Henry Roquemore (March 18, 1886 – June 30, 1943) was an American

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 ...

who primarily played

bit part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British television, ...

s. He appeared in 229 silent and

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 ...

s from 1927 until 1943. Many of his roles were uncredited parts in

Western movie The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...

s, but he also appeared in major films including ''

Meet John Doe ''Meet John Doe'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed and produced by Frank Capra, written by Robert Riskin, and starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The film is about a "grassroots" political campaign created unwittingly by ...

'', ''

The Little Foxes ''The Little Foxes'' is a 1939 play by Lillian Hellman, considered a classic of 20th century drama. Its title comes from Chapter 2, Verse 15 of the Song of Solomon in the King James version of the Bible, which reads, "Take us the foxes, the litt ...

'', ''

The Magnificent Ambersons ''The Magnificent Ambersons'' is a 1918 novel by Booth Tarkington, the second in his ''Growth'' trilogy after ''The Turmoil'' (1915) and before ''The Midlander'' (1923, retitled ''National Avenue'' in 1927). It won the Pulitzer Prize for fict ...

'', and the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

film ''

Yours for the Asking ''Yours for the Asking'' is a 1936 American comedy film film starring George Raft as a casino owner and Dolores Costello as the socialite he hires as hostess. The movie also features Ida Lupino and was directed by Alexander Hall. Plot Johnny L ...

''. He was sometimes credited as Henry Rocquemore.

Career

Born in

Marshall, Texas Marshall is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat of Harrison County, Texas, Harrison County and a cultural and educational center of the Ark-La-Tex region. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the population of M ...

, Roquemore began his career in entertainment by staging local

talent show A talent show is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are performances rather ...

s, for clubs in his hometown of

. His first role in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

was ''the Beast'' in the 1927 silent film '' Is Your Daughter Safe?'' and his last was in 1943's ''

Girl Crazy ''Girl Crazy'' is a 1930 musical by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Ethel Merman made her stage debut in the first production and co-lead Ginger Rogers became an overnight star. Rich in song, ...

''. After the making of first sound film in 1927, he specialized in his ''fat man'' roles and was widely sought out by directors, such as

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s ...

and

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 ...

for bit parts; exemplified by ''the Match King'' one of

Mae West Mae West (born Mary Jane West; August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American stage and film actress, playwright, screenwriter, singer, and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned over seven decades. She was known for her breezy ...

's suitors in 1935's ''

Goin' to Town ''Goin' To Town'' is a 1935 musical comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and written by Mae West. The film stars Mae West, Paul Cavanagh, Gilbert Emery, Marjorie Gateson, Tito Coral and Ivan Lebedeff. The film was released on April 25, 1935, ...

''. His more famous roles include; ''Jouett Goforth'' in 1931's '' Cimarron'' and in 1941's ''

Woman of the Year ''Woman of the Year'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Stevens and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The film was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin (with uncredited work on the rewritten ...

'' as the Justice of the Peace who married

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

and

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the first actor to win two cons ...

Personal life and death

Roquemore was married to actress

Fern Emmett Fern Emmett (March 22, 1896 – September 3, 1946) was an American film actress. She appeared in 212 films between 1930 and 1946. Emmett's film debut came with Universal in a two-reel production in 1914. Personal life Emmett was married to ...

. He died from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

on June 30, 1943, in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...

, and was 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

* ''

The Windjammer ''The Windjammer'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Billy Sullivan, Thelma Hill and Billy Franey.Munden p.907 It was distributed by the independent Rayart Pictures, the forerunner of Monogram Pictu ...

'' (1926) * '' Is Your Daughter Safe?'' (1927) * ''

The Fighting Three ''The Fighting Three'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Jack Hoxie, Olive Hasbrouck and Marin Sais. The film's sets were designed by the art director David S. Garber. Cast * Jack Hoxie as Jack C ...

'' (1927) * ''

For Ladies Only ''For Ladies Only'' is the sixth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in November 1971, by Dunhill Records. It is a political concept album mainly about feminism but with several more conventional so ...

'' (1927) * ''

Gypsy of the North ''Gypsy of the North'' is a 1928 silent film drama directed by Scott Pembroke and starring Georgia Hale. It was produced by Trem Carr Productions and distributed by Rayart. An incomplete copy is in the Library of Congress. Cast * Georgia Ha ...

'' (1928) * '' The City of Purple Dreams'' (1928) * '' Stocks and Blondes'' (1928) * '' The Branded Man'' (1928) * ''

The Law and the Man ''The Law and the Man'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Scott Pembroke and starring Tom Santschi, Gladys Brockwell and Robert Ellis.Wlaschin p.252 Cast * Tom Santschi as Dan Creedoon * Gladys Brockwell as Margaret Grayson * ...

'' (1928) * ''

Anne Against the World ''Anne Against the World'' is a 1929 American drama film directed by Duke Worne and featuring Boris Karloff.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1921-30'' by The American Film Institute, c.1971 Cast * Shirley Mason as Anne * Ja ...

'' (1929) * ''

The Oklahoma Kid ''The Oklahoma Kid'' is a 1939 Western film starring James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. The film was directed for Warner Bros. by Lloyd Bacon. Cagney plays an adventurous gunslinger in a broad-brimmed cowboy hat while Bogart portrays his blac ...

'' (1929) * ''

Beyond the Rio Grande ''Beyond the Rio Grande'' is a 1930 American pre-Code western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Jack Perrin, Franklyn Farnum and Jay Wilsey.Munden, p. 55 Cast * Jack Perrin as Bert Allen * Franklyn Farnum as Joe Kemp * Charline B ...

'' (1930) * '' Romance of the West'' (1930) * '' Westward Bound'' (1930) * '' Second Honeymoon'' (1930) * ''

The Kid from Arizona ''The Kid from Arizona'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film directed by Robert J. Horner and starring Jack Perrin, Josephine Hill and Robert D. Walker. Cast * Jack Perrin as Marshal Jack * Josephine Hill as Ranch Owner's Daughter * ...

'' (1931) * ''

Wild West Whoopee ''Wild West Whoopee'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film directed by Robert J. Horner and starring Jack Perrin, Josephine Hill and Buzz Barton.Pitts p.171 Cast * Jack Perrin * Josephine Hill * Buzz Barton * Fred Church * Horace B. Ca ...

'' (1931) * '' The Cheyenne Cyclone'' (1931) * ''

Son of Oklahoma ''Son of Oklahoma'' is a 1932 American Western film directed by Robert N. Bradbury and starring his son Bob Steele. Cast * Bob Steele - Dan Clayton * Josie Sedgwick - Mary Clayton, aka Shotgun Mary *Carmen Laroux - Anita Verdugo *Julian Rivero ...

'' (1932) * '' Young Blood'' (1932) * ''

The Fighting Champ ''The Fighting Champ'' is a 1932 American Western film directed by John P. McCarthy and written by Wellyn Totman. The film stars Bob Steele, Arletta Duncan, Kit Guard, George Chesebro, George "Gabby" Hayes and Charles King. The film was rele ...

'' (1932) * ''

Easy Millions ''Easy Millions'' is a 1933 American comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher, Dorothy Burgess and Merna Kennedy.Pitts p.161 Cast * Richard 'Skeets' Gallagher * Dorothy Burgess * Merna Kennedy * Jo ...

'' (1933) * '' Breed of the Border'' (1933) * ''

City Limits City limits or city boundaries refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limit can be called the city proper. Town limit/boundary and village limit/boundary apply to towns and villages. Similarly, corporate limi ...

'' (1934) * '' Texas Terror'' (1935) * '' Rainbow's End'' (1935) * '' The Live Wire'' (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) * '' On Probation'' (1935) * ''

Hearts in Bondage ''Hearts in Bondage'' is a 1936 American black-and-white war drama film directed by Lew Ayres for Republic Pictures. Set during the American Civil War, the film depicts the Union Navy's deliberate sinking of , the Confederate States Navy's salv ...

'' (1936) * ''

Bank Alarm ''Bank Alarm'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Conrad Nagel and Eleanor Hunt in the last of their four film G-Man film series. Plot A G-Man (Conrad Nagel) and his girlfriend (Eleanor Hunt) follow a trail ...

'' (1937) * '' Thanks for Listening'' (1937) * ''

Assassin of Youth ''Assassin of Youth'' is a 1937 exploitation film directed by Elmer Clifton. It is a pre-WWII film about the supposed ill effects of cannabis. The film is often considered a clone of the much more famous ''Reefer Madness'' (sharing cast member D ...

'' (1937) * ''

Goodbye Broadway ''Goodbye Broadway'' is a 1938 American film. The movie is based on the play ''The Shannons of Broadway'' written by actor (and ex-vaudevillian) James Gleason. A previous film had been made of the play entitled ''The Shannons of Broadway''. Pl ...

'' (1938) * ''

Songs and Saddles ''Songs and Saddles'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser. Plot Cast *Gene Austin as Gene Austin *Lynne Berkeley as Carol Turner *Henry Roquemore as Lawyer Jed Hill *Walter Wills as Pop Turner *Ted Claire as Mark Bo ...

'' (1938) * '' Barefoot Boy'' (1938)

References

External links

* 1886 births 1943 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Male actors from Texas Male Western (genre) film actors People from Marshall, Texas {{US-film-actor-1880s-stub