Bobby Barber
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Bobby Barber (December 18, 1894 – May 24, 1976) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films. Barber is notable for his work as a foil for Abbott and Costello on and off screen.
Barber was often used by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as a form of "court jester" on the set of their films. It was his job to keep the energy level up with pranks and practical jokes. Sometimes, he even suddenly appeared on camera during a take to break up the cast and crew. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Costello answers a knock at the door expecting to see large actor Lon Chaney Jr. Instead, the very short Barber walks in wearing a funny hat with a feather. In another outtake from that film, Bela Lugosi, in full Dracula regalia, is solemnly descending a staircase to meet Abbott and Costello when all of a sudden the actors and crew burst out laughing. Lugosi, annoyed, turns around to see Barber following right behind him, mimicking his steps.
Barber also appeared in bit parts, such as a delivery boy, waiter, bellhop, or man on the street, often uncredited in movies, and in many of Abbott and Costello's films and about half their television shows. Sometimes his likeness was in a picture on a wall or a "wanted" poster in a post office. His final film appearance was in Lou Costello's last movie, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). His film career included bit parts in over 100 (known) feature films.
Acted in
The Wheeler Dealers
1963
as Workman in Night Club (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
as Juror (uncredited)
The Joker is Wild
1957
as Waiter (uncredited)
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957
as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
The Midnight Story
1957
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
1952
Adventures of Superman
1952
as Tony the Masseur
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
as Gardipe (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
as Sneaky (uncredited)
Let's Dance
1950
as George - Bartender (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
1950
as Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
Undertow
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1949
as Dry Cleaning Man (uncredited)
Africa Screams
1949
as Chauffeur (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
1948
as Waiter
I Walk Alone
1947
as Newsboy (uncredited)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
1947
as Waiter (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
1947
as Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
Riff-Raff
1947
as Customs Inspector (uncredited)
Vigilantes of Boomtown
1947
as Corbett's second
Calcutta
1946
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
1946
as Stagehand (uncredited)
From This Day Forward
1946
as Ice Man
Road to Utopia
1946
as Bartender (uncredited)
Sensation Hunters
1945
as Waiter (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
1945
as Salad Cook on Olvera Street (uncredited)
Lady on a Train
1945
Earl Carroll Vanities
1945
as Cab Driver
Practically Yours
1944
as Man on Subway (uncredited)
And Now Tomorrow
1944
as Mill Worker
Laura
1944
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Rainbow Island
1944
as Native Banana Man
I Love a Soldier
1944
as Funhouse Attendant
You Can't Ration Love
1944
as Barber (uncredited)
Swing Fever
1943
as Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited)
Crazy House
1943
as Bald Man / Director
Dizzy Pilots
1943
as Private (uncredited)
A Lady Takes a Chance
1943
as Gambler
Hi Diddle Diddle
1943
as Saloon Waiter (uncredited)
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
as Bellhop
The Sky's the Limit
1943
as Canteen Waiter (uncredited)
All by Myself
1943
as Waiter
Hit the Ice
1943
as Candy Butcher (uncredited)
Presenting Lily Mars
1943
as Busboy
Reveille with Beverly
1943
as Collins (uncredited)
Who Done It?
1942
as Test Technician in Booth (uncredited)
Matri-Phony
1942
as Snake Charmer (uncredited)
Beyond the Blue Horizon
1942
as Member of La'oa's Gang (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
1942
as Man in Park in Front of Kay
Powder Town
1942
as Waiter (uncredited)
Roxie Hart
1942
as Bald Juror (uncredited)
A Date with the Falcon
1942
as Spectator (uncredited)
The Gay Falcon
1941
as Angelo (uncredited)
King of the Texas Rangers
1941
as Eduardo
Hold That Ghost
1941
as Waiter (uncredited)
Cracked Nuts
1941
as Waiter
In the Navy
1941
as Sailor in Finale (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
1941
as Prisoner (uncredited)
The Monster and the Girl
1941
as Juryman (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
1941
as Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)
Second Chorus
1941
as Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
They Knew What They Wanted
1940
as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)
The Villain Still Pursued Her
1940
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Spring Parade
1940
as Waiter Who Spills Tray (uncredited)
The Leather Pushers
1940
Stranger on the Third Floor
1940
as Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)
Primrose Path
1940
as Benny (uncredited)
Road to Singapore
1940
as Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
1940
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Nothing But Pleasure
1940
as Snacking Bus Rider
Pest from the West
1939
as Musician (uncredited)
Topper Takes a Trip
1938
as Hotel Staffer Moving Bed (uncredited)
Cipher Bureau
1938
Carefree
1938
as (uncredited)
Professor Beware
1938
as Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag
Having Wonderful Time
1938
as Bartender (uncredited)
Vivacious Lady
1938
as Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Everybody's Doing It
1938
as Short Slap Happy Henchman
Fight for Your Lady
1937
as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Breakfast for Two
1937
as Window Washer (uncredited)
Super-Sleuth
1937
as Photographer
History Is Made at Night
1937
as Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)
Great Guy
1936
as Grocery Clerk (Uncredited)
Smartest Girl in Town
1936
as Hotel Porter
Dodsworth
1936
as Italian Taxi Driver (Uncredited)
Walking on Air
1936
as Silent Waiter at Beach Club (uncredited)
Hollywood Boulevard
1936
as Man with Gong (uncredited)
The Preview Murder Mystery
1936
as Prop Man (Uncredited)
Modern Times
1936
as Worker (uncredited)
We're Only Human
1935
as Counterman
I Don't Remember
1935
as Dentist Patient
Alimony Aches
1935
as Undertaker's Assistant
I'm No Angel
1933
as Man in Crowd (uncredited)
The Night of June 13
1932
as Jury Foreman (uncredited)
Horse Feathers
1932
as Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
The Life of the Party
1930
as Waiter
Soup to Nuts
1930
as Revolutionary (uncredited)
Doughboys
1930
as Doughboy (uncredited)
Pep Up
1929
as clothing salesman on street
All in Fun
1928