by Hal Erickson
biography
Northwestern graduate David Bruce seemed a sure bet for stardom when signed by Warner Bros. in 1940. Bruce's somewhat haunted, sallow features prevented him from being cast in traditional leading man roles, though he was ideally suited for such melodramatic fare as Calling Dr. Death (1943) and The Mad Ghoul (1943), playing a scientist turned zombie in the latter. He remained a reliable supporting actor until deciding to retire from show business in 1955. Twenty-one years later, David Bruce resolved to make a film comeback, but died of a heart attack before those plans could come to fruition.
