Jesse Graves, also known as Jessie Graves or Jesse A. Graves, was an American character actor of the 1930s and 1940s. During his career he appeared in over 100 films. Some of the more notable include: '' After the Thin Man'' in 1936, which stars William Powell, Myrna Loy, and

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...

; 1938's '' Jezebel'' with

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

, Henry Fonda, and

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 Victory ...

; the

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the ...

version of '' The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1939);

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 ...

's 1939 political

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

, ''

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' is a 1939 American Political drama, political Comedy drama, comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold (actor), Edward Arnold. ...

'', starring

and Jean Arthur; the

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 ...

classic, ''

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited ...

'' (1941); the

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...

biopic, '' Rhapsody in Blue'' (1945); and the 1948

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 ...

and

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 ...

romantic comedy, ''

State of the Union The State of the Union Address (sometimes abbreviated to SOTU) is an annual message delivered by the president of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress near the beginning of each calendar year on the current conditio ...

''. His final film was the 1949 western, ''

El Paso El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the seat of El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 23rd-largest city in the U.S., the s ...

'', starring John Payne and Gail Russell. As a Black American during this era, most of his roles were as butlers, redcaps, porters, waiters and other servant positions.

Partial filmography

(Per AFI database) * ''

General Spanky ''General Spanky'' is a 1936 American comedy film produced by Hal Roach. A spin-off of Roach's popular ''Our Gang'' short subjects, the film stars George McFarland, Phillips Holmes, Rosina Lawrence, Billie Thomas and Carl Switzer. Directed by Fre ...

'' (1936) * '' After the Thin Man'' (1936) * ''

Make Way for Tomorrow ''Make Way for Tomorrow'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Leo McCarey. The plot concerns an elderly couple (played by Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi) who are forced to separate when they lose their house and none of their five children w ...

'' (1937) (credited as Jesse A. Graves ) * '' Easy Living'' (1937) * ''

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. Pr ...

'' (1937) (credited as Jessie Graves ) * '' Jezebel'' (1938) (credited as Jesse A. Graves ) * '' Going Places'' (1938) * ''

The Lady Objects ''The Lady Objects'' is a 1938 American drama film written by Gladys Lehman and Charles Kenyon and directed by Erle C. Kenton. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Song at the 11th Academy Awards with the song ''A Mist Over the Moon'', wit ...

'' (1938) (credited as Jessie Graves ) * '' The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1939) (credited as Jessie Graves ) * '' Swanee River'' (1939) * ''

'' (1939) - Black Committeeman * '' Stronger Than Desire'' (1939) * ''

Grand Jury Secrets ''Grand Jury Secrets'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Irving Reis, Maxwell Shane and Robert Yost. The film stars John Howard, Gail Patrick, William Frawley, Jane Darwell, Porter Hall and Harvey Stephens ...

'' (1939) (credited as Jesse A. Graves ) * ''

Son of Ingagi ''Son of Ingagi'' is a 1940 American monster movie directed by Richard C. Kahn. It was the first science fiction horror film to feature an all-black cast.Moon 1997, p. 370 It was written by Spencer Williams (actor), Spencer Williams based on his ...

'' (1940) * ''

Safari A safari (; ) is an overland journey to observe wild animals, especially in eastern or southern Africa. The so-called "Big Five" game animals of Africa – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo – particularly form an importa ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance ''The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow, which stars Warren William, June Storey, and Henry Wilcoxon. Salkow also wrote the original screenplay, along with Earl Felton, and the film was released ...

'' (1941) * '' Sleepers West'' (1941) * '' Love Crazy'' (1941) * ''

'' (1941) - Joseph * ''

Junior Army ''Junior Army'' is a 1942 American film directed by Lew Landers, starring Freddie Bartholomew, Billy Halop, and Huntz Hall, and released by Columbia Pictures. Plot An English refugee, Freddie Hewlett, saves Jimmie Fletcher's life during an alter ...

'' (1942) * ''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery (actor), George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton (actor), John Sutton. Its cinematography was no ...

'' (1942) * '' Death Valley Manhunt'' (1943) * '' Is Everybody Happy?'' (1943) * ''

Someone to Remember ''Someone to Remember'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and written by Frances Hyland. The film stars Mabel Paige, Harry Shannon, John Craven, Dorothy Morris, Charles Dingle and David Bacon. The film was released on Aug ...

'' (1943) * ''

After Midnight with Boston Blackie ''After Midnight with Boston Blackie'' is a 1943 crime film directed by Lew Landers. It is the fifth of a series of 14 Columbia Pictures films starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie. When a recently paroled friend of Boston Blackie is killed, h ...

'' (1943) * ''

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People * Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson Ro ...

'' (1945) * ''

Bells of Rosarita '' Bells of Rosarita '' is a 1945 American musical Western film starring Roy Rogers and directed by Frank McDonald. Plot Cowboy balladeer Roy Rogers meets Sue Farnum (Dale Evans), a girl returning from back East, who is cheated out of her inhe ...

'' (1945) * '' Rhapsody in Blue'' (1945) * ''

She Wouldn't Say Yes ''She Wouldn't Say Yes'' is a 1945 screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Rosalind Russell and Lee Bowman. Plot A psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lane, is leaving a military hospital after spending two weeks working with patients ...

'' (1945) * '' The Valley of Decision'' (1945) * '' One Way to Love'' (1945) * '' Do You Love Me'' (1946) * '' G. I. War Brides'' (1946) * ''

Magnificent Doll ''Magnificent Doll'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Ginger Rogers as Dolley Madison and David Niven as Aaron Burr. The supporting cast features Burgess Meredith as James Madison and Grandon Rhodes as Thomas ...

'' (1946) * '' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946) * ''

Tomorrow Is Forever ''Tomorrow Is Forever'' is a 1946 black-and-white romance film directed by Irving Pichel, and starring Claudette Colbert, Orson Welles and George Brent. It was also the film debut of Richard Long (actor), Richard Long and Natalie Wood. It wa ...

'' (1946) * ''

Two Smart People ''Two Smart People'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by Jules Dassin and starring Lucille Ball and John Hodiak, Lloyd Nolan and Hugo Haas. Plot Ace Connors (John Hodiak) is a con man who has half a million dollars in bonds hidden in a co ...

'' (1946) * '' Without Reservations'' (1946) * ''

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

'' (1947) * ''

The Crimson Key ''The Crimson Key'' is a 1947 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and written by Irving Elman, starring Kent Taylor, Doris Dowling and Dennis Hoey. It was released on July 2 by 20th Century Fox. Plot Private detective Larry Morgan is ...

'' (1947) * '' Dead Reckoning'' (1947) * ''

The Egg and I ''The Egg and I'', first published in 1945, is a humorous memoir by American author Betty MacDonald about her adventures and travels as a young wife on a chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula in the US state of Washington. The book is based on ...

'' (1947) * ''

Johnny O'Clock ''Johnny O'Clock'' is a 1947 American film noir crime film starring Dick Powell and Evelyn Keyes, and directed by Robert Rossen. Plot Johnny O'Clock (Dick Powell) is a junior partner in a posh casino with Guido Marchettis (Thomas Gomez). Complic ...

'' (1947) * ''

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

'' (1947) * '' Millie's Daughter'' (1947) * ''

The Sea of Grass ''The Sea of Grass'' is a 1936 novel by Conrad Richter. It is set in New Mexico in the late 19th century, and concerns the clash between rich ranchers, whose cattle run freely on government-owned land, a prairie "sea of grass", and the homestead ...

'' (1947) * '' This Time for Keeps'' (1947) * ''

Variety Girl ''Variety Girl'' is a 1947 American musical comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Mary Hatcher, Olga San Juan, DeForest Kelley, Frank Ferguson, Glenn Tryon, Nella Walker, Torben Meyer, Jack Norton, and William Demarest. It was prod ...

'' (1947) * ''

For the Love of Mary ''For the Love of Mary'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy film directed by Frederick de Cordova and starring Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Don Taylor, and Jeffrey Lynn. Written by Oscar Brodney, the film is about a young woman who takes a job ...

'' (1948) * ''

Secret Beyond the Door ''Secret Beyond the Door'' is a 1947 American film noir psychological thriller and a modern updating of the Bluebeard fairytale, directed by Fritz Lang, produced by Lang's Diana Productions, and released by Universal Pictures. The film stars Joan ...

'' (1948) * ''

'' (1948)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Graves, Jesse 1879 births 1949 deaths Male actors from Des Moines, Iowa African-American male child actors 20th-century American male actors 20th-century African-American people