Richard Arlen, originally named Sylvanus Richard Mattimore, was a prominent American actor known for his work in film and television. His journey began as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Flying Corps during World War I. Following the war, he ventured into the oilfields of Texas and Oklahoma, where he initially worked as a tool boy, and later took on roles as a messenger and sporting editor for a newspaper. Despite his aspirations to become an actor in Los Angeles, he faced numerous rejections from producers. His break came while working as a delivery boy for a film laboratory; a motorcycle accident near Paramount Pictures led to a broken leg, but also caught the attention of a compassionate director who offered him a role as an extra. Arlen transitioned from silent films to talkies, gaining recognition for his significant role in "Vengeance of the Deep."
During World War II, he temporarily paused his Hollywood career to serve as a flight instructor for the United States Army Air Forces. Arlen is perhaps best known for his portrayal of a pilot in the Oscar-winning film "Wings," alongside stars like Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers. In 1946, he married New York socialite Margaret Kinsella, having previously tied the knot with actress Jobyna Ralston in 1927.
In 1939, Universal Studios paired him with Andy Devine in a series of 14 action-comedy B-pictures, collectively referred to as the "Aces of Action." After parting ways with the studio in 1941, Arlen continued to thrive in television during the 1950s and early 1960s, appearing in numerous anthology series including "Playhouse 90" and "Perry Mason." His contributions to film were honored in 1960 when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He made a guest appearance as himself in the 1968 "Petticoat Junction" episode titled "Wings," a nod to his earlier
