Walter Reed
Actor
Biography
Walter Reed (born Walter Reed Smith), was an American stage, film and television actor. Reed was born in 1916 in Fort Ward, Washington. Following a stint as a Broadway actor, Reed broke into films in 1941. He appeared in several features for RKO Radio Pictures, including the last two Mexican Spitfire comedies (in which Reed replaced Buddy Rogers as the Spitfire's husband). Perhaps his most memorable role was as the spineless wagon driver husband of Gail Russell in the western Seven Men from Now. Reed also appeared in the very first Superman theatrical feature film Superman and the Mole Men in 1951.
In 1951, Reed made two film serials for Republic Pictures; Reed strongly resembled former Republic leading man Ralph Byrd, enabling Republic to insert old action scenes of Byrd into the new Reed footage. Republic wanted to sign Reed for additional serials but Reed declined, preferring not to be typed as a serial star.
After appearing in 90 films and numerous television programs, such as John Payne's The Restless Gun, Reed changed careers and became a real estate investor and broker in Santa Cruz, California in the late 1960s.
Filmography
How the West Was Won
as River Pirate (uncredited) 1962
The Horse Soldiers
as Union Officer 1959
The Sand Pebbles
as Bidder at Red Kettle Bar (uncredited) 1966
Cheyenne Autumn
as Lt. Peterson (uncredited) 1964
Sergeant Rutledge
as Capt. McAfee (uncredited) 1960
Seven Men from Now
as John Greer 1956
Advise & Consent
as Senate Staff Clerk (uncredited) 1962
Mirage
as Reporter (uncredited) 1965
The High and the Mighty
as Mr. Field (uncredited) 1954
Superman and the Mole Men
as Bill Corrigan 1951
Young Man with a Horn
as Jack Chandler 1950
Return of the Bad Men
as Bob Dalton 1948
The Man from the Alamo
as Billings (uncredited) 1953
The Racket
as Policeman at Roll Call & in Locker Room (uncredited) 1951
How to Make a Monster
as Detective Thompson 1958
Westbound
as Julesburg Doctor (uncredited) 1959