Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the
silent era
A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...
and appeared in more than 430 films in his 38-year career.
Career
Victor Potel was born in
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette ( , ) is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, located northwest of Indianapolis and southeast of Chicago. West Lafayette, Indiana, West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home t ...
in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
by
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago, and later developed an additional film lot in Niles Canyon, California. Its various stars included Francis X. Bushman, ...
called ''A Dog on Business''. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...
' "Snakeville" series.Erickson, Ha Biography (Allmovie) /ref>
Potel's first talking picture was ''Melody of Love'', starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928, and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height () and gawkiness.
In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, ''The Rubber-Neck'' in 1924 and ''Action Craver'' in 1927, and contributed the story for ''Saxophobia'' in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for ''The Big Chance'' (1933), and wrote the story for ''Inside Information'' in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for ''Million Dollar Haul'' and the screenplay for ''Hot Off the Press''. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges.
Potel continued to work right up until his death on March 8, 1947. The final film he worked on, '' Relentless'' finished filming on February 28 of that year.
Water, Water, Everywhere
''Water, Water, Everywhere'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and written by Robert F. Hill. It is based on the 1912 novel ''Billy Fortune and the Hard Proposition'' by William Rheem Lighton. The film stars W ...
'' (1920) - Steve Brainard
* ''
Mary's Ankle
''Mary's Ankle'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and written by Luther Reed based upon the play of the same name by May Tully. The film stars Douglas MacLean, Doris May, Victor Potel, Neal Burns, James Gordon, ...
I Can Explain
''I Can Explain'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by George D. Baker
George Duane Baker (April 22, 1868 – June 2, 1933) was an American motion picture director whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era.
Early li ...
The Loaded Door
''The Loaded Door'' is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Harry A. Pollard and starring Hoot Gibson. It is not known whether the film currently survives.
Plot
As described in a studio publication, Bert Lyons (Gibson) returns to h ...
Modern Matrimony
''Modern Matrimony'' is a 1923 American silent comedy drama film directed by Victor Heerman and starring Owen Moore, Alice Lake, and Mayme Kelso.
Cast
Preservation
With no prints of ''Modern Matrimony'' having been found in any film archives, ...
'' (1923) - Junior Rutherford
* ''
Penrod and Sam Penrod and Sam may refer to:
* ''Penrod and Sam'' (novel), a 1916 novel by Booth Tarkington, and films based on it:
** ''Penrod and Sam'' (1923 film)
** ''Penrod and Sam'' (1931 film)
** ''Penrod and Sam'' (1937 film)
{{disambiguation ...
'' (1923) - Town Drunkard
* '' Itching Palms'' (1923) - The Village Dumbbell
* ''Tea: With a Kick!'' (1923) - Bellboy 13
* '' The Meanest Man in the World'' (1923) - Lute Boon
* '' Anna Christie'' (1923) - Minor Role (uncredited)
* ''
Reno
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the c ...
'' (1923) - Detective McRae
* '' Women Who Give'' (1924) - Ephraim Doolittle
* ''
The Law Forbids
''The Law Forbids'' is a 1924 American drama film directed by Jess Robbins and written by Lois Zellner and Ford Beebe. The film stars Baby Peggy, Robert Ellis, Elinor Fair, Winifred Bryson, James Corrigan, and Anna Dodge. The film was released ...
'' (1924) - Joel Andrews
* '' A Self-Made Failure'' (1924) - Pokey Jones
* ''
Along Came Ruth
''Along Came Ruth'' is a 1924 American comedy film starring Viola Dana. The film was directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Winifred Dunn, based on Holman Francis Day
Holman Francis Day (November 6, 1865 – February 19, 1935) was an Ame ...
Lingerie
Lingerie (, , ) is a category of primarily women's clothing including undergarments (mainly brassieres), sleepwear, and lightweight robes. The choice of the word is often motivated by an intention to imply that the garments are alluring, fash ...
'' (1928) - Leroy's Buddy
* ''
Captain Swagger
''Captain Swagger'' is a 1928 American silent crime drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith and stars Rod La Rocque. The film was produced and distributed by the Pathé Exchange company.
Call of the West
''Call of the West'' is the second studio album by Los Angeles rock music, rock band Wall of Voodoo, released in September 1982. The album contains "Mexican Radio", the group's most well-known song, which was released as a single and whose video r ...
'' (1930) - Trig Peters
* ''
Paradise Island
Paradise Island is an island in The Bahamas formerly known as Hog Island. The island, with an area of (2.8 km2/1.1 sq mi), is located just off the shore of the city of Nassau, which is itself located on the northern edge of the island of ...
Partners
Partner, Partners, The Partner, or, The Partners may refer to:
Books
* ''The Partner'' (Grisham novel), by John Grisham, 1997
* ''The Partner'' (Jenaro Prieto novel), 1928
* ''The Partners'' (book), a 1983 book by James B. Stewart
* ''Partner'' (m ...
Big Boy Rides Again
''Big Boy Rides Again'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Albert Herman.
Cast
* Guinn "Big Boy" Williams as Tom Duncan
*Constance Bergen as Nancy Smiley
* Charles K. French as John Duncan
*Lafe McKee
Lafayette S. "Lafe" McKee ...
'' (1935) - Scarface
* '' Ruggles of Red Gap'' (1935) - Curly - Cowboy (uncredited)
* ''
The Marriage Bargain
''The Marriage Bargain'' is a 1935 American drama film directed by Albert Ray and starring Lila Lee and Lon Chaney Jr. It was the last film in which Lon Chaney Jr was billed under his real name Creighton Chaney.
It was also known under the altern ...
'' (1935) - Jeff Thompson
* ''
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Mis ...
'' (1935) - Guest (uncredited)
* ''
The Drunkard
''The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved'' is an American temperance play first performed on February 12, 1844.
'' (1935) - Farmer Gates
* '' The Cowboy and the Bandit'' (1935) - Lanky - Henchman (uncredited)
* ''
Million Dollar Haul
''Million Dollar Haul'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Albert Herman and starring Reed Howes, Janet Chandler and William Farnum.Pitts p.374
Synopsis
The owner of a Los Angeles warehouse that has been robbed calls in a private investi ...
hs. 1, 10-12
HS or Hs can stand for:
Businesses and brands
* HS Produkt, a Croatian firearms manufacturer
* ''Helsingin Sanomat'', a newspaper in Finland
* Hawker Siddeley, aircraft manufacturing group
* Henschel & Son, in aircraft prefixes; e.g., Hs 117
* ...
Trails End
''Trails End'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer and starring Johnny Mack Brown, Max Terhune and Kay Morley.Pitts p.364
Cast
* Johnny Mack Brown as Johnny Mack
* Max Terhune as Alibi
* Kay Morley as Laurie S ...
The Last of the Clintons
''The Last of the Clintons'' is a 1935 American western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Harry Carey, Betty Mack and Victor Potel. It was the last film released by the Poverty Row studio Ajax Pictures before it closed down.Pitts ...
'' (1935) - Jed Clinton
* ''
The Fighting Marines
''The Fighting Marines'' is a 1935 movie serial. It was the last serial produced by Mascot Pictures before the studio was bought out and merged with others to become Republic Pictures. This new company went on to become the most famous of the ...
'' (1935, Serial) - Henchman - Fake Native Chief h. 12* ''Gun Play'' (1935) - Brawler (uncredited)
* '' Hot Off the Press'' (1935)
* ''The Broken Coin'' (1936)
* '' Man Hunt'' (1936) - Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)
* '' The Milky Way'' (1936) - Todd Fight Spectator (uncredited)
* '' Yellow Dust'' (1936) - Jugger - the Bartender
* '' The Music Goes 'Round'' (1936) - Garage Attendant (uncredited)
* '' Song of the Saddle'' (1936) - Little Casino
* '' Three Godfathers'' (1936) - 'Buck Tooth'
* '' O'Malley of the Mounted'' (1936) - Gabby - the Cook
* '' Down to the Sea'' (1936) - Andy
* '' Fury'' (1936) - Jorgeson - Barber Shop Customer (uncredited)
* ''
We Went to College
''We Went to College'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Joseph Santley, written by Richard Maibaum and Maurice Rapf, and starring Charles Butterworth (actor), Charles Butterworth, Walter Abel, Hugh Herbert, Una Merkel and Edith Atwater. ...
Racing Lady
''Racing Lady'' is a 1937 American drama film produced by RKO Radio Pictures, which premiered in New York City on January 12, 1937, and was released nationally on January 29. Directed by Wallace Fox, the screenplay was written by Dorothy Yost, ...
'' (1937) - Mr. Mitchell (uncredited)
* ''
Two Gun Law
''Two Gun Law'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Leon Barsha, starring Charles Starrett and Peggy Stratford.
Cast
* Charles Starrett as Bob Larson
* Peggy Stratford as Mary Hammond
* Hank Bell as Cookie
* Edward J. Le Saint as Ben ...
Western Gold
''Western Gold'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Howard Bretherton and written by Earle Snell and Forrest Barnes. The film stars Smith Ballew, Heather Angel, LeRoy Mason, Howard Hickman, Ben Alexander, Frank McGlynn, Sr. and Otis ...
Slightly Honorable
''Slightly Honorable'' is a 1939 American film directed by Tay Garnett. The film was based on the 1939 novel ''Send Another Coffin'' by Frank Gilmore Presnell, Jr. (1906–1967).Frank Gilmore Presnell, Jr. (24 June 1906 (Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico ...
'' (1939) - Gasoline Station Proprietor (uncredited)
* ''
West of Carson City
''West of Carson City'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Milton Raison, Sherman L. Lowe and Jack Bernhard. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, Fuzzy Knight, Peggy Moran, Harry Woods and Robert Hom ...
Li'l Abner
''Li'l Abner'' is a satirical American comic strip that appeared in many newspapers in the United States, Canada and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbillies in the impoverished mountain village of Dogpatch, USA. Written and drawn b ...
'' (1940) - Fantastic Brown
* '' Trail of the Vigilantes'' (1940) - Conductor (uncredited)
* '' Road Show'' (1941) - Rube (uncredited)
* '' The Lady Eve'' (1941) - Third Ship's Waiter (uncredited)
* ''
A Girl, a Guy and a Gob
''A Girl, a Guy and a Gob'' is a 1941 film produced by Harold Lloyd and starring George Murphy, Lucille Ball, and Edmond O'Brien.
Plot summary
When Stephen Herrick, a sedate, mild-mannered shipping magnate, loses his opera tickets, Mrs. Grang ...
Las Vegas Nights
''Las Vegas Nights'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Ernest Pagano, Harry Clork and Eddie Welch. The film stars Phil Regan, Bert Wheeler, Constance Moore, Virginia Dale, Lillian Cornell, Betty Brewer ...
The Palm Beach Story
''The Palm Beach Story'' is a 1942 screwball comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, and starring Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea, Mary Astor and Rudy Vallée. Victor Young contributed the musical score, including a fast-paced var ...
Hail the Conquering Hero
''Hail the Conquering Hero'' (1944) is a satirical comedy-drama film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Eddie Bracken, Ella Raines and William Demarest, and featuring Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Elizabeth Patterson, Bill ...
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
''The Sin of Harold Diddlebock'' is a 1947 comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring the silent film comic icon Harold Lloyd, and featuring a supporting cast including female protagonist Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Raymon ...
'' (1947) - Prof. Potelle
* '' The Devil Thumbs a Ride'' (1947) - Minnie's Old Man (uncredited)
* '' Ramrod'' (1947) - Burch Nellice
* ''
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 t ...