Harry Carey, Jr.
(May 16, 1921 – December 27, 2012)
My fingers don’t want to type this, as if that would make it not so. Harry Carey, Jr. has passed away at 91.
Above, he stands between Ben Johnson and Ward Bond in John Ford’s Wagon Master (1950). It’s one of the best Westerns of the 50s, and Carey’s easygoing performance is one of its considerable charms. So many pictures benefited from his presence: Red River (1948), Three Godfathers (1948), Rio Grande (1950), Silver Lode (1954) and The Searchers (1956), to name just a few.
He was the son of silent cowboy star Harry Carey and a member of John Ford’s stock company (his nickname was Dobe). His autobiography Company Of Heroes is one of the finest books on Western filmmaking you’ll ever read.
As far back as I can remember watching movies, I’ve been aware of Harry Carey, Jr. So forget about this stupid blog. Go watch Wagon Master.
So sad. WAGON MASTER just might be my favorite Western ever. And if my favorite’s not WAGON MASTER, you can be sure Harry Carey Jr. is still in it. RIO GRANDE, SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON, THE SEARCHERS…
What a wonderful legacy.
Best wishes,
Laura
He was always good, but Ford always seemed to get an extra something out of him.
I remember going to see Gremlins and being so excited to see him in it.
I really wanted to talk to him about Silver Lode, since his book focused on the Ford films.
Oh dear. I feel very sad reading this. He did have a good long life though and left lots of great performances for us to enjoy.
RIP Dobe.
I placed a quote on Harry Carey Jr in facebook yesterday from an interview we did together, and I pulled out my copy of Wagon Master, which is sitting on my desk, from the TCM Ford collection. For some reason I always think of him as the embodiment of the character from the song Little Joe the Wrangler–Dan Latimer–in Red River.
The hubby heard the news on the radio late last night. He just looked at me sadly and said “Yo”.
Awwwww.
Laura
Well said sir! He was one of the best and will be so very much missed. I watched 3 Godfathers the day I heard of his passing, it was a strange feeling at the beginning of the movie because the movie is dedicated to the passing of his father Harry Carey. Rest in peace Harry Carey Jr. and thank you sir for all the good times, we will miss you!
My heart is heavy. Just this year I read his book, Company of Heroes and came away from it feeling so enriched as he so brilliantly described working in the genre of western movie making with John Ford. He was a class act without exception and I enjoyed his performances in movies and TV episodes always. His father left an amazing legacy and now his son has left a prodigious one himself. Thank you Harry Carey Jr., RIP, Dobe.
This is incredibly sad for me for so many reasons, not sad for his life’s journey which we can only feel good about but because that journey has ended. I know people here beginning with Toby share the deep feelings I have about Dobe, his presence and place in things, to the past and those things that remain most beautiful in movies. God knows, he made a wonderful contribution to a fair share of some of my personal favorites, several of them mentioned already (also, though not a Western, THE LONG GRAY LINE) Also, his goodness as a human being was always evident, very much in his book, which I too cannot say enough for and it’s one absolutely not to be missed.
I met and talked to him several times, the first time because he and his wife Marilyn came for a screening of PURSUED at UCLA and fortuitously sat right in front of us, so I was able to talk to him for a few minutes before it started and he was glad to talk to someone who knew and appreciated him. I happily pointed out that he had started out with Raoul Walsh (PURSUED), Howard Hawks (RED RIVER) and John Ford (3 GODFATHERS), and how amazing that was and he amusingly replied straightfaced “I thought tthat was normal.”
After I read COMPANY OF HEROES I was so moved by it that I wrote him a long letter and he was most appreciative and we talked at more length when he came to L.A. for a Ford event. He always seemed modest to me though plainly he was keenly aware that he, like his father, had been part of something that will be eternal.
I just want to say, it really means so much to share fellow feeling about him with others here who feel the same way. Communal, in some way, like in a Ford film, where people are laid gently to rest and never forgotten.
Blake, I really enjoyed reading your comments about Harry Carey, Jr. I think of myself as a movie “maven” but didn’t know that “Dobe” had started out with Raoul Walsh in “Pursued”. I had the good fortune to meet and interview many movie legends in my career as a TV news reporter. But sadly — as a western movie buff — I never got to meet the likes of Harry Carey, Jr or Ben Johnson. So, I really appreciate your anecdotes about personal encounters with Harry Carey, Jr. It’s always reaffirming to hear your silver screen cowboys are nice guys. My Wife and I watched “Three Godfathers” again last night and I am now looking for “Company of Heroes” which I haven’t read. Thanks for your insights!!
I never met Harry Carey, Jr., but I sure wish I had. I’m sure he would have been every bit as wonderful and kind as described by all who did know and meet him. I wrote up a little fan tribute… http://benjohnsonscreencaps.shutterfly.com
Reblogged this on Serendipity and commented:
He was a favorite and is missed by all of us.
He was always a favorite of both Garry and me. And how beautifully he rode … as if he and his horse were one.
Sadly … so many of these great Western icons have passed. They are from an era before my time. I must have a look at Wagon Master again.
Thank you for honoring them and keeping their heritage and memories alive.
Guess he is the last of the OLD Pappy Ford Troop. Knew it was coming as the kids moved them into a home a couple of years ago. Just seemed like he went on forever. So many of the troop died young….in their 70s. Good old Dobie. Hope wife Marilyn is handling it OK…..they were together forever! Well, you guys are all together now. Hope you are making good westerns up there for whenever we make the trip! Thanks for posting it, Toby. And Happy New Year…will look forward to your 2013 posts. KEITH
Just a reminder that Maureen O’Hara is still alive. Five films may not be as many as say, Ward Bond, or even Harry Carey Jr., but she was always a lead and I have a feeling it’s not as easy to cast a lead as often as someone for a supporting or bit role. It’s hard to think of anyone else, no matter how good (and there are so many we could name), as Ford’s favored leading lady so I do think of her as part of that stock company and also would argue the five she is in are all masterpieces.
And meant to say Happy New Year to Toby and who all those who ride this friendly trail.
Cannot believe I missed his passing. One of the last (if not the last) member of John Ford’s regulars. Great character actor who I associated almost exclusively with westerns, like Ben Johnson who’s in your picture as well. Lovely post.
Peter Bogdanovich has a nice tribute on his web site. http://blogs.indiewire.com/peterbogdanovich/the-last-cowboy-harry-carey-jr?
Also if you look back through his recent blogs archive you’ll find his series on Howard Hawks’ films.
Kevin
Thanks for tossing this link our way.
For those who haven’t gotten around to it, the Wagon Master commentary is one of the best I’ve ever heard. Makes you realize what a missed opportunity it was that Dobe never did an audio book of Company Of Heroes.