The short and burly Black Jack O'Shea started his film career in the early 1930s and became typecast as a villain, most often with a moustache. He also did stunting and doubled for stars of the period including comedian Lou Costello. Over the years, he worked for most of the western film production companies.

In the late 1940s, he severely injured his leg and/or ankle during a fall or jump from a wagon, and this ended his stunting career. A close friend of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, O'Shea got work in their 1950s TV show, and he also essayed roles in other television programs such as DEATH VALLEY DAYS and THE RANGE RIDER.

He retired and opened an antique store, the J. - R. Tradin' Post on Devonshire Street in Chatsworth, California (see business card below). In the mid 1960s, O'Shea, family and business relocated to Paradise, California.

Texan Doug Bruton saw Max Terhune, Bob Steele and Black Jack O'Shea together in a performance at a local theater:

"Bob Steele, Max Terhune and Jack O'Shea came to the Star Theater in Denison, Texas in 1949 or 50. They appeared on stage between the features and put on a little stage show. Bob came out and talked about his career and while he was out on stage, a voice from off-stage called out ... "where is this Steele?" ... "this town is not big enough for both of us." Then Black Jack O'Shea came out and he and Bob drew on each other. Needless to say, Bob shot the gun out of his hand and then they had a dialog. Don't remember all of it, but Bob asked Jack "How many pictures have you been in?". Jack answered "140 Bob". Bob said "How many have you been killed in?". Jack answered "140 Bob!" Then Max did his act with Elmer and was very funny. After the show I ran around to the stagedoor and talked with them for several minutes and as any 12 or 13 year old might do, I asked a thousand questions and they were very patient and friendly."

John Martin Rellaford passed away from coronary artery thrombosis and arteriosclerosis at the Feather River Hospital, Paradise, California on October 1, 1967. You may want to go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral and then to the California Death Index. There you will find a record for: John M. Rellaford, born 4/6/1906 in California, Mother's maiden name of Watts, and he passed away in California on 10/1/1967.

The October 5, 1967 Van Nuys (California) Valley News paper had a funeral notice: "... services were held yesterday in Paradise, Cal. for former Valley resident Jack Rellaford, known during his many years in motion pictures and television as Black Jack O'Shea." He was 61 years old and services were held at the Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church, Paradise, California, and interment was in Paradise Cemetery.

O'Shea's twenty five year movie and television career ran from the early 1930s through the mid 1950s and he appeared in about 200 films, most of which were westerns along with a couple dozen serials.

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) has information on Black Jack O'Shea: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0642648/