Gareth Joplin

born: 25 August 1922
Arco, Idaho,
United States of America
died: 11 October 1970
Upland, California,
United States of America
(age 48)

American child actor. His Aunt said he started dancing at age 4. By 1933 he was dancing professionally in vaudeville as a "kid tap dancer". In 1935 he appeared in 2 films: "King of Vaudeville" as a tap dancing "bootblack" and Our Gang Follies of 1936 as a tap dancer while still working in vaudeville. He was a protege' of Frank Fay and landed a 7 year contract with M-G-M and attended their in-house acting school for young contract players.
In July-September of 1936 he appeared continuously in the Fort Worth, TX gigantic "Frontier Centennial Exposition" with permission of M-G-M. In the 1940 Census he is living in Glendale, CA as a 17 year-old High School student and working a job as a "new worker".
In June of 1942 at age 19, he is living in Los Angeles with his parents and working for Lockheed Aircraft Co. and a year later enlists in the US Navy and was discharged in 1946 as a "Storekeeper 1st Class". In the 1950 Census he is living in Alameda County, separated from his wife and living with his parents. For "occupation", both he and his Dad are listed as "race horse owners". His 1970 obituary says he was a "sales clerk" and survived by 3 children.
Real name: Carl Gareth Joplin
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography.

1


1935
Our Gang Follies Of 1936
Tap dancer

Acknowledgements:
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/123704455:6224 (1930 Census LA: Carl G Burtramd (sic): Dad's middle name)
newspapers.com (1933 Jul 20 LA "Times" p.20: performs vaudeville tap dance)
newspapers.com (1934 Sep 29 Buffalo NY "News" p.24: performs vaude tap dance)
newspapers.com (1936 Jan 24 LA "Times" p.10: radio interview as sensational dancer in film "King of Burlesque")
newspapers.com (1936 Feb 14 ID Falls "Post" p.11: bio: b Arco: praises ID "kid" a big hit in "King of Burlesque")
newspapers.com (1936 Feb 22 OR LaGrande "Observer" p.3: Aunt says he was dancing at age 4)
https://archive.org/details/movieclassic09moti/page/23/mode/1up?view=theater&q=joplin
(1936 Feb LA: protege' of Frank Fay. newspapers.com 1936 Jun 29 Ft Worth TX "Star" p.5: age 13: has 7 yr. contract w M-G-M)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/636949139/?terms=%22gareth%20joplin%22&match=1
(1936 Sept TX: dance photos at expo. archive.org 1936 Sep 26 p.5 "Picturegoer Weekly": in M-G-M acting school)
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/71587737:2442 (1940 C Glendale: age 17 in HS: w/ parents: job is "new worker")
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/18232755:2238?tid= (1942 Jun 30 WWII Draft: LA: b Arco, ID: adult height 5'8")
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4287821:2375 (1943 May 15 LA: enlist in US Navy: disch 1946: storekeeper 1st Class)
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/256569280:62308 (1950 C Alameda CA: horse owner: separated from wife)
https://www.ancestry.com (1970 Oct 13 Ontario "Report" p.A-4: Obit)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76162246/carl-g-joplin (1970 Oct.11: Grave & obit)
http://ourgang.wikia.com/wiki/Garrett_J

Jim Jarvis (bio notes and research)
This page was last updated on: 26 August 2023