
Douglass Dumbrille
- Date of Birth: 1889-10-12
- Date of Death: 1974-04-02
- Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Douglass Rupert Dumbrille (October 13, 1889 – April 2, 1974) was a Canadian actor and one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood. In 1913, the East Coast... From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Douglass Rupert Dumbrille (October 13, 1889 – April 2, 1974) was a Canadian actor and one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood. In 1913, the East Coast film industry was flourishing and that year he appeared in the film What Eighty Million Women Want, but it would be another 11 years before he appeared on screen again. In 1924, he made his Broadway debut and worked off and on in the theatre for several years while supplementing his income by selling such products as car accessories, tea, insurance, real estate, and books. During the Great Depression, Dumbrille moved to the West Coast of the U.S., where he specialized in playing secondary character roles alongside the great stars of the day. His physical appearance and suave voice equipped him for roles as slick politician, corrupt businessman, crooked sheriff, or unscrupulous lawyer. He was highly regarded by the studios and was sought out by Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Capra, Hal Roach and other prominent Hollywood filmmakers. A friend of fellow Canadian-born director Allan Dwan, Dumbrille played Athos in Dwan’s 1939 adaptation of The Three Musketeers. Dumbrille had roles in more than 200 motion pictures and, with the advent of television, made numerous appearances in the 1950s and 1960s. He had the ability to project a balance of menace and pomposity in roles as the "heavy" in comedy films, such as those of the Marx Brothers or Abbott and Costello.

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Comedy • 1950 October

It's a Joke, Son!
Comedy • 1947 January

Hard to Handle
Comedy, Romance • 1933 January

Peter Ibbetson
Drama, Fantasy, Romance • 1935 November

Stand by for Action
Action, Drama, War, Comedy • 1942 December

Lady Killer
Comedy, Crime • 1933 December

The Beverly Hillbillies
Comedy, Family • 1962 September

Castle in the Desert
Crime, Mystery, Thriller • 1942 February

Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Action • 1939 April

77 Sunset Strip
Crime, Drama, Mystery • 1958 October