Broderick Crawford (born December 9, 1911; died April 26, 1986) was an American actor. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lester Crawford and Helen Broderick, he was stereotyped as a rough-talking tough guy, frequently a bad guy. His parents were vaudeville performers, and his mother, Helen Broderick, had a minor career in Hollywood comedies. Crawford gained fame in 1937 when he starred in Of Mice and Men on Broadway. He moved to Hollywood afterwards, but did not get the role in the movie version of the play. In 1949, Crawford was cast as Willie Stark (a character based on Louisiana politician Huey Long) in All the King's Men, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The next year he starred in another smash hit film, Born Yesterday.
Despite these successes, Crawford's career suffered due to type casting. He moved to television, most notably starring in the police drama series Highway Patrol, as "Chief" Dan Matthews. He made several European films, but few more in Hollywood.
Crawford died in 1986 in Rancho Mirage, California, after suffering a stroke.
Crawford has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for motion pictures at 6901 Hollywood Blvd., and one for television at 6734 Hollywood Blvd.
Preceded by: Laurence Olivier for Hamlet Academy Award for Best Actor 1949 for All the King's Men Succeeded by: José Ferrer for Cyrano de Bergerac
Born Yesterday (1951)
