William Gillespie (24 January 1894 – 23 June 1938) was a Scottish

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

Biography

Gillespie started in Hollywood films from the

silent era A silent film is a film with no synchronized 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) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

. He played in about 180 films between 1915 and 1939, although his appearances were often uncredited. Gillespie frequently appeared in

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr.Randy Skretvedt, Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, a ...

comedies from 1917, usually as stuffy official or manager. He supported such "slapstick comedians" as

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

Charley Chase Charles Joseph Parrott (October 20, 1893 – June 20, 1940), known professionally as Charley Chase, was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director. He worked for many pioneering comedy studios but is chiefly associated with pro ...

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, also the ...

, and

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American Double act, comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–19 ...

, but was most prolific supporting

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary ''Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film co ...

in 60 films.

Selected filmography

* ''

The Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith (musician), Robert Smith has re ...

'' (1917) * '' Easy Street'' (1917) * '' The Immigrant'' (1917) * '' The Big Idea'' (1917) * ''

Look Pleasant, Please ''Look Pleasant, Please'' is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film is held by the Museum of Modern Art. Plot Bebe is one of a group of females who go to a photographer's studio to have their pictures take ...

'' (1918) * '' Here Come the Girls'' (1918) * '' Swing Your Partners'' (1918) * '' Bumping into Broadway'' (1919) * ''

An Eastern Westerner ''An Eastern Westerner'' is a 1920 American silent Western comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A copy of the film exists. Plot The Boy is the hedonistic son of wealthy eastern parents. One night when he returns home at 2 a.m. from a night of ...

'' (1920) (uncredited) * ''

High and Dizzy ''High and Dizzy'' is a 1920 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. Plot The film revolves around a young woman who sleepwalks and the doctor who is attempting to treat her. The climactic scene involves the young woman sleepwalking ...

'' (1920) (uncredited) * ''

Get Out and Get Under ''Get Out and Get Under'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Hal Roach and starring Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis. The car in the movie, to which Lloyd was alternately devoted or frustrated, appears to be a 1920 Ford Model T. ...

'' (1920) (uncredited) * '' Number, Please?'' (1920) (uncredited) * ''

Among Those Present ''Among Those Present'' is a 1921 American "three-reeler" silent comedy film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis and Mary Pickford . Plot Mrs. O'Brien (Herring) is eager to be accepted as part of high societ ...

'' (1921) * '' Now or Never'' (1921) * ''

One Terrible Day ''One Terrible Day'' is a 1922 American silent short film, the first entry in Hal Roach's ''Our Gang'' (''Little Rascals'') series to be released. Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara, the two-reel short was released to theaters on S ...

'' (1922) * ''

Young Sherlocks ''Young Sherlocks'' is a 1922 American silent short subject comedy film, the fourth entry in Hal Roach's '' Our Gang'' series. Directed by Robert F. McGowan and Tom McNamara, the two-reel short was released to theaters in November 1922 by P ...

'' (1922) * '' Doctor Jack'' (1922) * '' Saturday Morning'' (1922) * ''

A Quiet Street ''A Quiet Street'' is the sixth ''Our Gang'' short subject comedy released. The ''Our Gang'' series (later known as "The Little Rascals") was created by Hal Roach in 1922, and continued production until 1944. Synopsis A new kid moves into town ...

'' (1922) * ''

Safety Last! ''Safety Last!'' is a 1923 American silent romantic-comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It includes one of the most famous images from the silent-film era: Lloyd clutching the hands of a large clock as he dangles from the outside of a skyscraper ...

'' (1923) * ''

Under Two Jags ''Under Two Jags'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film featuring Stan Laurel. The title spoofs the film '' Under Two Flags'' (1922). Plot The film is set in the city of Scorching Sands in the Desert of Dhumbell. Stan is the only westerner ...

'' (1923) * ''

Why Worry? ''Why Worry?'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor and starring Harold Lloyd. Plot Harold Van Pelham (Harold Lloyd) is a young, wealthy American businessman who obsesses constantly about his hea ...

'' (1923) (uncredited) * '' A Pleasant Journey'' (1923) * '' Giants vs. Yanks'' (1923) * ''

Back Stage ''Backstage'', also previously written as ''Back Stage'', is an American entertainment industry trade publication. Founded by Allen Zwerdling and Ira Eaker in 1960, it covers the film and performing arts industry from the perspective of performer ...

'' (1923) * ''

Her Dangerous Path ''Her Dangerous Path'' is a 1923 American adventure film serial directed by Roy Clements. Cast * Edna Murphy as Corinne Grant * Charley Chase as Glen Harper (as Charles Parrott) * Hayford Hobbs as Donald Bartlett * William F. Moran as Dr. P ...

'' (1923) * ''

Stage Fright Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, real or imagined, whether actually or potentially (for example, when perf ...

'' (1923) * ''

Scorching Sands ''Scorching Sands'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film starring Stan Laurel. The title is a play on that of the 1922 Paramount Pictures film '' Burning Sands''. Cast See also * List of American films of 1923 This is a list of Americ ...

'' (1923) * ''

Big Business Big business involves large-scale corporate-controlled financial or business activities. As a term, it describes activities that run from "huge transactions" to the more general "doing big things". In corporate jargon, the concept is commonly ...

'' (1924) * ''

Near Dublin ''Near Dublin'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Ralph Ceder and starring Stan Laurel. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Stan is a postman in the Irish village and is in love with the belle of the town. His rival ...

'' (1924) * '' The Mysterious Mystery!'' (1924) * '' The Big Town'' (1925) * ''

Dog Days The dog days or are the hot, sultry days of summer. They were historically the period following the heliacal rising of the star system Sirius (known colloquially as the "Dog Star"), which Hellenistic astrology connected with heat, drought, sud ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Love Bug ''The Love Bug'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson and the first in a franchise by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution that starred an anthropomorphic pearl-white, fabric-sunroofed 19 ...

'' (1925) * ''

Better Movies ''Better Movies'' is a 1925 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 44th '' Our Gang'' short subject released. Cast The Gang * Joe Cobb as Joe * Jackie Condon as Jackie * Mickey Daniels as Mickey * Johnny D ...

'' (1925) * '' The Valley of Bravery'' (1926) * ''

Exit Smiling ''Exit Smiling'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Sam Taylor and starring New York and London revues star Beatrice Lillie in her first (and only silent) film role and Jack Pickford, the brother of star Mary Pickford. The film ...

'' (1926) * '' Playin' Hookey'' (1928) * '' Barnum & Ringling, Inc.'' (1928) * ''

Wrong Again ''Wrong Again'' is a 1929 American two-reel silent comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Laurel and Hardy. It was filmed in October and November 1928, and released February 23, 1929, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Although a silent film, i ...

'' (1929) * '' Double Whoopee'' (1929) * ''

Pups Is Pups ''Pups Is Pups'' is a two-reel comedy short subject, part of the '' Our Gang'' (Little Rascals) series. It was produced and directed by Robert F. McGowan for Hal Roach, and originally released to theatres by M-G-M in 1930. It was the 100th (12th ...

'' (1930) * '' Helping Grandma'' (1931) * ''

The Music Box ''The Music Box'' is a Laurel and Hardy short film comedy released in 1932. It was directed by James Parrott, produced by Hal Roach and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, which depicts the pair attempting to move a piano up a long f ...

'' (1932) as Piano Salesman (uncredited) * '' Sons of the Desert'' (1933)

External links

* 1894 births 1938 deaths Scottish male silent film actors Scottish male film actors 20th-century Scottish male actors Scottish emigrants to the United States Our Gang {{Scotland-actor-stub