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Unkempt, rough and tough looking members of the gang, or lynch mob, or vigilantes, or posse riders, or cow herders. They had minimal or no dialog, not much screen time, and were generally not listed in the film credits. Some would show up as a face in the crowd, portraying townspeople, barflys, deputies, wagon drivers, ranch hands, etc. We tend to recognize some of their faces, but have no clue as to their real names.



1943
Carl Sepulveda
Full name:
Carl Duane Sepulveda
1897? - 1974


1945


Six feet, two inches tall - and sometimes sporting a moustache - Carl Sepulveda was the fourth or fifth henchman through the door ... or a face in the background as a posse member, townsman, barfly, etc. He shows up in a few films in the late 1920s - early 1930s, and then came a break from the movie business. Circa 1938, he's back doing films and his Tinseltown career ended in early 1950s movies and a few TV programs. Most of his film and TV appearances were uncredited roles.

He did B westerns with Roy Rogers, Johnny Mack Brown, Charles Starrett, Wild Bill Elliott, Don Barry, Jimmy Wakely, the Range Busters, more.

Parents were Alexander Serbulo Sepulveda (1846 - 1915) and Louisa Teeples (1856 - 1913). His birth info is a confusing trail of dates and places - he was born February 3 or February 5, 1896, 1897, or 1898 in Ely, Elko County, Nevada or Burrville, Sevier County, Utah. Good probability that his given name was Carlos which got shortened to Carl.

Long before his move to California, Sepulveda was employed as a farmer / farm laborer in Nevada and Arizona.

Jump ahead to the 1920s, and it appears he was involved in riding or stuntwork in a few films for Universal. And there's many newspaper reports circa 1925 - 1930 about a heavyweight boxer and wrestler named Carl Sepulveda / Carlos Sepulveda.

There was other employment to supplement his Hollywood paydays ... and to support four wives and children. Son Duane was born in 1917; son Albert was born and died in 1919; and daughter Pamela was born in 1945. In their Best Of The Badmen book, authors Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau and Bobby Copeland note that Sepulveda was employed as a construction worker in his later years (and his death certificate confirms that line of work).

Sepulveda family members were prominent settlers, politicians, and ranch / land owners in California. And Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles was named for them. Carl's granddad was Jose Antonio Andres Sepulveda / José Andrés Sepúlveda. According to Wikipedia, grandfather Jose owned the Rancho San Joaquín and Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana in Orange County, California.

Further down this webpage is a link to a 1967 interview with Carl. At that time, he was retired, widowed, and living in a trailer court in Red Bluff, California.

Under treatment for arteriosclerosis and hypertensive vascular disease, Carl Sepulveda resided at the El Camino Convalescent Hospital, Carmichael, Sacramento County, California for about two years. He passed away there from heart failure on August 24, 1974.

He and last wife Verna are interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, Tehama County, California. I did contact Oak Hill Cemetery and they advised that Carl does not have a marker or gravestone.




(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above from L-to-R are Glenn Strange (as Cole Younger), Forrest Dillon (as Bob Younger), Don Barry (as Jesse James), Carl Sepulveda (as Jim Younger), and Harry Worth (as Frank James) in DAYS OF JESSE JAMES (Republic, 1939), which starred Roy Rogers.  In this film, Harry Worth was billed as Michael Worth.



(From Old Corral collection)

Above is the title lobby card from RAIDERS OF THE WEST (PRC, 1942), one of the short-lived Frontier Marshal trio series. Bill 'Cowboy Rambler' Boyd is pummeling Archie Hall (Arch Hall, Sr.). In the upper left, Eddie Dean has his boot on Lee Powell's neck and Carl Sepulveda is behind Powell. Crop / blowup below. This was another Sam Newfield directed film in which Sam used his "Peter Stewart" alias.




Left to right are Eddie Dean, Lee Powell, Carl Sepulveda.
Carl is wearing the same hat in the below Range Busters still.




(Courtesy of Minard Coons)

Above from left to right are Ray Corrigan, Carl Sepulveda and Max Terhune in a staged production still from BLACK MARKET RUSTLERS (Monogram, 1943), the 23rd entry (of 24) in Monogram's Range Busters series. Sepulveda got some dialog and screen time in this oater. He's the sheriff that assists the trio of Ray Corrigan, Max Terhune, and Dennis Moore outwit a gang of rustlers. Set in modern times, trucks and trailers are used to haul away stolen cattle.


  Although some of the data may be incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Carl Sepulveda: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784689/

The Family Search website, death certificate, California Death Index, newspapers, and other sources provide more on Carl Sepulveda and family ... and his four wives which I've highlighted in this color. And note Carl's birth date variations which are highlighted in this color.

  • 1900 census for the large Sepulveda family in Starr Valley, Elko County, Nevada. There were six children - five sons and one daughter - and three year old Carl was the youngest and born in Utah. Parents were 54 year old Alexander Sepulveda (born Mexico; occupation "Day Laborer") and 43 year old wife Louisa (born Utah): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMB3-FJD
  • 1910 census for the Sepulbeda [sic] family in Starr Valley, Elko County, Nevada. There were four sons and thirteen year old Carl was the youngest, born in Nevada, and his occupation was "Laborer - Farm Labor". Parents were 68 year old Alexander Sepulveda (born Mexico; occupation "Harness Maker - General???") and 54 year old wife Louisa (born Utah; occupation "Nurse - Midwifery"): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKLQ-L1P
  • Carl's first wife was Grace Barnett and they married on October 5, 1916 in Salt Lake, Utah: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8GS-T8H
  • Nevada Birth Certificate for son Carl Duane Sepulveda. He was born May 31, 1917 in Deeth, Elko County, Nevada to Carl Sepulveda (born Nevada; occupation "Farmer") and Grace D. Barnett (born Pennsylvania; occupation "Homekeeper"): https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/26972992
  • World War I draft registration dated June 5, 1917 in Elko County, Nevada - 21 year old Carl Sepulveda was born February 5, 1896 in Ely, Nevada. He was married with wife and one child; and employed in "Farm Labor" for the "Nevada Land and ??? Stock Co." in Deeth, Nevada: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-26275-29531-21?cc=1968530
  • Idaho Death Certificate for Albert Edwin Sepulveda. He was born February 3, 1919 and passed away due to acute ileo colitis on February 12, 1919 in Buhl, Idaho. Parents were C. Sepulveda (born Ely, Nevada) and Grace D. Barnett (born Pittsburg, Pennsylvania): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLY5-GDH
  • 1920 census - renting in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona were 24 year old Carl Sepulveta [sic] (born Nevada; occupation "Laborer"), his 27 year old wife Grace (born Pennsylvania), and 2+ year old son Dwane [sic] (born Nevada): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCRL-RN3
  • Grace and Carl divorced and she married again. Son Duane Sepulveda remained with her. Texas Marriage Index has Grace Sepulveda and Bennett H. Buchanan marrying on January 22, 1925 in Harris County, Texas: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXMH-CYP
  • 1930 census for the Grace and Bennett Buchanan family. And Carl and Grace's son Duane Sepulveda has become Duane C. Buchanan: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCX1-672
  • Carl married Kathleen Winona in 1936. That date was noted in her 1945 Arkansas divorce petition which is listed further down this wepbage.
  • 1940 census - 42 year old Carl Sepulveda (born Nevada; occupation "Free-lance actor - Motion Pictures") and his 28 year old wife Kathleen, owned their home at 10833 Otsego, Los Angeles. Carl reported that he lived in/near Elko, Nevada in 1935, and in 1939, he worked 26 weeks and earned $2500.00: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K9H2-XDJ
  • 1942 World War II draft registration - Carl's birth date and location were February 5, 1898 and Ely, Nevada. However, there's a handwritten notation at the top of the registration card: "Birth date should be Feb 3, 1897 - Verified 8/15/42". He was living at 7700 Kester St. in Van Nuys, California; occupation was "Free lance actor - Studios in Hollywood, Cal"; and he was 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighed 192 pounds. Wife Kathleen was not his contact. His contact was older brother Ira B. Sepulveda, General Delivery, Elko, Nevada: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-16370-2262-15?cc=1861144&wc=MMRW-1VX:1161935127
  • Ancestry.com had Arkansas Divorce Petitions - on April 3, 1945, Kathleen W. Sepulveda filed for divorce - or received a divorce - from Carl Sepulveda in Boone, Arkansas. They married in 1936 and her maiden name was Kathleen Winona.
  • California Birth Index and Social Security record for daughter Pamela Jeanne Sepulveda - she was born June 23, 1945 in the Los Angeles area; and mother's maiden name was Jean M. Sangster:
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VLNP-6SM
    https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6K49-S5P8
  • 1950 census - living in Los Angeles, California were 53 year old Carl Sepulveda (born Nevada; occupation "Actor - Moving Picture"), his 32 year old wife Jean (born Canada), and 4 year old daughter Pamela (born California): https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XLR-K63R
  • February 6, 1957 Red Bluff Tehama County Daily News has Carl Sepulveda suing wife Jean for divorce. They married in Carson City, Nevada in 1944 (which is incorrect). Ancestry.com had the Carson City, Nevada marriage index and they married September 11, 1945: https://www.newspapers.com/article/69282067/sepulveda-start-suit-for-divorce/?xid=637
  • Ancestry.com had the Carson City, Nevada marriage index - Carl Sepulveda married Verna Lucille Dill on April 1, 1958 in Carson City, Nevada.
  • California Death Index for Verna L. Sepulveda - she passed August 4, 1961. The August 5, 1961 Red Bluff Tehama County Daily News had her death notice: https://www.newspapers.com/article/69767076/obituary-of-verna-lou-dill-sepulveda/?xid=637
  • Death certificate: 77 year old Carl Sepulveda was born February 5, 1897 in Utah; parents were Alex Sepulveda (born Spain) and Louisa Teeples (born Utah); he was widowed; and his occupation was "Construction Worker - Construction". Under treatment for arteriosclerosis and hypertensive vascular disease, Sepulveda resided at the El Camino Convalescent Hospital, Carmichael, Sacramento County, California for about two years. He passed away there from heart failure on August 24, 1974. Chapel of Flowers, Red Bluff, California was the funeral director and burial at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, California.
  • California Death Index and Social Security Death Index (SSDI) mirror the death certificate - Carl Sepulveda was born February 5, 1897, and passed away on August 24, 1974 in the Sacramento, California area:
    https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHG-4D2
    https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JG92-W4C
  • Find A Grave confirms that Carl Sepulveda was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, Tehama County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81954689/carl-sepulveda
    His last wife, Verna L. Sepulveda (1908 - 1961), is also interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Red Bluff, Tehama County, California: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122662725/verna-l-sepulveda

Family Tree at Family Search includes some photos of Carl: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/KF5J-KCV

Ancestry.com has a few family trees created by Sepulveda family members. They have his full name as Carl Duane Sepulveda and parents were Alexander Serbulo Sepulveda (1846 - 1915) and Louisa Teeples (1856 - 1913). Most family trees have Nevada as Carl's birth location. But a couple trees have him born in Burrville, Sevier County, Utah.

His parents are interred at Starr Valley Cemetery, Starr Valley, Elko County, Nevada:
Alexander 'Alick' Sepulveda (1846 - 1915): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22413843/alexander-sepulveda
Louisa Teeples Sepulveda (1856 - 1913): https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22413846/louisa-sepulveda

Carl's wives and children:

Grace Barnett - married 1916; divorced early 1920s; son Duane was born in 1917; son Albert was born and died in February, 1919.
Kathleen Winona - married 1936; divorced 1945.
Jean M. Sangster - married 1945; divorced 1957; daughter Pamela was born in 1945.
Verna Lucille Dill - married 1958; she passed away in 1961.

Was Carl a boxer or wrestler in the mid to late 1920s? There are many newspaper articles circa 1925 - 1930 on Carl Sepulveda / Carlos Sepulveda as a pro fighter and wrestler. Check out the large PHOTOS in two articles linked below.

1967 newspaper interview of Carl:

February 7, 1967 Red Bluff Tehama County Daily News has a two-page article and photos of 70 year old western movie actor Carl Sepulveda who is retired and living in a trailer court in Red Bluff, California. Article includes details of Sepulveda family history in California; Jose Sepulveda was his grandfather; and Carl's given name was Carlos:
First page is a sharp and clear copy: https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-bluff-tehama-county-daily-news-70-ye/127002421/
Second page has soft focus, difficult to read: https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-bluff-tehama-county-daily-news-70-ye/127002643/

(I have good copies of both pages and can send to you. Send an e-mail request to ye Old Corral webmeister.)

About the Sepulveda Family in California:

Wikipedia has a webpage on Sepulveda family members that were prominent settlers, land holders, politicians, etc. in California. And Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles is named for them. Carl's grandfather was Jose Antonio Andres Sepulveda / José Andrés Sepúlveda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sep%C3%BAlveda_family_of_California



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