Howard Duff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Howard Green Duff (November 24, 1913 – July 8, 1990) was a radio and stage performer before he began appearing in films in the late 1940s. He played Dashiell Hammett's private eye Sam Spade while a radio actor.
Born in Bremerton, Washington, his first film role was as an inmate in Brute Force. He also appeared in many movies with his one-time wife, actress and director Ida Lupino. They divorced in 1984. One of his later films roles was playing Dustin Hoffman's attorney in the academy award winning Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). In the 1980s, Duff became a familiar face on television appearing on dramas such as Flamingo Road, Knots Landing and Dallas.
Duff died on July 8, 1990 in Santa Barbara, California from a heart attack at the age of 76, survived by his daughter, actress Bridget Duff (born April 23, 1952), from his prior marriage to Ida Lupino.
