Fred Kohler
1887 - 1938Fred Kohler (April 20, 1888 – October 28, 1938) was an American actor known for his playing heavies.
Fred Kohler was born in Kansas City, Missouri. As a teen, he began to pursue a career in vaudeville, but worked other jobs to support himself. He lost part of his right hand in a mining accident during this time. Eventually he was able to join a touring company, and worked steadily in show business for several years. America's budding film industry drew a 20-something Kohler to Hollywood, where he made his start in silent films. His first role was in the 1911 short The Code of Honor, and he had an uncredited role in Cecil B. DeMille's feature film Joan the Woman (1917), but a steady stream of parts did not begin until The Tiger's Trail (1919).
Kohler's stern features earned him a niche playing villains. His role as Bauman in The Iron Horse (1924) is a notable example. With the advent of the talkies, Kohler reprised many of his silent roles in remakes with sound, particularly in Westerns based on novels by Zane Grey.
At the beginning of the sound era, he appeared in the Allan Dwan film Tide of Empire (1929) alongside Renée Adorée and Tom Keene. Kohler died of a heart attack on October 28, 1938 at age 50. He was buried in an unmarked grave at Inglewood Park Cemetery in South Los Angeles community of Inglewood, California. His son Fred Kohler, Jr. (1911–1993) was also an actor in many western films.
The Country Beyond
Irving Cummings
Olive Borden, Ralph Graves
In the Canadian mountains an orphan girl, Valencia, is left in the care of the abusive Hawkins family. A fugitive outlaw, Roger McKay, stumbles onto the property and immediately falls in love with Valencia. When Mr. Hawkins is killed by his long-suffering spouse, Roger assumes that Valencia committed the murder and confesses to the crime to protect her.
The Country Beyond
His Back Against the Wall
Rowland V. Lee
Raymond Hatton, Virginia Valli
Jeremy Dice, a finisher in a New York East Side tailor shop who prides himself on being a smart dresser and dancer, proves to be cowardly when he retreats from a bully who gets fresh with his girl, and his employer discharges him. Deciding to go out west, Jeremy is caught hitching the rails and comes upon two outlaws in the desert disputing over booty; they are both killed in a shoot-out, and Jeremy is proclaimed a hero by the sheriff.....
His Back Against the Wall
The Red Warning
Robert N. Bradbury
Jack Hoxie, Fred Kohler
Phillip Haver, who, along with his friend Toby Jones, finds David Ainslee dying in the desert. After rustlers stole his cattle, Ainslee went off in search of a lost mine and fell victim to a killer. Before he kicks the bucket, Ainslee hands Haver a poke of gold dust to pay off the mortgage on the ranch.
The Red Warning
Without Compromise
Emmett J. Flynn
William Farnum, Lois Wilson
When the ability of Dick Leighton (William Farnum), Sheriff of Randolph, Oregon, to enforce law and order is tested by the leader of the political opposition, he stands his ground and overpowers the unruly element.
Without Compromise
The Rider of Death Valley
Albert S. Rogell
Tom Mix, Lois Wilson
Rigby, Larribee, and Grant each have one third of Bill Joyce's map locating his gold mine. The three plus Joyce's sister Helen head for the mine. An accident with a runaway horse carrying supplies leaves them stranded in the desert with very little water.
The Rider of Death Valley
Horses' Collars
Clyde Bruckman
Moe Howard, Larry Fine
The Stooges are private detectives in the Old West trying to help a girl recover an IOU from a bad guy. Their attempts to steal the IOU from the villain's wallet and then from a safe meet with problems until Curly, who goes berserk whenever he sees a mouse, knocks out all the bad guys.
Horses' Collars
Behind the Door
Irvin Willat
Hobart Bosworth, Jane Novak
Oscar Krug is looked upon with suspicion by his neighbors because of his German name. When the US is drawn into the war with Germany, he enlists and travels the seas with his wife, Alice Morse. During a submarine attack Alice is snatched from Krug's side by a German officer. Krug now lives to have his revenge, and when the opportunity presents itself, he will have it.
Behind the Door
The Iron Horse
John Ford
George O’Brien, Madge Bellamy
Brandon, a surveyor, dreams of building a railway to the west. He sets off with his son, Davy, to survey a route. They discover a new pass which will shave 200 miles off the expected distance, but they are set upon by a party of Cheyenne. One of them, a white renegade with only two fingers on his right hand, kills Brandon and scalps him. Davy is all alone now.
The Iron Horse
The Fiddlin' Buckaroo
Ken Maynard
Ken Maynard, Gloria Shea
Government man Fiddlin' has joined Wolf's gang and Banty has become his friend. When Fiddlin' objects to Wolf's kidnapping of Ann, he is left in a burning building. Rescued by his horse Tarzan, he convinces Banty to help bring in the gang.
The Fiddlin' Buckaroo
