Clarence William Kolb (July 31, 1874 – November 25, 1964) was an American

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

performer and

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

known for his comedy routines that featured a Dutch dialect.

Biography

Kolb started out as one half of a vaudeville comedy team, Kolb and Dill, with Max Dill. They styled their act on the famous team of Weber and

Fields Fields may refer to: Music * Fields (band), an indie rock band formed in 2006 * Fields (progressive rock band), a progressive rock band formed in 1971 * ''Fields'' (album), an LP by Swedish-based indie rock band Junip (2010) * "Fields", a song b ...

. In addition to their stage work, they appeared in a series of

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s and a

feature-length A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

movie in 1917. Afterwards, Kolb made a return to vaudeville, only returning to the movies in the late 1930s. In 1935, Kolb left the act to work in films as a

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

, eventually appearing in 75 feature films. He became famous for portraying the same type of character in many films, namely, a politician or businessman. He is best remembered for his roles as the grumpy father in the multi-Academy Award-nominated hit comedy film ''

Merrily We Live ''Merrily We Live'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Eddie Moran and Jack Jevne. It stars Constance Bennett and Brian Aherne and features Ann Dvorak, Bonita Granville, Billie Burke, Tom Brown, Alan Mowbray, ...

'' (1938), as the corrupt mayor in the comedy ''

His Girl Friday ''His Girl Friday'' is a 1940 American screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell and featuring Ralph Bellamy and Gene Lockhart. It was released by Columbia Pictures. The plot centers on a newspaper edito ...

'' (1940), and as Mr. Honeywell in the

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...

My Little Margie ''My Little Margie'' is an American television situation comedy starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955. The series was created by Frank Fox and produced in Los Angeles, California, at Hal Ro ...

'' (1952). Kolb played himself in his last movie appearance, '' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957), opposite Danny Beck (who played the late Max Dill). On September 1, 1917, Kolb married dancer May Cloy (whose birth name was Mabel S. Larsen). They were still married when he died. Kolb died at age 90 of a stroke at the Orchard Gables Sanitarium in Hollywood.Social Security Death Index, Name: Clarence Kolb, Birth: July 31, 1875, Issued: California, Death: Nov 1964, Last Residence: (California). He is interred in the

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries is an American corporation that owns and operates a chain of cemeteries and mortuaries in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties in Southern California. History The company was founded by a group of ...

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

Partial filmography

*''A Million for Mary'' (1916) - Louie *''The Three Pals'' (1916) - Louie *''Bluff'' (1916) - Louie *''Peck o' Pickles'' (1916) - Rudolph Schlitz *''Lonesome Town'' (1916) - Louie *''Glory'' (1917) - Louie Bohn *''Beloved Rogues'' (1917) - Louie Vandergriff *''

Two Flaming Youths ''Two Flaming Youths'' is a lost 1927 American silent comedy film directed by John Waters and written by John W. Conway, Donald Davis, Percy Heath, and Herman J. Mankiewicz. The film stars W. C. Fields, Chester Conklin, Mary Brian, Jack Luden ...

'' (1927) - Kolb - as Kolb and Dill *'' Fury'' (1936) - Durkin's Friend (uncredited) *''

After the Thin Man ''After the Thin Man'' is a 1936 American murder mystery comedy film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring William Powell, Myrna Loy and James Stewart. A sequel to the 1934 feature ''The Thin Man'', the film presents Powell and Loy as Dashiel ...

'' (1936) - Cousin Lucius (uncredited) *''

Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...

'' (1937) - Town Crier (uncredited) *''

The Toast of New York ''The Toast of New York'' is a 1937 American biopic directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. St ...

'' (1937) - Cornelius Vanderbilt *''

Portia on Trial ''Portia on Trial'' is a 1937 American film about a trial based on story of Faith Baldwin and directed by George Nicholls Jr. It was nominated to win the Oscar for Best Music in the 10th Academy Awards. Premise Lady lawyer Portia Merryman (Fr ...

'' (1937) - John Condon *''

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...

'' (1937) - John Butterfield *'' Gold Is Where You Find It'' (1938) - Senator Walsh *''

'' (1938) - Mr. Kilbourne *''

Give Me a Sailor ''Give Me a Sailor'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by Elliott Nugent, starring Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable and Jack Whiting. This was Raye and Hope's third film together, the first in which they played the leads. Plot Jim and Walter B ...

'' (1938) - CaptainTallant *'' Carefree'' (1938) - Judge Travers *'' The Law West of Tombstone'' (1938) - Sam Kent *''

Honolulu Honolulu (; ) is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an unincorporated county seat of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, situated along the southeast coast of the island ...

'' (1939) - Mr. Horace Grayson *''

I Was a Convict ''I Was a Convict'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Aubrey Scotto and written by Robert Hardy Andrews and Ben Markson. The film stars Barton MacLane, Beverly Roberts, Clarence Kolb, Janet Beecher, Horace McMahon and Ben Welden. The fi ...

'' (1939) - John B. Harrison *''

Society Lawyer ''Society Lawyer'' is a 1939 crime film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Walter Pidgeon and Virginia Bruce. It is a milder remake of the pre-Code '' Penthouse'' (1933). Box office According to MGM records the film made $312,000 in the US ...

'' (1939) - Mr. Leonard *'' It Could Happen to You'' (1939) - Alfred Wiman *''

Good Girls Go to Paris ''Good Girls Go to Paris'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film starring Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell. Plot Jenny Swanson is a waitress in a small college town whose dream is to go to Paris by any means necessary. She confides her plan for ...

'' (1939) - Ted Dayton Sr. *''

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew ''Five Little Peppers and How They Grew'' is a 1939 American black-and-white children's comedy drama film directed by Charles Barton, produced by Jack Fier and based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Sidney. Starring Edith Fellows, Charl ...

'' (1939) - Mr. King *'' Our Leading Citizen'' (1939) - Jim Hanna * ''

Beware Spooks! ''Beware Spooks!'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Joe E. Brown, Mary Carlisle and Clarence Kolb.Gehring p.100 Synopsis Rookie cop Roy L. Gifford is kicked off the force after he accidentally assists a ...

'' (1939) - Commissioner Lester Lewis *'' The Amazing Mr. Williams'' (1939) - Police Captain McGovern *''

'' (1940) - Mayor *''

Five Little Peppers at Home ''Five Little Peppers at Home'' is a 1940 American drama black and white film. It is the second Five Little Peppers film. Cast * Edith Fellows as Polly Pepper *Charles Peck as Ben Pepper * Tommy Bond as Joey Pepper *Bobby Larson as Davie Pepper ...

'' (1940) - Mr. King *''

The Man Who Talked Too Much ''The Man Who Talked Too Much'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Vincent Sherman and written by Walter DeLeon and Earl Baldwin. Starring George Brent, Virginia Bruce, Brenda Marshall, Richard Barthelmess, William Lundigan, George Tobia ...

'' (1940) - E.A. Smith *''

No Time for Comedy ''No Time for Comedy'' is a 1940 American comedy-drama film based on the play of the same name by S. N. Behrman, starring James Stewart, Rosalind Russell, Genevieve Tobin and Charlie Ruggles. Plot summary Gaylord Esterbrook (Stewart), a reporte ...

'' (1940) - Richard Benson *''

Tugboat Annie Sails Again ''Tugboat Annie Sails Again'' is a 1940 American comedy romance film directed by Lewis Seiler. The picture is a sequel to ''Tugboat Annie'' (1933). Marjorie Rambeau took over the late Marie Dressler's role, and the supporting cast features Alan H ...

'' (1940) - J.B. Armstrong *''

Michael Shayne, Private Detective ''Michael Shayne, Private Detective'' is a 1940 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lloyd Nolan, Marjorie Weaver and Joan Valerie.Backer p.106 It is based on Brett Halliday's novel ''The Private Practice of Michael Shay ...

'' (1940) - Brighton *''

Caught in the Draft ''Caught in the Draft'' is a 1941 comedy/war film with Bob Hope directed by David Butler. Plot Famous Hollywood actor Don Bolton (Hope) is a vain movie star whose biggest fear is to be drafted into the US Army. He definitely lacks the qualities ...

'' (1941) - Col. Peter Fairbanks *''

Blossoms in the Dust ''Blossoms in the Dust'' is a 1941 American biographical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Felix Bressart, Marsha Hunt, Fay Holden and Samuel S. Hinds. It tells the true story of Edna Gladney, who helped o ...

'' (1941) - Texas Senator T.R. Cotton (uncredited) *'' Nothing But The Truth'' (1941) - Mr. Van Dusen *''

The Night of January 16th ''Night of January 16th'' (sometimes advertised as ''The Night of January 16th'') is a theatrical play by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, inspired by the death of the "Match King", Ivar Kreuger. Set in a courtroom during a murder trial, an ...

'' (1941) - Tilton *''

Bedtime Story A bedtime story is a traditional form of storytelling, where a story is told to a child at bedtime to prepare the child for sleep. The bedtime story has long been considered "a definite institution in many families".Dickson, Marguerite Stockm ...

'' (1941) - Collins *''

You're in the Army Now ''You're in the Army Now'' is a 1941 comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Jimmy Durante, Phil Silvers, Jane Wyman, and Regis Toomey. It featured the longest kiss in film (lasting three minutes and five seconds), between Toomey and ...

'' (1941) - General Winthrop *'' Hellzapoppin''' (1941) - Andrew Rand *''

True to the Army ''True to the Army'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell, written by Art Arthur, Bradford Ropes, Edmund L. Hartmann and Val Burton, and starring Judy Canova, Allan Jones, Ann Miller, Jerry Colonna, Clarence Kolb, Edwar ...

'' (1942) - Gen. Marlowe *'' The Sky's the Limit'' (1943) - Harvey J. Sloan (uncredited) *''

The Falcon in Danger ''The Falcon in Danger'' is a 1943 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Tom Conway, Jean Brooks, Amelita Ward and Elaine Shepard.Jewell and Harbin 1982, p. 185. The film was the sixth of thirteen The Falcon detective f ...

'' (1943) - Stanley Harris Palmer *'' True to Life'' (1943) - Mr. Huggins *''

Standing Room Only An event is described as standing-room only when it is so well-attended that all of the chairs in the venue are occupied, leaving only flat spaces of pavement or flooring for other attendees to stand, at least those spaces not restricted by occup ...

'' (1944) - Glen Ritchie *''

Irish Eyes Are Smiling ''Irish Eyes Are Smiling'' is a 1944 United States musical film which chronicles the life of popular Irish song composer Ernest R. Ball. The screenplay by Earl Baldwin and John Tucker Battle is based on a story by E. A. Ellington. The film was di ...

'' (1944) - Leo Betz *''

Something for the Boys ''Something for the Boys'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields. Produced by Mike Todd, the show opened on Broadway in 1943 and starred Ethel Merman in her fifth Cole Porter musical. P ...

'' (1944) - Colonel Grubbs (uncredited) *''

Three Is a Family ''Three Is a Family'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Edward Ludwig and starring Marjorie Reynolds, Charlie Ruggles, and Fay Bainter. The film was nominated for an Academy Awards, Academy Award for Academy Award for Best Sound, Best So ...

'' (1944) - Mr. Steele *''

What a Blonde ''What a Blonde'' is a 1945 American screwball comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Leon Errol, Richard Lane, Michael St. Angel, and Elaine Riley. The screenplay, by Charles Roberts, was based on a story by Oscar Brodney. The ...

'' (1945) - Charles DaFoe *''

Road to Alcatraz ''Road to Alcatraz'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Dwight V. Babcock and Jerry Sackheim. The film stars Robert Lowery, June Storey, Grant Withers, Clarence Kolb, Charles Gordon and William Forrest. The f ...

'' (1945) - Philip Angreet *''

The Kid from Brooklyn ''The Kid from Brooklyn'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and starring Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen, Steve Cochran, Walter Abel, Eve Arden, and Fay Bainter. Virginia Mayo's and Vera-Ellen's singing v ...

'' (1946) - Mr. Austin *''

White Tie and Tails ''White Tie and Tails'' is a 1946 American comedy drama film directed by Charles Barton and starring Dan Duryea, Ella Raines, William Bendix, and Frank Jenks. The film tagline is "Clothes Don't Make the Man ... a Gentleman!" The film is base ...

'' (1946) - Mr. Arkwright *''

The Pilgrim Lady ''The Pilgrim Lady'' is a 1947 American comedy crime film directed by Lesley Selander and starring Lynne Roberts, Warren Douglas and Alan Mowbray Alan Mowbray (born Alfred Ernest Allen; 18 August 1896 – 25 March 1969) was an English stag ...

'' (1947) - Prof. Rankin *''

Lost Honeymoon ''Lost Honeymoon'' is a 1947 American screwball comedy film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Franchot Tone, Ann Richards and Tom Conway. The working title of the film was ''Amy Comes Across''.''AFI Catalog of Motion Pictures Produced in the ...

'' (1947) - Mr. Evans *''

Fun on a Weekend ''Fun on a Weekend'' is a 1947 American comedy film written and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The film stars Eddie Bracken, Priscilla Lane, Tom Conway, Allen Jenkins, Arthur Treacher, Clarence Kolb and Fritz Feld. The film was released on May 15, ...

'' (1947) - Quigley Quackenbush *''The Hal Roach Comedy Carnival'' (1947) - Cornelius Belmont Sr., in 'Fabulous Joe' *'' The Fabulous Joe'' (1947) - Cornelius Belmont, II *''

Blondie in the Dough ''Blondie in the Dough'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, Larry Simms, and Marjorie Ann Mutchie. It is 21st of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood and his boss are frantically se ...

'' (1947) - J.T. Thorpe *''

Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation ...

'' (1947) - Judge Alston *''

Impact Impact may refer to: * Impact (mechanics), a high force or shock (mechanics) over a short time period * Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US Science and technology * Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event * Impac ...

'' (1949) - Darcy *''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' (1949) - Judge Reiser *'' The Rose Bowl Story'' (1952) - 'Gramps' Burke *'' Shake, Rattle & Rock!'' (1956) - Judge McCombs *'' Man of a Thousand Faces'' (1957) - Clarence Kolb (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kolb, Clarence 1874 births 1964 deaths American male film actors Vaudeville performers Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) American people of Austrian descent 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Cleveland American male television actors 20th-century comedians