Cause of death Hepatitis Role Character actor Name Charles Halton | Years active 1901–58 Occupation Actor Ex-spouse Lelah Halton | |
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Born March 16, 1876 ( 1876-03-16 ) Washington, D.C., U.S. Died April 16, 1959, Los Angeles, California, United States Education American Academy of Dramatic Arts Movies Dr Cyclops, To Be or Not to Be, The Shop Around the Corner, Across the Pacific, Foreign Correspondent Similar People Ernest B Schoedsack, Ernst Lubitsch, William C McGann, Werner R Heymann, Rudolph Mate | ||
Charles Halton (March 16, 1876 – April 16, 1959) was a stern-faced American character actor who appeared in over 180 films.
Contents
Life and career
Halton trained at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his Broadway debut in 1901, where he appeared in about 35 productions during the next 50 years until 1950. From the 1920s, birdlike Charles Halton's thinning hair, rimless glasses and officious manner were also familiar to generations of moviegoers. Whether playing the neighborhood busybody, a stern government bureaucrat or weaselly attorney, Halton's characters tried to drive the "immoral influences" out of the neighborhood, foreclose on the orphanage, evict the poor widow and her children from their apartment, or any other number of dastardly deeds, all justified usually by "...I'm sorry but that's my job."
Among his highest profile roles were Mr. Carter, the bank examiner in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life (1946), the Polish theatre producer Dobosh in Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be (1942), and a county official from Idaho in Alfred Hitchcock's Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941). In Enemy of Women (1944), the story of Joseph Goebbels, Halton played against type as a kindly radio performer of children's stories who is arrested by the Nazis. Although his career slowed down in the 1950s, he also played roles in numerous television series. His 40-year film career ended with High School Confidential (1958), after which he retired.
Halton died on April 16, 1959, from hepatitis-related illness. He was 83. His cremated remains were interred in a columbarium of a southern California Forest Lawn Cemetery, but it was reported that his family later exhumed his ashes.
Filmography
Actor
1958
High School Confidential! as
W.O. Robinson - High School Principal (uncredited)
1958
Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV Series)
- The Land of Green Ginger (1958)
1958
The Adventures of Jim Bowie (TV Series) as
Joseph
- The Close Shave (1958) - Joseph
1957
How to Marry a Millionaire (TV Series) as
Mr. Simmons
- To Hock or Not to Hock (1957) - Mr. Simmons
1957
The Christophers (TV Series)
- Gentle Warrior (1957)
1957
The O. Henry Playhouse (TV Series) as
Mayor
- The Reformation of Calliope (1957) - Mayor (as Chas. Halton)
1956
Friendly Persuasion as
Brother Cope - Elder (uncredited)
1955
Crossroads (TV Series) as
Dr. Wessell / Judge
- The Rabbi Davis Story (1956) - Dr. Wessell
- The Pavement Pastor (1956)
- Shadow of God (1955) - Judge
1955
The Gentle Warrior (Short) as
District Attorney Harper
1955
General Electric Theater (TV Series) as
Welfare Man
- Prosper's Old Mother (1955) - Welfare Man
1955
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) as
Mr. Halsted
- Heritage of Treason (1955) - Mr. Halsted
1954
Adventures of the Falcon (TV Series) as
Horace Packer / Josef von Metz
- Rare Editions (1955) - Horace Packer
- The Guilty Stamps (1954) - Josef von Metz
1954
City Detective (TV Series) as
Bricker
- Crazy Like a Fox (1954) - Bricker
1954
Meet Corliss Archer (TV Series) as
Mr. Morton
- Dexter the Helper (1954) - Mr. Morton
1954
The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series)
- Danny Lands in Pictures (1954)
1954
A Star Is Born as
Paymaster #1 (uncredited)
1954
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
- The Whale on the Beach (1954)
1954
The Ray Milland Show (TV Series) as
Dr. Peabody
- Happy Home (1954) - Dr. Peabody
- Ray's Promotion (1954) - Dr. Peabody
1954
Your Favorite Story (TV Series)
- Dividing Line (1954)
1954
The Abbott and Costello Show (TV Series) as
Jones
- Beauty Contest (1954) - Jones
1953
The Fabulous Oliver Chantry (TV Movie) as
Atwater
1953
The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV Series)
- Uncle Jack (1953)
1952
Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV Series) as
Wilson / Charles Nichols
- The Young Witness (1953) - Wilson
- The Fortune Telling Story (1952) - Charles Nichols
1953
The Moonlighter as
Clemmons Usqubaugh - Undertaker
1953
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis as
Dean (Grainbelt U.) (uncredited)
1953
A Slight Case of Larceny as
Willard Maibrunn - Magna Gold Oil Co.
1953
I Love Melvin as
Mr. Prouty, Druggist (uncredited)
1953
My Little Margie (TV Series) as
Mr. Carruthers
- Hillbilly Margie (1953) - Mr. Carruthers
1953
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Mr. Traeger - Pawnbroker
- It Happened in a Pawn Shop (1953) - Mr. Traeger - Pawnbroker
1952
Chevron Theatre (TV Series)
- The Dancing Tree (1952)
1952
The Unexpected (TV Series)
- One for the Money (1952)
1952
Carrie as
Factory Foreman
1952
Three for Bedroom C as
Well-Wisher at Station (uncredited)
1951
Here Comes the Groom as
Cusick (uncredited)
1951
Stars Over Hollywood (TV Series)
- Never Laugh at a Lady (1951)
1951
Gasoline Alley as
S.D. Pettit
1950
Love Thy Neighbor (Short) as
Cogswell
1950
Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle as
Merkle - the Shyster
1950
Stella as
Mr. Beeker (uncredited)
1950
When Willie Comes Marching Home as
Mr. Fettles (uncredited)
1950
The Nevadan as
Red Sand Bank Manager (uncredited)
1950
The Traveling Saleswoman as
Banker Clumhill (uncredited)
1949
The Sickle or the Cross as
Dr. Short
1949
The Daring Caballero as
Ed J. Hodges
1949
Hideout as
Gabriel Wotter
1948
3 Godfathers as
Oliver Latham
1948
My Dear Secretary as
Mr. Kilbride (uncredited)
1948
Summer Holiday as
Mr. Lipska (uncredited)
1948
If You Knew Susie as
Pringle (uncredited)
1948
Bet Your Life (Short) as
Mr. Stoner
1947
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer as
Mr. Mittwick - High School Principal (uncredited)
1947
The Ghost Goes Wild as
T. O'Connor Scott
1946
Singin' in the Corn as
Obediah Davis
1946
It's a Wonderful Life as
Carter (uncredited)
1946
The Best Years of Our Lives as
Prew
1946
Sister Kenny as
Mr. Smith (uncredited)
1946
Three Little Girls in Blue as
Lawyer Hoskins (uncredited)
1946
Because of Him as
Mr. Dunlap
1946
The Fighting Guardsman as
Hyperion Picot (uncredited)
1945
She Went to the Races as
Dr. Collyer
1945
Mama Loves Papa as
Appleby
1945
Midnight Manhunt as
Henry Miggs
1945
Rhapsody in Blue as
Mr. Kast
1945
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as
Mr. Barker (uncredited)
1944
The Town Went Wild as
Mr. Tweedle
1944
The Thin Man Goes Home as
R.T. Tatum (uncredited)
1944
Enemy of Women as
Uncle Hugo - Radio Performer
1944
Wilson as
Colonel House
1944
Shadows in the Night as
Doc Stacey (uncredited)
1944
Address Unknown as
Censorial Pipsqueak
1944
It Happened Tomorrow as
Doctor (uncredited)
1944
Rationing as
Ezra Weeks
1944
Up in Arms as
Dr. Roger Freyheisen
1943
Whispering Footsteps as
Harry St. Clair Hammond
1943
Government Girl as
Wilkins (uncredited)
1943
Flesh and Fantasy as
Mask Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
1943
My Kingdom for a Cook as
Oliver Bradbury (uncredited)
1943
Jitterbugs as
Samuel L. Cass (uncredited)
1943
Lady Bodyguard as
T. L. Baxter
1942
That Other Woman as
Smith
1942
You Can't Escape Forever as
Charley Gates (uncredited)
1942
Henry Aldrich, Editor as
Elias Noonan
1942
My Sister Eileen as
Mr. Hawkins - Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
1942
Across the Pacific as
A.V. Smith
1942
Priorities on Parade as
2nd Examiner
1942
There's One Born Every Minute as
Trumbull
1942
Tombstone: The Town Too Tough to Die as
Mayor Dan Crane
1942
They All Kissed the Bride as
Doctor (scenes deleted)
1942
In Old California as
Mr. Hayes
1942
Whispering Ghosts as
Attorney Mark Gruber
1942
Saboteur as
Second Sheriff (uncredited)
1942
The Spoilers as
Jonathan Stuve
1942
Juke Box Jenny as
Judge
1942
The Adventures of Martin Eden as
Cotton, Publisher of Continental Magazine (uncredited)
1942
To Be or Not to Be as
Producer Jan Dobosz
1942
Captains of the Clouds as
Supintendent Nolan
1942
The Lady Is Willing as
Dr. Jones (uncredited)
1941
H.M. Pulham, Esq. as
Walter Kaufman
1941
Unholy Partners as
Phil Kaper - Attorney
1941
The Body Disappears as
Professor Moggs
1941
Look Who's Laughing as
Cudahy
1941
Three Girls About Town as
Doc - Coroner (uncredited)
1941
One Foot in Heaven as
Haskins (uncredited)
1941
The Smiling Ghost as
Great Uncle Ames Bentley
1941
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime as
Rufus Smith
1941
I Was a Prisoner on Devil's Island as
Commandant
1941
Lady Scarface as
Mr. Pinchback (uncredited)
1941
Three Sons o' Guns as
Haddock
1941
Dance Hall as
Mr. Frederick Newmeyer
1941
A Very Young Lady as
Oliver Brixton
1941
Million Dollar Baby as
Parkinson
1941
The Lady from Cheyenne as
Judge (uncredited)
1941
Mr. District Attorney as
Hazelton - Barrett's Aide
1941
Footlight Fever as
Mr. E.J. Fingernogle (uncredited)
1941
Tobacco Road as
Mayor
1941
The Great Mr. Nobody as
Mr. Bixby (uncredited)
1941
Meet the Chump as
Dr. Stephanowsky
1941
Blonde Inspiration as
Mr. Packer (uncredited)
1941
Mr. & Mrs. Smith as
Mr. Deever
1940
Behind the News as
Neil Saunders
1940
Little Nellie Kelly as
Second Judge (uncredited)
1940
Tugboat Annie Sails Again as
Alec Severn
1940
Calling All Husbands as
Hadley Weaver
1940
The Westerner as
Mort Borrow
1940
Young People as
Moderator
1940
Foreign Correspondent as
Bradley
1940
Stranger on the Third Floor as
Albert Meng
1940
I Love You Again as
Mr. Leonard Harkspur Sr. (uncredited)
1940
Lucky Partners as
Chamber of Commerce Official (uncredited)
1940
They Drive by Night as
Farnsworth (uncredited)
1940
Gangs of Chicago as
Bromo
1940
Lillian Russell as
Dr' Dobbins
1940
20 Mule Team as
Henry Adams
1940
The Doctor Takes a Wife as
Dr. Streeter
1940
The Man with Nine Lives as
Doctor in Front Row in Final Scene (uncredited)
1940
Dr. Cyclops as
Dr. Bulfinch
1940
Virginia City as
Ralston - Virginia City Banker (uncredited)
1940
The Ghost Comes Home as
Mr. Stark - Steamship Official (uncredited)
1940
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet as
Sensenbrenner
1940
The Shop Around the Corner as
Detective
1939
Swanee River as
Pond (uncredited)
1939
Reno as
Augustus Welch
1939
No Place to Go as
Mr. Bradford
1939
Golden Boy as
Newspaperman (scenes deleted)
1939
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island as
Redley
1939
The Hunchback of Notre Dame as
Printer (uncredited)
1939
Dust Be My Destiny as
Pawnshop Owner (uncredited)
1939
Lady of the Tropics as
Manager of Rubber Company (uncredited)
1939
Indianapolis Speedway as
Mayor
1939
News Is Made at Night as
Lt. Gov. Elmer Hinge
1939
Young Mr. Lincoln as
Hawthorne (uncredited)
1939
They Asked for It as
Dr. Tyler
1939
Ex-Champ as
Trilby
1939
Juarez as
Mr. Roberts (scenes deleted)
1939
Dodge City as
Surrett's Lawyer
1939
Sudden Money as
Mr. Wixby
1939
They Made Her a Spy as
Beldon
1939
I'm from Missouri as
Henry Couch
1939
Nancy Drew... Reporter as
Whitney (uncredited)
1939
Jesse James as
Heywood
1938
Federal Man-Hunt as
Damon Lauber
1938
The Girl Downstairs as
Karovian Ambassador (uncredited)
1938
A Man to Remember as
Atty. Clyde Perkins (uncredited)
1938
The Mad Miss Manton as
Popsy - the Lawyer (uncredited)
1938
Room Service as
Dr. Glass
1938
I Am the Law as
George Leander
1938
I'll Give a Million as
Mayor
1938
The Saint in New York as
Vincent Nather
1938
Penrod's Double Trouble as
Mr. Bitts
1938
Stolen Heaven as
Friedrich Polesie
1938
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife as
Monsieur de la Coste - Store President (uncredited)
1938
Penrod and His Twin Brother as
Mr. Bitts
1938
Gold Is Where You Find It as
Turner (uncredited)
1938
Penitentiary as
Leonard Nettleford
1937
Blossoms on Broadway as
Dr. Gilgallon
1937
Trouble at Midnight as
Everett Benson
1937
Partners in Crime as
Silas Wagon
1937
The Prisoner of Zenda as
Passport Officer (uncredited)
1937
Dead End as
Whitey (uncredited)
1937
Talent Scout as
M.B. Carter
1937
The Road Back as
Uncle Rudolph (uncredited)
1937
Pick a Star as
Mr. Klawheimer
1937
Woman Chases Man as
Mr. Judd
1937
Ready, Willing and Able as
Brockman
1937
Penrod and Sam as
Mr. Bitts
1937
Stolen Holiday as
Mayor Marcel Le Grande
1937
Black Legion as
Osgood
1936
Gold Diggers of 1937 as
Dr. Bell
1936
Sing Me a Love Song as
Mr. Willard (uncredited)
1936
More Than a Secretary as
Mr. Crosby
1936
Come and Get It as
Mr. Hewitt
1936
Say It with Candy (Short)
1935
Broadway Ballyhoo (Short) as
Optometrist (uncredited)
1934
Twenty Million Sweethearts as
Sound Effects Man (uncredited)
1933
His Double Life as
Newsman on Phone (uncredited)
1933
Storm at Daybreak as
Villager (uncredited)
1932
Shave It with Music (Short)
1931
Honor Among Lovers as
Wilkes
1930
Laughter as
Winslow - Gibson's Secretary (uncredited)
1919
The Tower of Jewels as
Jimmy the Rat
1919
The Climbers as
Jordan
1917
Behind the Mask as
Larrabee
1917
God's Man as
Undetermined Role
1917
The Adventurer as
Austin
Soundtrack
1941
Tobacco Road (performer: "Shall We Gather at the River?", "Bringing in the Sheaves" - uncredited)
Archive Footage
2011
These Amazing Shadows (Documentary) as
Carter (clip from It's a Wonderful Life (1946)) (uncredited)
1984
The Moviemakers (TV Series)
- The Films of Frank Capra (1984)
References
Charles Halton Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA