Francis Sayles (November 22, 1891 – March 19, 1944) was an American character actor at the beginning of the

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

era. In the short dozen years of his career he appeared in over 100 films, most of them features. While he was normally cast in small uncredited parts, he was occasionally cast in featured roles, as in the role of Dickman in the 1934 film, ''One in a Million'', starring Dorothy Wilson and

Charles Starrett Charles Robert Starrett (March 28, 1903 – March 22, 1986) was an American actor, best known for his starring role in the ''Durango Kid'' westerns. Starrett still holds the record for starring in the longest series of theatrical features: ...

Life and career

Sayles was born on November 22, 1891, in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

. His film debut occurred in a small role of a detective in '' Strangers of the Evening'' (1932), starring

ZaSu Pitts Zasu Pitts (; January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas, including Erich von Stroheim's epic 1924 silent film ''Greed'', and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the ...

. Other notable films in which Sayles appears include: the featured role of Charlie Blaine in 1932's ''

Blonde Venus ''Blonde Venus'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film starring Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall and Cary Grant. It was produced and directed by Josef von Sternberg from a screenplay by Jules Furthman and S. K. Lauren, adapted from a story b ...

'', starring

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

and

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one o ...

; a small role in '' The Gay Deception'' (1935), starring

Francis Lederer Francis Lederer (November 6, 1899 Prague – May 25, 2000) was an Austro-Hungarian Empire-born American film and stage actor with a successful career, first in Europe, then in the United States. His original name was Franz (Czech František) Le ...

and

Frances Dee Frances Marion Dee (November 26, 1909 – March 6, 2004) was an American actress. Her first film was the musical ''Playboy of Paris'' (1930). She starred in the film '' An American Tragedy'' (1931). She is also known for starring in the 1943 ...

; a bit part as a waiter in the 1936 romantic comedy ''

More Than a Secretary ''More Than a Secretary'' is a 1936 American romantic comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Dale Van Every and Lynn Starling. The story was adapted by Ethel Hill and Aben Kandel, based on the magazine story "Safari in Manhattan ...

'', starring

Jean Arthur Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American Broadway and film actress whose career began in silent films in the early 1920s and lasted until the early 1950s. Arthur had feature roles in three F ...

George Brent George Brent (born George Brendan Nolan; 15 March 1904 – 26 May 1979) was an Irish-American stage, film, and television actor. He is best remembered for the eleven films he made with Bette Davis, which included '' Jezebel'' and '' Dark Victo ...

, and

Lionel Stander Lionel Jay Stander (January 11, 1908 – November 30, 1994) was an American actor in films, radio, theater and television. He is best remembered for his role as majordomo Max on the 1980s mystery television series '' Hart to Hart''. Early ...

; the featured role of Charlie in

Archie Mayo Archibald L. Mayo (January 29, 1891 – December 4, 1968) was a film director, screenwriter and actor. Early years The son of a tailor, Mayo was born in New York City. After attending the city's public schools, he studied at Columbia Unive ...

's 1937 drama '' Black Legion'', starring Humphrey Bogart; as Detective William Jones in the 1938 western '' The Purple Vigilantes'', starring Robert Livingston,

Ray Corrigan Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...

, and

Max Terhune Max Terhune (February 12, 1891 – June 5, 1973) was an American film actor born in Franklin, Indiana. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Among these, Terhune starred in '' The Three Mesquiteers'' and ...

; an uncredited role in

Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz ( ; born Manó Kaminer; since 1905 Mihály Kertész; hu, Kertész Mihály; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed cla ...

' 1939 western, ''

Dodge City Dodge City is the county seat of Ford County, Kansas, United States, named after nearby Fort Dodge. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 27,788. The city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town ...

'', starring

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...

and

Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...

; as a politician in

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

' 1941 classic, '' Citizen Kane''; as a taxi driver in the 1943 Howard Hawks' romantic comedy, ''

Ball of Fire ''Ball of Fire'' is a 1941 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. This Samuel Goldwyn Productions film (originally distributed by RKO) concerns a group of professors laboring to ...

'' (1942), starring

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

and Barbara Stanwyck; again as a cab driver in the 1943 biopic, ''

The Pride of the Yankees ''The Pride of the Yankees'' is a 1942 American film produced by Samuel Goldwyn, directed by Sam Wood, and starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, and Walter Brennan. It is a tribute to the legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, who di ...

'', starring Gary Cooper and

Teresa Wright Muriel Teresa Wright (October 27, 1918 – March 6, 2005) was an American actress. She was nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: in 1941 for her debut work in '' The Little Foxes'', and in 1942 for '' Mrs. Miniver' ...

; and the 1944 biography '' The Adventures of Mark Twain'', starring

Fredric March Fredric March (born Ernest Frederick McIntyre Bickel; August 31, 1897 – April 14, 1975) was an American actor, regarded as one of Hollywood's most celebrated, versatile stars of the 1930s and 1940s.Obituary '' Variety'', April 16, 1975, ...

and Alexis Smith. Sayles had a small role of an elevator operator in the 1944 film, ''

Casanova Brown ''Casanova Brown'' is a 1944 American comedy romantic film directed by Sam Wood, written by Nunnally Johnson, and starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, and Frank Morgan. The film had its world premiere in western France after the Allies had li ...

'', again starring Cooper and Wright. It was his final film, he died on March 19, 1944, while the film was still in production. It was released later that year in August.

Filmography

(Per

AFI AFI may refer to: * ''Address-family identifier'', a 16 bit field of the Routing Information Protocol * Ashton Fletcher Irwin, an Australian drummer * AFI (band), an American rock band ** ''AFI'' (2004 album), a retrospective album by AFI rele ...

database) * ''

'' (1932) * '' Strangers of the Evening'' (1932) * '' False Faces'' (1932) * ''The Texas Bad Man'' (1932) * ''

College Rhythm ''College Rhythm'' is a 1934 American musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Jack Oakie, Mary Brian, and Joe Penner. The budget was $537,000. Filming started August 16, 1934.Michael A. Hoey, ''Elvis' Favorite Director: The Ama ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Big Shakedown ''The Big Shakedown'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film starring Charles Farrell and Bette Davis, and directed by John Francis Dillon. The screenplay is based on the story "Cut Rate" by Niven Busch and Samuel G. Engel. The film also stars ...

'' (1934) * '' One in a Million'' (1934) * ''

Home on the Range "Home on the Range" is a classic cowboy song, sometimes called the "unofficial anthem" of the American West. Dr. Brewster M. Higley (also spelled Highley) of Smith County, Kansas, wrote the lyrics as the poem "My Western Home" in 1872 or 1873 ...

'' (1934) * ''One Hour Late'' (1934) * ''

Hands Across the Table ''Hands Across the Table'' is a 1935 American romantic screwball comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and released by Paramount Pictures. It stars Carole Lombard as a manicurist looking for a rich husband and Fred MacMurray as a poor playboy, ...

'' (1935) * '' Love Me Forever'' (1935) * ''

Midnight Phantom ''Midnight Phantom'' is a 1935 American film directed by Bernard B. Ray. Plot summary Cast * Reginald Denny as Prof. David Graham * Claudia Dell as Diana Sullivan (misspelled Diane Sullivan in opening credits) * Lloyd Hughes as Police Lt ...

'' (1935) * '' The Gay Deception'' (1935) * ''

Big Brown Eyes ''Big Brown Eyes'' is a 1936 American crime comedy film. In the film, police officer Danny Barr (Cary Grant) is chasing jewel robbers. His girlfriend Eve Fallon (Joan Bennett) is initially working as a manicurist, but quickly takes a job as a re ...

'' (1936) * ''

Florida Special ''Florida Special'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by David Boehm, Marguerite Roberts, Laura Perelman and S. J. Perelman. The film stars Jack Oakie, Sally Eilers, Kent Taylor, Frances Drake, Claude Gilling ...

'' (1936) * ''Love Begins at Twenty'' (1936) * ''

Alibi for Murder ''Alibi for Murder'' is a 1936 American crime film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring William Gargan, Marguerite Churchill and Gene Morgan. Plot A radio newsman investigates the murder of a well-known inventor. Cast * William Gargan a ...

'' (1936) * ''The Music Goes 'Round'' (1936) * ''

'' (1936) * '' Yours for the Asking'' (1936) * '' Black Legion'' (1937) as Charlie * ''

The Plainsman ''The Plainsman'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The film presents a highly fictionalized account of the adventures and relationships between Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jan ...

'' (1937) * ''

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) * '' Make Way for Tomorrow'' (1937) * ''45 Fathers'' (1937) * ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...

'' (1937) * '' Easy Living'' (1937) * ''

Alcatraz Island Alcatraz Island () is a small island in San Francisco Bay, offshore from San Francisco, California, United States. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military pri ...

'' (1937) * ''The Man in Blue'' (1937) * '' Sophie Lang Goes West'' (1937) * '' Partners in Crime'' (1937) (credited as Francis H. Sayles) * ''Sing and Be Happy'' (1937) * '' The Hit Parade'' (1937) * ''

It Happened in Hollywood ''It Happened in Hollywood'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Harry Lachman and starring Richard Dix, Fay Wray and Victor Kilian. The arrival of sound wrecks the career of a leading western actor while his leading lady rises to new hei ...

'' (1937) * '' Trapped'' (1937) * '' I Promise to Pay'' (1937) * ''

Broadway Musketeers ''Broadway Musketeers'' is a 1938 American musical drama film directed by John Farrow for Warner Bros. Starring Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan and Marie Wilson as three women who grew up in an orphanage and cross paths later in life, it is a re ...

'' (1938) * ''

Wives Under Suspicion ''Wives Under Suspicion'' is a 1938 American crime film based on a 1932 Ladislas Fodor play that was previously adapted into the film, '' The Kiss Before the Mirror''. This version was directed by James Whale and stars Warren William, Gail Pa ...

'' (1938) * '' Swing That Cheer'' (1938) * '' Secrets of a Nurse'' (1938) * '' The Purple Vigilantes'' (1938) * '' Down on the Farm'' (1938) * ''

Newsboys' Home ''Newsboys' Home'' is a 1938 crime film that starred Jackie Cooper and '' The Little Tough Guys''. Plot When his father, a small town sheriff, is slain by a big city gangster, "Rifle" Edwards becomes a homeless vagabond, drifting from town to t ...

'' (1938) * ''

Man of Conquest ''Man of Conquest'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by George Nicholls Jr. and starring Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, and Joan Fontaine. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Score, Best Sound ( Charles L. Lootens), a ...

'' (1939) * '' King of the Underworld'' (1939) (?) * ''

'' (1939) * '' The Big Guy'' (1939) * ''

Hollywood Cavalcade ''Hollywood Cavalcade'' is a 1939 American film featuring Alice Faye as a young performer making her way in the early days of Hollywood, from slapstick silent pictures through the transition from silent to sound. Production In the wake of Alic ...

'' (1939) * ''

Riders of Black River ''Riders of Black River'' is a 1939 American Western film directed by Norman Deming and written by Bennett Cohen. The film stars Charles Starrett, Iris Meredith, Dick Curtis, Stanley Brown, Bob Nolan and Francis Sayles. The film was released on ...

'' (1939) * '' Devil's Island'' (1939) * '' For Love or Money'' (1939) * ''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...

'' (1939) * '' Laugh It Off'' (1939) * '' Riders of Pasco Basin'' (1940) * '' Private Affairs'' (1940) * ''

One Crowded Night ''One Crowded Night'' is a 1940 drama film directed by Irving Reis. Cast * Billie Seward as Gladys * William Haade as Joe Miller * Charles Lang as Fred Matson (Navy deserter prisoner) * Adele Pearce as Ruth Matson * J.M. Kerrigan as Brother 'Doc ...

'' (1940) * '' Henry Aldrich for President'' (1941) (credited as Francis H. Sayles) * ''

Man Made Monster ''Man-Made Monster'' is a 1941 American Science fiction film, science-fiction horror film directed by George Waggner and produced by Jack Bernhard for Universal Pictures. Filmed in black-and-white, it stars Lon Chaney, Jr. (in his horror film deb ...

'' (1941) * ''

Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case ''Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case'' is a 1941 American crime film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and written by Sidney Sheldon and Ben Roberts. The film stars James Ellison, Virginia Gilmore, Franklin Pangborn, Paul Harvey, Lynne Carver ...

'' (1941) * '' Pacific Blackout'' (1941) * '' Public Enemies'' (1941) * ''

Rags to Riches Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popul ...

'' (1941) * '' The Son of Davy Crockett'' (1941) * ''Thunder over the Prairie'' (1941) * '' Thundering Hoofs'' (1941) * ''

World Premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its firs ...

'' (1941) * '' Citizen Kane'' (1941) as Politician (uncredited) * ''

'' (1941) * ''

Secrets of the Underground ''Secrets of the Underground'' is a 1942 American crime film directed by William Morgan and written by Robert Tasker and Daniel Mainwaring. The film stars John Hubbard, Virginia Grey, Lloyd Corrigan, Robin Raymond, Miles Mander and Olin Howlan ...

'' (1942) * ''

Wild Bill Hickok Rides ''Wild Bill Hickok Rides'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Constance Bennett, Bruce Cabot and Warren William. Bennett was paid $10,000 for her appearance, a significant drop from what she had recently been e ...

'' (1942) * '' Stagecoach Express'' (1942) * ''

Sunset on the Desert ''Sunset on the Desert'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, and George "Gabby" Hayes. Plot Cast *Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers / Deputy Bill Sloan * George "Gabby" Hayes as Gabby Whittaker * Lynn ...

'' (1942) * ''

North of the Rockies ''North of the Rockies'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Bill Elliott and Tex Ritter. Plot Western. Mounty rounds up gang of fur smugglers Cast * Bill Elliott as Sergeant Wild Bill Cameron * Tex Ritter ...

'' (1942) * ''

Alias Boston Blackie ''Alias Boston Blackie'' (1942) is the third in a series of fourteen Columbia Pictures "B" movies starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie. It was preceded by ''Meet Boston Blackie'', ''Confessions of Boston Blackie'' and followed by '' Boston ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Mystery of Marie Roget ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1942) * ''

Take a Letter, Darling ''Take a Letter, Darling'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Rosalind Russell. It was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Art Direction ( Hans Dreier, ...

'' (1942) * ''

Dr. Broadway ''Dr. Broadway'' is a 1942 American mystery film directed by Anthony Mann (as his directorial debut) and written by Art Arthur. The film stars Macdonald Carey, Jean Phillips, Eduardo Ciannelli, Richard Lane, J. Carrol Naish, Joan Woodbury and ...

'' (1942) * '' Sweater Girl'' (1942) * '' Thundering Hoofs'' (1942) * ''

Somewhere I'll Find You ''Somewhere I'll Find You'' is a 1942 film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner, released by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. The film took almost two years to complete and was the last film Gable starred in before he enlisted ...

'' (1942) as Pearcley (voice) (uncredited) * ''

The Glass Key ''The Glass Key'' is a novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. First published as a serial in '' Black Mask'' magazine in 1930, it then was collected in 1931 (in London; the American edition followed 3 months later). It tells the story of a ga ...

'' (1942) * '' Unseen Enemy'' (1942) * '' Strictly in the Groove'' (1942) * '' Coney Island'' (1943) * '' Crazy House'' (1943) * ''

Fighting Frontier ''Fighting Frontier'' is a 1943 Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer."The Christian Science Monitor's Guide to Current Motion Pictures: Recent Releases" ''The Christian Science Monitor'' 17 Feb 1943: 11. Plot A detective goes undercover as ...

'' (1943) * '' The Good Fellows'' (1943) * ''

Honeymoon Lodge ''Honeymoon Lodge'', also known as ''Second Honeymoon'', is a 1943 American musical comedy film directed by Edward C. Lilley for Universal Pictures and starring David Bruce, Harriet Hilliard, June Vincent, and Rod Cameron. Plot Cast * David ...

'' (1943) * '' Moonlight in Vermont'' (1943) * ''

'' (1943) as Cab Driver (uncredited) * ''

Hi, Good Lookin'! ''Hi, Good Lookin'!'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Edward C. Lilley and written by Paul Gerard Smith, Bradford Ropes and Eugene Conrad. The film stars Harriet Nelson, Eddie Quillan, Kirby Grant, Betty Kean, Roscoe Karns, Vivian ...

'' (1944) * ''

Ministry of Fear ''Ministry of Fear'' is a 1944 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and starring Ray Milland and Marjorie Reynolds. Based on the 1943 novel by Graham Greene, the film tells the story of a man just released from a mental asylum who finds ...

'' (1944) * ''

Shine on Harvest Moon "Shine On, Harvest Moon" is a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of moon-related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the ...

'' (1944) * ''

Sing a Jingle ''Sing a Jingle'' is a 1944 American musical film directed by Edward C. Lilley and starring Allan Jones, June Vincent and Samuel S. Hinds.Taylor & Jackson p.274 Plot Partial cast * Allan Jones as Ray King * June Vincent as Muriel Crane * ...

'' (1944) * '' The Adventures of Mark Twain'' (1944)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sayles, Francis 1891 births 1944 deaths 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Buffalo, New York