By Phil Gross
George Shepard 'Shep' Houghton was an actor in movies and TV whose career spanned from silent film into the 1970s and included hundreds of credits. The LA Times called him "the Last of the Great Nobodies" for his ability to play his parts without trying to draw attention to himself. His notables include appearances in Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind, teaching Gretta Garbo to dance for a movie they were working on and dancing with Judy Garland.
HOUGHTON, Shep (GeorgeShepard Houghton)
Born: 6/4/1914, Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Died: 12/15/2016, Hoodspot, Washington, U.S.A.
Shep Houghton’s westerns – actor:
Ramona – 1928 (Mexican boy)
The Girl of the Golden West – 1938 (dancer)
Boom Town – 1940 (saloon brawler)
The Return of Frank James – 1940 (courtroom spectator)
Tap Roots – 1948 (orderly)
Copper Canyon – 1950 (dancer)
The Sun Shines Bright – 1953 (party guest at ball)
Wagon Train (TV) – 1959 (party guest)
Bat Masterson (TV) – 1960 (member of the Stock Exchange)
The Virginian (TV) – 1963, 1968 (attorney, barfly)
Bonanza (TV) – 1963, 1968, 1972 (wedding guest, district attorney, townsman)
The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1966, 1967 (party guest, soldier)
Big Valley (TV) – 1968 (townsman)
Alias Smith and Jones (TV) – 1972 (casino patron)