Spencer Charters
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019) |
Spencer Charters | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 25, 1875 Duncannon, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | January 25, 1943 (aged 67) Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1910–1943 |
| Spouse(s) | Irene M. Charters
(m. 1913; died 1941) |
| 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.[1] Until around 1890 he worked as a machinist for the Chesapeake Nail Works in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and had little interest in acting.[2]
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.
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]
Selected filmography[]
- April Folly (1920) - Dobbs
- Number 17 (1920)
- Little Old New York (1923) - Bunny
- Janice Meredith (1924) - Squire Hennion
- Dancing Mothers (1926) - Butter and Egg Man
- Whoopee! (1930) - Jerome Underwood
- The Bat Whispers (1930) - The Caretaker
- Lonely Wives (1931) - Andrews, the Butler
- The Front Page (1931) - Woodenshoes
- Ex-Bad Boy (1931) - Henry Simmons
- Traveling Husbands (1931) - Joe
- Palmy Days (1931) - Mr. Clark
- Union Depot (1932) - Police Officer Bert Brady (uncredited)
- The Heart of New York (1932) - The Doorman (uncredited)
- The Famous Ferguson Case (1932) - Fire Chief (uncredited)
- The Tenderfoot (1932) - Oscar
- Jewel Robbery (1932) - Lenz
- Movie Crazy (1932) - J.L. O'Brien
- Two Against the World (1932) - John Mulligan - Doorman (uncredited)
- Hold 'Em Jail (1932) - The Governor
- The Crooked Circle (1932) - Kinny
- Three on a Match (1932) - Street Cleaner (uncredited)
- Central Park (1932) - Police Sergeant Riley (uncredited)
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932) - Officer Daniels (uncredited)
- The Match King (1932) - Oscar
- Broadway Bad (1933) - Lew Gordon (uncredited)
- Gabriel Over the White House (1933) - Vice President (uncredited)
- So This Is Africa (1933) - Doctor
- Song of the Eagle (1933) - Detective 'Bright Eyes' (uncredited)
- Gambling Ship (1933) - Detective
- The Kennel Murder Case (1933) - Sgt. Snitkin (uncredited)
- Female (1933) - Tom
- From Headquarters (1933) - Teletype Man (uncredited)
- Lady Killer (1933) - Los Angeles Cop (uncredited)
- Mr. Skitch (1933) - Mr. Umpchay - the Chump (uncredited)
- Hips, Hips, Hooray! (1934) - Clark
- Caravan (1934) - Flunkey (uncredited)
- Fashions of 1934 (1934) - Man Removing Telephone
- Wonder Bar (1934) - Pete
- Success at Any Price (1934) - Crawford - Architect (uncredited)
- The Loudspeaker (1934) - Burroughs
- Half a Sinner (1934) - Noel Cunningham
- The Circus Clown (1934) - Kingsley
- Blind Date (1934) - Pa Taylor
- Million Dollar Ransom (1934) - Pop McGarry (uncredited)
- The Pursuit of Happiness (1934) - Sam Evans
- Wake Up and Dream (1934) - Earl Craft
- The St. Louis Kid (1934) - Messeldopp
- The Firebird (1934) - Max Bauer - the Porter
- It's a Gift (1934) - Gate Guard
- The Ghost Walks (1934) - Guard #1
- The Secret Bride (1934) - Second Diner (uncredited)
- Romance in Manhattan (1935) - Marriage License Clerk (uncredited)
- Murder on a Honeymoon (1935) - Chief Of Police Britt
- The Nut Farm (1935) - Sliscomb - the Landlord
- Star of Midnight (1935) - Hotel Doorman (uncredited)
- Eight Bells (1935) - Walker
- Whispering Smith Speaks (1935) - Cal Stone
- Alibi Ike (1935) - Minister
- Stranded (1935) - Boatman
- The Raven (1935) - Geoffrey (Credits) / Col. Bertram Grant
- Don't Bet on Blondes (1935) - Doc
- Welcome Home (1935) - Constable Mulhausen
- The Gay Deception (1935) - Mr. Mercer - Banker (uncredited)
- The Goose and the Gander (1935) - Winkelsteinberger
- 1,000 Dollars a Minute (1935) - Stevens (uncredited)
- In Person (1935) - Parson Calverton Lunk
- Don't Get Personal (1936) - Mr. Charles van Ranseleer
- The Preview Murder Mystery (1936) - Watchman
- Love on a Bet (1936) - Plaza Ritz Hotel Owner
- The Farmer in the Dell (1936) - Milkman
- Boulder Dam (1936) - First Sheriff (uncredited)
- Colleen (1936) - Doctor Frothingham (uncredited)
- Till We Meet Again (1936) - Herr Hoffer
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) - Mal (uncredited)
- The Moon's Our Home (1936) - Abner Simpson
- Murder on a Bridle Path (1936) - Warden Sylvester Mahoney
- The Harvester (1936) - Stubby Pratt
- F-Man (1936) - Sheriff Hank 'One Gun' Groder
- The Mine with the Iron Door (1936) - Thad Hill
- Let's Sing Again (1936) - (uncredited)
- The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936) - Dr. Bunting, Coroner (uncredited)
- The Bride Walks Out (1936) - Marriage Bureau Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
- Spendthrift (1936) - Col. Barnaby
- 36 Hours to Kill (1936) - Mr. Hutchins (uncredited)
- My American Wife (1936) - Engineer (uncredited)
- Back to Nature (1936) - Deputy Sheriff Putney (uncredited)
- Postal Inspector (1936) - Grumpy
- The Texas Rangers (1936) - Sheriff Jake (uncredited)
- Libeled Lady (1936) - Magistrate
- All American Chump (1936) - Abiah Smith
- Fugitive in the Sky (1936) - Henry Staeger
- Four Days' Wonder (1936) - Gilroy
- Banjo on My Knee (1936) - Judge Tope
- Career Woman (1936) - Coroner McInery
- Lady from Nowhere (1936) - Alexander Scorzo
- The Mighty Treve (1937) - Watling
- Dangerous Number (1937) - Jeffers Gass - Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
- They Wanted to Marry (1937) - Police Turnkey (uncredited)
- Waikiki Wedding (1937) - Frame (uncredited)
- Girl Loves Boy (1937) - Rufus Boggs
- Venus Makes Trouble (1937) - Joel Willard
- Pick a Star (1937) - Judge
- Fifty Roads to Town (1937) - George Hession
- Mountain Music (1937) - Justice of the Peace Sharody
- Married Before Breakfast (1937) - Fireman (uncredited)
- Ever Since Eve (1937) - Mike - Monteray Tavern Porter (uncredited)
- The Emperor's Candlesticks (1937) - Usher (uncredited)
- She Had to Eat (1937) - Alf Franklin (uncredited)
- Make a Wish (1937) - Station Agent
- The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) - Railroad Porter (uncredited)
- Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937) - Uncle
- Back in Circulation (1937) - The Sheriff
- Behind the Mike (1937) - Pete Jones
- Danger – Love at Work (1937) - Hick
- The Perfect Specimen (1937) - Stationmaster (uncredited)
- The Hurricane (1937) - Judge (uncredited)
- Big Town Girl (1937) - Isaiah Wickenback
- Checkers (1937) - Zeb
- Lady Behave! (1937) - Innkeeper
- Wells Fargo (1937) - Jethro - Old Confederate (uncredited)
- The Bad Man of Brimstone (1937) - Rufus Odlum (uncredited)
- In Old Chicago (1938) - Commissioner W.J. Beavers
- The Jury's Secret (1938) - Old Man (uncredited)
- Mr. Boggs Steps Out (1938) - Angus Tubbs
- Forbidden Valley (1938) - Dr. Scudd
- Joy of Living (1938) - Magistrate
- Vivacious Lady (1938) - Henpecked Husband Shaving on Train (uncredited)
- Crime School (1938) - Old Doctor
- One Wild Night (1938) - Lem Halliday
- Three Comrades (1938) - Herr Schultz (uncredited)
- Three Blind Mice (1938) - Hendricks
- Professor Beware (1938) - Sheriff Henry Sweatt (uncredited)
- Four's a Crowd (1938) - Charlie (uncredited)
- Mr. Chump (1938) - Mr. Koeper
- The Texans (1938) - Chairman (uncredited)
- The Road to Reno (1938) - The Judge
- Valley of the Giants (1938) - Fireman #1 (uncredited)
- Breaking the Ice (1938) - Farmer Smith
- Stablemates (1938) - Choirmaster (uncredited)
- Five of a Kind (1938) - Rev. Matthew Brand
- Spring Madness (1938) - Police Chief (uncredited)
- Strange Faces (1938) - Mason City Sheriff
- The Law West of Tombstone (1938) - El Paso Judge Tom Moseby (uncredited)
- Topper Takes a Trip (1938) - Judge
- Jesse James (1939) - Minister
- Boy Trouble (1939) - Grocer Bradley
- St. Louis Blues (1939) - Judge (uncredited)
- Woman Doctor (1939) - Veterinarian
- Yes, My Darling Daughter (1939) - Angus Dibble
- Inside Story (1939) - Uncle Ben Perkins
- I'm from Missouri (1939) - Charley Shook, Mule Breeder
- They Made Her a Spy (1939) - Lucius
- Dodge City (1939) - Reverend (uncredited)
- The Lady and the Mob (1939) - Flanagan - Bank Guard (uncredited)
- The Flying Irishman (1939) - Mr. Smedley (uncredited)
- Hotel Imperial (1939) - Visoff (uncredited)
- The Kid from Texas (1939) - Deputy Sheriff Serving Attachment Papers (uncredited)
- Women in the Wind (1939) - Farmer
- They Asked for It (1939) - Chief Lawson
- Unmarried (1939) - Judge (uncredited)
- Exile Express (1939) - Justice of the Peace Henry P. Smith
- Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) - Judge Herbert A. Bell
- Unexpected Father (1939) - Magistrate
- Second Fiddle (1939) - Joe Clayton
- In Name Only (1939) - Gardener
- The Under-Pup (1939) - Druggist
- Dust Be My Destiny (1939) - F.W. Jennson - Jailer (uncredited)
- No Place to Go (1939) - Old Soldier (uncredited)
- Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) - Innkeeper
- The Covered Trailer (1939) - Sheriff
- Two Thoroughbreds (1939) - Doc Purdy
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) - Court Clerk
- The Oklahoma Kid (1939) - (uncredited)
- Remember the Night (1940) - Judge at Rummage Sale
- He Married His Wife (1940) - Mayer
- Virginia City (1940) - Sazerac Saloon Bartender (uncredited)
- The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) - Henry Quinn - Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
- Alias the Deacon (1940) - Sheriff Yates
- Our Town (1940) - Constable Warren
- Lucky Cisco Kid (1940) - Hotel Guest (uncredited)
- Three Faces West (1940) - Dr. 'Nunk' Atterbury
- Maryland (1940) - Judge
- Girl from God's Country (1940) - Dealer
- The Boys from Syracuse (1940) - Turnkey
- The Golden Fleecing (1940) - Reuben - Justice of Peace
- Calling All Husbands (1940) - Station Agent (uncredited)
- Blondie Plays Cupid (1940) - Uncle Abner
- Friendly Neighbors (1940) - Bumblebee Hibbs
- Meet the Missus (1940) - Grandpa
- She Couldn't Say No (1940) - Hank Woodcock
- Santa Fe Trail (1940) - Conductor
- Kitty Foyle (1940) - Father (scenes deleted)
- So Ends Our Night (1941) - Swiss Policeman
- High Sierra (1941) - Ed
- Petticoat Politics (1941) - Grandpa
- Tobacco Road (1941) - County Clerk
- The Lady from Cheyenne (1941) - Dr. McGuinness
- The Singing Hill (1941) - Judge Henry Starrbottle
- Moon Over Miami (1941) - Postman
- Bad Men of Missouri (1941) - Clem (uncredited)
- Hold That Ghost (1941) - Storekeeper (uncredited)
- Man at Large (1941) - Mr. Gallon
- They Died with Their Boots On (1941) - Station Master (uncredited)
- Look Who's Laughing (1941) - Motel Manager
- Glamour Boy (1941) - Hillbilly Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
- Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case (1941) - Judge White
- Bedtime Story (1941) - Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
- Pacific Blackout (1941) - Cornelius--Garage Night Watchman
- Right to the Heart (1942) - Jonah
- The Remarkable Andrew (1942) - Dr. Clarence Upjohn
- The Night Before the Divorce (1942) - Small Town Judge
- The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine (1942) - Cheevers Snow
- Dr. Broadway (1942) - Oscar Titus
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) - Colony Opera House Stage Manager (uncredited)
- Juke Girl (1942) - Keeno
- Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die (1942) - Judge Fred Horgan
- The Postman Didn't Ring (1942) - Judge Ben Holt
- The Pride of the Yankees (1942) - Mr. Larsen (uncredited)
- Scattergood Survives a Murder (1942) - Sheriff
- Silver Queen (1942) - Doc Stonebraker
- Slightly Dangerous (1943) - Claudius Swade - Owner of Motel (uncredited)
- Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) - Marriage License Clerk (uncredited)
References[]
- ^ Walker, Paul (May 6, 1938). "Reviews and Preiews". Harrisburg Telegraph. Pennsylvania, Harrisburg. p. 12. Retrieved September 6, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
External links[]
- Spencer Charters at IMDb
- Spencer Charters at the Internet Broadway Database
- Spencer Charters at Find a Grave
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Categories:
- 1875 births
- 1943 suicides
- Male actors from Pennsylvania
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- Drug-related suicides in California
- People from Perry County, Pennsylvania
- Suicides by carbon monoxide poisoning
- 20th-century American male actors
- Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)