Joe Sawyer (born Joseph Sauers; August 29, 1906 – April 21, 1982) was a Canadian film actor. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1927 and 1962, and was sometimes billed under his birth name.

Early life

Sawyer was born August 29, 1906, as Joseph Sauer in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. His parents were German. In his 20s he went to Los Angeles to pursue a career in films.

Career

Sawyer gained acting experience in the Pasadena Playhouse. Productions in which he performed there included Quinneys, The Wolves, and White Wings. Popular roles that he portrayed included Sergeant Biff O'Hara in the Rin Tin Tin television program, a film, and on radio. On Stories of the Century in 1954, he portrayed Butch Cassidy, a role which he repeated in the 1958 episode "The Outlaw Legion" of the syndicated western series Frontier Doctor. Sawyer also appeared on ABC's, Maverick, Sugarfoot, Peter Gunn, and Surfside 6 as well as NBC's Bat Masterson.

Death

Sawyer died April 21, 1982, in Ashland, Oregon, from liver cancer. He was 75. His interment was in Oregon.

Selected filmography