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Douglass Dumbrille

Douglass Dumbrille

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.

See more:
Complicated Women

Complicated Women

2003

as Self (archive footage)

Batman

Batman

1966

as The Doctor

Johnny Cool

Johnny Cool

1963

Petticoat Junction

Petticoat Junction

1963

as Dave La Salle

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

1962

Air Patrol

Air Patrol

1962

as Millard Nolan

Bringing Up Buddy

Bringing Up Buddy

1960

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

1959

as Judge Ben Harlow

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

1959

as Mr. Halpert

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

1959

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

1959

as Warden

The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

1958

as Collector of the Port

77 Sunset Strip

77 Sunset Strip

1958

Bat Masterson

Bat Masterson

1958

as Gen. Taylor Millard

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

as Judge Robert Adler

Perry Mason

Perry Mason

1957

as Judge

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

1956

as Eustace Fentwick III

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers

1956

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

1956

as Jannes

Hey, Jeannie!

Hey, Jeannie!

1956

as Gen. Hardwicke

Mobs, Inc.

Mobs, Inc.

1956

as Leland Cameron James

Mobs Incorporated

Mobs Incorporated

1956

as Leland Cameron James

Jungle Safari

Jungle Safari

1956

as Lang

Matinee Theater

Matinee Theater

1955

Crossroads

Crossroads

1955

Screen Director's Playhouse

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955

as Red Beecham

Allen in Movieland

Allen in Movieland

1955

as Self- Lawyer

A Life at Stake

A Life at Stake

1955

as Gus Hillman

Jupiter's Darling

Jupiter's Darling

1955

as Scipio

The Millionaire

The Millionaire

1955

as B.G. Greenwise

The Lawless Rider

The Lawless Rider

1954

as Marshal Brady (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Public Defender

Public Defender

1954

as Frank Hackman

World for Ransom

World for Ransom

1954

as Insp. McCollum

Captain John Smith and Pocahontas

Captain John Smith and Pocahontas

1953

as Powhatan (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Letter to Loretta

Letter to Loretta

1953

as George Haviland

Plunder of the Sun

Plunder of the Sun

1953

as Consul (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

1953

as Lepidus

The Life Of Riley

The Life Of Riley

1953

as Cunningham

The Life Of Riley

The Life Of Riley

1953

Rapture

Rapture

1952

as W.C. Hutton

Sky Full of Moon

Sky Full of Moon

1952

as Rodeo Official

The Ford Television Theatre

The Ford Television Theatre

1952

as J.B. Creston

The Ford Television Theatre

The Ford Television Theatre

1952

Cavalcade of America

Cavalcade of America

1952

as Lord Rawdon

Apache War Smoke

Apache War Smoke

1952

as Maj. Dekker

Son of Paleface

Son of Paleface

1952

as Sheriff McIntyre

Scaramouche

Scaramouche

1952

as Assembly President

China Smith

China Smith

1952

Dangerous Assignment

Dangerous Assignment

1952

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951

as Governor Spriggs

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951

as Governor William Claiborne

A Millionaire for Christy

A Millionaire for Christy

1951

as J.C. Thompson

Racket Squad

Racket Squad

1951

The Kangaroo Kid

The Kangaroo Kid

1950

as Vincent Moller

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

1950

as Mr. Arthur J. Cahill

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show

1950

as Judge Strickland

Lux Video Theatre

Lux Video Theatre

1950

as Whitfield

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion

1950

as Sheik Hamud El Khalid

The Savage Horde

The Savage Horde

1950

as Col. Price

Riding High

Riding High

1950

as Eddie Howard

Buccaneer's Girl

Buccaneer's Girl

1950

as Capt. Martos

Tell It to the Judge

Tell It to the Judge

1949

as George Ellerby

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch

1949

as Captain Lance

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

The Lone Wolf and His Lady

1949

as John J. Murdock

Alimony

Alimony

1949

as Burton Crail

Riders of the Whistling Pines

Riders of the Whistling Pines

1949

as Henry Mitchell

Dynamite

Dynamite

1949

as Hank Gibbons

Last of the Wild Horses

Last of the Wild Horses

1948

as Charlie Cooper

Blonde Savage

Blonde Savage

1947

as Mark Harper

Beyond Our Own

Beyond Our Own

1947

as E.W. Osborne

The Fabulous Texan

The Fabulous Texan

1947

as Luke Roland

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

1947

as Dr. Bunyan

Dragnet

Dragnet

1947

as Frank Farrington

Dishonored Lady

Dishonored Lady

1947

as District Attorney O'Brien

It's a Joke, Son!

It's a Joke, Son!

1947

as Big Dan Healey

Under Nevada Skies

Under Nevada Skies

1946

as Courtney

Spook Busters

Spook Busters

1946

as Dr. Coslow

The Cat Creeps

The Cat Creeps

1946

as Tom McGalvey

Night in Paradise

Night in Paradise

1946

as High Priest

The Catman of Paris

The Catman of Paris

1946

as Henry Borchard

Road to Utopia

Road to Utopia

1946

as Ace Larson

Pardon My Past

Pardon My Past

1945

as Uncle Wills

The Daltons Ride Again

The Daltons Ride Again

1945

as Sheriff Hoskins

Flame of the West

Flame of the West

1945

as Marshal Tom Nightlander

The Frozen Ghost

The Frozen Ghost

1945

as Inspector Brant

A Medal for Benny

A Medal for Benny

1945

as General

Jungle Queen

Jungle Queen

1945

as Lang

Lost in a Harem

Lost in a Harem

1944

as Nimativ

Gypsy Wildcat

Gypsy Wildcat

1944

as Baron Tovar

Forty Thieves

Forty Thieves

1944

as Tad Hammond

Jungle Woman

Jungle Woman

1944

as District Attorney

Lumberjack

Lumberjack

1944

as Daniel J. Keefer

Uncertain Glory

Uncertain Glory

1944

as Police Commissioner LaFarge

False Colors

False Colors

1943

as Mark Foster

Du Barry was a Lady

Du Barry was a Lady

1943

as Willie / Duc de Rigor

Stand by for Action

Stand by for Action

1942

as Capt. Ludlow

King of the Mounties

King of the Mounties

1942

as Harper

I Married an Angel

I Married an Angel

1942

as Baron Szigethy

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

1942

as Gen. William Henry Harrison

A Gentleman After Dark

A Gentleman After Dark

1942

as Enzo Calibra

Ride 'Em Cowboy

Ride 'Em Cowboy

1942

as Jake Rainwater

Castle in the Desert

Castle in the Desert

1942

as Paul Manderley

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime

1941

as John Matthews

The Big Store

The Big Store

1941

as Mr. Grover

Washington Melodrama

Washington Melodrama

1941

as District Attorney Donnelly

Road to Zanzibar

Road to Zanzibar

1941

as Slave trader

The Roundup

The Roundup

1941

as Capt. Bob Lane

Murder Among Friends

Murder Among Friends

1941

as Carter Stevenson

Michael Shayne: Private Detective

Michael Shayne: Private Detective

1940

as Benny Gordon (as Douglas Dumbrille)

South of Pago Pago

South of Pago Pago

1940

as Williams

Virginia City

Virginia City

1940

as Maj. Drewery

Slightly Honorable

Slightly Honorable

1939

as George Taylor

Rovin' Tumbleweeds

Rovin' Tumbleweeds

1939

as Stephen Holloway

City in Darkness

City in Darkness

1939

as B. Petroff (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Thunder Afloat

Thunder Afloat

1939

as District Commander

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island

1939

as Stewart Salsbury, alias Thomas Gregory

Tell No Tales

Tell No Tales

1939

as Matt Cooper (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Captain Fury

Captain Fury

1939

as Preston

Mr. Moto in Danger Island

Mr. Moto in Danger Island

1939

as Comdr. La Costa

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

1939

as Athos (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Kentucky

Kentucky

1938

as John Dillon - 1861

Sharpshooters

Sharpshooters

1938

as Count Maxim

Storm Over Bengal

Storm Over Bengal

1938

as Ramin Khan

Crime Takes a Holiday

Crime Takes a Holiday

1938

as J.J. Grant

The Mysterious Rider

The Mysterious Rider

1938

as Pecos Bill aka Ben Wade

Fast Company

Fast Company

1938

as Arnold Stamper (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Stolen Heaven

Stolen Heaven

1938

as Klingman

The Buccaneer

The Buccaneer

1938

as Governor William C.C. Claiborne

The Firefly

The Firefly

1937

as Marquis de Melito

Ali Baba Goes to Town

Ali Baba Goes to Town

1937

as Prince Musah

The Emperor's Candlesticks

The Emperor's Candlesticks

1937

as Mr. Korum, a Conspirator

A Day at the Races

A Day at the Races

1937

as Morgan

Woman in Distress

Woman in Distress

1937

as Jerome Culver

Counterfeit Lady

Counterfeit Lady

1936

as August Marino

End of the Trail

End of the Trail

1936

as Bill Mason

M'Liss

M'Liss

1936

as Lou Ellis

The Princess Comes Across

The Princess Comes Across

1936

as Lorel

The Witness Chair

The Witness Chair

1936

as Stanley Whittaker

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936

as John Cedar

The Music Goes 'Round

The Music Goes 'Round

1936

as Bishop

You May Be Next!

You May Be Next!

1936

as Beau Gardner

The Lone Wolf Returns

The Lone Wolf Returns

1935

as Morphew

The Calling of Dan Matthews

The Calling of Dan Matthews

1935

as Jeff Hardy

Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

1935

as Grilov

Peter Ibbetson

Peter Ibbetson

1935

as Colonel Forsythe

The Public Menace

The Public Menace

1935

as Mario Tonelli

Love Me Forever

Love Me Forever

1935

as Miller

Unknown Woman

Unknown Woman

1935

Air Hawks

Air Hawks

1935

as Victor Arnold

Naughty Marietta

Naughty Marietta

1935

as Prince de Namours de la Bonfain, Marietta's Uncle

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

The Lives of a Bengal Lancer

1935

as Mohammed Khan

The Secret Bride

The Secret Bride

1934

as Breeden

Broadway Bill

Broadway Bill

1934

as Eddie Morgan

Treasure Island

Treasure Island

1934

as Pirate of the Spanish Main

Operator 13

Operator 13

1934

as General Stuart

Fog Over Frisco

Fog Over Frisco

1934

as Joshua Mayard

Harold Teen

Harold Teen

1934

as H.H. Snatcher (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Journal of a Crime

Journal of a Crime

1934

as Cartier (as Douglas Dumbrille)

Hi, Nellie!

Hi, Nellie!

1934

as Dawes

Lady Killer

Lady Killer

1933

as Spade Maddock

The World Changes

The World Changes

1933

as Buffalo Bill Cody

Female

Female

1933

as George Mumford

The Way to Love

The Way to Love

1933

as Agent Chapusard

I Loved a Woman

I Loved a Woman

1933

as U.S. Attorney Brandt (uncredited)

Baby Face

Baby Face

1933

as Brody

The Man Who Dared

The Man Who Dared

1933

as Judge Collier

Heroes for Sale

Heroes for Sale

1933

as Chief Engineer Jim (uncredited)

Elmer, the Great

Elmer, the Great

1933

as Stillman (uncredited)

The Working Man

The Working Man

1933

as Lawyer Hammersmith (uncredited)

The Rustler's Roundup

The Rustler's Roundup

1933

as Bill Brett (as Douglas Dunbrile)

King of the Jungle

King of the Jungle

1933

as Ed Peters

Hard to Handle

Hard to Handle

1933

as District Attorney (uncredited)

Laughter in Hell

Laughter in Hell

1933

as Ed Perkins

Smoke Lightning

Smoke Lightning

1933

as Sam Edson

That's My Boy

That's My Boy

1932

as Coach "Daisy" Adams

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

1932

as District Attorney (uncredited)

The Pride of the Legion

The Pride of the Legion

1932

as McMahon

Blondie of the Follies

Blondie of the Follies

1932

as Murchenson

The Wiser Sex

The Wiser Sex

1932

as Chauffeur - aka The Wop

The Symphony Murder Mystery

The Symphony Murder Mystery

1932

as Giuseppe Benito

His Woman

His Woman

1931

as Alisandroe

The Door Knocker

The Door Knocker

1931

as Gangster