Bernard Punsly
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bernard Punsly, (July 11, 1923 – January 20, 2004), was an American actor who left show business to become a physician. He was born in New York City.
Punsly auditioned for a part in the play Dead End in 1937 because he thought it might be fun. The success of the play led to a series of film appearances for the cast, including Punsly. The first film of the "Dead End Kids" (or Bowery Boys) series was Dead End, also produced in 1937. Punsly played the parts of "Milt" and later "Ape." He appeared on the silver screen with actors such as Ronald Reagan, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, John Garfield, and Humphrey Bogart.
He continued with similar film parts until he joined the army. Even as an actor, he was known to read medical books in his spare time. After receiving medical training in the army, Punsley entered the Medical College of the University of Georgia, subsequently obtaining his medical degree. He returned to the west to set up a medical practice in Torrance, California, never returning to show business. He became chief of staff in the South Bay Hospital in Redondo Beach, California. He was married to Lynne and had two children, Brian and Richard.
When Huntz Hall died in 1999, Punsly became the last surviving cast member of the Dead End Kids.
On January 20, 2004, age 80, he died of cancer in Torrance, California.
[edit] Surname
His last name was often spelled incorrectly in film credits as Punsley.
[edit] Complete filmography
- Dead End (1937)
- The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938), uncredited
- Crime School (1938)
- Little Tough Guy (1938)
- Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
- They Made Me a Criminal (1939)
- Hell's Kitchen (1939)
- The Angels Wash their Faces (1939)
- On Dress Parade (1940)
- You're Not So Tough (1940)
- Junior G-Men (1940)
- Give Us Wings (1940)
- Hit the Road (1941)
- Mob Town (1941)
- Sea Raiders (1941)
- Junior G-Men of the Air (1942)
- Tough as They Come (1942)
- Junior Army (1942), uncredited
- Mug Town (1943)
