Paul Hurst (October 15, 1888 – February 27, 1953) was a prolific American character actor, director, and writer, a true Hollywood pioneer who worked his way up from “Poverty Row” and is best remembered for his unforgettable death scene in the epic film, Gone with the Wind (1939).
A native of rural California with a first-hand knowledge of the West, Hurst began his career in 1912, quickly learning the trade as an actor, director, and writer for low-budget silent films. With his blocky build, squinty eyes, and a raspy voice that served him well in the sound era, he became one of Hollywood’s most dependable tough guys, playing a vast array of villains, cops, and comical sidekicks in over 250 films.
His most famous role was that of the treacherous Yankee deserter shot by Scarlett O’Hara on the grand staircase of Tara in Gone with the Wind. He was also a staple of the B-Western, often playing the sidekick to cowboys like Monte Hale. Knowing Hurst was battling terminal cancer, his friend John Wayne gave him a final role in Big Jim McLain (1952). Hurst tragically took his own life the following year.
