John Morey Downs (October 10, 1913 â€" June 6, 1994) was an American
actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most
notably playing Johnny in the Our Gang short series from 1923 to 1926.
He remained active in films, television, and theatre up through the
early 1960s.Downs was born in New York City on October 10, 1913. His
father was Lt. Morey Downs, a naval aviator with the U.S. Navy. When
he was 8 years old the family moved to San Diego due to his father's
transfer. Johnny's mother took him to Hollywood for an audition with
the Hal Roach Studios. He appeared in a silent film, then was cast as
Johnny in the Our Gang series. He was a regular in the series from
1923 until 1927, appearing in 24 episodes.Outgrowing the Our Gang
series at the age of 14, he and fellow Our Gang alumnus Mary Kornman
performed on college campuses and the vaudeville circuit, where he
polished his singing and dancing skills.In 1934 he returned to
Hollywood and landed a small part in the musical Babes in Toyland. He
found his niche in the "college musical" movies of the late 1930s,
starting with College Scandal (1935) and College Holiday (1936). With
his boy-next-door good looks, he was often cast as a team captain or a
cheerleader. Other movie musicals followed, ending in 1944 with What a
Man!. He had a notable cameo in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue where
he danced to Robert Alda's piano playing of "Swanee". For the
remainder of the 1940s and early 1950s he had a few bit parts in
films, including Cruisin' Down the River. He spent most of his time on
the stage in summer stock and Broadway, scoring a hit in Are You With
It?. Altogether he has almost 100 movie credits to his name.
actor, singer, and dancer. He began his career as a child actor, most
notably playing Johnny in the Our Gang short series from 1923 to 1926.
He remained active in films, television, and theatre up through the
early 1960s.Downs was born in New York City on October 10, 1913. His
father was Lt. Morey Downs, a naval aviator with the U.S. Navy. When
he was 8 years old the family moved to San Diego due to his father's
transfer. Johnny's mother took him to Hollywood for an audition with
the Hal Roach Studios. He appeared in a silent film, then was cast as
Johnny in the Our Gang series. He was a regular in the series from
1923 until 1927, appearing in 24 episodes.Outgrowing the Our Gang
series at the age of 14, he and fellow Our Gang alumnus Mary Kornman
performed on college campuses and the vaudeville circuit, where he
polished his singing and dancing skills.In 1934 he returned to
Hollywood and landed a small part in the musical Babes in Toyland. He
found his niche in the "college musical" movies of the late 1930s,
starting with College Scandal (1935) and College Holiday (1936). With
his boy-next-door good looks, he was often cast as a team captain or a
cheerleader. Other movie musicals followed, ending in 1944 with What a
Man!. He had a notable cameo in the 1945 film Rhapsody in Blue where
he danced to Robert Alda's piano playing of "Swanee". For the
remainder of the 1940s and early 1950s he had a few bit parts in
films, including Cruisin' Down the River. He spent most of his time on
the stage in summer stock and Broadway, scoring a hit in Are You With
It?. Altogether he has almost 100 movie credits to his name.
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