Frederick Howard Wright (September 30, 1896 â July 2, 1990), credited variously as Fred Howard (for his writing, and for all stage and radio performances), Howard Wright (for his later film and TV work), and, more recently still, Fred Howard Wright, was an American songwriter, vaudeville performer, and character actor of theatre, radio, film and television, best remembered as one halfâÂÂalong with fellow songwriter Nat VincentâÂÂof the popular vaudeville, radio, recording, and songwriting duo, The Happy Chappies.
Born Frederick Howard Wright in San Diego, California on September 30, 1896, Wright was the middle child of five, born to Lucy Simonds (née Wheeler) and William Sherman Wright. He first performed in public at age 9, when, as a reward for having sold the most tickets to a high school operetta, he was tasked not merely with formally presenting the frieze purchased by proceeds from the production, but also asked to sing at the ceremony. After attending the University of California, San Diego, Wright joined the US Army, serving in 1st Cavalry Regiment, with whom he took part in the unsuccessful Pancho Villa Expedition. Eventually rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant, Wright received his discharge in 1920.
Over the next decade, WrightâÂÂas Fred HowardâÂÂestablished himself as a successful stage performer, writer, producer, and director, specializing in musical comedy. His singing was showcased in the trio, Harmony Three.
By February 1929, WrightâÂÂwho, as a solo act, had previously appeared in at least one revue also featuring his soon-to-be partner's recently formed duoâÂÂhad officially become one half of the Happy Chappies, replacing pianist Nat Vincent's previous partner, tenor Harry Morton, while also facilitating Wright's radio debut on San Francisco's KFRC. They continued togetherâÂÂhaving reportedly co-authored "486 popular songs" as of December 1935âÂÂat least as late as the summer of 1937.
In April 1938, Wright appeared at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in the Lambs Club's annual Spring Gambol, co-starring with Walter Woolf King and Gene Wolf in the brief operetta, Tempest in a Teapot, with words and music by Wright.
As a radio actor, some of Wright's more notable roles were C. Pemberton Tooley in Ma Perkins, Mr. PringleâÂÂfather of OogieâÂÂin A Date with Judy, and Pa Buskirk on The Opie Cates Show
From 1949 through 1952, Wright was the principal writer on The Ruggles, the Charlie Ruggles sitcom created by Irving Phillips.
In March 1949, WrightâÂÂstill billed as "Fred Howard"âÂÂmade his TV debut, starring alongside K. T. Stevens, Marc Lawrence, in the Don Lee Television Workshop episode, "Shoes and Souls". One additional "Fred Howard" credit, for a 1951 appearance on Racket Squad, preceded the actor's unnoticedâÂÂand, accordingly, never explainedâÂÂ1953 professional transition to "Howard Wright" on The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok.
Among Wright's more notable television credits are two The Twilight Zone episodes, as "Judge Hardy" in the Season Three episode, "The Jungle (The Twilight Zone)" and an unnamed judge in the previous season's What's in the Box. He also appeared on numerous episodes of the westerns, Bonanza and Death Valley Days.
In his rave review of the 1956 Barry Shipman/William Witney western drama, Stranger at My Door, Variety's William BrogdonâÂÂas "Brog"âÂÂmade a point of assigning every bit as much credit to the film's principal supporting players as to the stars. <blockquote>The above mentioned players earn plaudits for characters compellingly performed and right along with them are Louis Jean Heydt, as the sheriff, Howard Wright, a doctor, Slim Pickens, horse trader and millwright, and Malcolm Atterbury, a circuit rider.</blockquote>
In 1919 or 1920, Wright became the husband of JeanâÂÂelsewhere identified as LauraâÂÂHenley, with whom he had one child, a daughter, Jo Ann. Wright was married to actress Sylvia Jane Worley from January 1925 until at least March 1927âÂÂwhen they sailed together from San Francisco to HonoluluâÂÂand no later than October 1930, when Greek-born Theofani Arminda Pappadakis became the next Mrs. Wright, as she would remain until her death on March 4, 1963. Their union produced one child, a daughter, Patsy Zo. In 1969, Wright once again was wed, this time to Helen Louise Daves (née Young); she died in 1985.
Wright died on July 2, 1990, at age 93. His remains are interred at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.
<small>All performances credited as "Howard Wright" unless otherwise indicated.</small>
<small>All performances credited as "Howard Wright" unless otherwise indicated.</small>