Career
An obituary from the Salt Lake City Tribune, dated October 10, 1989, names Woods" parents as Mary Clark and William B. Woods, and mentions two brothers, Roy C. and William B. Woods. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Woods became an actor. He appeared at the old Salt Lake Theatre in The Copperhead, as Lionel Barrymore"s teenage son.
In New York City, he appeared in many successful Broadway productions then began a movie career.
He worked with Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, John Barrymore, and Clark Gable. Although initially cast in the lead role as Powers, director William Wellman switched Woods" role with Cagney"s after viewing Cagney"s electrifying performance in the dailies.
In the sequences at the beginning of the film, the children"s appearances are reversed because those scenes were filmed before the switch and the studio opted not to pay to refilm them, which has confused viewers ever since. The studio had promised to make the role switch up to him with later parts but reneged and dropped him when his contract expired.
Woods soon wound up working at the worst B-picture studios, damaging his movie career.
After his film acting career ended, Woods went into producing, directing, and theatrical management, working with the Schubert Organization and 20th Century Fox. During World World War II he worked with Ronald Reagan making training films for the United States Army. He retired in 1975, and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Tortilla Flat, January 12, 1938 - January 1938
One Good Year, November 27, 1935 - June 1936
Houseparty, September 9, 1929 - February 1930
Zeppelin, January 14, 1929 - March 1929
Trapped, September 11, 1928 - September 1928
Speak Easy, September 26, 1927 - November 1927.