Douglas Spencer
Acting • Born 1910-02-10 – Died 1960-10-06
Biography
Douglas Spencer (born July 4, 1910 – March 5, 1960) was an American actor, best known for his roles in classic science fiction films and film noirs during the 1940s and 1950s. Spencer was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He was drawn to the entertainment industry early on and began his career in theater before transitioning to films. He often played characters with a tough, no-nonsense edge, making him a popular choice for a variety of roles in films of the time. Spencer's big break came when he landed a role in the influential science fiction film *The Thing from Another World* (1951), directed by Christian Nyby and produced by Howard Hawks. In the film, Spencer played the role of a reporter named Ned Scott, who is among the group of scientists and military personnel investigating a mysterious alien threat in the Arctic. *The Thing from Another World* became a classic of the genre and remains one of Spencer’s most memorable roles. In addition to his work in science fiction, Spencer appeared in several other films across a range of genres. He was frequently cast in supporting roles in film noirs, thrillers, and dramas, and his distinctive, gravelly voice and sharp screen presence made him a recognizable face in Hollywood. Other notable films he appeared in include *The Big Clock* (1948), a crime thriller directed by John Farrow, and *The Green Glove* (1952), a suspenseful drama. Douglas Spencer was married to actress *Ann Wedgeworth*, and their marriage lasted for several years. After the height of his film career, Spencer continued working in television and on stage, although he never achieved the same level of fame as some of his contemporaries. Spencer’s career was cut short when he died from cancer at the age of 49, on March 5, 1960. Despite his relatively brief career, he remains fondly remembered by fans of classic sci-fi and noir films. Douglas Spencer's legacy is primarily tied to his memorable performance in *The Thing from Another World*, but his work across various genres helped solidify him as a dependable and versatile character actor in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His contributions to the sci-fi and noir genres continue to be appreciated by film enthusiasts today.
Filmography
68 credits
This Island Earth
Movie • 1955
The Monitor of Metaluna
Shane
Movie • 1953
Axel 'Swede' Shipstead
River of No Return
Movie • 1954
Sam Benson
The Diary of Anne Frank
Movie • 1959
Kraler
The Thing from Another World
Movie • 1951
Ned 'Scotty' Scott
Monkey Business
Movie • 1952
Dr. Brunner
Follow Me Quietly
Movie • 1949
Phony Judge
It Happens Every Spring
Movie • 1949
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Night Has a Thousand Eyes
Movie • 1948
Dr. Ramsdell
The Glass Wall
Movie • 1953
Inspector Bailey
The Three Faces of Eve
Movie • 1957
Mr. Black
The Lost Weekend
Movie • 1945
Hospital Patient Seeing Imaginary Beetles (uncredited)
Pardners
Movie • 1956
Smith
Houdini
Movie • 1953
Simms
Short Cut to Hell
Movie • 1957
Train Conductor
Man from Del Rio
Movie • 1956
Sheriff Jack Tillman
The Redhead and the Cowboy
Movie • 1951
Perry (Union agent)
Cole Younger, Gunfighter
Movie • 1958
Marshal Fred Woodruff
The Big Clock
Movie • 1948
Bert Finch
Adventure Island
Movie • 1947
Prisoner sharing cell with Herrick and Lochlin (uncredited)
Omar Khayyam
Movie • 1957
Pigeon Keeper
She's Back on Broadway
Movie • 1953
Lew Ludlow
Smoke Signal
Movie • 1955
Garode
Double Indemnity
Movie • 1944
Lou Schwartz (uncredited)
Saddle the Wind
Movie • 1958
Hemp Scribner
The Raid
Movie • 1954
Rev. Douglas
The Unholy Wife
Movie • 1957
Judge
The Sins of Rachel Cade
Movie • 1961
Doctor Bikel
Allegheny Uprising
Movie • 1939
Prisoner in Irons
The Day the Bookies Wept
Movie • 1939
Auction Spectator (uncredited)
Bride of Vengeance
Movie • 1949
False Physician
Trapped
Movie • 1949
Sam Hooker (uncredited)
Christmas in July
Movie • 1940
Man Listening to Radio (uncredited)
Little Nellie Kelly
Movie • 1940
Policeman in Dance Line (uncredited)
The Heiress
Movie • 1949
Minister (uncredited)
Men Against the Sky
Movie • 1940
Mechanic
Red, Hot and Blue
Movie • 1949
Actor in Theatre Group (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Movie • 1940
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Sainted Sisters
Movie • 1948
Townsman (uncredited)
Trouble Along the Way
Movie • 1953
Father Procurator aka George
Untamed Frontier
Movie • 1952
Clayton Vance
Something to Live For
Movie • 1952
Joey (uncredited)
A Man Alone
Movie • 1955
Henry Slocum
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Movie • 1941
Hotel Guest
Fall In
Movie • 1942
Military Policeman
A Date with the Falcon
Movie • 1942
Witness at Accident (uncredited)
Alias Nick Beal
Movie • 1949
Henry T. Finch
Princess O'Rourke
Movie • 1943
Pilot (uncredited)
Lady Scarface
Movie • 1941
Police Secretary
A Place in the Sun
Movie • 1951
Boatkeeper (uncredited)
Father of the Bride
Movie • 1950
Fritz the Organist (uncredited)
The Kentuckian
Movie • 1955
Frome Brother (uncredited)
Warpath
Movie • 1951
Kelso
Come Fill the Cup
Movie • 1951
Ike Bashaw
Incendiary Blonde
Movie • 1945
New Years Eve Party Patron (uncredited)
Kitty
Movie • 1945
Guest (uncredited)
Union Station
Movie • 1950
Stationmaster (uncredited)
The Dark Corner
Movie • 1946
Deli Customer (uncredited)
My Friend Irma
Movie • 1949
Interior Decorator (uncredited)
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1959
1st Martian
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Joe Brock
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Jonas
The Rebel
TV • 1959
Joe Shandell
The Rifleman
TV • 1958
Wire Service
TV • 1956
Mason
Studio 57
TV • 1954
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Alonzo McFadden