Bernard Punsly
Bernard Punsly | |
|---|---|
 Punsly in trailer to "Little Tough Guy" (1938) | |
| Born | July 11, 1923 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 20, 2004 (aged 80) Torrance, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, physician |
| Years active | 1937–1943 (as actor); 1949-2002 (as physician) |
Bernard Punsly, also known as Bernard Punsley (July 11, 1923 – January 20, 2004) was an American actor and physician. He was the last surviving member of the Dead End Kids.[1]
Biography
[edit]Early life and acting career
[edit]Punsly was born on July 11, 1923, in New York City, the son of a tailor. He began his acting career at the age of eight in the play I Love An Actress. He was later cast as Milty in the Broadway play Dead End.[1]
The success of the play led to Punsly and some of its child actors being cast in a 1937 film adaptation, Dead End. In the film, which portrayed the youths as victims of society.Punsly again played Milty. After that film he appeared in the Little Tough Guys series. His other films included Angels With Dirty Faces (1938), Little Tough Guy (1938) and Hell's Kitchen (1939). He played W.C. Fields' caddy in The Big Broadcast of 1938. [1][2]
At his death, the Los Angeles Times recounted that Punsly "often played the innocent youth that got hooked up with the gang," and that off-camera he was considered the "good kid" among the actors.[2]
The success of the led to the group appearing in a series of films that featured actors from the films. He went on to appear in 18 other films. During his career he worked with stars such as Ronald Reagan, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, John Garfield, and Humphrey Bogart.
In 1994, Punsly appeared with the other last survivor of the Dead End Kids, Huntz Hall, in which the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hall died in 1999.[2]
After acting
[edit]Punsly left acting after his last film, Mug Town (1942), when other actors in the series went on to become the Bowery Boys. Punsly joined the U.S. Army in 1943.[1] While serving in the Army Air Forces he received medical training.[citation needed]
Upon discharge from the Army, Punsly entered the Medical College of Georgia at the University of Georgia, obtaining his medical degree in 1949. He moved to Los Angeles and served and internship and residency at Los Angeles County Medical Center. He became an internist at Little Company of Mary Hospital. He became chief of staff at South Bay Hospital in Redondo Beach in 1971.[3] He retired in 2002.[1][2]
Personal life
[edit]Punsly married Marilyn "Lynne" Kufferman in 1950.[4] He lived for many years in Palos Verdes Estates.[2]
Punsly died of cancer on January 20, 2004, at age 80, in Torrance, California. He was survived by his wife, a son, two grandchildren and a sister.[5]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Dead End | Milty | |
| 1938 | The Big Broadcast of 1938 | Caddy | Uncredited |
| 1938 | Crime School | George "Fats" Papadopoulos | |
| 1938 | Little Tough Guy | Ape | |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Hunky | |
| 1939 | They Made Me a Criminal | Milt | |
| 1939 | Hell's Kitchen | Patrick Henry 'Ouch' Rosenbloom | |
| 1939 | The Angels Wash Their Faces | Sleepy Arkelian | |
| 1939 | On Dress Parade | Dutch | |
| 1940 | You're Not So Tough | Ape | |
| 1940 | Junior G-Men | Lug | Serial |
| 1940 | Give Us Wings | Ape | |
| 1941 | Hit the Road | ||
| 1941 | Mob Town | ||
| 1941 | Sea Raiders | Butch | Serial |
| 1942 | Junior G-Men of the Air | 'Creaseball' Plunkett | Serial |
| 1942 | Tough as They Come | Ape | |
| 1942 | Junior Army | Bad Eye - Gang Member | Uncredited |
| 1943 | Mug Town | Ape | Final film[6] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Bernard Punsly, 80, Actor in Dead End Kids". The New York Times. Associated Press. 24 January 2004. Retrieved 31 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Bernard Punsly, 80; Last of the Movies' 'Dead End Kids'". The Los Angeles Times. 2004-01-25. p. B16. Retrieved 2025-03-31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hospital Names Chief of Staff". The Daily Breeze. 1971-08-13. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-03-31 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Punsly, Bernard (31 Oct 1950). "Los Angeles Mirror 31 Oct 1950, page 33". Los Angeles Mirror. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (2005). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 288. ISBN 9780786421039. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "In Remembrance: Bernard Punsly". Film Buff Online. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
