Biography
Nathaniel Greene 'Nat' Pendleton was an American former Olympic wrestler turned actor. Two-time Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) champion (1914-1915) in the 175-lb. class at Columbia University, Pendleton graduated Class of 1916. He wrestled for the United States at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium, earning a silver medal, losing only one match due to a controversial point decision. After the Games he became a professional wrestler and was a big fan favorite, which led to Hollywood. In the 1920 census he was living in Manhattan with his first wife Juanita Alfonzo (age 22) and her brother Ramon Alfonso (age 13). He was working as a sports manager. Pendleton was usually cast as a circus strongman, brutish thug, dumb cop, or dense buffoon, but he had a college degree and in 1933 wrote the script for Deception (1932), in which he starred - not surprisingly - as a wrestler. Upon his death from a heart attack, his remains were interred at Cypress View Mausoleum and Crematory in San Diego, California. Nat Pendleton was inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2006.
Acted in 107
1990s
- 1991
Dracula: A Cinematic Scrapbook
Bill Raymond (archive footage)
1960s
- 1965
The World of Abbott and Costello
Sergeant Michael Collins in Buck Privates (archive footage)
- 1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
William T. Magiz in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)
1940s
- 1947
- 1946
- 1943
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
Joe Weyman
- 1942
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Joe Weyman
Calling Dr. Gillespie
Joe Weyman
Jail House Blues
Sonny McGann
The Mad Doctor of Market Street
Red Hogan
- 1941
Top Sergeant Mulligan
Top Sgt. Herman Mulligan
Buck Privates
Sgt. Michael Collins
- 1940
Flight Command
C.P.O. 'Spike' Knowles
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Joe Wayman
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Joe Wayman
The Golden Fleecing
'Fatso' Werner
Phantom Raiders
'Gunboat' Jacklin
The Ghost Comes Home
Roscoe
1930s
- 1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Wayman
Another Thin Man
Lieutenant Guild
6,000 Enemies
Socks Martin
It's a Wonderful World
Sergeant Fred Koretz
Calling Dr. Kildare
Joe Wayman
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
Buddy Buttle
- 1938
Breakdowns of 1938
Joe (archive footage) (uncredited)
Young Dr. Kildare
Joe Wayman
The Crowd Roars
'Pug' Walsh
The Chaser
Floppy Phil
The Shopworn Angel
'Dice'
Fast Company
Paul Terison
Arsène Lupin Returns
Joe Doyle
Swing Your Lady
Joe Skopapolous
- 1937
Life Begins in College
George Black
Gangway
Smiles Hogan
Song of the City
Benvenuto Romandi
Under Cover of Night
Police Sgt. Lucks
- 1936
Sing Me a Love Song
Rocky
Two in a Crowd
Flynn
The Luckiest Girl in the World
Dugan
Sworn Enemy
'Steamer' Krupp
Trapped by Television
Rocky O'Neil
The Garden Murder Case
Sergeant Ernest Heath
- 1935
It's in the Air
Henry Potke
Here Comes the Band
'Piccolo Pete'
Calm Yourself
Knuckles Benedict
Murder in the Fleet
'Spud' Burke
Reckless
Blossom
Baby Face Harrington
Rocky
Times Square Lady
Mack
- 1934
The Gay Bride
William T. 'Shoots' Magiz
Death on the Diamond
John 'Truck' Hogan
Straight Is the Way
Skippy
The Cat's-Paw
Strozzi
The Girl from Missouri
Life Guard
The Defense Rests
Rocky
Manhattan Melodrama
Spud
Sing and Like It
T. Fenny Sylvester
Lazy River
Alfred 'Tiny' Smith
Fugitive Lovers
Legs Caffey
- 1933
College Coach
Petrowski
I'm No Angel
Harry (uncredited)
Lady for a Day
Shakespeare
Penthouse
Tony Gazotti
The Nuisance
Aloysius P. McCarthy (uncredited)
Child of Manhattan
Spyrene - Dance Hall Bouncer
Goldie Gets Along
Motorcycle Officer Cassidy
Whistling in the Dark
Joe
- 1932
Flesh
Wrestler (uncredited)
The Night Club Lady
Mike McDougal
Exposure
Maniac Killer
By Whose Hand?
'Killer' Delmar
The Tenderfoot
Joe (uncredited)
Attorney for the Defense
Mugg Malone
The Big Timer
Kid Melrose (uncredited)
Hell-Fire Austin
Bouncer
A Fool's Advice
Kelly - Naughty Boy
- 1931
Manhattan Parade
Lady Godiva's Husband
The Secret Witness
Gunner - Bodyguard
The Spirit of Notre Dame
Assistant Coach
The Ruling Voice
Board Member (uncredited)
The Star Witness
Big Jack
Fair Warning
Purvis
Seas Beneath
'Butch' Wagner (uncredited)
- 1930
Crazy House
Chef (uncredited)
The Sea Wolf
Smoke
The Last of the Duanes
Bossamer
The Big Pond
Pat O'Day
1920s
- 1929
The Laughing Lady
James Dugan
- 1926
Let's Get Married
Jimmy
- 1924
The Hoosier Schoolmaster
Bud Means
Appearances2
2000s
- 2003
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
1990s
- 1994
Abbott and Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld
Self (archive footage)