The Mysterious Rider (1942)

Movie
The Lone Prairie

The Lone Prairie (1942)

Movie
Jake - Henchman
Along the Sundown Trail

Along the Sundown Trail (1942)

Movie
Ed Blair
Prairie Pals

Prairie Pals (1942)

Movie
Nick
Sheriff of Sage Valley

Sheriff of Sage Valley (1942)

Movie
Henchman Turtle
Law and Order

Law and Order (1942)

Movie
German Soldier (uncredited)
Invisible Agent

Invisible Agent (1942)

Movie
4.8
Henchman Steve
Down Texas Way

Down Texas Way (1942)

Movie
Morgan
Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns

Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns (1942)

Movie
German Soldier
The Wife Takes a Flyer

The Wife Takes a Flyer (1942)

Movie
Brand Bolton
Boot Hill Bandits

Boot Hill Bandits (1942)

Movie
Toll Collector Henchmen's 'Supervisor'
Arizona Terrors

Arizona Terrors (1942)

Movie
Brent
Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc.

Dick Tracy vs. Crime Inc. (1941)

Movie
Henchman Bancroft
A Missouri Outlaw

A Missouri Outlaw (1941)

Movie
Sailor
South of Tahiti

South of Tahiti (1941)

Movie
First Island Guard
Sea Raiders

Sea Raiders (1941)

Movie
Bill Cook
The Gunman From Bodie

The Gunman From Bodie (1941)

Movie
Henchman Tommick
Under Fiesta Stars

Under Fiesta Stars (1941)

Movie
Officer (uncredited)
Our Wife

Our Wife (1941)

Movie
Henchman Ronimo
White Eagle

White Eagle (1941)

Movie
Thug at Rear of Truck
The Green Hornet Strikes Again!

The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940)

Movie
Henchman Mason
The Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers (1940)

Movie
Half-breed Archer
North West Mounted Police

North West Mounted Police (1940)

Movie
Flash
Billy the Kid in Texas

Billy the Kid in Texas (1940)

Movie
Warns the Wildhacks
Melody Ranch

Melody Ranch (1940)

Movie
Charlie
Queen of the Yukon

Queen of the Yukon (1940)

Movie
Lije Ellis
Billy the Kid Outlawed

Billy the Kid Outlawed (1940)

Movie
Dusty Donahue
The Return of Wild Bill

The Return of Wild Bill (1940)

Movie
Henchman Hippo Potts
Frontier Crusader

Frontier Crusader (1940)

Movie
Henchman
Covered Wagon Days

Covered Wagon Days (1940)

Movie
Cantrell Man
Dark Command

Dark Command (1940)

Movie
Kester
Hi-Yo Silver

Hi-Yo Silver (1940)

Movie
Loki
Drums of Fu Manchu

Drums of Fu Manchu (1940)

Movie
Lt. Dunbar
Northwest Passage

Northwest Passage (1940)

Movie
Commandante Manuel
Zorro's Fighting Legion

Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939)

Movie
Under-Officer
The Great Commandment

The Great Commandment (1939)

Movie
Tex Traynor
Renegade Trail

Renegade Trail (1939)

Movie
Soldier
The Man in the Iron Mask

The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

Movie
Davis--Gas Plant Heavy
Daredevils of the Red Circle

Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939)

Movie
Mike Abbott
Three Texas Steers

Three Texas Steers (1939)

Movie
3.5
Laborer (uncredited)
Union Pacific

Union Pacific (1939)

Movie
Border Patrolman Messenger
Rough Riders' Round-up

Rough Riders' Round-up (1939)

Movie
Bill Barton
Two Gun Troubador

Two Gun Troubador (1939)

Movie
Ed Brandt
In Old Montana

In Old Montana (1939)

Movie
John - Man at Accident
Four Girls in White

Four Girls in White (1939)

Movie
Red Kane
Code of the Fearless

Code of the Fearless (1939)

Movie
Red Hampton
Gang Bullets

Gang Bullets (1938)

Movie
Flint
Land of Fighting Men

Land of Fighting Men (1938)

Movie
Foster
Where the Buffalo Roam

Where the Buffalo Roam (1938)

Movie
Soldier Announcing Birth (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette (1938)

Movie
Champ Stark
Dick Tracy Returns

Dick Tracy Returns (1938)

Movie
Irate Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Riders of the Black Hills

Riders of the Black Hills (1938)

Movie
Rocky Renaut
Songs and Saddles

Songs and Saddles (1938)

Movie
Thompson (uncredited)
The Fighting Devil Dogs

The Fighting Devil Dogs (1938)

Movie
Henchman Bud
Phantom Ranger

Phantom Ranger (1938)

Movie
Bill Larson, posing as Moose Walters
Gunsmoke Trail

Gunsmoke Trail (1938)

Movie
Carson - aka Pedro de Cordoba
Knight of the Plains

Knight of the Plains (1938)

Movie
Bart
Two Gun Justice

Two Gun Justice (1938)

Movie
Henchman Mort
Female Fugitive

Female Fugitive (1938)

Movie
Henchman Kester
The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger (1938)

Movie
Farley
Arizona Gunfighter

Arizona Gunfighter (1937)

Movie
Mile-a-way Roberts
Roaring Six Guns

Roaring Six Guns (1937)

Movie
Martin
The Rangers Step In

The Rangers Step In (1937)

Movie
Tony Scarlotti
Headline Crasher

Headline Crasher (1937)

Movie
Nick Costello
Slaves in Bondage

Slaves in Bondage (1937)

Movie
Reed
Galloping Dynamite

Galloping Dynamite (1937)

Movie
Henchman Craig
Range Defenders

Range Defenders (1937)

Movie
Jim Hess
Blazing Sixes

Blazing Sixes (1937)

Movie
Toby Simmons
Drums of Destiny

Drums of Destiny (1937)

Movie
Bill Nash
Law of the Ranger

Law of the Ranger (1937)

Movie
Frank Clark
The Law Commands

The Law Commands (1937)

Movie
Brawler in Suit
Gunsmoke Ranch

Gunsmoke Ranch (1937)

Movie
Mark Flemming
Valley of Terror

Valley of Terror (1937)

Movie
Emil
Fury Below

Fury Below (1936)

Movie
Charlie Doan
Wild Horse Round-Up

Wild Horse Round-Up (1936)

Movie
Kemper Mills
The Gun Ranger

The Gun Ranger (1936)

Movie
Henchman Jake
A Tenderfoot Goes West

A Tenderfoot Goes West (1936)

Movie
Bull
The Three Mesquiteers

The Three Mesquiteers (1936)

Movie
Rance Talbot, Burr Henchman
The Vigilantes Are Coming

The Vigilantes Are Coming (1936)

Movie
Harve Tarlton
The Crooked Trail

The Crooked Trail (1936)

Movie
Single-Shot Smith
The Lion's Den

The Lion's Den (1936)

Movie
Henry McClain
Wildcat Trooper

Wildcat Trooper (1936)

Movie
Card Sharp (uncredited)
Aces and Eights

Aces and Eights (1936)

Movie
Mitchell
Wolves of the Sea

Wolves of the Sea (1936)

Movie
Moloch
Sharad of Atlantis

Sharad of Atlantis (1936)

Movie
'Breed' Hawkins
Lightnin' Bill Carson

Lightnin' Bill Carson (1936)

Movie
Arizona
Call of the Prairie

Call of the Prairie (1936)

Movie
Runnyian
Border Caballero

Border Caballero (1936)

Movie
Carp
Bar 20 Rides Again

Bar 20 Rides Again (1935)

Movie
Ed
The Eagle's Brood

The Eagle's Brood (1935)

Movie
Party Guest
Hop-a-long Cassidy

Hop-a-long Cassidy (1935)

Movie
Morgan's Henchman (uncredited)
Broadway Bill

Broadway Bill (1934)

Movie
Banty
The Red Rider

The Red Rider (1934)

Movie
Police Officer (uncredited)
Running Wild

Running Wild (1927)

Movie
Buck Lennard
Knockout Reilly

Knockout Reilly (1927)

Movie
Football Player
The Quarterback

The Quarterback (1926)

Movie

Ratings

Average 4.66
Based on 234 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1926
1938
1941
1938
1956
Advertisement

Information

Known For
Acting

Gender
Male

Birthday
1901-02-18

Deathday
1959-09-19 (58 years old)

Birth Name
Myrtland F. LaVarre

Birth Place
Washington, D.C., United States of America

Children
Lane Bradford

Siblings
André de la Varre, William La Varre

Citizenships
United States of America

Also Known As
Myrtland LaVarre, Myrtland F. LaVarre


This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Advertisement
Steve Clark
John Merton
Steve Clark worked together with John Merton in:
23 Movies
1 TV Show
Sam Newfield
John Merton
Sam Newfield worked together with John Merton in:
23 Movies
Jack Greenhalgh
John Merton
Jack Greenhalgh worked together with John Merton in:
22 Movies
Budd Buster
John Merton
Budd Buster worked together with John Merton in:
20 Movies
Frank Ellis
John Merton
Frank Ellis worked together with John Merton in:
20 Movies
Al St. John
John Merton
Al St. John worked together with John Merton in:
20 Movies
Sigmund Neufeld
John Merton
Sigmund Neufeld worked together with John Merton in:
19 Movies
Charles King
John Merton
Charles King worked together with John Merton in:
19 Movies
Jack Ingram
John Merton
Jack Ingram worked together with John Merton in:
19 Movies
Tom London
John Merton
Tom London worked together with John Merton in:
18 Movies
Raymond Hatton
John Merton
Raymond Hatton worked together with John Merton in:
17 Movies
Lane Chandler
John Merton
Lane Chandler worked together with John Merton in:
15 Movies
1 TV Show
Harry Neumann
John Merton
Harry Neumann worked together with John Merton in:
16 Movies
Hal Price
John Merton
Hal Price worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
1 TV Show
Karl Hackett
John Merton
Karl Hackett worked together with John Merton in:
15 Movies
Wally West
John Merton
Wally West worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
Ted Adams
John Merton
Ted Adams worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
Bud Osborne
John Merton
Bud Osborne worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
Edmund Cobb
John Merton
Edmund Cobb worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
Ernie Adams
John Merton
Ernie Adams worked together with John Merton in:
14 Movies
  • John Merton
    John Merton
  • Filmography
  • Information
  • Related Persons
Social Media
X
Facebook
Pinterest
Telegram
Download
iOS Application
Made in Ukraine 🇺🇦
Copyright © MovieFit 2018 – 2024
All external content remains the property of its respective owner.