Royal Dano
| Royal Dano | |
|---|---|
in The Trouble with Harry (1955)
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| Born |
Royal Edward Dano November 16, 1922 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 15, 1994 (aged 71) Los Angeles, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack after automobile accident |
| Resting place | Los Angeles National Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950–93 |
| Children | Rick Dano Royal Edward Dano, Jr. (1946–1994) |
Royal Edward Dano, Sr. (November 16, 1922 – May 15, 1994) was an American film and television character actor.
Dano was born in New York City, the son of Mary Josephine (née O'Connor), an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers.
He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas, and California. After reaching an agreement with his father, he agreed to continue his education, on the condition that he be allowed to travel. He was a Freemason.
Dano is remembered for his supporting roles in a number of 1950s western and mystery films. The chance for the breakout role of a lifetime escaped him in the theatrical release of The Red Badge of Courage. Dano, cast as The Tattered Man, delivered such a disturbing performance in his death scene, according to director John Huston, that the initial test audience left the theater in droves, e.g., "I've never seen so many people, get up and leave the theater...they liked no part of it." The death scene was lent a human touch by Dano, and in 1951, war-weary Americans, rejected it (Huston: "...[the audience rejection] was a pretty sickening event."). Red Badge was immediately recut, and the death scene was removed. It is long believed, and as early as Huston commenting in an interview in 1972, the scene has been lost ("I doubt very much, whether the scene still exists."). Dano was also cast in "Mr. Lincoln", a five-part TV episode appearing in 1952–53 on Omnibus; ironically, in keeping with a Civil War theme, Dano portrayed Lincoln himself.
He often worked with Anthony Mann and James Stewart. He played Elijah in John Huston's film version of Moby Dick, intoning to Richard Basehart as Ishmael, "At sea one day, you'll smell land where there'll be no land, and on that day, Ahab will go to his grave, but he'll rise again within the hour. He will rise and beckon! Then all - all save one - shall follow!"
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