Richard Robert Elliott (October 9, 1879 – November 15, 1951) 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 102 Hollywood films and television shows from 1916 to 1951.
Life and career
He was born Richard Robert Elliott in 1879 in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, and t ...
. Most of his main roles were in the silent era, in the sound era he mostly performed in supporting roles and bit parts. On the stage he originated the Sergeant O'Hara character opposite
Jeanne Eagels
Jeanne Eagels (born Eugenia Eagles; June 26, 1890 – October 3, 1929) was an American stage and film actress. A former Ziegfeld Girl, Eagels went on to greater fame on Broadway and in the emerging medium of sound films. She was posthumously no ...
in somerset Maugham's play ''Rain'' (1922).
Active in films from 1916, Elliott played Detective Crosby in the 1928 feature '' Lights of New York'', the first all-talking sound film. One of his most notable roles was that of a Yankee officer playing cards with
Rhett Butler
Rhett Butler (Born in 1828) is a fictional character in the 1936 novel ''Gone with the Wind'' by Margaret Mitchell and in the 1939 film adaptation of the same name. It is one of Clark Gable's most recognizable and significant roles.
Role
Rhe ...
(
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 ...
) in the film ''
Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind most often refers to:
* ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell
* ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel
Gone with the Wind may also refer to:
Music
* ''Gone with the Wind'' ...
''. The officer says of Rhett, "It's hard to be strict with a man who loses money so pleasantly."''Gone With the Wind'' details cornel1801.com; accessed August 16, 2016.
Personal life
Robert Elliott was married to Ruth Thorp (1889–1971) from 1920 until his death in 1951, aged 72, in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
Selected filmography
* ''
The Kiss of Hate
''The Kiss of Hate'' is a lost 1916 silent film drama starring Ethel Barrymore and H. Cooper Cliffe.
The film had exclusive engagements, sometimes playing for only a day.
Plot
The story takes place in Czarist Russia and concerns an anti-Semit ...
'' (1916) - Sergius Orzoff
* ''
Notorious Gallagher
''Notorious Gallagher'' is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Nigh, Marguerite Snow and Robert Elliott.Parish & Pitts p.293
Cast
* William Nigh as Buttsy Gallagher
* Jules Cowles as Michael Gallagher
* Roy ...
'' (1916) - Robert Ewing
* ''
The Child of Destiny
''The Child of Destiny'' is a lost 1916 silent film drama directed by William Nigh and starring Irene Fenwick. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures.
Cast
* Irene Fenwick - Alita
*Madame Ganna Walska - Constance (aka Ganna Walska)
* ...
'' (1916) - Bob Stange
* ''Miss Petticoats'' (1916) - Rev. Ralph Harding
* '' Life's Shadows'' (1916) - Rodney Thorndyke
* ''Greed'' (1917) - Richard Cole
* ''
Motherhood
]
A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of gesta ...
'' (1917) - Albert
* ''Mrs. Balfame'' (1917) - Dwight Rush
* ''The Debt'' (1917)
* '' The Mirror (1917 film), The Mirror'' (1917) - Bob Merrill
* ''
The Dazzling Miss Davison
''The Dazzling Miss Davison'' is a lost 1917 silent film drama directed by Frank Powell and starring Marjorie Rambeau
Marjorie Burnet Rambeau (July 15, 1889 – July 6, 1970) was an American film and stage actress. She began her stage career ...
'' (1917) - Gerard Buckland
* ''
Mary Moreland
''Mary Moreland'' is a 1917 American silent drama film starring stage actress Marjorie Rambeau that was released through Mutual Film. It is a lost film.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, Thomas Maughm (Elliott), a Wall Street broker a ...
'' (1917) - Thomas Maughm
* ''
Thou Shalt Not Steal
"Thou shalt not steal" is one of the Ten Commandments of the Jewish Torah (known to Christians as the first five books of the Old Testament), which are widely understood as moral imperatives by legal scholars, Jewish scholars, Catholic scholars ...
'' (1917) - Roger Benton
* ''The Seven Deadly Sins'' (1917) - Richard Coe (Greed)
* ''
Joan of Plattsburg
''Joan of Plattsburg'' is a 1918 American propaganda comedy-drama film co-directed by William Humphrey and George Loane Tucker, written by Tucker from a story by Porter Emerson Browne, photographed by Oliver T. Marsh, released by the Goldwyn Pict ...
'' (1918) - Capt. Lane
* ''
Resurrection
Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, which ...
'' (1918) - Prince Nekludov
* '' When Men Betray'' (1918) - Raymond Edwards
* '' For the Freedom of the East'' (1918) - Robert Kenyon
* ''The Spirit of Lafayette'' (1919) - Lieutenant Richard Stanton
* ''Unknown Love'' (1919) - Captain Jack Tims
* ''
A Woman There Was
''A Woman There Was'' is a 1919 American silent South Seas drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Theda Bara. The film is based on the short story "Creation's Tears", by George James Hopkins (under the name "Neje Hopkins"). Bara ...
'' (1919) - Pulke
* ''
Checkers
Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; British English), is a group of strategy board games for two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces. Checkers ...
'' (1919) - Kendal
* ''
L'apache
''L'apache'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Joe De Grasse and written by Adele Buffington in her first screenplay, John Lynch, and R. Cecil Smith. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Robert Elliott, Macey Harlam, Austin Webber, Ge ...
'' (1919) - Otis Mayne
* ''
The Empire of Diamonds
''The Empire of Diamonds'' is a 1920 American silent crime film directed by Léonce Perret and starring Robert Elliott, Lucy Fox and Léon Mathot.Connelly p.343
Cast
* Robert Elliott as Matthew Versigny
* Lucy Fox as Marguerite Versigny
* ...
'' (1920) - Matthew Versigny
* ''
The Money Maniac
''The Money Maniac'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Léonce Perret
Léonce Joseph Perret (14 March 1880 – 12 August 1935) was a prolific and innovative French film actor, director and producer.The Museum of Modern Art(retr ...
'' (1921) - Didier Bouchard
* ''
A Virgin Paradise
''A Virgin Paradise'' is a lost 1921 American silent adventure film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation and starring serial queen Pearl White. It was directed by veteran director J. Searle Dawley.Fair Lady'' (1922) - Norvin Blake
* ''Without Fear'' (1922) - John Miles
* ''
A Pasteboard Crown
''A Pasteboard Crown'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Travers Vale and starring Evelyn Greeley, Robert Elliott and Gladys Valerie.Munden p.593
Cast
* Evelyn Greeley as Sybil Lawton
* Robert Elliott as Stewart Thrall
* Gladys ...
'' (1922) - Stewart Thrall
* ''
The Broken Silence
''The Broken Silence'' is a feature length 1922 American film. It is an adaptation of a James Oliver Curwood novel. It was directed by Dell Henderson
George Delbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American ...
The Lone Wolf's Daughter
''The Lone Wolf's Daughter'' is a surviving 1919 American silent era crime/drama/thriller motion picture starring Bertram Grassby, Louise Glaum, and Thomas Holding.
Directed by William P.S. Earle and produced by J. Parker Read, Jr., the scree ...
'' (1929) - Ethier
* ''
Protection
Protection is any measure taken to guard a thing against damage caused by outside forces. Protection can be provided to physical objects, including organisms, to systems, and to intangible things like civil and political rights. Although th ...
'' (1929) - Wallace Crockett
* '' The Valiant'' (1929) - Minor Role (uncredited)
* ''
Thunderbolt
A thunderbolt or lightning bolt is a symbolic representation of lightning when accompanied by a loud thunderclap. In Indo-European mythology, the thunderbolt was identified with the 'Sky Father'; this association is also found in later Hell ...
'' (1929) - Prison Chaplain
* ''
Hide-Out
''Hide-Out'' is a 1934 American pre-Code comedy, crime, drama, romance film directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Robert Montgomery and Maureen O'Sullivan. It also features a young Mickey Rooney. The film was nominated for an Academy Award f ...
'' (1930) - William Burke
* ''
The Divorcee
''The Divorcee'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film written by Nick Grindé, John Meehan, and Zelda Sears, based on the 1929 novel ''Ex-Wife'' by Ursula Parrott. It was directed by Robert Z. Leonard, who was nominated for the Academy Award ...
Men of the North
''Men of the North'' is a 1930 American Western film directed by Hal Roach and written by Richard Schayer from a story by Willard Mack. The film stars Gilbert Roland, Barbara Leonard, Arnold Korff, Robert Elliott and George Davis. The film wa ...
'' (1930) - Sergeant Mooney
* ''
The Doorway to Hell
''The Doorway to Hell'' is a 1930 American pre-Code crime film directed by Archie Mayo and starring Lew Ayres and James Cagney in his second film role.Brennan, SandraThe Doorway to Hell ''The New York Times'', accessed October 12, 2010. The fil ...
The Finger Points
''The Finger Points'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and written by John Monk Saunders, W.R. Burnett and Robert Lord. The film stars Richard Barthelmess, Fay Wray, Regis Toomey, Robert Elliott, Clark Ga ...
'' (1931) - City Editor Frank Carter
* '' The Maltese Falcon'' (1931) - Detective Lt. Dundy
* ''
The Star Witness
''The Star Witness'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime drama film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and directed by William A. Wellman. The film stars Walter Huston, Frances Starr, Grant Mitchell, and Chic Sale. ''The Star Witness'' wa ...
'' (1931) - Deputy Williams (uncredited)
* '' Murder at Midnight'' (1931) - Inspector Taylor
* ''
Five Star Final
''Five Star Final'' is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film about the excesses of tabloid journalism directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Edward G. Robinson, Aline MacMahon (in her screen debut) and Boris Karloff. The screenplay was by Rober ...
'' (1931) - Brannegan
* ''
The Ruling Voice
''The Ruling Voice'' is a 1931 American pre-Code gangster drama directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Walter Huston, Loretta Young, and Doris Kenyon. It had an alternate title ''Upper Underworld'', and was produced by First National Pictures an ...
'' (1931) - A Reformer (uncredited)
* ''
Behind Stone Walls
''Behind Stone Walls'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Edward J. Nugent, Priscilla Dean and Ann Christy.Pitts p.238
Cast
*Edward J. Nugent as Bob Clay
*Priscilla Dean as Esther Clay, DA John Manson C ...
'' (1932) - District Attorney John Manson Clay
* '' Midnight Patrol'' (1932) - Howard Brady
* '' White Eagle'' (1932) - Capt. Blake
* ''
The Phantom of Crestwood
''The Phantom of Crestwood'' is a 1932 American pre-Code murder-mystery film released by Radio Pictures, directed by J. Walter Ruben, and starring Ricardo Cortez, Karen Morley, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Anita Louise, H.B. Warner, and Pauline ...
'' (1932) - Police Detective
* ''
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...
'' (1932) - Honest John Miller
* ''
Self Defense
Self-defense (self-defence primarily in Commonwealth English) is a countermeasure that involves defending the health and well-being of oneself from harm. The use of the right of self-defense as a legal justification for the use of force in ...
The Return of Casey Jones
The Return of Casey Jones is a 1933 American Pre-Code action adventure film directed by John P. McCarthy, written by Harry L. Fraser and starring Charles Starrett and Ruth Hall. The film is based on the story of the same name by John Johns, pu ...
Gambling Lady
''Gambling Lady'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Archie Mayo, and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea and Pat O'Brien.
Plot
Mike Lee raises his daughter Lady Lee to be as honest a gambler as he is. When he gets ...
Port of Lost Dreams
''Port of Lost Dreams'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring William Boyd (actor), William Boyd, Lola Lane and George F. Marion.Pitts p.100-1
Cast
* William Boyd (actor), William Boyd as Lars Christensen
* Lol ...
'' (1934) - Lt. Andersen
* ''
Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round
''Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round'' is a 1934 American drama film with musical and comedic elements, directed by Benjamin Stoloff.
Plot
Gangster Lee Lother ( Sidney Blackmer) is shot and killed during an ocean liner cruise, and we're introduced in ...
'' (1934) - Inspector 'Mac' McKinney
* ''
The World Accuses
''The World Accuses'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Vivian Tobin, Dickie Moore and Cora Sue Collins
Cora Susan Collins (born April 19, 1927) is an American former child actress who appeared in numerous ...
'' (1934) - Lt. Ryan
* ''
Death Flies East
''Death Flies East'' is a 1935 American mystery film directed by Phil Rosen and starring Conrad Nagel, Florence Rice and Raymond Walburn. The action takes place on an airline flight with a murderer aboard. The film was an early example of the avi ...
'' (1935) - Griffith (uncredited)
* ''
Times Square Lady
''Times Square Lady'' is a 1935 American crime drama film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Robert Taylor, Virginia Bruce and Helen Twelvetrees.Quirk p.36 It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Synopsis
Toni Bradley com ...
'' (1935) - 'Brick' Culver
* ''
Circumstantial Evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—such as a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly—i.e., without need ...
'' (1935) - Detective Brown (uncredited)
* ''
Black Sheep
In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...
'' (1935) - Detective Clancy (uncredited)
* ''
I'd Give My Life
''I'd Give My Life'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and written by George O'Neil based upon the play '' The Noose''. The film stars Guy Standing, Frances Drake, Tom Brown, Janet Beecher, Robert Gleckler, and Helen Low ...
'' (1936) - Powell (uncredited)
* ''
Trade Winds
The trade winds or easterlies are the permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region. The trade winds blow mainly from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisph ...
'' (1938) - Captain George Faulkiner
* '' Disbarred'' (1939) - L.M. Curron (uncredited)
* '' Made for Each Other'' (1939) - Airport Operations Manager (uncredited)
* ''
The Saint Strikes Back
''The Saint Strikes Back'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by John Farrow. It marks the second cinematic incarnation of the antihero crimefighting character Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". George Sanders replaced Louis Hayward, who h ...
I Stole a Million
''I Stole a Million'' is a 1939 film noir crime film starring George Raft as a cab driver turned small-time crook who makes a big score and lives to regret it. The supporting cast includes Claire Trevor, Dick Foran, and Victor Jory. The movie was ...
'' (1939) - Peterson
* ''
The Roaring Twenties
''The Roaring Twenties'' is a 1939 American crime thriller film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring James Cagney, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, and Gladys George. The film, spanning the periods between 1919 and 1933, was written by Jerry ...
'' (1939) - First Detective
* ''
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind most often refers to:
* ''Gone with the Wind'' (novel), a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell
* ''Gone with the Wind'' (film), the 1939 adaptation of the novel
Gone with the Wind may also refer to:
Music
* ''Gone with the Wind'' ...
'' (1939) - Yankee Major
* ''
Invisible Stripes
''Invisible Stripes'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. crime film starring George Raft as a gangster unable to go straight after returning home from prison. The movie was directed by Lloyd Bacon and also features William Holden, Jane Bryan and Humphrey ...
'' (1939) - Arresting Officer (uncredited)
* '' Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' (1940) - Minor Role (uncredited)
* '' Half a Sinner'' (1940) - Officer Kelly
* ''
'Til We Meet Again
''Til We Meet Again'' is a 1940 romance film directed by Edmund Goulding and Anatole Litvak and starring Merle Oberon and George Brent as two doomed, star-crossed lovers. It is a remake of the 1932 film ''One Way Passage'' and itself was remade i ...
'' (1940) - Detective (uncredited)
* ''
The Ghost Breakers
''The Ghost Breakers'' is a 1940 American mystery/horror comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. It was adapted by screenwriter Walter DeLeon as the third film version of the 1909 play '' The Ghost Bre ...
Captain Tugboat Annie
''Captain Tugboat Annie'' is a 1945 second sequel to the classic ''Tugboat Annie'' (1933), this time starring Jane Darwell as Annie and Edgar Kennedy as Horatio Bullwinkle. The movie was directed by Phil Rosen, and is also known as ''Tugboat Ann ...
'' (1945) - Detective Franklin
* ''
Chick Carter, Detective
''Chick Carter, Detective'' is a 1946 Columbia film serial. Columbia could not afford the rights to produce a Nick Carter serial so they made ''Chick Carter, Detective'' about his son instead. This was based on the radio series '' Chick Carter, ...
'' (1946) - Dan Rankin
* '' The Devil's Playground'' (1946) - Judge Morton (final film role)