Richard Fiske

Richard Fiske
Fiske, circa September 1938
Born	Thomas Ralph Potts (1914-11-20)November 20, 1914 Shelton, Washington, U.S.
Died	August 10, 1944(1944-08-10) (aged 29) La Croix-Avranchin, France
Cause of death	Killed in action
Resting place	Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Basse-Normandie, France
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1938–1942

Richard Fiske (November 20, 1914 – August 10, 1944) was an American film actor, appearing in more than 80 films between 1938 and 1942, almost exclusively for Columbia Pictures.

Born Thomas Ralph Potts, he was born in Shelton, Washington to Frank Potts and Bernice Fiske.^[1] After graduating from Longview High School, he worked in local radio. The tall, handsome young actor made a screen test for Columbia Pictures and was signed to a contract in 1938. Originally rechristened "Robert Fiske" for the screen, he had to adopt the name Richard Fiske because another actor named Robert Fiske was already working in pictures,^[2] and Robert Fiske would sign with Columbia himself in 1938.

Columbia introduced Richard Fiske as a juvenile lead in its Edith Fellows features, and as the second lead in its popular serial The Spider's Web (1938). From then on he was one of the studio's busiest actors, appearing regularly in the studio's "B" pictures, westerns, serials, and short subjects, including frequent castings in Charles Starrett and Bill Elliott westerns; the Blondie, The Lone Wolf, and Boston Blackie series; and equally frequent work with short-subject comedians Charley Chase, Andy Clyde, and Buster Keaton.

Fiske is best known by today's viewers for his portrayals of neurotic foils to The Three Stooges. Perhaps his most familiar role is that of the irate husband-turned-drill sergeant in 1940's Boobs in Arms. Three years later this performance would be edited into the Stooge short Dizzy Pilots.^[3] His last film role was Ginger Rogers' fiancé in the Billy Wilder comedy The Major and the Minor.

Fiske's brief acting career was cut short when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942. Commissioned as a lieutenant, he was killed in action two years later at La Croix-Avranchin, France, while serving with the 9th Infantry Regiment (United States) 2nd Infantry Division. He was 29 years of age.^[3]

Fiske was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and several other military honors. He is buried at Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Basse-Normandie, France.^[1][4]

• Richard Fiske at
  IMDb
• Richard Fiske at threestooges.net
• Richard Fiske at Find a grave