FILMOGRAPHY

The Orvedahls--Gerhard, his wife Ruth, three-year-old son Jess, and Tuffy--arrived in Hollywood in the summer of 1935. In the fall, Ger and Tuffy both had bit parts in three quickie westerns that were released in early 1936: Nevada, Drift Fence, and Rose of the Rancho. These were made on location in the California mountains, where producer Walter Wanger was preparing to make Trail of the Lonesome Pine, starring Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray. He saw Tuffy work and had a part written into the script of this movie for Tuffy. This was the biggest and best-known movie in which Tuffy appeared.

Tuffy's other credits, arranged by year of theatrical release, include:

1936

• The Moon's Our Home--Margaret Sullavan and Henry Fonda
• Early to Bed--Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland
• Arizona Raiders--Buster Crabbe and Marsha Hunt
• Old Hutch--Wallace Beery and Elizabeth Patterson

1937

• The Mighty Treve--Noah Beery Jr. and Barbara Read

1938

• Rolling Caravans--Eleanor Stewart and Jack Luden
• Stagecoach Days--Eleanor Stewart and Jack Luden
• Pioneer Trail--Jack Luden and Joan Barkley
• Phantom Gold--Jack Luden and Beth Marion
• Hawk of the Wilderness (a twelve-episode serial)--Herman Brix (who later was known as Bruce Bennett) and Jill Martin

1939

• Daredevils of the Red Circle (a twelve-episode serial)--Herman Brix and Carol Landis

1941

• Brigham Young--Tyrone Power

A large part was written into Brigham Young (1941) for Tuffy, but he became ill and appeared in only a couple of scenes. He was unable to do any more movie work after that. At age eleven--and after six years of gun shots, horses, bright lights, and general commotion--Tuffy could no longer focus on his work.

The family left California in 1941 after making a few personal appearances in theaters where The Mighty Treve was showing. They traveled east, eventually settling in Illinois. Tuffy continued to make personal appearances at fairs, theaters, and schools until shortly before his death in 1946.