The David Durand Centennial

Knowest Thou of David Durand (David Parker Gray, 1920-1998)? Durand is notable for having participated as an actor in three major screen comedy series: Our Gang (mid to late ’20s), The East Side Kids (1940-43), and Columbia’s “Glove Slingers” series of boxing themed comedy shorts (1940-42), starring in the latter.

Originally from Cleveland, Durand was a child star in films from age five. Early features include Get Your Man (1927) with Clara Bow, Tropic Madness (1928) with Leatrice Joy, Innocents of Paris (1929) with Maurice Chevalier, Song of Love (1930) with Belle Baker, Little Men (1933) and Angels with Dirty Faces (1938, ironically not as one of the Dead End Kids). After Follow the Leader (1944), his sixtieth film, the 24 year old retired and began to work in non-performative roles around the film industry.

For more on classic comedy history please check out my book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube — now also available on audiobook.