Spencer Charters (March 25, 1875 – January 25, 1943) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1920 and 1943, mostly in small supporting roles.
![]() | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019) |
Spencer Charters | |
---|---|
![]() Charters in Santa Fe Trail (1940) | |
Born | (1875-03-25)March 25, 1875 Duncannon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Died | January 25, 1943(1943-01-25) (aged 67) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1910–1943 |
Spouse | Irene M. Charters
(m. 1913; died 1941) |
Children | 1 |
Charters was born in Duncannon, Pennsylvania. Until around 1890 he worked as a machinist for the Chesapeake Nail Works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and had little interest in acting.[1] He soon appeared on stage after leaving school with a walk-on part, but it wasn't long before he was being given fair-sized roles. He played on Broadway between 1910 and 1929 and was a busy character actor in films during the 1930s and early 1940s. He often portrayed somewhat befuddled judges, doctors, clerks, managers, and jailers.[2]
Charters was married to actress Irene Myers until her death December 22, 1941.[3]
He died by suicide from a mix of sleeping pills and carbon monoxide poisoning.[4] He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.[5]
Year | Film | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1920 | April Folly | Dobbs | Robert Z. Leonard | |
1920 | Number 17 | |||
1923 | Little Old New York | Bunny | Sidney Olcott | |
1924 | Janice Meredith | Squire Hennion | E. Mason Hopper E. J. Babille (assistant) |
|
1926 | Dancing Mothers | Butter and Egg Man | Herbert Brenon | |
1930 | Whoopee! | Jerome Underwood | Thornton Freeland | |
1930 | The Bat Whispers | The Caretaker | Roland West | |
1931 | Lonely Wives | Andrews, the Butler | Russell Mack[6] | |
1931 | The Front Page | Woodenshoes | Lewis Milestone | |
1931 | Ex-Bad Boy | Henry Simmons | Vin Moore | |
1931 | Traveling Husbands | Joe | Paul Sloane Charles Kerr (assistant) |
|
1931 | Palmy Days | Mr. Clark | A. Edward Sutherland | |
1932 | Union Depot | Police Officer Bert Brady | Alfred E. Green | uncredited |
1932 | The Heart of New York | The Doorman | Mervyn LeRoy | uncredited |
1932 | The Famous Ferguson Case | Fire Chief | Lloyd Bacon | uncredited |
1932 | The Tenderfoot | Oscar | Ray Enright | |
1932 | Jewel Robbery | Lenz | William Dieterle | |
1932 | Movie Crazy | J.L. O'Brien | Clyde Bruckman Harold Lloyd (uncredited) |
|
1932 | Two Against the World | Doorman | Archie Mayo | uncredited |
1932 | Hold 'Em Jail | The Governor | Norman Taurog | |
1932 | The Crooked Circle | Kinny | H. Bruce Humberstone | |
1932 | Three on a Match | Street Cleaner | Mervyn LeRoy | uncredited |
1932 | Central Park | Police Sergeant Riley | John G. Adolfi | uncredited |
1932 | 20,000 Years in Sing Sing | Officer Daniels | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1932 | The Match King | Oscar | Howard Bretherton | |
1933 | Broadway Bad | Lew Gordon | Sidney Lanfield | uncredited |
1933 | Gabriel Over the White House | Vice President | Gregory La Cava | uncredited |
1933 | So This Is Africa | Doctor | Edward F. Cline | |
1933 | Song of the Eagle | Detective 'Bright Eyes' | Ralph Murphy | uncredited |
1933 | Gambling Ship | Detective | Max Marcin | |
1933 | The Kennel Murder Case | Sgt. Snitkin | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1933 | Female | Tom | William A. Wellman | |
1933 | From Headquarters | Teletype Man | William Dieterle | uncredited |
1933 | Lady Killer | Los Angeles Cop | Roy Del Ruth | uncredited |
1933 | Mr. Skitch | the Chump | James Cruze | uncredited |
1934 | Hips, Hips, Hooray! | Clark | Mark Sandrich | |
1934 | Caravan | Flunkey | Erik Charell | uncredited |
1934 | Fashions of 1934 | Man Removing Telephone | William Dieterle | |
1934 | Wonder Bar | Pete | Busby Berkeley | |
1934 | Success at Any Price | Architect | J. Walter Ruben | uncredited |
1934 | The Loudspeaker | Burroughs | Joseph Santley | |
1934 | Half a Sinner | Noel Cunningham | Kurt Neumann | |
1934 | The Circus Clown | Kingsley | Ray Enright | |
1934 | Blind Date | Pa Taylor | Roy William Neill | |
1934 | Million Dollar Ransom | Pop McGarry | Murray Roth | uncredited |
1934 | The Pursuit of Happiness | Sam Evans | Alexander Hall | |
1934 | Wake Up and Dream | Earl Craft | Kurt Neumann | |
1934 | The St. Louis Kid | Messeldopp | Ray Enright | |
1934 | The Firebird | the Porter | William Dieterle | |
1934 | It's a Gift | Gate Guard | Norman Z. McLeod | |
1934 | The Ghost Walks | Guard #1 | Frank R. Strayer | |
1934 | The Secret Bride | Second Diner | William Dieterle | uncredited |
1935 | Romance in Manhattan | Marriage License Clerk | Stephen Roberts | uncredited |
1935 | Murder on a Honeymoon | Chief Of Police Britt | Lloyd Corrigan | |
1935 | The Nut Farm | the Landlord | Melville W. Brown | |
1935 | Star of Midnight | Hotel Doorman | Stephen Roberts James Anderson (assistant) |
uncredited |
1935 | Eight Bells | Walker | Roy William Neill | |
1935 | Whispering Smith Speaks | Cal Stone | David Howard | |
1935 | Alibi Ike | Minister | Ray Enright | |
1935 | Stranded | Boatman | Frank Borzage | |
1935 | The Raven | Geoffrey | Lew Landers | Credits |
1935 | Don't Bet on Blondes | Doc | Robert Florey | |
1935 | Welcome Home | Constable Mulhausen | James Tinling | |
1935 | The Gay Deception | Banker | William Wyler | uncredited |
1935 | The Goose and the Gander | Winkelsteinberger | Alfred E. Green | |
1935 | 1,000 Dollars a Minute | Stevens | Aubrey Scotto | uncredited |
1935 | In Person | Parson Calverton Lunk | William A. Seiter James Anderson (assistant) |
|
1936 | Don't Get Personal | Mr. Charles van Ranseleer | William Nigh | |
1936 | The Preview Murder Mystery | Watchman | Robert Florey | |
1936 | Love on a Bet | Plaza Ritz Hotel Owner | Leigh Jason | |
1936 | The Farmer in the Dell | Milkman | Ben Holmes | |
1936 | Boulder Dam | First Sheriff | Frank McDonald | uncredited |
1936 | Colleen | Doctor Frothingham | Alfred E. Green | uncredited |
1936 | Till We Meet Again | Herr Hoffer | Robert Florey | |
1936 | Mr. Deeds Goes to Town | Mal | Frank Capra | uncredited |
1936 | The Moon's Our Home | Abner Simpson | William A. Seiter | |
1936 | Murder on a Bridle Path | Warden Sylvester Mahoney | Edward Killy | |
1936 | The Harvester | Stubby Pratt | Joseph Santley | |
1936 | F-Man | Sheriff Hank 'One Gun' Groder | Edward F. Cline | |
1936 | The Mine with the Iron Door | Thad Hill | David Howard | |
1936 | Let's Sing Again | Kurt Neumann | uncredited | |
1936 | The Ex-Mrs. Bradford | Dr. Bunting, Coroner | Stephen Roberts | uncredited |
1936 | The Bride Walks Out | Marriage Bureau Justice of the Peace | Leigh Jason | uncredited |
1936 | Spendthrift | Col. Barnaby | Raoul Walsh | |
1936 | 36 Hours to Kill | Mr. Hutchins | Eugene Forde | uncredited |
1936 | My American Wife | Engineer | Harold Young | uncredited |
1936 | Back to Nature | Deputy Sheriff Putney | James Tinling | uncredited |
1936 | Postal Inspector | Grumpy | Otto Brower | |
1936 | The Texas Rangers | Sheriff Jake | King Vidor | uncredited |
1936 | Libeled Lady | Magistrate | Jack Conway | |
1936 | All American Chump | Abiah Smith | Edwin L. Marin | |
1936 | Fugitive in the Sky | Henry Staeger | Nick Grinde | |
1936 | Four Days' Wonder | Gilroy | Sidney Salkow | |
1936 | Banjo on My Knee | Judge Tope | John Cromwell | |
1936 | Career Woman | Coroner McInery | Lewis Seiler | |
1936 | Lady from Nowhere | Alexander Scorzo | Gordon Wiles | |
1937 | The Mighty Treve | Watling | Lewis D. Collins | |
1937 | Dangerous Number | Justice of the Peace | Richard Thorpe | uncredited |
1937 | They Wanted to Marry | Police Turnkey | Lew Landers | uncredited |
1937 | Waikiki Wedding | Frame | Frank Tuttle | uncredited |
1937 | Girl Loves Boy | Rufus Boggs | W. Duncan Mansfield | |
1937 | Venus Makes Trouble | Joel Willard | Gordon Wiles | |
1937 | Pick a Star | Judge | Edward Sedgwick | |
1937 | Fifty Roads to Town | George Hession | Norman Taurog | |
1937 | Mountain Music | Justice of the Peace Sharody | Robert Florey | |
1937 | Married Before Breakfast | Fireman | Edwin L. Marin | uncredited |
1937 | Ever Since Eve | Monteray Tavern Porter | Lloyd Bacon | uncredited |
1937 | The Emperor's Candlesticks | Usher | uncredited | |
1937 | She Had to Eat | Alf Franklin | Malcolm St. Clair | uncredited |
1937 | Make a Wish | Station Agent | Kurt Neumann | |
1937 | The Prisoner of Zenda | Railroad Porter | John Cromwell W. S. Van Dyke (uncredited) |
uncredited |
1937 | Wife, Doctor and Nurse | Uncle | Walter Lang | |
1937 | Back in Circulation | The Sheriff | Ray Enright | |
1937 | Behind the Mike | Pete Jones | Sidney Salkow | |
1937 | Danger as Love at Work | Hick | ||
1937 | The Perfect Specimen | Stationmaster | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1937 | The Hurricane | Judge | John Ford | uncredited |
1937 | Big Town Girl | Isaiah Wickenback | Alfred L. Werker | |
1937 | Checkers | Zeb | H. Bruce Humberstone | |
1937 | Lady Behave! | Innkeeper | Lloyd Corrigan | |
1937 | Wells Fargo | Old Confederate | Frank Lloyd | uncredited |
1937 | The Bad Man of Brimstone | Rufus Odlum | J. Walter Ruben | uncredited |
1938 | In Old Chicago | Commissioner W.J. Beavers | Henry King | |
1938 | The Jury's Secret | Old Man | Edward Sloman | uncredited |
1938 | Mr. Boggs Steps Out | Angus Tubbs | Gordon Wiles | |
1938 | Forbidden Valley | Dr. Scudd | Wyndham Gittens | |
1938 | Joy of Living | Magistrate | Tay Garnett | |
1938 | Vivacious Lady | Henpecked Husband Shaving on Train | George Stevens | uncredited |
1938 | Crime School | Old Doctor | Lewis Seiler | |
1938 | One Wild Night | Lem Halliday | Eugene Forde | |
1938 | Three Comrades | Herr Schultz | Frank Borzage | uncredited |
1938 | Three Blind Mice | Hendricks | William A. Seiter | |
1938 | Professor Beware | Sheriff Henry Sweatt | Elliott Nugent | uncredited |
1938 | Four's a Crowd | Charlie | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1938 | Mr. Chump | Mr. Koeper | William Clemens | |
1938 | The Texans | Chairman | James P. Hogan | uncredited |
1938 | The Road to Reno | The Judge | S. Sylvan Simon | |
1938 | Valley of the Giants | Fireman #1 | William Keighley | uncredited |
1938 | Breaking the Ice | Farmer Smith | Edward F. Cline | |
1938 | Stablemates | Choirmaster | Sam Wood | uncredited |
1938 | Five of a Kind | Rev. Matthew Brand | Herbert I. Leeds | |
1938 | Spring Madness | Police Chief | S. Sylvan Simon | uncredited |
1938 | Strange Faces | Mason City Sheriff | Errol Taggart | |
1938 | The Law West of Tombstone | El Paso Judge Tom Moseby | Glenn Tryon | uncredited |
1938 | Topper Takes a Trip | Judge | Norman Z. McLeod | |
1939 | Jesse James | Minister | Henry King | |
1939 | Boy Trouble | Grocer Bradley | George Archainbaud | |
1939 | St. Louis Blues | Judge | Raoul Walsh | uncredited |
1939 | Woman Doctor | Veterinarian | Sidney Salkow | |
1939 | Yes, My Darling Daughter | Angus Dibble | William Keighley | |
1939 | Inside Story | Uncle Ben Perkins | Ricardo Cortez | |
1939 | I'm from Missouri | Charley Shook, Mule Breeder | Theodore Reed | |
1939 | They Made Her a Spy | Lucius | Jack Hively Edward Donahue |
|
1939 | Dodge City | Reverend | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1939 | The Lady and the Mob | Bank Guard | Benjamin Stoloff | uncredited |
1939 | The Flying Irishman | Mr. Smedley | Leigh Jason | uncredited |
1939 | Hotel Imperial | Visoff | uncredited | |
1939 | The Kid from Texas | Deputy Sheriff Serving Attachment Papers | S. Sylvan Simon | uncredited |
1939 | Women in the Wind | Farmer | John Farrow | |
1939 | They Asked for It | Chief Lawson | Frank McDonald | |
1939 | Unmarried | Judge | Kurt Neumann | uncredited |
1939 | Exile Express | Justice of the Peace Henry P. Smith | Otis Garrett | |
1939 | Young Mr. Lincoln | Judge Herbert A. Bell | John Ford | |
1939 | Unexpected Father | Magistrate | Charles Lamont | |
1939 | Second Fiddle | Joe Clayton | Sidney Lanfield | |
1939 | In Name Only | Gardener | John Cromwell | |
1939 | The Under-Pup | Druggist | Richard Wallace | |
1939 | Dust Be My Destiny | Jailer | Lewis Seiler | uncredited |
1939 | No Place to Go | Old Soldier | Terry O. Morse | uncredited |
1939 | Drums Along the Mohawk | Innkeeper | John Ford | |
1939 | The Covered Trailer | Sheriff | Gus Meins | |
1939 | Two Thoroughbreds | Doc Purdy | Jack Hively | |
1939 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Court Clerk | William Dieterle | |
1939 | The Oklahoma Kid | Lloyd Bacon | uncredited | |
1940 | Remember the Night | Judge at Rummage Sale | Mitchell Leisen | |
1940 | He Married His Wife | Mayer | Roy Del Ruth | |
1940 | Virginia City | Sazerac Saloon Bartender | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1940 | The Doctor Takes a Wife | Justice of the Peace | Alexander Hall | uncredited |
1940 | Alias the Deacon | Sheriff Yates | Christy Cabanne | |
1940 | Our Town | Constable Warren | Sam Wood | |
1940 | Lucky Cisco Kid | Hotel Guest | H. Bruce Humberstone | uncredited |
1940 | Three Faces West | Dr. 'Nunk' Atterbury | Bernard Vorhaus | |
1940 | Maryland | Judge | Henry King | |
1940 | Girl from God's Country | Dealer | Sidney Salkow | |
1940 | The Boys from Syracuse | Turnkey | A. Edward Sutherland | |
1940 | The Golden Fleecing | Justice of Peace | Leslie Fenton | |
1940 | Calling All Husbands | Station Agent | Noel M. Smith | uncredited |
1940 | Blondie Plays Cupid | Uncle Abner | Frank R. Strayer | |
1940 | Friendly Neighbors | Bumblebee Hibbs | Nick Grinde | |
1940 | Meet the Missus | Grandpa | Malcolm St. Clair | |
1940 | She Couldn't Say No | Hank Woodcock | William Clemens | |
1940 | Santa Fe Trail | Conductor | Michael Curtiz | |
1940 | Kitty Foyle | Father | Sam Wood | scenes deleted |
1941 | So Ends Our Night | Swiss Policeman | John Cromwell | |
1941 | High Sierra | Ed | Raoul Walsh | |
1941 | Petticoat Politics | Grandpa | Erle Kenton | |
1941 | Tobacco Road | County Clerk | John Ford | |
1941 | The Lady from Cheyenne | Dr. McGuinness | Frank Lloyd | |
1941 | The Singing Hill | Judge Henry Starrbottle | Lew Landers | |
1941 | Moon Over Miami | Postman | Walter Lang | |
1941 | Bad Men of Missouri | Clem | Ray Enright | uncredited |
1941 | Hold That Ghost | Storekeeper | Arthur Lubin | uncredited |
1941 | Man at Large | Mr. Gallon | Eugene Forde | |
1941 | They Died with Their Boots On | Station Master | Raoul Walsh | uncredited |
1941 | Look Who's Laughing | Motel Manager | Allan Dwan | |
1941 | Glamour Boy | Hillbilly Gas Station Attendant | Ralph Murphy | uncredited |
1941 | Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case | Judge White | Bernard Vorhaus | |
1941 | Bedtime Story | Gas Station Attendant | Alexander Hall | uncredited |
1941 | Pacific Blackout | Cornelius—Garage Night Watchman | Ralph Murphy | |
1942 | Right to the Heart | Jonah | Eugene Forde | |
1942 | The Remarkable Andrew | Dr. Clarence Upjohn | Stuart Heisler | |
1942 | The Night Before the Divorce | Small Town Judge | Robert Siodmak | |
1942 | The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine | Cheevers Snow | Bernard Vorhaus | |
1942 | Dr. Broadway | Oscar Titus | Anthony Mann | |
1942 | Yankee Doodle Dandy | Colony Opera House Stage Manager | Michael Curtiz | uncredited |
1942 | Juke Girl | Keeno | Curtis Bernhardt | |
1942 | Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die | Judge Fred Horgan | William C. McGann | |
1942 | The Postman Didn't Ring | Judge Ben Holt | Harold D. Schuster | |
1942 | The Pride of the Yankees | Mr. Larsen | Sam Wood | uncredited |
1942 | Scattergood Survives a Murder | Sheriff | Christy Cabanne Ridgeway Callow (assistant) |
|
1942 | Silver Queen | Doc Stonebraker | Lloyd Bacon | |
1943 | Slightly Dangerous | Owner of Motel | Buster Keaton | uncredited |
1944 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Marriage License Clerk | Frank Capra | uncredited |
Higgins Family film series | |
---|---|
Films |
|
Actors |
|
Other crew |
|
Studio |
|
General | |
---|---|
National libraries |