1901-11-28 Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Max Wagner (November 28, 1901 – November 16, 1975) was a Mexican-born American film actor who specialized in playing small parts such as thugs, gangsters, sailors, henchmen, bodyguards, cab drivers and moving men, appearing more than 400 films in his career, most without receiving screen credit. Newspaper gossip columnists noted his rise from playing "Gangster #4", with no lines, and not carrying a gun, to "Gangster #2", with both lines and a gun. Wagner was one of five children, all boys, of William Wallace Wagner, a railroad conductor, and Edith Wagner, a writer who provided dispatches for the Christian Science Monitor during the Mexican Revolution. When he was 10 years old, his father was killed by rebels and the family moved to Salinas, California, where he met John Steinbeck, who became a lifelong friend. Steinback based the character of the boy in his novel The Red Pony on Wagner. Under the name "Max Baron", Wagner acted in many Spanish-language versions of English-language films, which studios made as a matter of course in the early days of sound films, He also served as a Spanish language coach for other actors, and appeared in many of the "Mexican Spitfire" films starring Lupe Vélez, where he also served to monitor Velez's Spanish ad-libs for profanity. Other series that Wagner appeared in include the Charlie Chan films, and Tom Mix serials, as well as others made by Mascot Pictures Corporation. In the 1940s, Wagner was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in six films written and directed by Sturges, beginning with The Palm Beach Story In 1940 during the filming of "The Mad Doctor", Wagner was credited for driving 50,000 miles as an on-screen taxi driver on the studio back lots of Hollywood. Since his appearance as a cab driver in Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935), producers often cast him as a wise-cracking or henchman taxi driver. "I was cast as a taxi driver about five years ago", Wagner told a reporter. "And I was typed." In 1952, Wagner began to appear on television, in episodes of such shows as The Cisco Kid, Zane Grey Theater and Perry Mason, playing much the same kind of parts he played in the movies. He was a regular cast member on the western television series Gunsmoke, making nearly 80 appearances between 1959 and 1973. He also appeared in many episodes of The Rifleman, Bonanza, Cimarron Strip, The Wild Wild West and Maverick, including a guest-starring role in the 1959 Rifleman episode "Blood Brother." He also had roles in the original Star Trek and The Twilight Zone series. He appeared in more than 200 television episodes between 1952 and 1974. Notable film roles for Wagner include a supporting role in the cult science fiction classic Invaders from Mars (1953), an actor playing a gangster in the film-within-a-film segment of Bullets or Ballots (1936), and the bull farm attendant in the Laurel and Hardy comedy The Bullfighters (1945). Late in his career, he appeared in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He also occasionally composed music, such as the Mexican folk ballad "Pedro, Rudarte y Simon" in the Western film The Last Trail (1933). Wagner died of a heart attack in Hollywood in 1975.
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Young Frankenstein | Villager | 1974-12-15 |
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Terror in the Wax Museum | Music Hall Drunk (Uncredited) | 1973-05-02 |
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Evil Roy Slade | Townsman (uncredited) | 1972-02-18 |
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Support Your Local Gunfighter | Townsman Watching Fight (uncredited) | 1971-05-26 |
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The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again | Barfly (uncredited) | 1970-11-16 |
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True Grit | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | 1969-06-11 |
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Hang 'em High | Prisoner | 1968-04-12 |
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Rosemary's Baby | Man in Dream Sequence (uncredited) | 1968-06-12 |
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The Legend of Lylah Clare | Reporter (uncredited) | 1968-08-21 |
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Return of the Gunfighter | Barfly (uncredited) | 1967-03-25 |
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Gunpoint | 1966-04-25 | |
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A Big Hand for the Little Lady | Cashier (uncredited) | 1966-06-08 |
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The Great Race | Barfly (uncredited) | 1965-07-01 |
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Shenandoah | Church Member | 1965-06-03 |
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4 for Texas | Blackjack Dealer | 1963-12-21 |
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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World | Spectator (uncredited) | 1963-11-07 |
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To Kill a Mockingbird | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | 1962-12-20 |
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Pressure Point | 1962-10-10 | |
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Townsman (uncredited) | 1962-04-13 |
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Ice Palace | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1960-01-02 |
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Sunrise at Campobello | Convention Delegate (uncredited) | 1960-09-28 |
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Public Pigeon No. 1 | Police Detective (uncredited) | 1957-05-17 |
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The Spirit of St. Louis | Reporter (uncredited) | 1957-04-01 |
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Robbery Under Arms | Sergeant Goring | 1957-01-10 |
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The Conqueror | Mongul Guard (uncredited) | 1956-03-28 |
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I Died a Thousand Times | Deputy Charlie (uncredited) | 1955-11-09 |
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East of Eden | Workman (uncredited) | 1955-04-10 |
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Illegal | Bartender (uncredited) | 1955-10-09 |
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The Country Girl | Expressman (uncredited) | 1954-12-15 |
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The Great Diamond Robbery | Policeman (uncredited) | 1954-01-29 |
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Invaders from Mars | Army Sgt. Rinaldi | 1953-04-22 |
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Donovan's Brain | Station Agent (uncredited) | 1953-09-30 |
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Flaming Feather | 1952-02-01 | |
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The Secret of Convict Lake | Jack Purcell (uncredited) | 1951-07-29 |
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The Racket | Durko (uncredited) | 1951-10-25 |
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Pier 23 | Bar Patron (uncredited) | 1951-05-11 |
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Frenchie | Drunk (uncredited) | 1950-12-25 |
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Caught | Projectionist (uncredited) | 1949-02-17 |
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It Happens Every Spring | Umpire (uncredited) | 1949-06-10 |
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The Red Pony | Bartender | 1949-03-08 |
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Flaxy Martin | Charles McMahon | 1949-02-15 |
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Reign of Terror | Citizen (uncredited) | 1949-10-15 |
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Half Past Midnight | Mike | 1948-03-01 |
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The Sainted Sisters | Townsman (uncredited) | 1948-04-30 |
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The Miracle of the Bells | Baggage Man | 1948-03-27 |
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Shed No Tears | Second Investigating Detective (Uncredited) | 1948-06-09 |
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Possessed | Man in Café (uncredited) | 1947-05-29 |
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Sinbad the Sailor | Assistant Overseer (uncredited) | 1947-01-13 |
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Tycoon | 1947-12-27 | |
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Dick Tracy vs. Cueball | Bartender (uncredited) | 1946-11-22 |
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The Truth About Murder | Henchman Mike (uncredited) | 1946-04-01 |
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It's a Wonderful Life | Cashier / Nick's Assistant Bouncer (uncredited) | 1946-12-20 |
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That Brennan Girl | Moving Man (uncredited) | 1946-12-23 |
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The Lost Weekend | Mike (uncredited) | 1945-11-29 |
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Fallen Angel | Bartender (uncredited) | 1945-11-15 |
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Radio Stars on Parade | George | 1945-08-01 |
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Circumstantial Evidence | Truck Driver | 1945-04-20 |
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A Medal for Benny | Jake (uncredited) | 1945-04-16 |
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The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek | Military Police Driver (uncredited) | 1944-09-18 |
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Boss of Boomtown | Sergeant George Dunne | 1944-05-20 |
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Hi, Beautiful | Sailor (uncredited) | 1944-12-18 |
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Undercover: How to Operate Behind Enemy Lines | Rudy the Sailor | 1943-01-01 |
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The Spoilers | Deputy (uncredited) | 1942-06-11 |
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Come on Danger | Tough Guy | 1942-06-05 |
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Overland to Deadwood | Buck | 1942-09-25 |
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Sabotage Squad | Recruiting Sergeant | 1942-08-27 |
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Panama Hattie | Jailer (uncredited) | 1942-09-30 |
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The Palm Beach Story | Tom's Best Man (uncredited) | 1942-08-28 |
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The Talk of the Town | Moving Man (uncredited) | 1942-08-20 |
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Moontide | Fisherman (uncredited) | 1942-05-29 |
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A Night to Remember | Policeman Temple (uncredited) | 1942-12-10 |
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Obliging Young Lady | Jack - Diner Counterman (uncredited) | 1942-04-01 |
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Mexican Spitfire's Elephant | Villa Luigi Headwaiter | 1942-09-17 |
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The Wife Takes a Flyer | Sergeant | 1942-04-28 |
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Matri-Phony | Guard (uncredited) | 1942-07-02 |
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Texas | Fats Delaney | 1941-10-09 |
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The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Bartender | 1941-11-28 |
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Ride on Vaquero | Partner | 1941-04-18 |
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Cyclone on Horseback | Jamison | 1941-06-13 |
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The Man Who Wouldn't Talk | Truck Driver | 1940-01-11 |
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Buck Benny Rides Again | Cowboy | 1940-05-31 |
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Pop Always Pays | Bill - Policeman in Car 43 | 1940-06-21 |
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Millionaire Playboy | Highway Patrol Officer | 1940-03-14 |
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Wildcat Bus | Bus Driver Jackson (uncredited) | 1940-08-23 |
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The Bank Dick | Shirtless Ditchdigger (uncredited) | 1940-11-29 |
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Hired Wife | Streetcar Conductor | 1940-09-13 |
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They Drive by Night | Sweeney, Driver (uncredited) | 1940-07-26 |
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Lucky Partners | Waiter (uncredited) | 1940-08-02 |
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The Mad Doctor | Cab Driver (Uncredited) | 1940-12-20 |
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Rhythm on the River | Cherry's Cabbie | 1940-08-28 |
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The Ghost Breakers | Ship Porter (uncredited) | 1940-06-21 |
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Trail of the Vigilantes | Joe | 1940-12-13 |
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You Can't Fool Your Wife | Burglar | 1940-05-21 |
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Mexican Spitfire | Headwaiter - Mexican Pete's | 1940-01-12 |
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The House Across the Bay | Jim | 1940-03-01 |
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Charlie Chan in Panama | Soldier | 1940-03-01 |
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The Grapes of Wrath | Guard (uncredited) | 1940-03-15 |
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Men Against the Sky | Max - Radioman | 1940-09-06 |
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Scouts to the Rescue | Joe - Truck Driver-Henchman | 1939-01-17 |
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The Return of the Cisco Kid | Brings in Rustler | 1939-04-28 |
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Mr. Moto in Danger Island | Sailor at Wrestling Match | 1939-04-07 |
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Wings of the Navy | Boss Mechanic | 1939-02-11 |
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Fifth Avenue Girl | Policeman (uncredited) | 1939-09-22 |
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Fast and Loose | Nolan's Henchman (uncredited) | 1939-02-17 |
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Our Leading Citizen | Workman | 1939-08-23 |
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The Girl from Mexico | Headwaiter | 1939-06-01 |
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Reno | Police Lt. Joe Wilson | 1939-12-01 |
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Cafe Society | Guest | 1939-03-03 |
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The Day the Bookies Wept | Bet Placing Taxi Driver (uncredited) | 1939-09-13 |
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The Gracie Allen Murder Case | Thug | 1939-06-02 |
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Off the Record | Visitor (uncredited) | 1939-01-21 |
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The Roaring Twenties | Gangster (uncredited) | 1939-10-28 |
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Money to Loan | Hanley's Strong-Arm Man | 1939-03-11 |
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I'll Tell the World | Salesman | 1939-03-09 |
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Maid's Night Out | Sam Johnson - Milk Man (uncredited) | 1938-03-03 |
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The Arkansas Traveler | Hobo | 1938-10-14 |
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Penrod and His Twin Brother | Blackie | 1938-02-26 |
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Tarnished Angel | Tough Casino Decoy | 1938-10-28 |
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Painted Desert | Henchman Kincaid | 1938-08-12 |
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Professor Beware | Chinatown Barker | 1938-07-29 |
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Cocoanut Grove | Brakeman | 1938-05-20 |
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Born to Be Wild | Jake - Trucker in Cafe (uncredited) | 1938-02-16 |
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Little Tough Guys in Society | Guest | 1938-11-01 |
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Stage Door | Baggage Man (uncredited) | 1937-10-08 |
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Black Legion | Truck Driver in Diner (uncredited) | 1937-01-30 |
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Wings Over Honolulu | Marine | 1937-05-16 |
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The Great O'Malley | School Bus Driver (uncredited) | 1937-02-13 |
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Border Cafe | Shakey | 1937-06-04 |
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You Only Live Once | Dan - Corridor Guard (uncredited) | 1937-01-23 |
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Smart Blonde | Chuck Cannon | 1937-01-02 |
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We Who Are About to Die | Cell Block E Convict (uncredited) | 1937-01-08 |
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Alcatraz Island | Party Guest (uncredited) | 1937-10-13 |
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God's Country and the Woman | Gus | 1937-01-16 |
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San Quentin | Prison Runner | 1937-05-24 |
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Many Unhappy Returns | Ernie - Counter Girl's Boyfriend | 1937-10-14 |
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Step Lively, Jeeves! | Joey | 1937-06-30 |
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The Big Game | Man Outside Hotel | 1936-10-09 |
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The Adventures of Frank Merriwell | Pug O'Leary | 1936-01-13 |
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Love Begins at Twenty | Lester - O'Bannion's Driver | 1936-08-22 |
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Two in Revolt | Davis | 1936-04-03 |
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Night Waitress | Diner Trying to Date Helen | 1936-12-18 |
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Bullets or Ballots | Actor Impersonating Kruger in Newsreel (uncredited) | 1936-06-06 |
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The Girl from Mandalay | Drunken Brawler | 1936-04-19 |
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Walking on Air | Sam, Second Gas Station Attendant (uncredited) | 1936-09-11 |
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The Girl on the Front Page | Fireman | 1936-09-26 |
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Dancing Pirate | Pirate (uncredited) | 1936-05-22 |
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Love on a Bet | Reporter | 1936-03-06 |
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Chatterbox | Himself (uncredited) | 1936-01-17 |
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Sons o' Guns | Soldier | 1936-05-13 |
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Paddy O'Day | Milkman's Helper on Dock | 1936-01-17 |
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The Crime Patrol | Bennie | 1936-05-12 |
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The House of a Thousand Candles | Henchman | 1936-04-02 |
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The Miracle Rider | Morley | 1935-04-11 |
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Dr. Socrates | Gangster | 1935-10-19 |
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The Fighting Marines | Gibson | 1935-11-22 |
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Charlie Chan in Shanghai | Taxi Driver Henchman | 1935-10-11 |
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The Daring Young Man | Reporter | 1935-07-17 |
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3 Kids and a Queen | Reporter | 1935-10-21 |
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Mary Burns, Fugitive | Sailor | 1935-11-15 |
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The Lost Jungle | Slade | 1934-03-22 |
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She Had to Choose | Hold-Up Man | 1934-10-01 |
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The Oil Raider | Simmons | 1934-11-01 |
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Name the Woman | Reporter | 1934-07-25 |
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The Personality Kid | Max | 1934-06-06 |
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Gridiron Flash | Convict Football Player | 1934-10-06 |
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The Lost Jungle | Slade | 1934-06-13 |
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Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen | Grip | 1934-01-12 |
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Blind Date | Evans - Bob's Chauffeur | 1934-07-20 |
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Hell Bent for Love | Ernest Dallas | 1934-05-19 |
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Before Dawn | Policeman in Car (uncredited) | 1933-08-04 |
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Arizona to Broadway | Pete | 1933-07-22 |
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Cock of the Air | Military Policeman | 1932-01-23 |
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Renegades of the West | Bob | 1932-11-25 |
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The World and the Flesh | Vorobiov | 1932-04-22 |
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Rockabye | Reporter (uncredited) | 1932-11-25 |
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Suicide Fleet | Radio Operator (uncredited) | 1931-11-20 |
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The Good Bad Girl | Thug | 1931-05-20 |
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Going Wild | Ferguson - Pilot | 1930-12-21 |
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Numbered Men | Convict Road Laborer (uncredited) | 1930-06-07 |
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El último de los Vargas | 1930-10-03 | |
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The First Auto | Bartender | 1927-06-27 |
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The Thrill Seekers | A Hood | 1927-09-01 |
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Flashing Oars | Student | 1927-02-28 |
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The Relay | Sophomore | 1927-01-30 |
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Making Good | Student | 1926-12-06 |
