Fred Kohler - Senior and Junior

Fred Kohler, Sr. began his Hollywood career around 1910 at Selig, and by the 1920s had became typecast as a brutish, vicious villain, appearing in many of Paramount's Zane Grey westerns, THE IRON HORSE with George O'Brien, more. That typecasting continued into the sound era where he was a frequent antagonist to Reb Russell, Tom Mix, Ken Maynard, George O'Brien and William Boyd/Hoppy. The best of his work at Universal is probably facing Mix in THE RIDER OF DEATH VALLEY (Universal, 1932). Another meaty role was as 'General Burr' in the cliffhanger, THE VIGILANTES ARE COMING (Republic, 1936), which starred Bob Livingston. Kohler, Sr. passed away from a heart attack in 1938.

His son, Fred Kohler, Jr., got a chance to do some hero work in the mid 1930s, but didn't click. Big and burly like his dad, the younger Kohler had a mild (blander) screen personality --- on screen, he just didn't project the same kind of meanness and brutality as did his father. Fred Junior became a minor bit/supporting player from the late 1930s until his last film appearances in the 1960s. He appeared in several of the pre-WW2 Charles Starrett oaters as well as later Roy Rogers' films. He also showed up in early TV shows including THE CISCO KID, WILD BILL HICKOK, 26 MEN, and more.

In the sound era, Fred Senior made about 70 films, of which 33 were westerns and 2 were serials. Fred Junior appeared in about 85 movies, of which 34 were oaters and 4 were cliffhangers.

Father and son appeared together in several films including Fred Senior's last, LAWLESS VALLEY (RKO, 1938), one of the George O'Brien sagebrushers.

Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Fred Kohler Senior and Junior:

Fred Kohler, Sr.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above, Jack Luden appears to be besting a young and curly-haired Fred Kohler, Sr. in the silent SHOOTIN' IRONS (1927).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above, Fred Kohler, Sr. versus Buck Jones in BORDER BRIGANDS (Universal, 1935). Hank Bell, with his usual handlebar moustache, is in the middle watchin' the action.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above, Fred Kohler, Sr. and Ann D'Arcy in a scene from THE MAN FROM HELL (Willis Kent, 1934), which starred Reb Russell.

(From Old Corral image collection)

Above from L-to-R are Reb Russell, Yvonne Pelletier, Fred Kohler, and Dick Botiller in LIGHTNING TRIGGERS (1935), Reb's last film. If you look closely, you can see the disfigured right hand on Kohler, which was caused, depending on the source, by a birth defect or a hunting accident, or ... various. Bobby Copeland provides some additional info: "Fred Kohler, Jr. told me what happened to his Father's hand. Sr., who was too young at the time to handle explosives, was working with dynamite when he accidentally blew off part of his hand. The mining officials gave him $100 to never reveal what had happened."

Fred Kohler, Jr.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Fred Kohler, Jr., Ed Cassidy (minus his usual moustache) and Earl Dwire in THE PECOS KID (Commodore, 1935), one of a pair of mid 1930s oaters in which the younger Kohler was the lead and hero.

(From Old Corral image collection)

Above from L-to-R are Fred Kohler, Jr. (kneeling), and in the back row from L-to-R are Tom London, Ray Henderson, Ed Cassidy and Betty Mack in TOLL OF THE DESERT (Commodore, 1935), the second (of two) starring oaters for Kohler, Jr.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Jack Ingram, Pascale Perry, Fred Kohler, Jr., Tom Tyler, Tom Chatterton, Sam Lufkin (bartender) and Al Taylor in a scene from the Three Mesquiteers RAIDERS OF THE RANGE (Republic, 1942).

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is a title card included in the pressbook for WESTERN MAIL (Monogram, 1942), one of the eight 1941-42 releases that Tom Keene did for Monogram. The baddies in the background are, from L-to-R, Sherry Tansey, Rocky Camron (Gene Alsace), Karl Hackett and Fred Kohler, Jr.

(Courtesy of Donn & Nancy Moyer)

Above, Fred Kohler, Jr. - 1970s photo. You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral and then to the Social Security Death Index. There you will find a record for: Fred Kohler, Jr., born September 4, 1911 in California, and passed away on January 7, 1993 in the Scottsdale, Arizona area.