Earl Dwire (October 3, 1883 – January 16, 1940), born Earl Dean Dwire, was an American character actor who appeared in more than 150 movies between 1921 and his death in 1940.

Biography

Dwire acted for three years in stock theater with companies in Portland and Seattle. In December 1912, he joined the American Theater company in Spokane, Washington, and shortly after was named the company's manager when the previous manager resigned. In 1921, he acted with, and was the director of, the Wright Players. Dwire worked mainly as a villain in westerns, including Riders of Destiny (1933) with John Wayne in the first singing cowboy movie and The Trail Beyond (1934) opposite Wayne, Noah Beery, Sr., and Noah Beery, Jr. He acted with John Wayne and Gabby Hayes in The Lawless Frontier (1934). He also appeared in Bob Steele vehicles such as Alias John Law (1935). He was a family friend of Bob Steele and his Dad, Robert North Bradbury.

Selected filmography