Johnny Duncan (actor)

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Johnny Duncan
Born
John Bowman Duncan

December 7, 1923
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 8, 2016 (aged 92)
Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Other namesJohnnie Duncan
OccupationActor
Years active1939–1960

John Bowman Duncan (December 7, 1923 – February 8, 2016) was an American actor. In addition to managing several business ventures, he made appearances at comic book conventions and collectors' shows worldwide.

Biography[]

Career[]

Johnny Duncan learned to dance Jitterbug as a teen and by the age of 19 had his first major appearance in a dance role in the "King of Swing" Benny Goodman camp classic musical The Gang's All Here. This kicked off Duncan's career as a movie swing dancer and actor and led to numerous appearances in other films, and a contract with 20th Century Fox, where he appeared in productions with Shirley Temple and Jane Withers. Notable roles include parts in The East Side Kids, The Bowery Boys, Mystery of the 13th Guest and the 1949 serial Batman and Robin as Dick Grayson / Robin, the Boy Wonder.[1] He was so young looking that he was twenty-five years old when he was hired to play the Boy Wonder.[2]

He later appeared in bit parts in a number of films including Plan 9 from Outer Space. He was a member of The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club in the classic Marlon Brando film The Wild One in 1952. His final film appearance was in the 1960 film Spartacus.[2]

Personal life[]

Duncan made occasional appearances at movie conventions, often signing photos from The East Side Kids and Batman and Robin until his death in February 2016 at the age of 92.[3]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1939 The Arizona Wildcat Townsboy Uncredited
1942 Call of the Canyon Jitterbug Uncredited
1942 Junior Army Cadet Uncredited
1943 Clancy Street Boys Cherry Streeter Uncredited
1943 Action in the North Atlantic Sailor Uncredited
1943 The Unknown Guest Teenager at Carnival Uncredited
1943 Teen Age Dan Murray
1943 Swing Fever Dancer, USO Soldier Uncredited
1943 The Mystery of the 13th Guest Harold Morgan as John Morgan
1943 Campus Rhythm Freshie
1943 Where Are Your Children? Jitterbug Dancer Uncredited
1943 Jive Junction Frank
1944 Million Dollar Kid Roy Cortland as Johnnie Duncan
1944 Ghost Catchers Jitterbug Uncredited
1944 A Fig Leaf for Eve Bellboy Uncredited
1944 Delinquent Daughters Rocky Webster
1944 Youth Aflame Jitterbugger Uncredited
1944 Irish Eyes are Smiling Call Boy Uncredited
1944 Heavenly Days Teenager Blowing Noisemaker Uncredited
1944 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo Jitterbugger Uncredited
1945 Salty O'Rourke Ralph Uncredited
1945 The Horn Blows at Midnight Jitterbug Dancer Uncredited
1945 Twice Blessed Teenager Uncredited
1945 Mr. Muggs Rides Again Squeegie Robinson
1945 Come Out Fighting Gilbert Mitchell
1946 Gay Blades Bellboy Uncredited
1946 From This Day Forward Young Lieutenant Uncredited
1946 Cinderella Jones Newsboy Uncredited
1946 The Walls Came Tumbling Down Bellboy Uncredited
1946 Inside Job Messenger Uncredited
1946 No Leave, No Love Hotel Bellhop Uncredited
1947 Johnny O'Clock Newsboy Uncredited
1947 Trail to Saint Antone Ted Malloy as John Duncan
1947 Beat the Band Jitterbug Uncredited
1947 Mr. District Attorney Newsboy Uncredited
1947 Sport of Kings Jockey Uncredited
1947 It Had To Be You John Scenes deleted
1948 Good Sam Jitterbug Uncredited
1948 Street Corner Hal John Duncan
1949 Fighting Fools Fighter in Gym Uncredited
1949 City Across the River Student in Shop Class Uncredited
1949 Batman and Robin Robin / Dick Grayson John Duncan
1949 Take One False Step Bellhop Uncredited
1949 The Woman on Pier 13 Bellhop Uncredited
1950 Whirlpool Soldier Uncredited
1950 When Willie Comes Marching Home Soldier Uncredited
1950 A Wonderful Life College Boy at Party Short, uncredited
1950 Summer Stock Stock Company Member Uncredited
1950 Walk Softly, Stranger Office Messenger Uncredited
1951 Bedtime for Bonzo Paperboy Uncredited
1951 The Harlem Globetrotters Attendant Uncredited
1951 He Ran All the Way Boy at the Pool Uncredited
1951 David and Bethesda Jessie's Third Boy Uncredited
1951 Two Dollar Bettor Dancer Uncredited
1951 The Big Night Motorcycle Boy Uncredited
1952 With a Song in my Heart Soldier Uncredited
1952 With the Pride of St. Louis Western Union Boy Uncredited
1952 Off Limits Soldier in Fatigues Uncredited
1953 So You Want to Be a Musician Jitterbugger Short, uncredited
1953 All Ashore Dancer Uncredited
1953 Miss Sadie Thompson Marine Uncredited
1953 The Wild One Gang Member Uncredited
1953 The Flaming Urge Ralph Jarvis
1954 Highway Dragnet Marine Uncredited
1954 The Caine Mutiny Sailor Uncredited
1955 Running Wild Jitterbug Dancer Uncredited
1956 Rock Around the Clock Prom Dancer Uncredited
1957 Plan 9 From Outer Space Second Stretcher Bearer Uncredited
1960 Spartacus Beheaded Man Uncredited
1989 Batmania from Comics to Screen Robin / Dick Grayson Documentary, archival footage

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Stu Erwin Show Self Episode: "The Big Game", as Johnnie Duncan
1953 The Ford Television Theatre Episode: "To Any Soldier"
1954 Public Defender Bob Episode: "Step Child", as John Duncan
1956 The Cisco Kid Mickey Doan / Mail Rider 2 Episodes, as John B. Duncan
1957 Whirlybirds Eddie James Episode: "Cycle of Terror", as John Duncan

References[]

  1. ^ "Article on Johnny Duncan's dance partner Genevieve Grazis". Robert White. 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Batman Really Begins: 'I Went From A Kid On The Farm To Robin'". NPR.org.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-03-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

Preceded by
Douglas Croft 		Actors to portray Robin
1949 		Succeeded by
Burt Ward


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