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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = James Murdock
|name = James Murdock
| image = James_Murdock_in_Rawhide.jpg
⚫
|birth_name = David Lee Baker<ref name="a">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXAkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1997|title=Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary|page=311|first=Everett|last=Aaker|publisher=McFarland|date=May 16, 2017|isbn=9781476628561|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
| caption = James Murdock in Rawhide
⚫
|birth_name = David Lee Baker<ref name="a">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yXAkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1997|title=Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary|page=311|first=Everett|last=Aaker|publisher=McFarland|date=May 16, 2017|isbn=9781476628561|via=[[Google Books]]}}{{unverifiable|date=December 2024}}</ref>
|birth_date = {{birth date|1931|06|22}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1931|06|22}}
|birth_place = [[Normal, Illinois]], U.S.
|birth_place = [[Normal, Illinois]], U.S.
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}}
}}


'''David Lee Baker''' (June 22, 1931 – December 24, 1981) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Mushy in the American [[Western (genre)|western]] television series ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]''.<ref name="a" />
'''James Murdock''', born '''David Lee Baker''', (June 22, 1931<ref name=":0" /> – December 24, 1981) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Mushy in the American [[Western (genre)|Western]] television series ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]''.<ref name="a" />


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Murdock was born in [[Normal, Illinois]], the son of Faye Baker.<ref name="a" /> He reportedly used the [[surname]] "Murdock", since he had thought there was a tough guy sound, in which Murdock would land in playing heavy roles in his acting career.<ref name="a" /> He began his career in 1958, appearing in the [[Western (genre)|western]] television series ''[[Have Gun – Will Travel|Have Gun, Will Travel]]'', where Murdock played the role of a young [[outlaw]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZGyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA234|title=Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present|page=234|first=Douglas|last=Brode|publisher=University of Texas Press|date=October 15, 2009|isbn=9780292718494|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> In 1959, he joined the cast of the new [[CBS]] western television series ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'', in which he played the role of Wishbone's assistant cook Mushy.<ref name="a" /> Murdock had a role in the 1966 episode "The Newcomers" (S12E10) in the western television series ''[[Gunsmoke#Television series (1955–1975) and TV movies|Gunsmoke]]'', where he played the role of "Pony".
Murdock was born in [[Normal, Illinois]], the son of Faye Baker.<ref name="a" /> He reportedly used the [[surname]] "Murdock" because he thought it sounded tougher and would help him get roles.<ref name="a" /> He began his acting career in 1958 playing a young outlaw in the [[Westerns on television|Western television series]] ''[[Have Gun – Will Travel|Have Gun, Will Travel]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CZGyDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA234|title=Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present|page=234|first=Douglas|last=Brode|publisher=University of Texas Press|date=October 15, 2009|isbn=9780292718494|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> In 1959, he joined the cast of the new [[CBS]] Western television series ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' playing the assistant cook Mushy.<ref name="a" /> Murdock made a guest appearance in a 1966 episode of the Western television series ''[[Gunsmoke#Television series (1955–1975) and TV movies|Gunsmoke]]''.<ref name=":1" />


Murdock appeared on the film ''[[Airport 1975]]'', in which his last credit was from [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s film ''[[The Godfather II]]'' in 1974.<ref name="a" />
Murdock had some small roles in films under the name David Baker, including ''[[Some of My Best Friends Are...]]'' in 1971 and ''[[Airport 1975]]'' and ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'' in 1974.<ref name="a" />


== Death ==
== Death ==
Murdock died on December 24, 1981, of [[pneumonia]] in [[Calabasas, California]], at the age of 50.<ref name="a" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Television_Western_Players_of_the_Fiftie/X95kAAAAMAAJ?hl=en|title=Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959|page=395|first=Everett|last=Aaker|publisher=McFarland|date=1997|isbn=9780786402847|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> He was buried in [[Cypress Lawn Memorial Park]].<ref name="a" />
Murdock died on December 24, 1981, of lung cancer in [[Calabasas, California]], at the age of 50.<ref name="a" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X95kAAAAMAAJ|title=Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959|page=395|first=Everett|last=Aaker|publisher=McFarland|date=1997|isbn=9780786402847|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> He was buried in [[Cypress Lawn Memorial Park]].<ref name="a" />

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1959-1965|| ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]'' || Harkness 'Mushy' Mushgrove III || TV Series, 201 episodes
|-
|1971|| ''[[Some of My Best Friends Are...]]'' || Clint ||
|-
|1973|| ''[[Airport 1975]]'' || Rev. Bob Herron - Passenger || Uncredited
|-
|1974|| ''[[The Godfather Part II]]'' || F.B.I. Man #2 ||
|}


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 14:29, 5 December 2024

James Murdock
James Murdock in Rawhide
Born
David Lee Baker[1]

(1931-06-22)June 22, 1931
Normal, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 1981(1981-12-24) (aged 50)
Calabasas, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film and television actor
Years active1958–1974
SpouseJulie Harris[1]
Children2[1]

James Murdock, born David Lee Baker, (June 22, 1931[2] – December 24, 1981) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing Mushy in the American Western television series Rawhide.[1]

Life and career

[edit]

Murdock was born in Normal, Illinois, the son of Faye Baker.[1] He reportedly used the surname "Murdock" because he thought it sounded tougher and would help him get roles.[1] He began his acting career in 1958 playing a young outlaw in the Western television series Have Gun, Will Travel.[3] In 1959, he joined the cast of the new CBS Western television series Rawhide playing the assistant cook Mushy.[1] Murdock made a guest appearance in a 1966 episode of the Western television series Gunsmoke.[3]

Murdock had some small roles in films under the name David Baker, including Some of My Best Friends Are... in 1971 and Airport 1975 and The Godfather Part II in 1974.[1]

Death

[edit]

Murdock died on December 24, 1981, of lung cancer in Calabasas, California, at the age of 50.[1][2] He was buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.[1]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1959-1965 Rawhide Harkness 'Mushy' Mushgrove III TV Series, 201 episodes
1971 Some of My Best Friends Are... Clint
1973 Airport 1975 Rev. Bob Herron - Passenger Uncredited
1974 The Godfather Part II F.B.I. Man #2

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Aaker, Everett (May 16, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 311. ISBN 9781476628561 – via Google Books.[not specific enough to verify]
  2. ^ a b Aaker, Everett (1997). Television Western Players of the Fifties: A Biographical Encyclopedia of All Regular Cast Members in Western Series, 1949-1959. McFarland. p. 395. ISBN 9780786402847 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Brode, Douglas (October 15, 2009). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present. University of Texas Press. p. 234. ISBN 9780292718494 – via Google Books.
[edit]
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