Harlan Briggs

Harlan Briggs (August 17, 1879 – January 26, 1952) was an American actor and Vaudeville performer who was active from the 1930s until his death in 1952. During the course of his career he appeared on Broadway, in over 100 films, as well as appearing on television once towards the end of his career.

Early life

Briggs was born on August 17, 1879 in Blissfield, Michigan. Although he was a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he chose to go into acting rather than pursue a career in law.

Career

His acting career began in Vaudeville at around the beginning of the 20th century. He would make his Broadway debut in 1926, in the drama ''Up the Line''. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1935. On August 6, 1929 he began a successful run in the featured role of G. A. Appleby in ''It's a Wise Child'' at the Belasco Theatre. In 1934 he had another featured role in the successful play, '' Dodsworth'', as Tubby Pearson. The show opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 24, 1934 and ran for 147 performances, starring Walter Huston as Samuel Dodsworth. After a six-week hiatus, the show reopened at the Shubert on August 20 and ran for an additional 168 performances. When Samuel Goldwyn brought the rights to the play, Briggs was one of two of the original Broadway cast to reprise their roles in the film, the other being Huston in the title role. He would focus on his film career for the remainder of the 1930s, before returning to Broadway in the 1940s, combining both stage and screen performances during that decade. The most successful of his Broadway appearances in the 1940s was as Constable Small in ''Ramshackle Inn'', which featured ZaSu Pitts in her Broadway debut.

''The Story of Mary Surratt'', in which Briggs appeared in 1947, was Briggs' 400th play.

Beginning with ''Dodsworth'', Briggs worked consistently in films over the next 16 years, until his death in 1952, appearing in over 100 films. His most famous role was as Dr. Stall in the 1940 comedy classic, ''The Bank Dick'', starring W.C. Fields. Other notable films in which he appeared include: ''After the Thin Man'' (1936); '' Stella Dallas'' (1937); ''Having Wonderful Time'' (1938); ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1939); '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939); ''My Little Chickadee'' (1940); '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940); ''State Fair'' (1945); '' Night and Day'' (1946); '' Little Women'' (1949); ''Goodbye, My Fancy'' (1951) and ''Carrie'' (1952). The last film on which Briggs worked was ''The Sea Hornet'', which was in production in April and May 1951, and released later that year.

Personal life

Briggs married actress Viola Scott on July 3, 1914. They had four sons.

Death

On January 26, 1952, Briggs died in Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital from complications resulting from a heart attack. He was buried in Glen Haven Memorial Park in Los Angeles County, California. His death occurred almost half a year prior to the release of ''Carrie''.

Filmography

(Per AFI database)

*'' We're in the Money'' (1935) as Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
*''Mad Holiday'' (1936) as Mr. Kinney
*''After the Thin Man'' (1936) as Burton Forrest (uncredited)
*'' Dodsworth'' (1936) as Tubby Pearson
*'' The Garden of Allah'' (1936) as American Tourist in Hotel (uncredited)
*'' Happy Go Lucky'' (1936) as U.S. Consul E.R. Brown
*''Dynamite Delaney'' (1936)
*''Marked Woman'' (1937) as Sad Man with Emmy Lou in Nightclub (uncredited)
*'' Riding on Air'' (1937) as Mr. Harrison
*'' Stella Dallas'' (1937) as Mr. Beamer (uncredited)
*'' Exclusive'' (1937) as Springer
*''Quick Money'' (1937) as Thorndyke Barnsdale
*'' A Family Affair'' (1937) as Oscar Stubbins
*'' Easy Living'' (1937) as Office Manager
*'' Maytime'' (1937) as Bearded Director (uncredited)
*'' Beg Borrow or Steal'' (1937) as Mr. Virgil Miller
*''That's My Story'' (1937) as Sheriff Allen
*''Married Before Breakfast'' (1937) as Mr. Silas Moriarity (uncredited)
*''Live, Love and Learn'' (1937) as Justice of The Peace
*''Trouble at Midnight'' (1937) as Sheriff
*''Behind the Mike'' (1937) as Sheriff
*''Having Wonderful Time'' (1938) as Mr. Shaw
*'' Sing You Sinners'' (1938) as Customer at Gas Station (uncredited)
*''A Yank at Oxford'' (1938) as Printer (uncredited)
*'' You and Me'' (1938) as Thomas McTavish (uncredited)
*''A Man to Remember'' (1938) as Homer Ramsey
*'' Reckless Living'' (1938) as 'Colonel' Harris
*'' Meet the Girls'' (1938) as Ship's Captain
*''One Wild Night'' (1938) as Mayor
* ''The Missing Guest'' (1938) as Frank Kendall - Editor
*''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1939) as Mr. Rucker (uncredited)
*'' Made for Each Other'' (1939) as Judge (uncredited)
*''5th Avenue Girl'' (1939) as Stanton - Union Representative (uncredited)
*''Blondie Takes a Vacation'' (1939) as Mr. Holden
*''Flight at Midnight'' (1939) as 'Pop' Hussey
*''Bad Little Angel'' (1939) as Lem Dodd - Man in Jim's Office (uncredited)
*'' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) as Mr. Edwards - Howling Citizen (uncredited)
*''The Mysterious Miss X

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases