1887-09-29 Orange, New South Wales, Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Billy Bevan (born William Bevan Harris, 29 September 1887 – 26 November 1957) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became an American film actor. He appeared in 254 American films between 1916 and 1950. Bevan was born in the country town of Orange, New South Wales, Australia. He went on the stage at an early age, traveled to Sydney and spent eight years in Australian light opera, performing as Willie Bevan. He sailed to America with the Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company in 1912 and later toured Canada. Bevan broke into films with the Sigmund Lubin studio in 1916. When the company disbanded, Bevan became a supporting actor in Mack Sennett movie comedies. An expressive pantomimist, Bevan's quiet scene-stealing attracted attention, and by 1922 Bevan was a Sennett star. He supplemented his income, however, by establishing a citrus and avocado farm at Escondido, California. Usually filmed wearing a derby hat and a drooping mustache, Bevan may not have possessed an indelible screen character like Charlie Chaplin but he had a friendly, funny presence in the frantic Sennett comedies. Much of the comedy depended on Bevan's skilled timing and reactions; the famous "oyster" routine performed on film by Curly Howard, Lou Costello, and Huntz Hall—in which a bowl of "fresh oyster stew" shows alarming signs of life and battles the guy trying to eat it—was originated on film decades earlier by Bevan in the short film Wandering Willies. By the mid-1920s Bevan was often teamed with Andy Clyde; Clyde soon graduated to his own starring series. The late 1920s found Bevan playing in wild marital farces for Sennett. The advent of talking pictures took their toll on the careers of many silent stars, including Billy Bevan. Bevan began a second career in "talkies" as a character actor and bit player in roles such as that of a bus driver in the 1929 film High Voltage, a hotel employee in the Mae Murray film Peacock Alley, and the supporting role of Second Lieutenant Trotter in Journey's End in 1930. His starring roles had come to an end, however, and for the next 20 years he often would play rowdy Cockneys (as in Pack Up Your Troubles with The Ritz Brothers), and affable Englishmen (as in Tin Pan Alley and Terror by Night). He played a friendly bus conductor opposite Greer Garson in one of the opening scenes of Mrs. Miniver. Bevan died in 1957 in Escondido, California, just before new audiences discovered him in Robert Youngson's silent-comedy compilations. (The Youngson films mispronounce his name as "Be-VAN"; Bevan himself offered the proper pronunciation in a Voice of Hollywood reel in 1930.)
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30 Years of Fun | (archive footage) | 1963-02-10 |
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The Golden Age of Comedy | archive footage | 1957-12-26 |
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Hans Christian Andersen | Town Councilman (uncredited) | 1952-12-19 |
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Ça, c'est du cinéma | (archive footage) | 1951-03-23 |
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Rogues of Sherwood Forest | Will Scarlet | 1950-06-21 |
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Three Secrets | Ed Jackson (uncredited) | 1950-10-20 |
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Fortunes of Captain Blood | Billy Bragg | 1950-05-19 |
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Tell It to the Judge | Winston, Kitty's Butler (uncredited) | 1949-11-18 |
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The Secret Garden | Barney | 1949-04-30 |
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The Secret Of St. Ives | Douglas (uncredited) | 1949-06-30 |
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Let's Live a Little | Morton | 1948-12-09 |
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The Swordsman | Old Andrew | 1948-01-02 |
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The Black Arrow | Dungeon Keeper | 1948-03-18 |
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It Had to Be You | Evans | 1947-12-07 |
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Moss Rose | Harry, Cab Driver (uncredited) | 1947-05-30 |
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Devotion | Mr. Ames (uncredited) | 1946-04-05 |
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Terror by Night | Conductor Taking Tickets | 1946-02-01 |
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Cluny Brown | Uncle Arn Porritt | 1946-06-02 |
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The Picture of Dorian Gray | Malvolio Jones | 1945-03-03 |
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National Velvet | Constable (uncredited) | 1945-01-26 |
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Tonight and Every Night | Cabbie (uncredited) | 1945-01-09 |
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The Pearl of Death | Constable With Food Tray (uncredited) | 1944-08-01 |
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The Lodger | 1944-01-19 | |
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The Invisible Man's Revenge | Police Sergeant (uncredited) | 1944-06-09 |
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Forever and a Day | Wartime Cabby | 1943-01-21 |
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London Blackout Murders | Air Raid Warden | 1943-01-15 |
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Jane Eyre | Bookie (uncredited) | 1943-12-24 |
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The Return of the Vampire | Horace (uncredited) | 1943-11-11 |
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Happy Times and Jolly Moments | (archive footage) | 1943-01-01 |
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This Above All | Farmer | 1942-05-12 |
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Mrs. Miniver | Bus Conductor (uncredited) | 1942-07-03 |
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The Man Who Wouldn't Die | Phillips | 1942-04-27 |
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I Married a Witch | Puritan Vendor (uncredited) | 1942-10-30 |
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Counter-Espionage | George Barrow | 1942-09-03 |
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Shining Victory | Chivers | 1941-05-30 |
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Confirm or Deny | Mr. Bindle | 1941-12-12 |
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Suspicion | Ticket Taker (uncredited) | 1941-11-14 |
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Penny Serenade | McDougal (uncredited) | 1941-04-24 |
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Mr. Weller | 1941-08-12 |
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The Long Voyage Home | Joe | 1940-11-16 |
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Rebecca | Policeman (uncredited) | 1940-03-23 |
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The Earl of Chicago | Castle Guide | 1940-01-05 |
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Tin Pan Alley | Stage Doorman | 1940-11-29 |
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The Invisible Man Returns | Jim (uncredited) | 1940-01-12 |
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Let Freedom Ring | Cockney (uncredited) | 1939-02-24 |
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Pack Up Your Troubles | British Sergeant | 1939-10-24 |
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We Are Not Alone | Mr. Jones | 1939-11-25 |
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Captain Fury | Duffy | 1939-05-26 |
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Shadows Over Shanghai | Gallicuddy | 1938-10-14 |
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Arrest Bulldog Drummond | Aquarium Guard | 1938-11-25 |
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Blond Cheat | Bartender (uncredited) | 1938-06-17 |
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The Young in Heart | Kennel Man (uncredited) | 1938-07-06 |
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The Girl of the Golden West | Nick | 1938-03-18 |
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Bringing Up Baby | Joe (uncredited) | 1938-02-18 |
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A Christmas Carol | Street Watch Leader | 1938-12-16 |
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Mysterious Mr. Moto | Customs Official | 1938-09-17 |
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Slave Ship | Atkins | 1937-06-16 |
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The Wrong Road | McLean | 1937-10-11 |
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Personal Property | Frank (uncredited) | 1937-03-19 |
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Another Dawn | Pvt. Hawkins | 1937-06-26 |
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God's Country and the Woman | Plug Hat | 1937-01-16 |
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The Sheik Steps Out | Munson | 1937-09-05 |
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Lloyd's of London | Innkeeper | 1936-11-25 |
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Song and Dance Man | Curtis | 1936-03-11 |
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Champagne Charlie | Mr. Boswick | 1936-05-06 |
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Private Number | Frederick | 1936-06-05 |
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Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | Cabby (uncredited) | 1936-04-09 |
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Piccadilly Jim | Taxi Driver | 1936-08-14 |
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Dracula's Daughter | Albert | 1936-05-11 |
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A Tale of Two Cities | Jerry Cruncher | 1935-12-25 |
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Mystery Woman | Jepson | 1935-01-08 |
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Vanessa: Her Love Story | Horse Auctioneer | 1935-03-01 |
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Black Sheep | Alfred | 1935-08-01 |
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The Widow from Monte Carlo | Officer Watkins | 1935-12-19 |
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The Last Outpost | Private Foster | 1935-10-11 |
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One More River | Cloakroom Attendant | 1934-08-06 |
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Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back | Man in Hotel Room | 1934-08-15 |
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The Lost Patrol | Hale | 1934-02-16 |
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Shock | Meadows | 1934-07-19 |
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Stingaree | Mac | 1934-05-24 |
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Limehouse Blues | Herb | 1934-12-11 |
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Caravan | Police Sergeant | 1934-12-30 |
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The Way to Love | M. Prial | 1933-10-20 |
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Luxury Liner | Schultz | 1933-02-03 |
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She Whoops To Conquer | 1933-01-01 | |
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The Big Squeal | Jake Burke | 1933-07-09 |
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Thundering Taxis | One of the Taxi Boys | 1933-06-23 |
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Peg o' My Heart | Detective #2 (uncredited) | 1933-05-26 |
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Pop's Pal | Grandpa | 1933-12-21 |
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Alice in Wonderland | Two of Spades (uncredited) | 1933-12-18 |
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Looking Forward | Mr. Barker | 1933-04-28 |
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Cavalcade | George Grainger | 1933-02-08 |
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Uncle Jake | Uncle Jake | 1933-05-04 |
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Too Much Harmony | Stage Director | 1933-09-23 |
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Techno-Crazy | Mary's Father - the Mayor | 1933-03-12 |
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A Study in Scarlet | Will Swallow | 1933-05-14 |
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Payment Deferred | Charlie Hammond | 1932-11-01 |
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The Silent Witness | Horace Ward | 1932-02-07 |
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Sky Devils | Colonel | 1932-03-12 |
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Honeymoon Beach | Billy Bevan | 1932-10-22 |
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Vanity Fair | Joseph Sedley | 1932-03-15 |
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Me and My Gal | Ashley, Arguing Drunk (uncredited) | 1932-12-04 |
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Born to Love | Departing British Soldier (uncredited) | 1931-04-17 |
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Waterloo Bridge | Soldier on the Make (uncredited) | 1931-09-01 |
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Who's Who in the Zoo | Father | 1931-10-11 |
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Chances | Cuthbert (uncredited) | 1931-07-18 |
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Transatlantic | Hodgkins | 1931-08-19 |
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Peacock Alley | Walter | 1930-01-04 |
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Monte Carlo | Train Conductor (uncredited) | 1930-08-27 |
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For the Love o' Lil | Edward O. Walker | 1930-08-29 |
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Journey's End | Trotter | 1930-04-09 |
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Temptation | Sam | 1930-06-05 |
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Scotch | Gilbert - Addie's Brother | 1930-01-19 |
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The Trespasser | Reporter (uncredited) | 1929-11-11 |
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Pink Pajamas | Billy Brooks | 1929-04-21 |
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High Voltage | Gus Jones | 1929-06-29 |
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Calling Hubby's Bluff | Billy Barton | 1929-02-03 |
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The Sky Hawk | Tom Berry | 1929-01-29 |
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Weak But Willing | George Downing | 1929-12-14 |
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Don't Get Jealous | Billy Blake | 1929-05-19 |
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Riley the Cop | Paris Cabman | 1928-11-25 |
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His Unlucky Night | Billy Trotter | 1928-08-12 |
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His New Stenographer | Billy Brooks | 1928-12-30 |
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Motorboat Mamas | Billy Bender | 1928-09-30 |
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The Girl from Nowhere | Constable Billy Barnes | 1928-08-05 |
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Hubby's Weekend Trip | Bill Blake | 1928-11-01 |
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The Beach Club | 1928-01-21 | |
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The Bicycle Flirt | Doty Bassett - the Bicycle Flirt | 1928-03-18 |
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The Best Man | Best Man | 1928-02-08 |
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The Girl from Everywhere | Messenger | 1927-12-11 |
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The Golf Nut | Billy Divott | 1927-09-03 |
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Should Sleepwalkers Marry? | Charley Carter | 1927-01-23 |
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Peaches and Plumbers | Bill the Plumber | 1927-02-20 |
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Cured in the Excitement | Professor Brawn | 1927-06-12 |
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The Bull Fighter | Pete De Tour | 1927-11-27 |
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A Small Town Princess | Joe Whiffet | 1927-03-20 |
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Easy Pickings | The Detective | 1927-02-20 |
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Gold Digger of Weepah | The Barber | 1927-10-02 |
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Should Husbands Marry? | The Cop | 1926-10-26 |
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Hoboken to Hollywood | Billy Judkins | 1926-09-05 |
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Musclebound Music | Billy Hornby | 1926-05-30 |
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Ice Cold Cocos | Gus Gander | 1926-06-20 |
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Circus Today | Gus Barnum | 1926-03-07 |
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A Sea Dog's Tale | Wilbur Watts | 1926-07-11 |
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Hubby’s Quiet Little Game | Billy Foote | 1926-08-08 |
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Hayfoot, Strawfoot? | Pete | 1926-04-18 |
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Fight Night | Walter Moore | 1926-05-09 |
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Masked Mamas | Casey McCorkle | 1926-10-30 |
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Wandering Willies | Percy Nudge | 1926-03-28 |
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Whispering Whiskers | The Drifter | 1926-01-24 |
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Trimmed in Gold | Otto Stropp | 1926-02-14 |
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Flirty Four-Flushers | Jerry Connors / Archibald De Shyster | 1926-12-25 |
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Giddap! | Gaspard De Brie | 1925-03-22 |
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Butter Fingers | Nick | 1925-08-30 |
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Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies | Hiram Case | 1925-06-14 |
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Sneezing Beezers | Joe Honck - Taxi Driver | 1925-07-19 |
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From Rags to Britches | Joe Bush | 1925-12-13 |
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Over Thereabouts | Joe Dobell | 1925-10-11 |
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Honeymoon Hardships | Farmer | 1925-01-25 |
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The Lion's Whiskers | Otto Klutch | 1925-04-09 |
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The Iron Nag | Joe Gobb | 1925-08-09 |
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Off His Trolley | The Traffic Cop | 1924-12-14 |
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The White Sin | Travers Dale | 1924-02-24 |
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One Spooky Night | A.J. Bird Jr. | 1924-01-27 |
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Three Foolish Weeks | King of Anchovia | 1924-09-13 |
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Little Robinson Corkscrew | The Sheriff | 1924-09-21 |
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Wall Street Blues | The Janitor | 1924-08-09 |
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Lizzies of the Field | Bud Gasket | 1924-09-07 |
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Wandering Waistlines | Sandy Hook - Sailor | 1924-10-05 |
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The Cannon Ball Express | Adam Fargo - Baggage Master | 1924-11-30 |
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The Hollywood Kid | Studio Organist | 1924-04-19 |
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East of the Water Plug | The Sheriff | 1924-08-24 |
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Galloping Bungalows | John Syrup Soother | 1924-11-02 |
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One Cylinder Love | The Bachelor's Butler / Chauffeur / Footman | 1923-11-04 |
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Pitfalls of a Big City | Barfly (uncredited) | 1923-09-02 |
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Nip and Tuck | Sailor | 1923-08-11 |
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Inbad the Sailor | Jake aka Inbad the Sailor | 1923-12-30 |
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The Extra Girl | Comedian | 1923-10-28 |
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When Summer Comes | Lyons - the Tenderfoot | 1922-09-22 |
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Gymnasium Jim | Jim | 1922-05-09 |
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On Patrol | The Amateur Cop | 1922-03-12 |
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The Crossroads of New York | Press Agent | 1922-06-22 |
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The Duck Hunter | The Sportsman | 1922-02-13 |
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Love and Doughnuts | The Burglar | 1921-09-14 |
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Astray from the Steerage | A steerage passenger | 1921-04-23 |
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Be Reasonable | A Rolling Stone | 1921-12-11 |
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A Small Town Idol | Director | 1921-02-13 |
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Bright Eyes | The Nosey Butler | 1921-12-24 |
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Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studios | Himself | 1921-12-31 |
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The Quack Doctor | The Hired Lady's Sweetheart | 1920-07-04 |
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Distilled Love | 1920-02-01 | |
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Her Rustic Romeo | 1918-05-28 | |
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Somebody's Widow | Secretary | 1918-01-29 |
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Are Married Policemen Safe? | 1918-02-17 | |
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Cupid In Quarantine | The Father | 1918-09-10 |
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Bombs and Bandits | The Chief of Police | 1917-07-03 |
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Gertie's Gasoline Glide | The Minister | 1916-05-17 |
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Pirates of the Air | The Bartender | 1916-06-28 |
