Pierre Watkin

Pierre Watkin was a very familiar face and busy character actor in films and TV. And he occasionally played a villain and his lengthy Hollywood career included some serials and B westerns. Probably best remembered for playing newspaper editor 'Perry White' in the 1948 and 1950 SUPERMAN cliffhangers from Columbia Pictures.

He was born Pierre Frank Watkin in Iowa in 1887, and his parents owned a boarding house for theatrical performers in Sioux City, Iowa. While a teen, Watkin began acting in local dramatic stock / repertory theater followed by employment with various touring groups. And when he registered for the World War I draft in 1917, he was in Kansas City, Missouri in one of the theatrical companies run by Sidney Toler (star of "Charlie Chan" movies).

Circa 1920, he formed his own company, the "Pierre Watkin Players", and their home bases / primary work locations were Sioux City, Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Some theater ads below. And at the bottom of this wepbpage are 1926 - 1927 newspaper articles about his "Pierre Watkin Players". And those mention two of Pierre's employees who wound up in Hollywood: Lyle Talbot and Harry Worth.

Lyle Talbot and Harry Worth were members of the "Pierre Watkin Players".

January, 1931 - Watkin (upper right) was leading man at the Orpheum Theater in
St. Louis and working for future wife Mary Hart and her "Mary Hart Players" company.
(Players Helen Flint and Owen Davis, Jr. also wound up in Hollywood in the 1930s.)

Waatkin disbanded his troupe in late 1927. Next up were acting jobs in more local stock theater and half dozen or so New York stage plays in 1928 - 1934. In the early 1930s, he was working for stage actress / producer Mary Hart and her "Mary Hart Players" - see ad above. He and Mary married September 25, 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania when he was prepping for a role in New York. They were together through his passing in 1960.

There were two earlier marriages. First was a 1909 pairing with actress Christie E. Mclennan. And circa 1919, he tied the knot with Alice Beatrice Whalen, and they had a son, John Joseph Pierre Whalen.

Watkin's Hollywood career ran from about 1935 until his death in 1960, and he free-lanced in over 300 films at various production companies. Occasionally a villain, he was most often cast as a politician, doctor, lawyer, judge, businessman, etc. - basically, a person of power and authority or a distinguished sophisticate wearing a suit, white shirt, and tie. Great director Frank Capra utilized Watkin in five of his film projects and those and a few other movie appearances are highlighted below:

Among Watkin's earliest movie jobs was an unbilled part in the Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN (Frank Capra/Columbia, 1936).
He was the worried attorney of Anthony P. Kirby (played by Edward Arnold) in YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Frank Capra/Columbia, 1938) which starred Jimmy Stewart, Jean Arthur and Lionel Barrymore.
He was among the many politicians in MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (Frank Capra/Columbia, 1939), another with Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur.
His other two Capra films were the Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck MEET JOHN DOE (Frank Capra/Warner Bros., 1941) and STATE OF THE UNION (Frank Capra/MGM, 1948) with Spencer Tracy and Kathryn Hepburn.
Some may recall Watkin as bank president "Mr. Skinner" in THE BANK DICK (Universal, 1940). His meeting with W. C. Fields (as the inebriated "Egbert Sousè") includes the "hearty hand clasp" greeting.
Watkin played "Frank Twitchell", father-in-law of baseball great Lou Gehrig, in the Gary Cooper starrer, THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (Goldwyn, 1942).
He did a trio of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedies at Universal: IT AIN'T HAY (1943), HERE COME THE CO-EDS (1945) and LITTLE GIANT (1946).
In THE STORY OF SEABISCUIT (Warner Bros., 1949), he was "Charles Howard", Seabiscuit's owner. Link further down this webpage with a 1951 interview of Pierre and wife Mary and he mentions that "One his favorite movie roles was that of the race horse owner in 'Seabiscuit'."

Some remembrances of Watkin in oaters and cliffhangers at Republic, Universal, and Columbia:

He was rackets boss and master criminal "Crogan" in THE GREEN HORNET STRIKES AGAIN (Universal, 1940; 15 chapters). But he wasn't very active - most of his screen time was in his office barking orders to henchmen.
NEVADA CITY (Republic, 1941) is a tale of problems between the railroad and a stageline. Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes discover that Watkin and his helper, Fred Kohler, Jr., were behind the chaos.
Pierre was a crooked railroad tycoon in JESSE JAMES AT BAY (Republic, 1941), a good Roy Rogers film with Roy in dual roles.
In Gene Autry's SIOUX CITY SUE (Republic, 1946), Watkin was the head of Paragon Pictures and assigns a former cartoon producer to work with Gene. There's some funny moments as Autry's voice is used for cartoon character "Ding Dong Donkey".
THE WILD FRONTIER (Republic, 1947) was the first of the 'Rocky' Lane adventures. Lane and John James are brothers and Watkin was their lawman father who was killed by outlaw leader Jack Holt.
It's John Hart, Rosemary LaPlanche, Watkin, and many others vs. Charles Middleton (as "Jason Grood") in JACK ARMSTRONG Columbia, 1947; 15 chapters).
Watkin was a geologist - and father of heroine Linda Johnson - in BRICK BRADFORD (Columbia, 1948; 15 chapters).
Pierre played newspaper editor "Perry White" in the Kirk Alyn serials SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1948; 15 chapters) and ATOM MAN VS. SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1950; 15 chapters). And he's probably best remembered for that role.

He successfully transitioned to television and appeared in dozens of TV shows including a few judge roles on PERRY MASON ... and episodes of LONE RANGER, CISCO KID, SKY KING, JACK BENNY SHOW, GEORGE BURNS AND GRACIE ALLEN, LUX VIDEO THEATER, many other programs. And he also did a few 1950s SUPERMAN TV shows ... but did not portray editor "Perry White".

72 year old Pierre Watkin passed away at his Los Angeles home on February 3, 1960 and was interred at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California. Cause of death was pneumonia and he also suffered from diabetes. Did not find a death or funeral notice in newspapers or trade publications.

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Pierre Watkin: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0914246/

The Internet Broadway Database has Pierre Watkin in a half dozen New York stage plays during the years 1928 - 1934: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/pierre-watkin-64195

The Playbill Vault website has additional info on Watkin's 1920s - 1930s stage plays: https://www.playbill.com/person/pierre-watkin-vault-0000096203

Internet Archive has a 1957 Business Screen magazine with a photo article about a 21 minute color documentary titled "The Invisible Passenger" for the California Highway Safety Council. John Agar and Pierre Watkin starred and the article headline reads "California Fights Traffic Menace": https://archive.org/details/business1957screenmav18rich/page/161/mode/1up?view=theater&q=pierre+watkin

More on the Pierre Watkin Players:

The Greetings from Sioux Falls, South Dakota website has a blurb on their Egyptian Theater. Quote: "September 17th, 1926 the Colonial reopened as The Egyptian Theater. The play that night was 7th Heaven, put on by the Pierre Watkin Players under the direction of Roy E. Hilliard.": https://www.greetingsfromsiouxfalls.com/egyptian-theater
September 9, 1926 Sioux Falls, South Dakota Argus-Leader has a full page article and photos on Watkin and the Pierre Watkin Players at the Egyptian Theater. Among the Watkin Players was Harry Worth, best remembered in the cliffhanger THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL (Republic, 1941; 12 chapters). Lots of "red herrings" in this battle to discover the identity of the 'Scorpion' (who was voiced by Gerald Mohr). After twelve great chapters, Worth (as 'Professor Bentley') is revealed as the villain: https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-pierre-watkin-and-pierre-wa/160589022/
February 17, 1927 Sioux City, Iowa Journal mentions Lyle Talbot as leading man with the Pierre Watkin Players: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-lyle-talbot-lead/160708831/
Photo and article in the March 27, 1927 Lincoln, Nebraska Star on Pierre Watkin, of the Pierre Watkin Players: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-pierre-watkin-of-the-pi/160589572/
December 21, 1927 Lincoln, Nebraska Star had news that the Pierre Watkin Players were disbanding: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star-december-1927-finale-f/160708463/

The Family Search website (free), Ancestry.com (subscription), newspapers, California Death Index and the death certificate provide more on Pierre Watkin and family:

Delayed Iowa birth record (not the birth certificate) for Pierre Frank Watkin. He was born December 29, 1887 in Iowa Township, Cherokee County, Iowa to Charles Henry Watkin and Elizabeth Jeanette Scholes: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q246-WGNT
1890 census is unavailable - it was lost in a 1921 fire (and water damage) at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C.
1900 census - the Watkin family owned a boarding house in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa - there's father C. H. Watkin, wife Eliz J. Watkin, and four sons including 13 year old Pierre F.: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9G9-NWJ
At the Watkin boarding house, the 1900 census takers worksheet has a dozen or so roomers with theatrical employee occupations: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-11902-13785-36?cc=1325221&wc=MMPV-351:1674454930
1909 marriage record (not the marriage license) of Pierre F. Watkin and Christie E. Mclennan in Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. Both bride and groom were twenty one years old: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWL3-NM6
August 27, 1909 Ottawa Daily Republic newspaper had news of their marriage. Both were actors with the Irma stock company: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-daily-republic/24766555/
1910 census - the Watkin family resided in Kansas, Jackson County, Missouri - there's father Charles H. Watkin, wife Elizabeth J. Watkin, and three sons including 22 year old Pierre F. and his occupation was "Actor - Theater": https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2YD-Y4V
1917 World War I draft registration dated May 28, 1917 - 29 year old Pierre Frank Watkin was married, but his wife's name was not mentioned. He was residing in Kansas City, Missouri; birth date and place were December 29, 1887 and Cherokee, Iowa; and employer was SidneyToler (star of "Charlie Chan" movies) in Portland, Maine: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-25077-39402-25?cc=1968530&wc=MMTJ-R2P:n1550912715
Family Tree on Ancestry.com has a circa 1919 marriage of Watkin and Alice Beatrice Whalen (1893 - 1986). They had a son, John Joseph Pierre Whalen (1920 - 1971).
September 26, 1932 (Monday) Reading, Pennsylvania Eagle newspaper reported the Sunday, September 25, 1932 marriage of Watkin to stage actress / producer Mary Hart in Reading, Pennsylvania (where Pierre's older brother William B. Watkin lived): https://books.google.com/books?id=8ZchAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA6&dq=%22pierre+watkin%22+%22Mary+Hart%22&article_id=5678,3789727&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFhJyNh6SLAxWFHNAFHRh9KgUQ6AF6BAgIEAM#v=onepage&q=%22pierre%20watkin%22%20%22Mary%20Hart%22&f=false
1940 census - 52 year old Pierre Watkin (born Iowa) and 41 year old wife Mary H. Watkin (born Minnesota) were living in the Los Angeles area: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9HK-X7M
1940 census takers worksheet - Pierre and wife Mary owned their home, but I could not make out the address. The occupation of both were motion picture actor and actress. Pierre reported that in 1939, he worked 26 weeks and earned $5000.00+; Mary worked 4 weeks and earned $1500.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27797-1014-23?cc=2000219&wc=MMYH-F8L:n425298019
1942 World War II draft registration for Pierre Frank Watkin. His birth info was Cherokee, Iowa on December 29, 1887, and he and wife Mary Hart Watkin were at the Miramar Hotel, Santa Monica, California. His occupation was "free lance actor" and employer was the Small Company in Los Angeles: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16387-10583-35?cc=1861144
1950 census - living in Apartment 202, 75 Burnside, Los Angeles were 62 year old Pierre F. Watkin (born Iowa; occupation "Actor - Motion Picture") and 54 year old wife Mary H. (born Minnesota): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGF-TMF4
Death certificate - 72 year old Pierre Frank Watkin was born December 29, 1887 in Iowa; parents were unknown. He and wife Mary H. Watkin resided at 754 S. Burnside Avenue, Apartment 202, Los Angeles. Occupation was "Actor - Various Studios - Motion Pictures" and he passed away at his home on February 3, 1960. Cause of death was pneumonia and he also suffered from diabetes. Funeral director was Pierce Bros. Hollywood and burial at Valhalla Cemetery.
California Death Index mirrors the death certificate: Pierre F. Watkin was born December 29, 1887 in Iowa and passed away February 3, 1960 in the Los Angeles area. I was unable to find a corresponding record in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), probably due to the family not filing for the death/burial benefit. California Death Index: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPCN-JWJ

Find A Grave reports that Pierre Watkin is interred in an unmarked grave at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7967613/pierre-watkin

June 4, 1951 Duluth News Tribune has a large photo and article on Pierre and wife Mary Hart. Includes comments that one of his favorite roles was playing the race horse owner in THE STORY OF SEABISCUIT (Warner Bros., 1949): https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-article-and-phot/164439444/

Daniel Neyer's "The Files of Jerry Blake" serial website has a webpage on Pierre Watkin doing cliffhangers: https://filesofjerryblake.com/serial-character-actors-2/pierre-watkin/

Biography of Iowa native Pierre Watkin in the Des Moines, Iowa Register newspaper: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22523142/the-des-moines-register/

Couple Pierre Watkin clips from YouTube:

The "hearty hand clasp" bit from the W. C. Fields' THE BANK DICK (Universal, 1940): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iisMlRGigIE

An old and balding Watkin in IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE (Vogue/United Artists, 1958): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3reg2k9xS9k