John Doucette was a prolific and versatile American character actor who appeared in more than 280 film and television productions between 1941 and 1987. He was known for his deep, rich voice and his ability to play villains, cowboys, soldiers, and Shakespearean characters. He worked with some of the biggest stars and directors of his time, such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Charlton Heston, and Alfred Hitchcock. But what was the cause of death of this talented and imposing actor?
Early Life and Career
John Doucette was born on January 21, 1921 in Brockton, Massachusetts, the eldest of three children of Nellie S. (née Bishop) and Arthur J. Doucette. During his childhood, his family moved frequently, as his father sought work during the Great Depression. He completed grammar school in Haverhill, Massachusetts; graduated from Lincoln High School in Los Angeles, California; and later, in April 1943, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Europe as an infantry rifleman during World War II.
Doucette began to perform on stage at the age of 15 in plays at his high school. He subsequently performed at the Pasadena Playhouse before being cast in Hollywood films in the early 1940s. His film debut was in Footsteps in the Dark in 1941, where he played an uncredited role as a reporter. He appeared uncredited in at least two other movies before his budding film career was interrupted by his military service during World War II.
Post-War Success
Following his discharge, he resumed acting in Hollywood, where he soon began to receive more substantial, credited roles in releases by smaller production companies, such as The Burning Cross and The Road to the Big House in 1947. He continued to progress in obtaining dramatic roles for larger studios, including a small part as an architect in The Fountainhead in 1949.
Doucette’s breakthrough came when he was cast as a henchman of James Cagney’s character in White Heat in 1949. His performance as a tough and loyal gangster impressed critics and audiences alike. He went on to play similar roles in other crime dramas, such as The Enforcer (1951), The Big Heat (1953), and The Phenix City Story (1955).
Doucette also excelled in westerns, where he often portrayed outlaws or lawmen opposite some of the genre’s biggest stars. He appeared with Gary Cooper in High Noon (1952), with Randolph Scott in The Bounty Hunter (1954), with Audie Murphy in Sierra (1950) and Ride Clear of Diablo (1954), and with John Wayne in The Sea Chase (1955), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), True Grit (1969), and Big Jake (1971).
Doucette’s versatility allowed him to take on roles that required more than just physical presence and menace. He showed his range by playing historical figures, such as Gen. Lucian Truscott in Patton (1970) and King Herod Antipas in The Robe (1953) and its sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954). He also demonstrated his skill with Shakespearean dialogue by playing Cassius in Julius Caesar (1953) and Macduff in Macbeth (1960).
Television Stardom
In addition to his film work, Doucette was a frequent guest star on television shows from the 1950s to the 1980s. He appeared on popular series such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Kojak, Charlie’s Angels, and Magnum P.I.
Many baby boomers first saw Doucette as the bad guy on television in several episodes of The Lone Ranger. Performing as an outlaw proved to be a natural role for him, considering his rough looks, commanding presence, and skill with a gun. He was considered by many to be among the fastest draws in Hollywood.
Doucette also played recurring roles on several TV shows, such as Steve Canyon (1958-1959), Lock-Up (1959-1961), Lassie (1964-1968), Land of the Giants (1968-1970), and Little House on the Prairie (1974-1977).
Personal Life and Death
Doucette married opera singer Katherine Sambles in 1948, with whom he had five daughters and three sons. Katherine died in 1991; and three years later, on August 16, 1994, John died of cancer at age 73 at his home in Banning, California. He was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
John Doucette was a respected and admired actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances in film and television. He was a Hollywood tough guy who could also play sensitive and complex characters. He was a man of stocky build who possessed a deep, rich voice. He was John Doucette, and this was his cause of death.
