Michael Chapin
Birth dateJuly 25, 1936 (age 90)
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1944–1959
SpouseCarolyn Joyce Martin (m. 1966; died 2005)
RelativesBilly Chapin (brother)
Lauren Chapin (sister)

Michael Chapin (born July 25, 1936)[1][2] is an American former child actor in film and television.

Born in Los Angeles, California, he began his screen career in 1944 when he appeared in The Fighting Sullivans. He continued with films such as It's a Wonderful Life and Under California Stars.[3] Acting mostly in western pictures, he retired from show business in 1959.[4]

Chapin is the older brother of Billy Chapin and Lauren Chapin.[5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1944The Fighting SullivansRival boyUncredited
1946Song of ArizonaCyclops
Night EditorDoc Cochrane, as a boyUncredited
It's a Wonderful LifeYoung George's friendUncredited
1947BacklashMikeUncredited
The Farmer's DaughterBoyUncredited
Heaven Only KnowsLittle boyUncredited
1948Call Northside 777Frank Wiecek, Jr.Uncredited
Under California StarsTed Carver
Night WindVinnie JardineUncredited
1949Strange BargainRoddy Wilson
1950The Reformer and the RedheadOrphanUncredited
Summer StockBoyUncredited
1951Buckaroo Sheriff of TexasRed White
Wells Fargo GunmasterTommy Hines
The Dakota KidRed White
Arizona ManhuntRed White
1952Wild Horse AmbushRed White
Wagons WestBen Wilkins
Springfield RifleJamie KearneyUncredited
1954Pride of the Blue GrassDanny
1955The Night of the HunterRuby's boyfriendUncredited

References

  1. ^ Nareau, Bob (2003). Kid Kowboys : Juveniles in Western Films. Madison, NC: Empire Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 0-944019-41-2.
  2. ^ Tom Goldrup, Jim Goldrup (2015). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-4766-1370-3.
  3. ^ Goldrup, Tom (2002). Growing Up on the Set Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Classic Film and Television. McFarland & Company (May 6, 2002). p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7864-1254-9.
  4. ^ "Michael Chapin Biography". Republic Pictures 75th. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  5. ^ Wetzig, Mina (February 3, 1957). "Meet the Andersons". New York Sunday News Coloroto Magazine. p. 5. Lauren Chapman, 4 feet 5 inches, 73 pounds of little girl anybody would like to have around the house, is of Irish descent and a sixth grader. Originally, Lauren was determined to break into the acting profession just to beat her brothers at their own game. Michael Chapman, 20, and Billy Chapman, 12, have been in a number of movies, and a kid sister can't let a couple of boys get away with that sort of thing.

Further reading

  • Goldrup, Tom and Jim (2002). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Film and Television. McFarland & Co. pp. 47–56. ISBN 1-4766-1370-2.
  • Holmstrom, John (1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 198.