Roy Barcroft (born Howard Harold Ravenscroft;[2] September 7, 1902 – November 28, 1969) was an American character actor famous for playing villains in B-Westerns and other genres.

After leaving the military, he drifted through several jobs (including ranch hand, roughneck, railroad worker and seaman) before reenlisting and being stationed in Hawaii.

After leaving the Army for the second time, he played clarinet and saxophone for dance bands around Chicago until he and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1929.

Between 1955 and 1957 he played Col. Jim Logan, the kindly owner of the Triple-R Boys' Ranch, in the serial Spin and Marty, seen on television's Mickey Mouse Club.

In 1960, he played the role of “George Farr” (a hired killer) on James Arness's TV Western Series Gunsmoke in the episode “Say Uncle” (S4 E4), again in its 1964 offering “Once A Haggen” as “Pop” (S9E18), in 1965’s “Circus Trick” as “Roy” (S10 E20) & as “Jonas” in 1967’s “The Returning” (S12 E22).

"[7] In marked contrast to his villainous movie persona, Barcroft off-screen "had a reputation as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood," said Leonard Maltin in 2005.