Walter Connolly (April 8, 1887 – May 28, 1940) 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 appeared in almost 50 films between 1914 and 1939. His best known film is ''

It Happened One Night ''It Happened One Night'' is a 1934 pre-Code American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball comedy directed and co-produced by Frank Capra, in collaboration with Harry Cohn, in which a pampered socialite ( Claudette Colbert) tr ...

'' (1934).

Early years

Connolly attended St. Xavier College and acted in amateur theatrical productions in Cincinnati.

Career

Connolly was a successful stage actor who appeared in twenty-two

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 ...

productions between 1916 and 1935, notably revivals of Pirandello's ''

Six Characters in Search of an Author ''Six Characters in Search of an Author'' ( it, Sei personaggi in cerca d'autore, link=no ) is an Italian play by Luigi Pirandello, written and first performed in 1921. An absurdist metatheatric play about the relationship among authors, the ...

'' and

Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

's ''

Uncle Vanya ''Uncle Vanya'' ( rus, Дя́дя Ва́ня, r=Dyádya Ványa, p=ˈdʲædʲə ˈvanʲə) is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1898, and was first produced in 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre under the di ...

''. His first film appearances came in two silent films, ''The Marked Woman'' (1914) and ''A Soldier's Oath'' (1915), and his first talkie film came in 1930, ''Many Happy Returns'', but his Hollywood film career really began in 1932, when he appeared in four films. His trademark role was that of the exasperated business tycoon or newspaperman, often as the father of the female lead character, as in ''

'' (1934) with

Clark Gable William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades ...

and Claudette Colbert; ''

Broadway Bill ''Broadway Bill'' is a 1934 American comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy. Screenplay by Robert Riskin and based on the short story "Strictly Confidential" by Mark Hellinger, the film is about a ...

'' (1934), supporting Warner Baxter and

Myrna Loy Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...

; and '' Libeled Lady'' (1936) with William Powell and Loy again. Other notable roles included the worthless uncle of

Paul Muni Paul Muni (born Frederich Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund; September 22, 1895– August 25, 1967) was an American stage and film actor who grew up in Chicago. Muni was a five-time Academy Award nominee, with one win. He started his acting career in ...

's character in '' The Good Earth'' (1937) and one of the two con men encountered by

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 ...

's Huckleberry Finn in ''

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' or as it is known in more recent editions, ''The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'', is a novel by American author Mark Twain, which was first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884 and in the United St ...

'' (1939). Connolly played General Yen's American advisor in '' The Bitter Tea of General Yen'' (1933). Connolly mostly played supporting roles, but starred occasionally, as

Nero Wolfe Nero Wolfe is a brilliant, obese and eccentric fictional armchair detective created in 1934 by American mystery writer Rex Stout. Wolfe was born in Montenegro and keeps his past murky. He lives in a luxurious brownstone on West 35th Street in ...

in ''

The League of Frightened Men ''The League of Frightened Men'' is the second Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. The story was serialized in six issues of ''The Saturday Evening Post'' (June 15–July 20, 1935) under the title ''The Frightened Men''. The novel was publis ...

'' (1937), in RKO's '' 5th Ave Girl'' (1939), opposite

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

, and as the

title character The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...

in ''

The Great Victor Herbert ''The Great Victor Herbert'' is a 1939 American musical film directed by Andrew L. Stone. During production, the movie was slated to be called ''The Gay Days of Victor Herbert.'' Plot Cast * Allan Jones as John Ramsey * Mary Martin as Loui ...

'' (1939), his last film. On radio, Connolly starred as the title character in ''The Adventures of

Charlie Chan Charlie Chan is a fictional Honolulu police detective created by author Earl Derr Biggers for a series of mystery novels. Biggers loosely based Chan on Hawaiian detective Chang Apana. The benevolent and heroic Chan was conceived as an alter ...

'' on NBC Radio from 1932 to 1938.Cox, Jim, ''Radio Crime Fighters'', 2002, p. 9, McFarland, Jefferson, NC,

Personal life

Connolly's hobbies were collecting old books and theater programs. Connolly was married to actress

Nedda Harrigan Nedda Harrigan Logan (August 24, 1899 – April 1, 1989) was an American actress. Early life Harrigan was the youngest of 10 children of entertainer Edward Harrigan and his wife, Annie (Braham) Harrigan. Her grandfather was conductor Dav ...

from 1921 to his death. They had one daughter, Ann (1924–2006), who was a performer in the '' Ziegfeld Follies of 1943'' and the 1954 Broadway production of ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...

''.

Death

Connolly died on May 28, 1940, following a

stroke A stroke is a disease, medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemorr ...

, and was buried in New St. Joseph Cemetery in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line w ...

Complete filmography

*''The Marked Woman'' (1914) - Prince Ching *''

A Soldier's Oath ''A Soldier's Oath'' is a lost 1915 silent film drama directed by Oscar Apfel and starring William Farnum. It was produced by William Fox. Cast *William Farnum - Pierre Duval *Dorothy Bernard - Margot *Kittens Reichert - Mavis Duval, at 5 *Al ...

'' (1915) - Raoul de Reyntiens *''Many Happy Returns'' (1930, Short) *'' Washington Merry-Go-Round'' (1932) - Wylie *''

Man Against Woman ''Man Against Woman'' is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Jack Holt, Lillian Miles (in her first starring role) and Walter Connolly. The film was originally known as ''Plainclothes Man''. Synopsis T ...

'' (1932) - Mossie Ennis *'' No More Orchids'' (1932) - Bill Holt *'' The Bitter Tea of General Yen'' (1933) - Jones *'' Plainclothes Man'' (1932) *'' Paddy the Next Best Thing'' (1933) - Major Adair *'' Lady for a Day'' (1933) - Count Romero *'' Man's Castle'' (1933) - Ira *''

East of Fifth Avenue ''East of Fifth Avenue'' is a 1933 American drama film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Wallace Ford, Mary Carlisle and Dorothy Tree.Dick p.237 It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The plot revolves around the inhabitan ...

'' (1933) - John Lawton *'' Master of Men'' (1933) - Sam Parker *'' Eight Girls in a Boat'' (1934) - Storm *''

'' (1934) - Alexander Andrews *'' Once to Every Woman'' (1934) - Dr. Selby *'' Twentieth Century'' (1934) - Webb *'' Whom the Gods Destroy'' (1934) - John Forrester aka Eric Jann aka Peter Korotoff *'' Servants' Entrance'' (1934) - Viktor Nilsson *''

Lady by Choice ''Lady by Choice'' is a 1934 American romantic drama film released by Columbia Pictures starring Carole Lombard as a fan dancer and May Robson as a homeless drunk asked to pose as the dancer's mother for a publicity stunt, with unexpected consequ ...

'' (1934) - Judge Daly *'' The Captain Hates the Sea'' (1934) - Capt. Helquist *''

'' (1934) - J. L. Higgins *''

Father Brown, Detective ''Father Brown, Detective '' is a 1934 American mystery film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Walter Connolly, Paul Lukas and Gertrude Michael. It is based on the 1910 Father Brown story "The Blue Cross" by G. K. Chesterton. Plot When i ...

'' (1934) - Father Brown *'' So Red the Rose'' (1935) - Malcolm Bedford *'' She Couldn't Take It'' (1935) - Daniel Van Dyke *'' One Way Ticket'' (1935) - Captain Bourne *'' White Lies'' (1935) - John Frank Mitchell *'' Soak the Rich'' (1936) - Humphrey Craig *''

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 act ...

'' (1936) - Hector Courtney *'' The King Steps Out'' (1936) - Maximilian, Duke of Bavaria *'' Libeled Lady'' (1936) - Mr. James B. Allenbury *'' The Good Earth'' (1937) - Uncle *'' Nancy Steele Is Missing!'' (1937) - Michael Steele *'' Let's Get Married'' (1937) - Joe Quinn *''

'' (1937) - Nero Wolfe *'' Nothing Sacred'' (1937) - Oliver Stone *''

First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non- monarchical head of state or chief executive. The term is also used to describe a woman seen to be at the ...

'' (1937) - Carter Hibbard *'' Penitentiary'' (1938) - Dist. Atty. Thomas Mathews *''

Start Cheering ''Start Cheering'' is a 1938 American musical film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Jimmy Durante, Charles Starrett, Joan Perry, and Walter Connolly. It is best remembered today for guest appearances throughout the film by The Three Stoog ...

'' (1938) - Sam Lewis *''

Four's a Crowd ''Four's a Crowd'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles. It was written by Casey Robinson and Sig Herzig from a story by Wallace Sulli ...

'' (1938) - John P. Dillingwell *'' Too Hot to Handle'' (1938) - 'Gabby' MacArthur *''

The Girl Downstairs ''The Girl Downstairs'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Franciska Gaal, Franchot Tone and Walter Connolly. It is a remake of the 1936 Austrian film '' Catherine the Last'' directed by Henry Koster, w ...

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

'' (1939) - The 'King' *'' Bridal Suite'' (1939) - Doctor Grauer *'' Good Girls Go to Paris'' (1939) - Olaf Brand *''

Coast Guard A coast guard or coastguard is a maritime security organization of a particular country. The term embraces wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to ...

'' (1939) - Tobias Bliss *'' 5th Ave Girl'' (1939) - Timothy Borden *''

Those High Grey Walls ''Those High Grey Walls'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Charles Vidor and starring Walter Connolly and Onslow Stevens. It is also known as ''The Gates of Alcatraz''. Plot Dr. MacAuley, a kindly beloved country doctor, is sent to F ...

'' (1939) - Dr. MacAuley *''

'' (1939) - Victor Herbert (final film role)

Notes

External links

* * * * *
Literature on Walter Connolly
1887 births 1940 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male radio actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors American people of Irish descent Catholics from Ohio Male actors from Cincinnati Xavier University alumni {{US-radio-bio-stub