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Spencer Charters

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.

Spencer Charters
Charters in Santa Fe Trail (1940)
Born(1875-03-25)March 25, 1875
Duncannon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 25, 1943(1943-01-25) (aged 67)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
OccupationActor
Years active1910–1943
Spouse
Irene M. Charters
​
​
(m. 1913; died 1941)​
Children1

Biography

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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

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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)

References

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  1. ^ Walker, Paul (May 6, 1938). "Reviews and Preiews". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. p. 12. Retrieved September 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Walker, Paul (September 23, 1942). "Film Stars Selling Bonds! Mickey Rooney at Loew's! Spencer Charters Remembers!". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. p. 14. Retrieved September 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Spencer Charters Found Dead in Garage on Coast". The Evening News. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. January 26, 1949. p. 2. Retrieved September 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ellenberger, Allen R. (May 1, 2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017.
  5. ^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2. McFarland & Company (2016) ISBN 0786479922
  6. ^ "Lonely Wives: Technical Details". theiapolis.com. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
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