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Richard Fiske

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Richard Fiske
Fiske, circa September 1938
Born
Thomas Ralph Potts

(1914-11-20)November 20, 1914
Shelton, Washington, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 1944(1944-08-10) (aged 29)
La Croix-Avranchin, France
Cause of deathKilled in action
Resting placeBrittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Basse-Normandie, France
Alma materUniversity of Washington
OccupationActor
Years active1938–1942
Spouse
Marjorie MacGregor
​
​
(m. 1939; div. 1944)​

Thomas Ralph Potts (November 20, 1914 – August 10, 1944) was an American film actor best known by his stage name Richard Fiske. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1938 and 1942, almost exclusively for Columbia Pictures.

Biography

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Potts was born in Shelton, Washington,[1] to Frank Potts and Bernice Fiske.[2] After graduating from Longview High School, he worked in local radio. He attended the University of Washington for a year.[3][4] The tall, handsome young actor made a screen test for Columbia Pictures and was signed to a contract in 1938. Originally rechristened "Robert Fiske" for the screen, he had to adopt the name Richard Fiske because another actor named Robert Fiske was already working in the movie industry.[5]

Columbia introduced Richard Fiske as a juvenile lead in its Edith Fellows features, and as the second lead in its popular serial The Spider's Web (1938). From then on he was one of the studio's busiest actors, appearing regularly in the studio's "B" pictures, westerns, serials, and short subjects, including frequent castings in Charles Starrett and Bill Elliott westerns; the Blondie, The Lone Wolf, and Boston Blackie series; and equally frequent work with short-subject comedians Charley Chase, Andy Clyde, and Buster Keaton. He is best known by today's viewers for his portrayals of neurotic foils to The Three Stooges. Perhaps his most familiar role is that of the irate husband-turned-drill sergeant in 1940's Boobs in Arms. Three years later, this performance was edited into the Stooge short Dizzy Pilots.[6] His last film role was Ginger Rogers' fiancé in the Billy Wilder comedy The Major and the Minor.

Potts married Marjorie MacGregor in December 1939;[7] the couple was divorced in April 1944.[8]

Potts' brief acting career was cut short when he joined the U.S. Army in May 1942.[4] Commissioned as a lieutenant, he was killed in action in August 1944 at La Croix-Avranchin, France, while serving with the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and several other military honors. He is buried at Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Basse-Normandie, France.[2][9]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via fold3.com.
  2. ^ a b Cappello, Bill (Winter 1992). "Supporting Player Richard Fiske: A Brief Biography". The Three Stooges Journal (64). Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania: The Three Stooges Fan Club, Inc.: 6–7, 14.
  3. ^ "Lieutenant Potts Killed in France". The Seattle Star. September 13, 1944. p. 6. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via fold3.com.
  5. ^ Boxoffice, July 6, 1938, p. 40-C.
  6. ^ Solomon, Jon (2002). The Complete Three Stooges: The Official Filmography and Three Stooges Companion. Comedy III Productions, Inc. p. 192. ISBN 0-9711868-0-4.
  7. ^ "Four Couples Announce Intentions to Wed". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 13, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Divorce Granted to Marjorie Potts". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 1944. p. 7. Retrieved June 5, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Three Stooges FAQ
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