Joe Sawyer
ActingAbout Joe Sawyer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joe Sawyer (born Joseph Sauers, August 29, 1906 – April 21, 1982) was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1927 and 1962, and was sometimes billed under his birth name. He was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Sawyer gained acting experience in the Pasadena Playhouse. Popular roles that he portrayed included Sergeant Biff O'Hara in the Rin Tin Tin television program, a film, and on radio. On Stories of the Century in 1954, he portrayed Butch Cassidy, a role which he repeated in the 1958 episode "The Outlaw Legion" of the syndicated western series Frontier Doctor starring Rex Allen, with Doris Singleton and Michael Ansara as fellow guest stars. Sawyer also appeared on ABC's, Maverick, Sugarfoot, Peter Gunn, and Surfside 6 as well as NBC's Bat Masterson. Sawyer died April 21, 1982, in Ashland, Oregon from liver cancer. He was 75. His interment was in Oregon.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Joe Sawyer reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Joe Sawyer's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 66% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Joe Sawyer remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Joe Sawyer Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Joe Sawyer's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Joe Sawyer.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Rin-Tin-Tin: Hero of the West | Sgt. Biff O'Hara | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | How the West Was Won | Riverboat Officer (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | North to Alaska | Land Commissioner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin | Sgt. 'Biff' O'Hara | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Killing | Mike O'Reilly | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Kettles in the Ozarks | Bancroft Baines | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | It Came from Outer Space | Frank Daylon | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Deadline - U.S.A. | Whitey Franks (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Indian Uprising | Sgt. Maj. Phineas T. Keogh | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Curtain Call at Cactus Creek | Jake | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Blondie's Hero | Sergeant Gateson | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Gay Amigo | Sergeant McNulty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | If You Knew Susie | Zero Zantini | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | A Double Life | Pete Bonner | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Gilda | Casey | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Deadline at Dawn | Babe Dooley | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Naughty Nineties | Bailey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Brewster's Millions | Hacky Smith | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Singing Sheriff | Squint | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Yanks Ahoy | Sgt. Ames | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | They Died with Their Boots On | Sgt. Doolittle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Swamp Water | Hardy Ragan | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | Sergeant Early | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Long Voyage Home | Davis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Dark Command | Bushropp | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath | Bookkeeper | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Roaring Twenties | The Sergeant | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Sabotage | Gardner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Frontier Marshal | Curley Bill | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Union Pacific | Shamus (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Lady and the Mob | Blinky Mack | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Slim | Windy Wilcox | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | San Quentin | 'Sailor Boy' Hansen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Black Legion | Cliff Summers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Big Brown Eyes | Jack Sully | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Walking Dead | 'Trigger' Smith | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Petrified Forest | Jackie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Frisco Kid | Slugs Crippen (as Joseph Sawyer) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | I Found Stella Parish | Chuck (as Joseph Sawyer) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Special Agent | Rich - Chief Henchman | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Informer | Bartly Mulholland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Whole Town's Talking | Mannion's Thug (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Band Plays On | Mr. Thomas | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Case of the Howling Dog | Carl Trask (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Death on the Diamond | "Dunc" Spencer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Jimmy the Gent | Mike (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Eskimo | Sergeant Hunt (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Huddle | Slater | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Arsène Lupin | Leroux (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Public Enemy | Pool Player (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Joe Sawyer - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Joe Sawyer?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Joe Sawyer is "The Challenge of Rin Tin Tin" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Joe Sawyer acted in?
Joe Sawyer has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Joe Sawyer?
Other notable films include "The Band Plays On", "The Singing Sheriff", and "The Grapes of Wrath".