| Philip Hurlic | |
| Birth Name: | Philip Raymond Hurlic |
| Birth Date: | December 20, 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Compton, California, U.S. |
| Years Active: | 1932-1942 |
| Occupation: | Child actor |
Philip Raymond Hurlic (December 20, 1927 – July 7, 2014) was an American child actor.
Hurlic appeared in a number of films in the 1930s and early 1940s. Hurlic's income from his film work was used to support his East Los Angeles family.[1] Hurlic's earliest roles were as a toddler in the Baby Burlesks series, which starred a pre-fame Shirley Temple. His largest roles in film include Little Jim in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Verman Diggs in the Penrod films, and Zeke in Zenobia (1939), in which the 12 year old played one of the earliest positive roles for a Black male when he recited the Declaration of Independence from memory at the behest of co-star Oliver Hardy. He also appeared in a number of Our Gang comedies alongside another child actor from his neighborhood, Billie Thomas (Buckwheat).[2]
He retired from film business in 1942 after 30 films. According to Hurlic's daughter Zee, Hurlic died peacefully on July 7, 2014, surrounded by his family.[3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Helldorado | Sam Ed | uncredited | |
| 1936 | Hearts Divided | Pippin | ||
| 1936 | The Green Pastures | Carlisle Randall | uncredited | |
| 1936 | College Holiday | Black Baby Cupid | uncredited | |
| 1937 | Penrod and Sam | Verman Diggs | ||
| 1937 | Wings over Honolulu | Robert Lee | uncredited | |
| 1937 | Nothing Sacred | One of Walker's Kids | uncredited | |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Little Jim | ||
| 1938 | Penrod and His Twin Brother | Vermin | ||
| 1938 | Jezebel | Erronens | uncredited | |
| 1938 | Feed 'em and Weep | Our Gang Member | short | |
| 1938 | Penrod's Double Trouble | Verman | ||
| 1938 | Stablemates | Black Boy Bringing Uniform | uncredited | |
| 1939 | Zenobia | Zeke | ||
| 1939 | Cousin Wilbur | Buckwheat's Friend | short | |
| 1939 | The Sun Never Sets | Tuppence - Native Boy | uncredited | |
| 1939 | Chicken Wagon Family | Black Boy | uncredited | |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washington | Boy Ranger | uncredited | |
| 1940 | Young Tom Edison | Black Boy at Tree | uncredited | |
| 1941 | Father's Son | Vestibule Pullman Montgomery | uncredited | |
| 1941 | Golden Hoofs | Mose | ||
| 1942 | Scattergood Rides High | Toby | ||
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattan | Jeff | uncredited |