Russell Hicks

Edward Russell Hicks (June 4, 1895 – June 1, 1957) was an American film character actor. Hicks was born in 1895 in Baltimore, Maryland. During World War I, he served in the U.S. Army in France. He later became a lieutenant colonel in the California State Guard.

Hicks was a character actor appearing in bit parts and small supporting roles in nearly 300 films between 1933 and 1956. He often appeared as a smooth-talking confidence man, or swindler as in the W.C. Fields film ''The Bank Dick'' (1940). Hicks played a variety of judges, corrupt officials, crooked businessmen and attorneys, working in a variety of mediums almost until his death. Hicks appeared once in the syndicated western television series ''The Cisco Kid''.

Broadway plays in which Hicks acted included ''The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'' (1954), ''On Borrowed Time'' (1953), ''Time for Elizabeth'' (1948), ''All the King's Horses'' (1934), ''The Little Black Book'' (1932), ''Nona'' (1932), ''Torch Song'' (1930), ''Goin' Home'' (1928), ''No Trespassing'' (1926), and ''The Wisecrackers'' (1925).

On June 1, 1957, Hicks suffered a heart attack after an automobile accident and was dead on arrival at Santa Monica Receiving Hospital. He was 61. Provided by Wikipedia