Thomas Mitchell

Thomas John Mitchell (Irish: Tomás Séan Mistéal; July 11, 1892 – December 17, 1962) was an American actor, writer, and theatre director. He is considered one of the great character actors of Golden Age of Hollywood and a leading man on Broadway.

He appeared in over 115 film and television roles between 1923 and 1961, along with numerous stage appearances. Among Mitchell's most famous film roles in a long career are those of Scarlett O'Hara's father Gerald O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, alcoholic Doc Boone in Stagecoach (1939), Pat Garrett in The Outlaw, and Mayor Jonas Henderson in High Noon. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Stagecoach. He is probably best known to today's audiences for his role as affable Uncle Billy in Frank Capra's Christmas classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946) with James Stewart.