Spencer Charters Explained
| Spencer Charters |
| Birth Date: | March 25, 1875 |
| Birth Place: | Duncannon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Resting Place: | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1910 - 1943 |
| Children: | 1 |
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.
Biography
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]
Filmography
| Year | Title | 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 – Love at Work | Hick | Otto Preminger | |
| 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 | Claudius Swade - Owner of Motel | Buster Keaton | Uncredited |
| 1944 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Marriage License Clerk | Frank Capra | Uncredited, (final film role) | |
Notes and References
- News: Walker . Paul . Reviews and Preiews . September 6, 2019 . Harrisburg Telegraph . May 6, 1938 . Pennsylvania, Harrisburg . 12. Newspapers.com.
- News: Walker . Paul . Film Stars Selling Bonds! Mickey Rooney at Loew's! Spencer Charters Remembers! . September 6, 2019 . Harrisburg Telegraph . September 23, 1942 . Pennsylvania, Harrisburg . 14. Newspapers.com.
- News: Spencer Charters Found Dead in Garage on Coast . September 6, 2019 . The Evening News . January 26, 1949 . Pennsylvania, Harrisburg . 2. Newspapers.com.
- Book: Ellenberger, Allen R. . May 1, 2001 . Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory . McFarland . 41 . 978-0-7864-0983-9 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170419100818/https://books.google.com.au/books?id=8bOJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA41 . April 19, 2017 .
- Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016)
- Web site: Lonely Wives: Technical Details. theiapolis.com. August 15, 2014.
