The Resume

(January 11, 1886-October 11, 1971)
Born in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Started as a Keystone Kop
Teamed with Mack Swain in a series of ‘Ambrose and Walrus’ shorts
Co-starred with Mabel Normand in ‘Mabel’s Strange Predicament,’ ‘Mabel’s New Job,’ ‘Mabel’s Busy Day,’ and ‘Mabel at the Wheel’
Played bit parts in several Three Stooges shorts, including ‘Flat Foot Stooges,’ ‘Dutiful But Dumb,’ ‘Three Little Twerps,’ ‘Phony Express,’ and ‘Micro-Phonies’
Also appeared in the films ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ (1918), ‘Anna Christie’ (1923), ‘The Galloping Fish’ (1924), ‘Tell It to Sweeney’ (1927), ‘Varsity’ (1928), ‘The Virginian’ (1929), ‘Hallelujah, I’m a Bum’ (1933), ‘Call of the Prairie’ (1936), ‘The Palm Beach Story’ (1942), ‘The Perils of Pauline’ (1947), ‘The Beast with a Million Eyes’ (1955), and ‘A Big Hand for the Little Lady’ (1966)

Why he might be annoying:

He sported a huge walrus mustache.
He left Keystone Studios after Mack Sennett sent an underling to discuss renewing his contract (1920).
He had a significant role in Erich von Stroheim’s ‘Greed’ (1924) that was cut when the movie was shortened; the footage was later lost.
From the mid-30s on, most of his film work was in uncredited bit parts.
In the 50s, he worked as a department store Santa to make ends meet.

Why he might not be annoying:

He had a successful vaudeville career before arriving in Hollywood.
He reportedly helped Charlie Chaplin put together the costume for his Little Tramp character.
Chaplin gave him bit parts in ‘Modern Times’ and ‘The Great Dictator’ and put him on the payroll for a full year while making the films.
He was part of Preston Sturges’ unofficial stock company, appearing in small roles in six of his films.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 77]
• Film Pioneers [Silent Era]
• I am an Iowan
• I Am Vaudeville [A-L]
• I Died in 1971 (Ranked: 85)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[C-E]
• I Portrayed Santa Claus
• I Was Buried at Sea
• I was Cremated
• Mack Sennett Films
• Mustaches
• My Spouse is at Least Ten Years Younger than Me
• Profiles 47001-47250 (Ranked: 47194)
• Three Stooges
• Walruses
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19711011)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 35 Votes: 5.71% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 81.82% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying