Occupation Actor Spouse Vivian A. Marshall Role Film actor | Name Otto Fries Years active 1920–1938 | |
 | ||
Born October 28, 1887 ( 1887-10-28 ) St. Louis, Missouri,
United States Died September 15, 1938, Los Angeles, California, United States Children Ottilie Vivian, Sherwood Fries Movies From Soup to Nuts, The Second Hundred, The Trail of the Lonesom, Railroadin', Leave 'Em Laughing Similar People H M Walker, Edgar Kennedy, Hal Roach, Clyde Bruckman, Leo McCarey | ||
Otto Fries (October 28, 1887 – September 15, 1938) was an American film actor. He appeared in 129 films between 1920 and 1938.
Contents
Life
Fries was born in St. Louis, Missouri and died in 1938 in Los Angeles, California at age 50. He was the father of National Football League player Sherwood Fries.
Career
Fries became a dapper-looking supporting comic with a varied background in medicine shows and vaudeville. He easily transitioned to film in the early 1910s. By 1915, he was with the Keystone Cops and entered a lifelong friendship with Stan Laurel, which led to appearances in that star comedian's early films for Bronco Billy Anderson. Not surprisingly, Fries later landed at Hal Roach Studios, where he supported not only Laurel & Hardy and Charley Chase but also such lesser stars as Max Davidson and James Finlayson.
Sound proved no hindrance and Fries would appear in many of Roach's German-language talkies, as well as characters in many of the Our Gang shorts. Often cast as inebriates, detectives, and bartenders (with a memorable turn as a Blacksmith matching wits with a delinquent 9-year-old in Roach's Readin' and Writin'), Fries played scores of bit parts and walk-ons in grade-A films. One of his more notable appearances was as a shiphand in the Marx Brothers' Monkey Business.
Filmography
Actor
1938
The Mad Miss Manton as
Homicide Detective (uncredited)
1938
Boy Meets Girl as
Olaf (uncredited)
1938
Alexander's Ragtime Band as
Trio Member
1938
The Devil's Party as
Detective (uncredited)
1938
Go Chase Yourself as
Rube Wardell - Ventriloquist (uncredited)
1938
Test Pilot as
Bartender (uncredited)
1938
The Lone Wolf in Paris as
Peter - Rifleman (uncredited)
1938
Romance in the Dark as
Policeman
1938
Arsène Lupin Returns as
Truck Driver (uncredited)
1937
Every Day's a Holiday as
Quartet Member
1937
Prescription for Romance as
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1937
Under Suspicion
1937
High Flyers as
Fat Man on Kiddie Ride (uncredited)
1937
Expensive Husbands as
Franz
1937
A Girl with Ideas as
Policeman (uncredited)
1937
Life Begins with Love as
Policeman (uncredited)
1937
Bulldog Drummond Comes Back as
Sanghil Wun - Pub Proprietor (uncredited)
1937
The Prisoner of Zenda as
Luggage Officer (uncredited)
1937
Love in a Bungalow as
Policeman
1937
Slave Ship as
Singer (uncredited)
1937
Parnell as
Singing Irish Member (uncredited)
1937
Pick a Star as
Contest Judge (uncredited)
1937
The Hit Parade as
Majordomo (uncredited)
1937
Espionage as
Driver (uncredited)
1937
When You're in Love as
Otto - Musician (uncredited)
1936
Banjo on My Knee as
Deputy (uncredited)
1936
Charlie Chan at the Opera as
Innkeeper (uncredited)
1936
Born to Dance as
Quartet Member (uncredited)
1936
Love on the Run as
Mechanic (uncredited)
1936
Star for a Night as
Chauffeur (uncredited)
1936
Pepper as
Delicatessen Proprietor (uncredited)
1936
Human Cargo as
German Cook (uncredited)
1936
Sons o' Guns as
German Spy
1936
The King Steps Out as
Minor Role (uncredited)
1936
Small Town Girl as
Townsman (uncredited)
1936
The Story of Louis Pasteur as
Servant (uncredited)
1936
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine as
Corsey
1936
Timothy's Quest as
Timid Tenor (uncredited)
1936
Next Time We Love as
Conductor (uncredited)
1935
Ah Wilderness! as
German Truck Driver (uncredited)
1935
Mary Burns, Fugitive as
Clerk at Employment Agency (uncredited)
1935
A Night at the Opera as
Otto - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
1935
Anna Karenina as
Officer at Banquet (uncredited)
1935
Here Comes the Band as
The Riveter / Cymbalist (uncredited)
1935
The Arizonian as
Wells Fargo Agent (uncredited)
1935
George White's 1935 Scandals as
Soloist (uncredited)
1935
The Spirit of 1976 (Short)(uncredited)
1935
The Mystery Man as
Nate - the Pawnbroker
1935
The Best Man Wins as
Policeman (uncredited)
1934
Music in the Air as
Butcher (uncredited)
1934
Broadway Bill as
Waiter (uncredited)
1934
The Merry Widow as
Policeman (uncredited)
1934
She Was a Lady as
Bartender (uncredited)
1934
Stamboul Quest as
Train Conductor (uncredited)
1934
Riptide as
Doorman (uncredited)
1934
The Cat and the Fiddle as
Piano Mover (uncredited)
1934
Hips, Hips, Hooray! as
Mountaineer (uncredited)
1933
A Preferred List (Short) as
Second Judge (uncredited)
1933
Saturday's Millions as
Old Grad (uncredited)
1933
Footlight Parade as
Bartender in 'Shanghai Lil' (uncredited)
1933
Corruption as
Policeman (uncredited)
1933
The Kid from Borneo (Short) as
The Kids' Dad
1933
Taxi Barons (Short) as
Banquet Waiter (uncredited)
1932
Alum and Eve (Short) as
Doctor (uncredited)
1932
The Night of June 13 as
Baliff (uncredited)
1932
Show Business (Short) as
Policeman (uncredited)
1932
The Old Bull (Short) as
Mr. Bailey - Farmer
1932
Choo-Choo! (Short) as
Inebriated novelties salesman
1932
Free Eats (Short) as
Detective
1932
Readin' and Writin' (Short) as
The Blacksmith
1931
On the Loose (Short) as
Belligerent Bully (uncredited)
1931
Hollywood Halfbacks (Short)
1931
Monkey Business as
Ship's 2nd Officer (uncredited)
1931
Spuk um Mitternacht (Short) as
Conductor (uncredited)
1931
Bargain Day (Short) as
Policeman not in uniform
1931
Rough Seas (Short) as
Pvt. Otto Fries (uncredited)
1931
Pardon Us as
Dentist (uncredited)
1931
Little Daddy (Short) as
Orphan asylum agent
1930
High C's (Short) as
Otto - singing German soldier
1930
Una cana al aire (Short) as
Night Club Patron (uncredited)
1930
The King (Short) as
Guard (uncredited)
1930
Los pequeños papas (Short) as
Pecas' Papa
1930
The First Seven Years (Short) as
Speck's Father (uncredited)
1929
Weak But Willing (Short) as
Mr. Edward Langtry
1929
Railroadin' (Short) as
Joe's Father (uncredited)
1929
Caught in a Taxi (Short) as
The Neighbor's Husband
1929
Waltzing Around (Short) as
George
1929
Taxi Dolls (Short) as
Superintendent Owl Taxi Company
1929
Foolish Husbands (Short) as
Cop
1929
The Younger Generation as
Tradesman (uncredited)
1929
Whirls and Girls (Short) as
Traffic Cop (uncredited)
1928
Taxi Beauties (Short) as
Mr. Brown
1928
The Burglar (Short) as
Gaspipe McGook - Bungalow Burglar
1928
Riley the Cop as
Munich Cabman
1928
Camping Out (Short) as
Camp Foreman
1928
Hubby's Latest Alibi (Short) as
The Police Chief
1928
Hubby's Weekend Trip (Short) as
Cop (uncredited)
1928
Call Your Shots (Short)
1928
Taxi for Two (Short) as
Foreman - Hoot Owl Garage
1928
The Chicken (Short) as
The Minister
1928
His Unlucky Night (Short) as
Hotel Resident (uncredited)
1928
From Soup to Nuts (Short) as
Chef (uncredited)
1928
Leave 'em Laughing (Short) as
Burly Dentist (uncredited)
1927
Land of the Lawless as
Deputy Sheriff
1927
Call of the Cuckoo (Short) as
Party Guest (uncredited)
1927
Her Blue, Black Eyes (Short)
1927
Surrender as
Tarras
1927
Rumors for Rent (Short) as
The Jailbird
1927
The Second 100 Years (Short) as
Lecoque (uncredited)
1927
Car Shy (Short) as
The Auto Thieves' Leader
1927
The Missing Link as
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
1927
The Broncho Twister as
Sheriff
1927
The Motor Boat Demon (Short) as
Innis Kupps
1927
Hotel Imperial as
Anton Klinak
1927
The Bum's Rush (Short) as
The Convict
1926
Flaming Romance (Short)
1926
Kiss Papa (Short) as
Divorce Lawyer
1926
Solid Gold (Short)
1926
Move Along (Short)
1926
Who Hit Me? (Short)
1926
Who's My Wife? (Short) as
The Bride's Father
1926
Going Crazy (Short) as
Attendant
1926
Wet Paint as
Policeman (uncredited)
1926
The Tin Ghost (Short)
1926
Sky Bound (Short)
1926
Light Housekeeping (Short)
1926
Hold Your Hat (Short) as
The Girl's Father
1926
Time Flies (Short) as
Her Accomplice
1926
Live Cowards (Short)
1925
Framed (Short) as
The Magician
1925
Maid in Morocco (Short)
1925
Fair Warning (Short)
1925
Beware (Short) as
The Colored Valet
1925
Hot and Heavy (Short)
1925
Waiting (Short) as
The Chef
1925
Fares, Please! (Short)
1925
Hello, Hollywood (Short)
1925
Rapid Transit (Short)
1925
Step Lightly (Short)
1924
Motor Mad (Short)
1924
Pre-Historic Man (Short)
1924
What a Night! (Short)
1924
Poor Butterfly (Short)
1924
Fast and Furious (Short) as
The Manager
1924
Wild Game (Short)
1924
Dizzy Daisy (Short) as
The Fisherman
1924
Hot Air (Short)
1924
Air Pockets (Short) as
Sanford Morgan
1924
There He Goes (Short) as
The Colonel
1924
Midnight Blues (Short) as
Man
1924
Family Life (Short) as
Police Sergeant
1924
Wide Open (Short)
1923
Exit Caesar (Short)
1923
The High Life (Short)
1923
Lots of Nerve (Short)
1923
Backfire (Short)
1923
Three Strikes (Short)
1923
Cold Chills (Short)
1923
Kick Out (Short)
1923
The Handy Man (Short) as
The overseer
1922
The Educator (Short)
1922
A Lot of Bull (Short)
1922
Blazes (Short)
1922
The Weak-End Party (Short) as
The Overseer
1922
All Wet (Short) as
Real Estate Agent
1922
Treasure Bound (Short)
1922
Rapid Fire (Short)
1922
Spooks (Short)
1922
Step This Way (Short)
1922
Rolling Stones (Short)
1921
Free and Easy (Short)
1921
No Place to Live (Short)
1921
Peaceful Alley (Short)
1921
Alfalfa Love (Short)
1921
Bang! (Short)
1921
The Simp (Short)
1920
Moonshine (Short) as
Merciless Milton
1920
April Fool (Short)
1920
The Simp (Short) as
Slippery Elmer
1918
The Paperhangers' Revenge (Short) as
The Butler
1918
Let's Go (Short)
1918
Beat It (Short)
1916
The Surf Girl (Short)
1916
The Snow Cure (Short) as
Man at Snow Baths (uncredited)
1916
Luke, the Candy Cut-Up (Short)
Soundtrack
1938
Alexander's Ragtime Band (performer: "Ragtime Violin" (1911) - uncredited)
1930
High C's (Short) (performer: "Du, du liegst mir im Herzen" - uncredited)
Archive Footage
1986
The Laurel and Hardy Show (TV Series) as
Dentist (1986)
1984
Our Gang: Inside the Clubhouse (TV Movie documentary) as
Plainclothesman (uncredited)
1968
The Best of Laurel and Hardy (TV Movie) as
Dentist (uncredited)
1955
The Little Rascals (TV Series) as
Specks' Father (1955) / Orphan Asylum Agent / Plainclothesman / ...
1947
Hollywood Bound as
Edited from: Spirit of 1976
References
Otto Fries Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA