Ralf Harolde
Ralf Harolde (born Ralph Harold Wigger, May 17, 1899 – November 11, 1974) was an American character actor who often played gangsters. Between 1920 and 1963, he appeared in 99 films, including Smart Money with Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney, Jimmy the Gent with James Cagney and Bette Davis, Night Nurse with Barbara Stanwyck and Clark Gable, I'm No Angel with Mae West, Baby Take a Bow with Shirley Temple, A Tale of Two Cities with Ronald Colman, Our Relations with Laurel and Hardy, and Murder, My Sweet with Dick Powell.
Harolde was born Ralph Wigger in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, William Wigger, operated a tobacco store in Pittsburgh. When Harolde finished grade school, he began working at a bank in Pittsburgh and taking night classes at Allegheny High School. He later was secretary to the director of the Sarah Heinz House, but his real interest was acting. He became an extra in productions at the Empire Theatre in Pittsburgh, and his first speaking part came in the comedy Officer 666 in March 1917. He changed his name to Ralf Harolde for the program of that play.
Harolde enlisted in the U. S. Marines during World War I and spent seven months at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. His scheduled transfer to overseas duty was canceled after the armistice was settled four days before he was to leave. He returned to Pittsburgh and acted with The Pershing Players.
Haroled acted on stage before he worked in films. He had his own company in Lincoln, Nebraska, and performed with other stock companies there before he left in May 1928. He also acted on stage in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and Columbus, Ohio. While in Columbus, he married Catherine Cornell, who became his business manager.
In 1938, Harolde was arrested on charges of trying to kidnap a boy after he was found talking to the boy several blocks from the child's school. When Harolde was booked in Hollywood on suspicion of kidnapping and loitering on public school grounds, he said, "I had no ulterior motive. I only wanted to take the little boy to a store and buy him some ice cream."
Harolde died in Santa Monica, California at age 75.
Acted in
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
1968
as Gangster's Bos (archive footage) (uncredited)
A New Kind of Love
1963
as French Waiter (uncredited)
Miami Undercover
1961
Surfside 6
1960
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond
1960
as Doctor (uncredited)
Killer Shark
1950
as Slattery
Alaska Patrol
1949
as Steele
Behind Locked Doors
1948
as Fred Hopps
Hazard
1948
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Assigned to Danger
1948
as Matty Farmer
The Crimson Key
1947
as Gunman
Desperate
1947
as Walt's Doctor (uncredited)
Jewels of Brandenburg
1947
as Koslic
Backlash
1947
as X-Ray Technician
The Phantom Speaks
1945
as Frankie Teal
Murder, My Sweet
1944
as Dr. Sonderborg
A Lady Takes a Chance
1943
as Croupier
Secret Service In Darkest Africa
1943
as River Boat Captain
Sin Town
1942
as 'Kentucky'Jones
Baby Face Morgan
1942
as Joe Torelli
Broadway
1942
as Dolph
Gang Busters
1942
as Halliger
Sealed Lips
1942
as Lips Haggarty
I Killed That Man
1941
as Nick Ross
The Stork Pays Off
1941
as 'Stud' Rocco
Bad Man of Deadwood
1941
as Jake Marvel
Rags to Riches
1941
as Slip Conlan
Raiders of the Desert
1941
as Sheik Talifer
Horror Island
1941
as Rod Grady
The Sea Wolf
1941
Ridin' on a Rainbow
1941
as Blake, Bank Robber
Lucky Devils
1941
as R. W. Ritter
The Rookie Cop
1939
as Joey Anderman, Roadhouse Owner
Undercover Agent
1939
as Bartel
One Mile from Heaven
1937
as Moxie McGrath
Her Husband Lies
1937
as Steve Burdick
A Man Betrayed
1936
as Tony Maroc
The Accusing Finger
1936
as Lean, Angry Convict
15 Maiden Lane
1936
as Tony
Our Relations
1936
as Gangster Boss
Human Cargo
1936
as Tony Sculla
Song and Dance Man
1936
as Crosby
The Little Red Schoolhouse
1936
as Pete Scardoni
My Marriage
1936
as Jones
If You Could Only Cook
1935
as Swig
Woman Wanted
1935
as Monk Shelby (uncredited)
Silk Hat Kid
1935
as Lefty Phillips
Stolen Harmony
1935
as Dude Williams (uncredited)
Great God Gold
1935
as Frank Nitto
The Perfect Clue
1935
as Sid Barkley
Sweepstake Annie
1935
as Hobart - Screenwriter (uncredited)
Million Dollar Baby
1934
as Mac
She Loves Me Not
1934
as J. B. Marshall
Baby Take a Bow
1934
as Trigger Stone
He Was Her Man
1934
as Frank 'Red' Deering
The Witching Hour
1934
as Frank Hardmuth
Jimmy the Gent
1934
as Hendrickson
I'm No Angel
1933
as Slick Wiley
Night Flight
1933
as Pilot
Picture Snatcher
1933
as Jerry the Mug
Cheating Blondes
1933
as Lawson Rolt
Winner Take All
1932
as Legs Davis, Diamond Ring Seller
Hollywood Speaks
1932
as Carp
The Expert
1932
as Jim Crowley
Safe in Hell
1931
as Piet van Saal
The Secret Witness
1931
as Lewis Leroy
Are These Our Children?
1931
as Prosecutor
The Tip-Off
1931
as Nick Vatelli
Alexander Hamilton
1931
as James Reynolds
Night Nurse
1931
as Dr. Milton Ranger
Creation
1931
as Ned Hallet
Smart Money
1931
as Sleepy Sam
Hook, Line and Sinker
1930
as John Blackwell aka Buffalo Blackie
Check and Double Check
1930
as Ralph Crawford
Dixiana
1930
as Royal Montague
Young Desire
1930
as Blackie
Framed
1930
as Chuck Gaines
Officer O'Brien
1930
as Mike Patello
Babe Comes Home
1927
as Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Headin' Home
1920
as John Tobin (as Ralph Harolds)