# Donald Woods (actor)

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American actor (1906–1998)

Donald Woods in Sea Devils (1937) Born Ralph Lewis Zink (1906-12-02)December 2, 1906 Brandon, Manitoba, Canada Died March 5, 1998(1998-03-05) (aged 91) Palm Springs, California, U.S. Resting place Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) Occupation Actor Spouse Josephine Van der Horck ​ ​ (m. 1933)​ Children 2 Relatives Russ Conway (brother)

**Donald Woods** (born **Ralph Lewis Zink**; December 2, 1906 – March 5, 1998) was a Canadian-American film and television actor whose career in Hollywood spanned six decades.

## Life and career

Woods was born in [Manitoba](/source/Manitoba) and was raised in California.[1] His parents were William and Margaret Zink, Presbyterians of German descent.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] His younger brother, Clarence Russell Zink, also became an actor ([Russ Conway](/source/Russ_Conway_(actor))).[2]

Woods graduated from the [University of California, Berkeley](/source/University_of_California%2C_Berkeley), and began his career in West Coast stock theater.[1]

He made his film debut in 1928. His screen career was spent mostly in [B movies](/source/B_movie), for example as lawyer [Perry Mason](/source/Perry_Mason) in the 1937 film *[The Case of the Stuttering Bishop](/source/The_Case_of_the_Stuttering_Bishop)*. He also played romantic leads in B comedies, notably the popular *[Mexican Spitfire](/source/Mexican_Spitfire)* series opposite [Lupe Velez](/source/Lupe_Velez).

He also occasionally played major roles in bigger [feature films](/source/Feature_film) like *[A Tale of Two Cities](/source/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_(1935_film))* (1935), *[Anthony Adverse](/source/Anthony_Adverse)* (1936), *[If I Had My Way](/source/If_I_Had_My_Way_(film))* (1940, as a doomed bridge worker), *[Watch on the Rhine](/source/Watch_on_the_Rhine)* (1943), *[The Bridge of San Luis Rey](/source/The_Bridge_of_San_Luis_Rey_(1944_film))* (1944), and *[Roughly Speaking](/source/Roughly_Speaking_(film))* (1945). In 1945 he co-starred in the Christmas-themed parable *[Star in the Night](/source/Star_in_the_Night)*, as a hitchhiker who awakens a stone-hearted innkeeper to the true spirit of Christmas. Woods's sensitive performance attracted attention, and the film won the "Best Short Subject" [Academy Award](/source/Academy_Award).

Of considerable importance to Donald Woods's acting career were several seasons as leading man with the [Elitch Gardens Theatre Company](/source/Elitch_Theatre) in [Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), where he performed in 1932, 1933, 1939, 1941, 1947, and 1948.[3][4]

In the early days of television, Woods starred in "It's Only a Game", the October 17, 1950, episode of *[Armstrong Circle Theatre](/source/Armstrong_Circle_Theatre)*.[5] He starred as the title character in the 1951 syndicated TV series *[Craig Kennedy, Criminologist](/source/Craig_Kennedy%2C_Criminologist)*,[6] and he was the host of *[Damon Runyon Theater](/source/Damon_Runyon_Theater)* on CBS-TV.[6]: 230 He played himself on the dramatic series *Hotel Cosmopolitan*, also on CBS[6]: 479, and he was one of three hosts of *The Orchid Award* on ABC-TV.[6]: 795 He portrayed Walter Manning on *[Portia Faces Life](/source/Portia_Faces_Life#Television)* on CBS.[6]: 847

He also appeared in such [anthology series](/source/Anthology_series) as *[The Philco Television Playhouse](/source/The_Philco_Television_Playhouse)*, *[Armstrong Circle Theatre](/source/Armstrong_Circle_Theatre)*, *[Robert Montgomery Presents](/source/Robert_Montgomery_Presents)*, *[The United States Steel Hour](/source/The_United_States_Steel_Hour)*, *[Crossroads](/source/Crossroads_(1955_TV_series))*, and *[General Electric Theater](/source/General_Electric_Theater)*. On April 11, 1961, Woods appeared as "Professor Landfield" in the episode "Two for the Gallows" on [NBC](/source/NBC)'s *[Laramie](/source/Laramie_(TV_series))* [western](/source/Western_(genre)) series. Series character Slim Sherman ([John Smith](/source/John_Smith_(actor))) is hired under false pretenses to take Landfield into the [Badlands](/source/Badlands) to seek gold. Landfield, however, is really Morgan Bennett, a member of the former [Henry Plummer](/source/Henry_Plummer) gang who has escaped from prison. Slim has no idea that Landfield is seeking the loot that his gang had hidden away. Series character Jess Harper ([Robert Fuller](/source/Robert_Fuller_(actor))), Pete Dixon, played by [Warren Oates](/source/Warren_Oates), and Pete's younger brother soon come to Slim's aid. The title stems from the talk that the undisciplined Dixon brothers might eventually wind up in a hangman's noose.[7]

Woods later was a regular in the role of John Brent on the short-lived series *[Tammy](/source/Tammy_(TV_series))*[6]: 1052–1053 and made guest appearances on *[Bat Masterson](/source/Bat_Masterson_(TV_series))*, *[Wagon Train](/source/Wagon_Train)*, *[Ben Casey](/source/Ben_Casey)*, *[77 Sunset Strip](/source/77_Sunset_Strip)*, *[Hawaiian Eye](/source/Hawaiian_Eye)*, *[Stoney Burke](/source/Stoney_Burke_(TV_series))*, *[Bourbon Street Beat](/source/Bourbon_Street_Beat)*, *[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)*, *[Coronet Blue](/source/Coronet_Blue)*, *[Ironside](/source/Ironside_(1967_TV_series))*, *[Alias Smith and Jones](/source/Alias_Smith_and_Jones)*, *[The Wild Wild West](/source/The_Wild_Wild_West)* and *[Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law](/source/Owen_Marshall%3A_Counselor_at_Law)*, among many others before retiring from acting in 1976.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Besides his film career, he also worked as a successful [real estate](/source/Real_estate) broker in [Palm Springs](/source/Palm_Springs), California, where he lived with his wife, childhood sweetheart Josephine Van der Horck. They were married from 1933 until his death and had two children, Linda and Conrad.[8] He was interred at the [Forest Lawn Cemetery](/source/Forest_Lawn_Cemetery_(Cathedral_City)) in [Cathedral City, California](/source/Cathedral_City%2C_California).[9]

## Partial filmography

Woods in *[Anthony Adverse](/source/Anthony_Adverse)* (1936)

Woods in *[The White Angel](/source/The_White_Angel_(1936_film))* (1936)

- *[As the Earth Turns](/source/As_the_Earth_Turns_(1934_film))* (1934) – Stan

- *[Merry Wives of Reno](/source/Merry_Wives_of_Reno)* (1934) – Frank

- *[Fog Over Frisco](/source/Fog_Over_Frisco)* (1934) – Tony

- *[Charlie Chan's Courage](/source/Charlie_Chan's_Courage)* (1934) – Bob Crawford

- *[She Was a Lady](/source/She_Was_a_Lady_(film))* (1934) – Tommy Traill

- *[Sweet Adeline](/source/Sweet_Adeline_(1934_film))* (1934) – Sid Barnett

- *[The Florentine Dagger](/source/The_Florentine_Dagger)* (1935) – Juan Cesare

- *[The Case of the Curious Bride](/source/The_Case_of_the_Curious_Bride)* (1935) – Carl

- *[Stranded](/source/Stranded_(1935_film))* (1935) – John Wesley

- *[Frisco Kid](/source/Frisco_Kid)* (1935) – Charles Ford

- *[A Tale of Two Cities](/source/A_Tale_of_Two_Cities_(1935_film))* (1935) – Charles Darnay

- *[The Story of Louis Pasteur](/source/The_Story_of_Louis_Pasteur)* (1936) – Dr. Jean Martel

- *[Road Gang](/source/Road_Gang)* (1936) – James 'Jim' Larrabie

- *[The White Angel](/source/The_White_Angel_(1936_film))* (1936) – Charles Cooper

- *[Anthony Adverse](/source/Anthony_Adverse)* (1936) – Vincent Nolte

- *[A Son Comes Home](/source/A_Son_Comes_Home)* (1936) – Denny

- *[Isle of Fury](/source/Isle_of_Fury)* (1936) – Eric Blake

- *[Once a Doctor](/source/Once_a_Doctor)* (1937) – Dr.Steven Brace

- *[Sea Devils](/source/Sea_Devils_(1937_film))* (1937) – Steve Webb

- *[The Case of the Stuttering Bishop](/source/The_Case_of_the_Stuttering_Bishop)* (1937) – Perry Mason

- *[Talent Scout](/source/Talent_Scout_(film))* (1937) – Steve Stewart

- *[Charlie Chan on Broadway](/source/Charlie_Chan_on_Broadway)* (1937) – Speed Patten

- *[Big Town Girl](/source/Big_Town_Girl)* (1937) – Mark Tracey

- *[The Black Doll](/source/The_Black_Doll)* (1938) – Nick Halstead

- *[Romance on the Run](/source/Romance_on_the_Run)* (1938) – Barry Drake

- *[Danger on the Air](/source/Danger_on_the_Air)* (1938) – Benjamin Franklin Butts

- *[Beauty for the Asking](/source/Beauty_for_the_Asking)* (1939) – Jeffrey Martin

- *[The Girl from Mexico](/source/The_Girl_from_Mexico)* (1939) – Dennis 'Denny' Lindsay

- *[Heritage of the Desert](/source/Heritage_of_the_Desert_(1939_film))* (1939) – John Abbott

- *[Mexican Spitfire](/source/Mexican_Spitfire_(film))* (1940) – Dennis Lindsay

- *[City of Chance](/source/City_of_Chance)* (1940) – Steve Walker

- *[Forgotten Girls](/source/Forgotten_Girls)* (1940) – Dan Donahue

- *[If I Had My Way](/source/If_I_Had_My_Way_(film))* (1940) – Fred Johnson

- *[Love, Honor and Oh-Baby!](/source/Love%2C_Honor_and_Oh-Baby!)* (1940) – Brian McGrath

- *[Mexican Spitfire Out West](/source/Mexican_Spitfire_Out_West)* (1940) – Dennis 'Denny' Lindsay

- *[Sky Raiders](/source/Sky_Raiders)* (1941) – Captain Bob Dayton / John Kane

- *[Bachelor Daddy](/source/Bachelor_Daddy)* (1941) – Edward Smith

- *[I Was a Prisoner on Devil's Island](/source/I_Was_a_Prisoner_on_Devil's_Island)* (1941) – Joel Grant / Joseph Elmer

- *[Thru Different Eyes](/source/Thru_Different_Eyes)* (1942) – Ted Farnsworth

- *[The Gay Sisters](/source/The_Gay_Sisters)* (1942) – Penn Sutherland Gaylord

- *[Corregidor](/source/Corregidor_(1943_film))* (1943) – Dr. Michael

- *[Watch on the Rhine](/source/Watch_on_the_Rhine)* (1943) – David Farrelly

- *[So's Your Uncle](/source/So's_Your_Uncle)* (1943) – Steve Curtis aka Uncle John

- *[Hi'ya, Sailor](/source/Hi'ya%2C_Sailor)* (1943) – Bob Jackson

- *[The Bridge of San Luis Rey](/source/The_Bridge_of_San_Luis_Rey_(1944_film))* (1944) – Brother Juniper

- *[Enemy of Women](/source/Enemy_of_Women)* (1944) – Dr. Hans Traeger, MD

- *[Hollywood Canteen](/source/Hollywood_Canteen_(film))* (1944) – Donald Woods

- *[Roughly Speaking](/source/Roughly_Speaking_(film))* (1945) – Rodney Crane

- *[God Is My Co-Pilot](/source/God_Is_My_Co-Pilot_(film))* (1945) – (uncredited)

- *[Wonder Man](/source/Wonder_Man_(film))* (1945) – Monte Rossen

- *[Star in the Night](/source/Star_in_the_Night)* (1945) – Hitchhiker

- *[Night and Day](/source/Night_and_Day_(1946_film))* (1946) – Ward Blackburn

- *[Never Say Goodbye](/source/Never_Say_Goodbye_(1946_film))* (1946) – Rex DeVallon

- *[The Time, the Place and the Girl](/source/The_Time%2C_the_Place_and_the_Girl_(1946_film))* (1946) – Martin Drew

- *[Bells of San Fernando](/source/Bells_of_San_Fernando)* (1947) – Michael 'Gringo' O'Brien

- *[Stepchild](/source/Stepchild_(film))* (1947) – Ken Bullock

- *[The Return of Rin Tin Tin](/source/The_Return_of_Rin_Tin_Tin)* (1947) – Father Matthew

- *[Daughter of the West](/source/Daughter_of_the_West)* (1949) – Commissioner Ralph C. Connors

- *[Barbary Pirate](/source/Barbary_Pirate_(film))* (1949) – Maj. Tom Blake

- *[Scene of the Crime](/source/Scene_of_the_Crime_(1949_film))* (1949) – Bob Herkimer

- *[Free for All](/source/Free_for_All_(film))* (1949) – Roger Abernathy

- *[Johnny One-Eye](/source/Johnny_One-Eye)* (1950) – Vet

- *[The Lost Volcano](/source/The_Lost_Volcano)* (1950) – Paul Gordon

- *[Mr. Music](/source/Mr._Music)* (1950) – Tippy Carpenter

- *[The Du Pont Story](/source/The_Du_Pont_Story)* (1950) – Irénée du Pont

- *All That I Have* (1951) – Pastor William Goodwin

- *[Born to the Saddle](/source/Born_to_the_Saddle)* (1953) – Matt Daggett

- *[The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms](/source/The_Beast_from_20%2C000_Fathoms)* (1953) – Capt. Phil Jackson

- *[I'll Give My Life](/source/I'll_Give_My_Life)* (1960) – Pastor Goodwin

- *[13 Ghosts](/source/13_Ghosts)* (1960)[10] – Cyrus Zorba

- *[Five Minutes to Live](/source/Five_Minutes_to_Live)* (1961) – Ken Wilson

- *[Kissin' Cousins](/source/Kissin'_Cousins)* (1964) – General Alvin Donford

- *[Moment to Moment](/source/Moment_to_Moment)* (1965) – Mr. Singer

- *[Dimension 5](/source/Dimension_5_(film))* (1966) – Kane

- *Tammy and the Millionaire* (1967) – John Brent

- *[A Time to Sing](/source/A_Time_to_Sing_(film))* (1968) – Vernon Carter

- *[True Grit](/source/True_Grit_(1969_film))* (1969) – 'Barlow'

- *[Sweet Revenge](/source/Sweet_Revenge_(1976_film))* (1976) – Car Salesman (uncredited)

## Television

Year Title Role Notes 1951 Craig Kennedy, Criminologist Craig Kennedy Starring role 1965-1988 Tammy John Brent Recurring role 1972 Alias Smith and Jones Halberstam S2:E19, "The Biggest Game in the West"

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ra_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ra_1-1) ["Kenley presents Miss Bennet (sic) in 'Skylark'"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-american/163756596/). *The Record-American*. Pennsylvania, Mahanoy City. August 14, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved January 23, 2025 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Wilson, Scott (2016). [*Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. (2 volume set)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=7-DgDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Donald+Woods%22+intitle%3AResting+intitle%3APlaces&pg=PA153). McFarland. p. 153. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781476625997](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781476625997). Retrieved 22 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Historic Elitch Theatre Website"](https://historicelitchtheatre.org/donald-woods/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Borrillo, Theodore A. (2021). *Denver's historic Elitch Theatre : a nostalgic journey (a history of its times)*. p. 198.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Television Highlights"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/76766518/the-central-new-jersey-home-news/). *The Central New Jersey Home News*. New Jersey, New Brunswick. October 17, 1950. p. 17. Retrieved April 30, 2021 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-etvs_6-5) Terrace, Vincent (2011). *Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010* (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 217. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7864-6477-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7864-6477-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Laramie: Two for the Gallows"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0624822/). Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved September 21, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Donald Woods; Prolific Actor in Movies and TV Shows"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-25-mn-42852-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. 25 April 1998.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Brooks, Patricia; Brooks, Jonathan (2006). "Chapter 8: East L.A. and the Desert". *Laid to Rest in California: a guide to the cemeteries and grave sites of the rich and famous*. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot Press. p. 245. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0762741014](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0762741014). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [70284362](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/70284362).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jordan2014_10-0)** Jordan, Joe (2014). [*Showmanship: The Cinema of William Castle*](https://books.google.com/books?id=lBhHCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT231). BearManor Media. pp. 231–. GGKEY:7X0U2FR3T69.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Donald Woods](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Donald_Woods).

- [Donald Woods](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940579/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [Donald Woods](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/65588) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Canada)
- [California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:California)
- [Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Film)
- [Television](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Television)

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