Granville Bates (January 7, 1882 – July 8, 1940) was an American character actor and bit player, appearing in over ninety films.

Biography

Bates was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

in 1882 to Granville Bates, Sr., a developer and builder, and Adaline Bates (née Gleason). He grew up in the Lakeview neighborhood of

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

on the southeast corner of Evanston (now

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

) Ave. and Oakdale Ave. in a townhouse that his father later demolished, along with all of the others on the block, to redevelop as a four-story commercial building with apartments above. Bates began his film career in the 1910s with Essanay Studios of the Chicago film industry, and his

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

draft Registration Card listed him as a travelling actor for Francis Owen & Co. He appeared on Broadway in the late 1920s and early 1930s, notably in the original production of '' Merrily We Roll Along'' (1934) by George S. Kaufman and

Moss Hart Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 – December 20, 1961) was an American playwright, librettist, and theater director. Early years Hart was born in New York City, the son of Lillian (Solomon) and Barnett Hart, a cigar maker. He had a younger brother ...

. He was also the Conductor in the original production of ''

Twentieth Century The 20th (twentieth) century began on January 1, 1901 (1901, MCMI), and ended on December 31, 2000 (2000, MM). The 20th century was dominated by significant events that defined the modern era: Spanish flu, Spanish flu pandemic, World War I and ...

'' (1932). Grave of Granville Bates (1882–1940) at Graceland Cemetery, Chicago

From the 1930s, he appeared in a number of classic films, although sometimes uncredited. He received favorable notice for his character roles, such as in ''

My Favorite Wife ''My Favorite Wife'' (released in the U.K. as ''My Favourite Wife'') is a 1940 screwball comedy produced by Leo McCarey and directed by Garson Kanin. The picture stars Irene Dunne as a woman who, after being shipwrecked on a tropical island fo ...

'' (1940), where he played an irascible judge - ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' critic

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though his ...

wrote "Mr. Bates deserves a separate mention for his masterpiece of comic creation." Another ''New York Times'' reviewer noted that "Edward Ellis and Granville Bates provoked an early audience yesterday to gentle laughter in a brief but quietly amusing sequence" in ''

Chatterbox Chatterbox also styled as CHATTERbOX was a project of the Crucified's Jeff Bellew. The project has hosted many session musicians, including Stavesacre and the Crucified's Mark Salomon, and Argyle Park and Circle of Dust's Scott Albert. Bellew ha ...

'' (1936), while Crowther praised his work in ''

Men Against the Sky ''Men Against the Sky'' is a 1940 drama directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Richard Dix, Kent Taylor, Edmund Lowe and Wendy Barrie. Based on a story by John Twist, with a screenplay by novelist Nathanael West, the film is about aircraft de ...

'' (1940): "The players' performances are stock and pedestrian, excepting that of Granville Bates as a cynical banker". Bates died of a heart attack in Hollywood on July 9, 1940. He was buried at

Graceland Cemetery Graceland Cemetery is a large historic garden cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Ir ...

in Chicago.

Selected plays in which Granville Bates appeared

Selected filmography

* ''Young Mother Hubbard'' (1917) - James * ''The Kill-Joy'' (1917) - The Crab * ''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgus ...

'' (1929) - Lawyer * ''

The Sap from Syracuse ''The Sap from Syracuse'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and written by John Griffith Wray, along with Jack O'Donnell, John Hayden and Gertrude Purcell. The film stars Jack Oakie, Ginger Rogers, Granvil ...

'' (1930) - Nycross * ''

Honor Among Lovers ''Honor Among Lovers'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Dorothy Arzner. The film stars Claudette Colbert, Fredric March, Monroe Owsley, Charles Ruggles and Ginger Rogers. Plot Julia Traynor (Claud ...

'' (1931) - Clark * ''

The Smiling Lieutenant ''The Smiling Lieutenant'' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Maurice Chevalier, Claudette Colbert and Miriam Hopkins, and released by Paramount Pictures. It was written by Samson Raphaelson and ...

'' (1931) - Bill Collector (uncredited) * '' The Wiser Sex'' (1932) - City Editor * '' Midnight'' (1934) - Henry McGrath * '' Woman in the Dark'' (1934) - Sheriff Grant * ''

Woman Wanted ''Woman Wanted'' is a 1999 film directed by Kiefer Sutherland (later credited as Alan Smithee). It is based on a novel by Joanna Glass, who also wrote the screenplay. It stars Sutherland, Holly Hunter, Michael Moriarty, and Sutherland's mother ...

'' (1935) - Casey (scenes deleted) * '' Pursuit'' (1935) - Auto Camp Proprietor * ''

O'Shaughnessy's Boy ''O'Shaughnessy's Boy'' is a 1935 film starring Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper and directed by Richard Boleslawski. The picture was partly set in a circus. The cinematographer was James Wong Howe. Plot summary The plot involves a one-armed l ...

'' (1935) - Doctor * ''

I Live My Life ''I Live My Life'' is a 1935 American comedy-drama film starring Joan Crawford, Brian Aherne, and Frank Morgan, and is based on the story "Claustrophobia" by A. Carter Goodloe. Plot summary Kay Bentley (Joan Crawford), a bored socialite seeks ...

'' (1935) - Yacht Captain (uncredited) * ''

'' (1936) - Philip Greene Sr * '' Here Comes Trouble'' (1936) * ''

The Music Goes 'Round ''The Music Goes 'Round'' is a 1936 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Harry Richman, Rochelle Hudson and Walter Connolly Walter Connolly (April 8, 1887 – May 28, 1940) was an American character ac ...

'' (1936) - Political Speaker (uncredited) * ''

13 Hours by Air ''13 Hours by Air'' (also known as ''20 Hours by Air'') is a 1936 drama film made by Paramount Pictures and directed by Mitchell Leisen. The film stars Fred MacMurray and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Kenyon Nicholson and Bogart Ro ...

'' (1936) - Pop Andrews * ''

Times Square Playboy ''Times Square Playboy'' is a 1936 American romance film directed by William C. McGann and starring Warren William, June Travis and Barton MacLane. It is also known by the alternative title of ''His Best Man''. The film's art direction was by E ...

'' (1936) - Mr. Mort Calhoun * ''

Hearts Divided ''Hearts Divided'' is a 1936 American musical film about the real-life marriage between American Elizabeth 'Betsy' Patterson and Jérôme Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. It stars Marion Davies and Dick Powell as the couple. The film was a remake ...

'' (1936) - Robert Livingston (uncredited) * ''

Poppy A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers. One species of poppy, '' Papaver somniferum'', is the source of the narcotic drug o ...

'' (1936) - Mayor Farnsworth * ''

The Captain's Kid ''The Captain's Kid'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Tom Reed. The film stars May Robson, Sybil Jason, Guy Kibbee, Jane Bryan, Fred Lawrence and Dick Purcell. The film was released by Warner Bros. on Novemb ...

'' (1936) - Sheriff Pengast * ''

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 ...

'' (1936) - Van Ellyn * ''

Sing Me a Love Song ''Sing Me a Love Song'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray Enright and written by Sig Herzig and Jerry Wald. The film stars James Melton, Patricia Ellis, Hugh Herbert, ZaSu Pitts, Allen Jenkins and Nat Pendleton. The Warner Bro ...

'' (1936) - Mr. Goodrich (uncredited) * ''

Beloved Enemy ''Beloved Enemy'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by H.C. Potter and starring Merle Oberon, Brian Aherne, and David Niven. It was loosely based on the life of Michael Collins. Plot During the Irish War of Independence in 1921, Irish ...

'' (1936) - Ryan * '' Larceny on the Air'' (1937) - Prof. Rexford Sterling * ''

Breezing Home ''Breezing Home'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Milton Carruth and starring Binnie Barnes, William Gargan, and Wendy Barrie Wendy Barrie (born Marguerite Wendy Jenkins; 18 April 1912 – 2 February 1978) was a British-Ameri ...

'' (1937) - Head Politician (uncredited) * '' Green Light'' (1937) - Sheriff * '' The Great O'Malley'' (1937) - Jake - Bar Proprietor (uncredited) * '' When's Your Birthday?'' (1937) - Judge O'Day * ''

Nancy Steele Is Missing! ''Nancy Steele Is Missing!'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by George Marshall and Otto Preminger and starring Victor McLaglen, Walter Connolly and Peter Lorre.Thomas p.83 The film's sets were designed by the British art director Hans ...

'' (1937) - Joseph F.X. Flaherty * ''

Waikiki Wedding ''Waikiki Wedding'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, and Shirley Ross. Crosby plays the part of Tony Marvin, a PR man charged with extolling the virtues of the Territory ...

'' (1937) - Uncle Herman * '' Let's Get Married'' (1937) - Hank Keith * ''

The Good Old Soak ''The Good Old Soak'' is a 1937 drama film starring Wallace Beery and directed by J. Walter Ruben from a screenplay by A. E. Thomas based upon the 1922 stage play of the same name by Don Marquis. The picture's supporting cast features Una Merk ...

'' (1937) - Sam (uncredited) * '' Mountain Justice'' (1937) - Judge Crawley at Jeff's Trial * '' Make Way for Tomorrow'' (1937) - Mr. Hunter (uncredited) * '' Wings over Honolulu'' (1937) - Grocery Clerk (uncredited) * ''

They Won't Forget ''They Won't Forget'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson, Edward Norris, and Lana Turner, in her feature debut. It was based on a novel by Ward Greene called ''Death in the Deep Sou ...

'' (1937) - Detective Pindar * ''

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) - Sam Bennett * '' Back in Circulation'' (1937) - Dr. Evans * ''

The Perfect Specimen ''The Perfect Specimen'' is a 1937 film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell. The picture is based on a novel by Samuel Hopkins Adams. It was Flynn's first comedy. Plot Gerald Wicks, the heir to a large fortune, ...

'' (1937) - Hooker - Garage Owner * '' Under Suspicion'' (1937) - K.Y. Mitchell * ''

Mannequin A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. P ...

'' (1937) - Mr. Gebhart (uncredited) * ''

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) - Bradford - Banker * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) - Gentleman Wanting to Surrender (uncredited) * '' The Jury's Secret'' (1938) - Judge Pendegast * '' Gold Is Where You Find It'' (1938) - Nixon (scenes deleted) * ''

The Adventures of Marco Polo ''The Adventures of Marco Polo'' is a 1938 adventure film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Gary Cooper, Sigrid Gurie, and Basil Rathbone. It was one of the most elaborate and costly of Samuel Goldwyn's productions. Plot Nicolo Polo shows t ...

'' (1938) - Venetian Business Man (uncredited) * ''

Go Chase Yourself ''Go Chase Yourself'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Paul Yawitz and Bert Granet. The film stars Joe Penner, Lucille Ball, Richard Lane, June Travis, Fritz Feld and Tom Kennedy. The film was released ...

'' (1938) - Halliday * ''

Romance on the Run ''Romance on the Run'' is a 1938 American comedy crime film directed by Gus Meins and starring Donald Woods and Patricia Ellis. Plot A very expensive necklace known as the "Czarina's Tears" is stolen from Phelps' jewelry shop. The next morni ...

'' (1938) - Phelps * ''

Cowboy from Brooklyn ''Cowboy from Brooklyn'' is a 1938 American Western musical romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Earl Baldwin. It stars Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien and Priscilla Lane. The film was based on the 1937 Broadway play ''Howdy S ...

'' (1938) - Pop Hardy * '' Mr. Chump'' (1938) - Abner Sprague * ''

The Affairs of Annabel ''The Affairs of Annabel'' is a 1938 comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Lucille Ball and Jack Oakie. The film was followed by the sequel ''Annabel Takes a Tour'' the same year, also starring Oakie, Ball and Donnelly. Plot Wond ...

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

Youth Takes a Fling ''Youth Takes a Fling'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Joel McCrea. McCrea plays Joe Meadows, whose only ambition as a Kansas farm boy was a life at sea. He moves to New York to try to get a job as a sailo ...

'' (1938) - Mr. Judd * '' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) - Angus McGillicuddy * ''

A Man to Remember ''A Man to Remember'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Garson Kanin, his first film credit as a director. The picture was based on the short story ''Failure'', written by Katharine Haviland-Taylor, and the screenplay was penned by Dalt ...

'' (1938) - George Sykes * ''

Young Dr. Kildare ''Young Dr. Kildare'' is a 1938 film directed by Harold S. Bucquet and starring Lew Ayres as Dr. James Kildare, an idealistic, freshly graduated medical intern, who benefits greatly from the wise counsel of his experienced mentor, Dr. Leonard G ...

'' (1938) - Harry Cook (uncredited) * '' The Sisters'' (1938) - Taft Election Announcer (uncredited) * '' Hard to Get'' (1938) - Judge Harkness * ''

The Shining Hour ''The Shining Hour'' is a 1938 American romantic drama film directed by Frank Borzage, based on the 1934 play '' The Shining Hour'' by Keith Winter, and starring Joan Crawford and Margaret Sullavan. The supporting cast of the MGM film feature ...

'' (1938) - Second Man on Plane (uncredited) * ''

Next Time I Marry ''Next Time I Marry'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin and written by John Twist and Helen Meinardi. The film stars Lucille Ball, James Ellison, Lee Bowman, Granville Bates and Mantan Moreland. The film was released on ...

'' (1938) - H.E. Crocker * ''

The Great Man Votes ''The Great Man Votes'' is a 1939 American drama film starring John Barrymore as a widowed professor turned drunkard who has the deciding vote in an election for mayor. It was based on the short story of the same name by Gordon Malherbe Hillman p ...

'' (1939) - The Mayor * ''

Blackwell's Island Roosevelt Island is an island in New York City's East River, within the borough of Manhattan. It lies between Manhattan Island to the west, and the borough of Queens, on Long Island, to the east. Running from the equivalent of East 46th to 85 ...

'' (1939) - Prison Warden Stuart 'Stu' Granger * ''

Twelve Crowded Hours ''Twelve Crowded Hours'' is a 1939 film directed by Lew Landers and starring Richard Dix and Lucille Ball. Plot When the brother of his girlfriend Paula Sanders is accused of murder, reporter Nick Green tries to clear him. He suspects gangster G ...

'' (1939) - James McEwen * ''

Sweepstakes Winner ''Sweepstakes Winner'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by William C. McGann, written by John W. Krafft, and starring Marie Wilson, Johnnie Davis, Allen Jenkins, Charley Foy, Jerry Colonna and Frankie Burke. It was released by Warner ...

'' (1939) - Pop Reynolds * '' Naughty but Nice'' (1939) - Judge Kennith B. Walters, Superior Court * ''

At the Circus ''At the Circus'' is a 1939 comedy film starring the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx and Chico Marx) released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in which they help save a circus from bankruptcy. The film contains Groucho Marx's classic rendition of ...

'' (1939) - (uncredited) * ''

Indianapolis Speedway The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is an automobile racing circuit located in Speedway, Indiana, an enclave suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Verizon 200, and and formerly the home of the United States ...

'' (1939) - Mr. Greer * ''

Espionage Agent ''Espionage Agent'' is a pre–World War II spy melodrama produced by Hal B. Wallis in 1939. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, ''Espionage Agent'', like many Warner Bros. movies, clearly identifies the Germans as the enemy. This was unlike many other mov ...

'' (1939) - Phineas T. O'Grady * ''

Fast and Furious ''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, a ...

'' (1939) - Chief Miller * '' Pride of the Blue Grass'' (1939) - Col. Bob Griner * '' Eternally Yours'' (1939) - Ship Captain (uncredited) * ''

Our Neighbors – The Carters ''Our Neighbors – The Carters'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by S.K. Lauren. The film stars Fay Bainter, Frank Craven, Edmund Lowe, Genevieve Tobin, Mary Thomas and Mildred Coles. The film was released ...

'' (1939) - Joseph Laurence * ''

Charlie McCarthy, Detective ''Charlie McCarthy, Detective'' is a 1939 American comedy film starring Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy (ventriloquist), Charlie McCarthy and Robert Cummings. Plot Scotty Hamilton is a reporter who works for a crooked editor. Bill Banning is ano ...

'' (1939) - Judge Black (uncredited) * ''

Of Mice and Men ''Of Mice and Men'' is a novella written by John Steinbeck. Published in 1937, it narrates the experiences of George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers, who move from place to place in California in search of new job o ...

'' (1939) - Carlson * ''Thou Shalt Not Kill'' (1939) - Mr. Miller * ''Internationally Yours'' (1939) * ''

Brother Rat and a Baby ''Brother Rat and a Baby'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Ray Enright and written by John Cherry Monks, Jr. and Fred F. Finklehoffe. It is the sequel to the 1938 film ''Brother Rat''. The film stars Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris (Ameri ...

'' (1940) - First Doctor (uncredited) * ''

Granny Get Your Gun ''Granny Get Your Gun'' is a 1940 American comedy western film directed by George Amy and written by Kenneth Gamet. The film stars May Robson, Harry Davenport, Margot Stevenson, Hardie Albright, Clem Bevans and Clay Clement. It is based primaril ...

'' (1940) - Tom Redding * ''

Millionaire Playboy ''Millionaire Playboy'' originally entitled ''Playboy No. 2'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins from a screenplay by Bert Granet and Charles E. Roberts, based upon Granet's story. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pi ...

'' (1940) - Stafford * ''

'' (1940) - Judge Bryson * '' Brother Orchid'' (1940) - Pattonsville Superintendent * ''

The Mortal Storm ''The Mortal Storm'' is a 1940 American drama film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; June 22, 1940, page 98. It was directed by Frank Borzage and stars Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart. The film shows the ...

'' (1940) - Professor Berg * ''

Anne of Windy Poplars Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

'' (1940) - Dr. Walton (uncredited) * '' Private Affairs'' (1940) - Judge Samuel Elmer Hamilton * '' Flowing Gold'' (1940) - Charles Hammond / Shylock * ''

'' (1940) - Mr. Burdett (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bates, Granville 1882 births 1940 deaths American male film actors Burials at Graceland Cemetery (Chicago) Male actors from Chicago 20th-century American male actors American male stage actors