Remembering Actor Charles McGraw

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Charles McGraw, 1914-1980.

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Blog Created: 10-17-2026

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Charles McGraw (born Charles Crisp Butters; May 10, 1914 – July 29, 1980) was an American stage, film and television actor whose career spanned more than three decades.

Early life ~

McGraw was born to Beatrice (née Crisp) and Francis P. Butters in Des Moines, Iowa. Federal census records indicate that he later moved with his parents to Akron, Ohio, where his father worked as a salesman and service manager. In January 1932, McGraw graduated from high school in Akron and then attended one semester of college.

His early jobs included working on a freighter and dancing in night clubs.

Career

Stage ~

Before getting into film, McGraw was active in theatrical road companies. He also appeared in "dozens of off-Broadway productions."

Charles McGraw enlisted in the United States Army in January 1944 to serve during World War II, putting his burgeoning Hollywood career on hold. He ultimately served and was discharged later that same year in December 1944.

Film ~

McGraw made his first film in 1942 with a small, uncredited role in The Undying Monster at Fox. He was in Tonight We Raid Calais (1942) and They Came to Blow Up America (1943) at the same studio, and also Two Tickets to London (1943), Destroyer (1943), Corvette K-225 (1943), The Mad Ghoul (1943), The Impostor (1944), and The Seventh Cross (1944).

He frequently appeared as a lead actor in the film noir genre during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was particularly known for his vocal characteristics and physical appearance in the genre.

His first notable role was in The Killers (1946), which opens with McGraw and fellow heavy William Conrad as the two hitmen who terrorize a small-town diner in their search for double-crossing hoodlum Burt Lancaster.

McGraw (left) and William Conrad play the titular roles in The Killers (1946).

McGraw was unbilled in The Farmer's Daughter (1947) and Brute Force (1947) and had small roles in The Big Fix (1947) and The Long Night (1947). He had slightly bigger parts in On the Old Spanish Trail (1947), a Roy Rogers Western, and some noirs, Roses Are Red (1947) and The Gangster (1947).

McGraw's parts remained small in T-Men (1947) for Anthony Mann, The Hunted (1948), Berlin Express (1948), Hazard (1948), and Blood on the Moon (1948). He had a bigger role in Once More, My Darling (1949), then went back to small parts in Reign of Terror (1949) and Border Incident (1949) for Mann, and The Story of Molly X (1949).

McGraw moved up to third billing in the noir The Threat (1949). He played a cop in Side Street (1950) for Mann and a gangster in Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town (1951). He played Perry Smith's (Robert Blake) father in "In Cold Blood" (1967).

Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Town, 1950.

Leading man ~

McGraw was finally given a leading role in RKO's Armored Car Robbery (1950) directed by Richard Fleischer. He played a gangster in His Kind of Woman (1951), then had the lead in Roadblock (1951) as "Honest Joe," the insurance investigator turned thief by love.

Fleischer used McGraw in the lead of The Narrow Margin (1952). He was a sergeant in One Minute to Zero (1952) and War Paint (1953) and was a villain in Thunder Over the Plains (1954).

McGraw's other notable roles were as Kirk Douglas's gladiator trainer in the epic Spartacus (1960) and as "The Preacher" in the science fiction film A Boy and His Dog. During the filming of Spartacus, Kirk Douglas accidentally broke McGraw's jaw during an action sequence.

McGraw in Spartacus, 1960.

Television ~

After appearing in radio, including the 03/13/1949 episode "Rubin Callaway's Pictures" of the noir-ish detective radio program Pat Novak for Hire, McGraw moved to television. In the 1954-55 television season, McGraw starred as the character Mike Waring in the 39-episode syndicated series Adventures of the Falcon. The series updated the original Falcon premise to portray Waring as a secret agent in the Cold War. He also starred in the first television version of Casablanca (1955), taking Humphrey Bogart's role as Rick Blaine. Additionally, he had the role of Captain Hughes in The Smith Family.

In 1963, McGraw played Dr. Simon Oliver in the pilot of Diagnosis: Danger, a medical drama. He later had various single-appearance roles in television episodes such as the gruff and menacing Sheriff Gains in "The Gamble," an installment of the NBC western series Bonanza. In 1964, he guest starred on Gunsmoke as Albert Calvin, rich farm owner who lets jealousy ruin his life and drive him to murder in "Bently" (S9E28).

In 1960, McGraw played United States Army scout Tom Barrows in the episode "The Scout" on the ABC/Desilu Western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp starring Hugh O'Brian. Though he has an Apache wife, Barrows is known for his attacks on Apache warriors. He is called "The Listener" because he cuts off and wears the ears of the Indians he has killed. The Indians retaliate by killing Barrows's wife. He portrayed the bloodthirsty Civil War veteran Sgt. Wesley Kiles in "The Lt. Burton Story" (S5E22 Wagon Train 2/27/1962), whose plan to undermine young Lt. Burton (Dean Jones) is foiled. McGraw also appeared in an episode of The Untouchables titled "The Jake Lingle Killing"(S1E3 10/29/1959). McGraw portrayed the trigger-happy Rear Admiral Tobin in (S1E6 10/16/1964) of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea titled "The Sky is Falling."

Late in his career, McGraw performed too as a voice actor, providing voice-over narrations for several productions. He portrayed a boat captain in "Harbor Division," a 1973 episode of Adam-12. He also appeared in 1973 in Hawkins: Death and the Maiden, a TV movie that served as the pilot for the series Hawkins starring James Stewart.

Personal life and death ~

McGraw married Freda Choy Kitt in 1938, and had one daughter. They divorced in 1968.

On July 29, 1980, he died accidentally at his home in Studio City, California, slipping in the bathroom and falling through a glass shower door, causing several cuts, including a gash to his arm that severed the brachial artery. Paramedics arrived after he bled to death.

Honors and awards ~

In recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry as an actor, McGraw was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 1960. His star is located at 6927 Hollywood Boulevard.

Charles McGraw's Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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1968.

Anthony Mann.

Richard Fleischer.

Burt Lancaster.

Hugh O'Brian.

James Stewart.

William Conrad.

Kirk Douglas.

Roy Rogers.

Criminal, 'Red' Kluger, holds kidnapped Detective Ray Williams and District Attorney Barker MacDonald (far left) at gunpoint as nightclub singer Carol looks on, in a publicity still for 'The Threat', directed by Felix E. Feist, 1949. The characters are played by (left to right) Frank Conroy, Michael O'Shea, Charles McGraw and Virginia Grey. (Photo by American Stock Archive/Archive Photos/Getty Images).

1952: American actors Charles McGraw (left) and Don Beddoe surround actress Marie Windsor (1922 - 2000), who holds a cigarette, in a still from director Richard Fleischer's film, 'The Narrow Margin'. (Photo by RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images).

Charles McGraw grabbing Anita Ekberg in the 'Who Holds Tomorrow?' episode of the television series 'Casablanca', 1955. (Photo by Warner Brothers Television/Getty Images).

A vicious struggle takes place between David Clarke and Charles McGraw in a scene from the film 'The Narrow Margin', 1952. (Photo by RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images).

George Murphy has gun pointed at him by Charles McGraw as Howard Da Silva looks at him in a scene from the film 'Border Incident', 1949. (Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images).

Pendulum, Jean Seberg, George Peppard, Charles McGraw, 1969. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images).

Joan Dixon poses as Charles McGraw kisses her cheek in a scene from the film 'Roadblock', 1951. (Photo by RKO Radio Picture/Getty Images).

Charles McGraw with three unknown actors all holding guns in a scene from the film 'Armored Car Robbery', 1950. (Photo by RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images).

Charles McGraw pointing his finger in a scene from the film 'Armored Car Robbery', 1950. (Photo by RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images).

Charles McGraw looking over unknown actor's shoulder in a scene from the film 'Armored Car Robbery', 1950. (Photo by RKO Radio Pictures/Getty Images).

Charles McGraw, Godfrey Cambridge, Paul Wexler, Audrie Magee, Arlene Golonka, William Castle, George Jessel, Anne Baxter, Ben Blue, Robert Ryan, Richard Pryor pose before the opening of the film 'The Busy Body', 1966. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images).

THE UNTOUCHABLES - Eliot Ness takes credit for shooting criminal Wallace Laughton when a mysterios man known as the Partner kidnaps Lee Hobson, the agent actualy responsible during "Silent Partner" which aired on February 1,1962. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) ROBERT STACK;CHARLES MCGRAW.

THE UNTOUCHABLES- Ex con Bill Hagan works his way into the confidence of mob leader Barney Bertsche during "Strange Alliance" which aired on November 5, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) JACK LORD; CHARLES MCGRAW.

THE UNTOUCHABLES - Eliot Ness takes credit for shooting criminal Wallace Laughton when a mysterios man known as the Partner kidnaps Lee Hobson, the agent actualy responsible during "Silent Partner" which aired on February 1,1962. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) CHARLES MCGRAW; DYAN CANNON.

Actor Charles McGraw as Commander Wayne Lee in the 1955 film The Bridges at Toko-Ri. (Photo by John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images).

Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor in the Narrow Margin, 1952.

The Narrow Margin, 1952.

Saddle the Wind, 1958.

Trailer for His Kind of Woman (1951).

Trailer for The Narrow Margin (1952).

Charles McGraw (1914 - 1980, left) as the gladiator trainer Marcellus, and Kirk Douglas, as the Thracian slave Spartacus, in 'Spartacus', directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1960. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images).

A scene from 'Spartacus', directed by Stanley Kubrick, with Kirk Douglas (centre, left) in the title role, Woody Strode (1914 -1994, centre, right) as Draba and Charles McGraw as Marcellus, 1960. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images).

Director Stanley Kubrick makes notes on his script while Charles McGraw (L) and Kirk Douglas (R) discuss a forthcoming scene for the 1960 film Spartacus.

American actors Kirk Douglas (left), as the Thracian slave Spartacus, and Charles McGraw (1914 - 1980) as the gladiator trainer Marcellus, in 'Spartacus', directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1960. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images).

From left: John Ireland (1914-1992), US actor, John Gavin, US actor, Nina Foch (1924-2008), US actress, Tony Curtis (1925-2010), US actor, Kirk Douglas, US actor, Jean Simmons (1929-2010), British actress, Laurence Olivier (1907-1989), British actor, Peter Ustinov (1921-2004), British actor, Joanna Barnes, US actress, John Dall (1918-1971), US actor, Charles McGraw (1914-1980), US actor, all in costume in a publicity portrait issued for the film, 'Spartacus', 1960. The historical drama, directed by Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999), starred Ireland as 'Crixus', Gavin as 'Julius Caesar', Foch as 'Helena Glabrus', Curtis as 'Antoninus', Douglas as 'Spartacus', Simmons as 'Varinia', Olivier as 'Crassus', Ustinov as 'Lentulus Batiatus', Barnes as 'Claudia Marius', Dall as 'Marcus Publius Glabrus' and McGraw as 'Marcellus'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images).