sharpe won the us national tumbling championship in 1925 and 1926. he began his film career as a child actor in the 1920s. he was married for a short time to film actress gertrude messinger. eventually he became the "ramrod" (stunt coordinator) for republic pictures from 1939 until mid-1942 when america entered world war ii. he was replaced in this role by tom steele while sharpe joined the army air corps in 1943. gertrude messinger's brother, buddy, died in 1965. sharpe married buddy's widow, margaret messinger.