Howard Duff

Howard Duff was an actor who played on radio, television, film, and was also featured on the stage. He was born on November 24th, 1917 in Charleston, Washington.

In his early radio work from 1941 he played parts on The Screen Guild Theater, Dear John (Irene Rich Drama), Hollywood Star Time, Arch Oboler Plays, Suspense and The Whistler. However it wasn't until Duff played the famous character Sam Spade on The Adventures of Sam Spade from 1946-1950 that he became truly famous. 

The show The Adventures of Sam Spade aired on all three major networks throughout its run. Howard Duff later appeared in the character of Sam Spade on the Burns and Allen show on 10th February 1949 when Gracie sends Sam Spade to jail. I will be adding that episode later in the week.

His performance on radio led him to a lucrative career in films and on TV.  He starred in his first film role in Brute Force where he played an inmate. He also starred in two films in 1948 – The Naked City and All My Sons. Around this time, he is believed to have had a relationship with the beautiful Ava Gardner. 

However, he went on to marry Ida Lupino who was an actress and a director. They married in 1951 and divorced 27 years later in 1984. During the time of his first marriage, he starred in many shows on radio and television. 

He was also in several films. From 1957-1958, he starred along with his wife Ida Lupino in Mr. Adams and Eve, a comedy on CBS about a married couple who were also film stars. He was also featured on the show Dante where he played Willie Dante who owned a nightclub called Dante’s Inferno. 

In 1968, he starred in the film Panic in the City and followed closely with the movies In Search of America and A Wedding. One of Duff’s most well-known roles was in the film Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979 where he played the attorney for the character played by Dustin Hoffman. That film went on to win the Academy Award for best picture, making his role a major high point of his career.

In the 1980s, he became a regular guest star on many television shows such as Knots Landing and Dallas. He also appeared on Flamingo Road. He was also seen in guest spots on Simon and Simon, Golden Girls, Magnum P.I., Scarecrow and Mrs. King, Murder She Wrote, and St. Elsewhere – some of the most popular television series of the day.

His career continued until his death in 1990 from a heart attack. He passed away in Santa Barbara, California where he lived with his second wife, Judy Jenkison. Howard Duff is also known for being the uncle of the famous actresses Hillary and Hayley Duff. His daughter, Bridget Duff, is also an actress.

Happy listening my friends,