Walter Leland Catlett (February 4, 1889 – November 14, 1960) was an American actor and comedian. He made a career of playing excitable, meddlesome, temperamental, and officious blowhards.

Career

Catlett was born on February 4, 1889, in

San Francisco San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

, California. He started out in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

, teaming up with Hobart Cavanaugh at some point, with a detour for a while to

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

, before breaking into acting. He debuted on stage in 1906 and made his first Broadway appearance in either ''The Prince of Pilsen'' (1910 or 1911) or ''So Long Letty'' (1916). His first film appearance was in 1912, but then he went back to the stage and did not return to films until 1929. He performed in operettas and musicals, including ''The Ziegfeld Follies of 1917'', the original production of the

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

musical '' Sally'' (1920) and the Gershwins' '' Lady, Be Good'' (1924). In the last, he introduced the song " Oh, Lady Be Good!" In 1918, he starred in, stage-managed and rewrote an Oliver Morosco- Elmer Harris-Harry Plani production titled ''Look Pleasant'', playing at the

Majestic Theatre Majestic Theatre or Majestic Theater may refer to: Australia * Majestic Theatre, Adelaide, former name of a theatre in King William Street, Adelaide, built 1916, now demolished *Majestic Theatre, Launceston, a former cinema in Tasmania designed by ...

in Los Angeles. His antics in the musical ''Baby Bunting'' in London in 1922 had King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...

laughing "uproariously". Catlett made a handful of

silent film A silent film is a film without 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, w ...

appearances, but his film career did not catch on until the advent of talking pictures allowed moviegoers to experience his full comic repertoire. He starred in a number of ' two-reelers', mostly in the 1930s, some as a comedy duo with Eugene Pallette, for RKO; most were for RKO, but six were for Columbia between 1934 and 1940. Three of his better remembered roles were as the theatre manager driven to distraction by

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, he was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and maj ...

's character in ''

Yankee Doodle Dandy ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' is a 1942 American biographical musical drama film about George M. Cohan, known as "The Man Who Owned Broadway". It stars James Cagney, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston, and Richard Whorf, and features Irene Manning, Geo ...

'', the local constable who throws the entire cast in jail and winds up there himself in the

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...

classic screwball comedy ''

Bringing Up Baby ''Bringing Up Baby'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a numb ...

'', and as Morrow, the drunken poet in the restaurant who "knows when

e's is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and drawn by Satoru Yuiga. It was originally serialized in '' Monthly GFantasy'' from 1997 through 2005, and later published in 16 ''tankōbon'' volumes by Square Enix from March 18, 2003, to Febr ...

been a skunk" and takes Longfellow Deeds on a "bender" in '' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town''. He was also widely reported to have been Katharine Hepburn's comedy coach while filming ''

''. ''The New York Times'' film critic

Mordaunt Hall Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for ''The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.Big City Blues'' (1932). He played John Barsad in the 1935

David O. Selznick David O. Selznick (born David Selznick; May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca (1940 film), Rebecca'' (1 ...

production of ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'', starring

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor who started his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then emigrated to the United States where he had a highly successful Cinema of the United ...

. He also provided the uncredited voice of J. Worthington Foulfellow (a.k.a. Honest John) the Fox, one of the main villains in

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney ( ; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer, voice actor, and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the Golden age of American animation, American animation industry, he introduced several develop ...

's 1940 animated film ''

Pinocchio Pinocchio ( , ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the children's novel, ''The Adventures of Pinocchio'' (1883) by Italian writer Carlo Collodi of Florence, Tuscany. Pinocchio was carved by a poor man named Geppetto in a Tuscan vil ...

''. In the 1950s, he appeared in films like '' Here Comes the Groom'', '' Friendly Persuasion'', and ''

Beau James ''Beau James'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Melville Shavelson and starring Bob Hope, Vera Miles, Paul Douglas (actor), Paul Douglas and Alexis Smith. It is based on a non-fiction book of the same name by Gene Fowler. The film featu ...

''. For his contributions to the film industry, Catlett was inducted into the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

on February 8, 1960, with a motion pictures star located at 1713 Vine Street.

Death

Catlett died of a stroke on November 14, 1960, in

Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States. History The area was inhabited for around 8,000 years by Native Americans in the United States, ...

, and was interred in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.

Filmography

* '' Second Youth'' (1924) as John McNab * '' Summer Bachelors'' (1926) as Bachelor No. 1 * '' The Music Master'' (1927) as Medicine Show Barker * '' Why Leave Home?'' (1929) as Elmer * '' Married in Hollywood'' (1929) as Joe Glitner * ''

Happy Days ''Happy Days'' is an American television sitcom that aired first-run on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC network from January 15, 1974, to July 19, 1984, with a total of 255 half-hour episodes spanning 11 seasons. Created by Garry Marsha ...

'' (1929) as End Man - Minstrel Show * '' Let's Go Places'' (1930) as Rex Wardell * '' The Big Party'' (1930) as Mr. Goldfarb * '' The Golden Calf'' (1930) as Master of Ceremonies * '' The Florodora Girl'' (1930) as De Boer * '' The Front Page'' (1931) as Murphy * '' Honeymoon Trio'' (1931 short) as The Nuisance * '' One Quiet Night'' (1931 short) * '' Platinum Blonde'' (1931) as Bingy * '' Maker of Men'' (1931) as McNeil * '' Cock of the Air'' (1932) as Col. Wallace * '' Sky Devils'' (1932) as Master of Ceremonies - Canteen Show (uncredited) * '' The Expert'' (1932) as Al * '' It's Tough to Be Famous'' (1932) as Joseph Craig 'Joe' Chapin * '' Back Street'' (1932) as Bakeless * '' Okay, America!'' (1932) as City Editor aka 'Lucille' * '' Big City Blues'' (1932) as Cousin 'Gibby' Gibboney * ''

Rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...

'' (1932) as Quartermaster Bates * '' The Sport Parade'' (1932) as 'Shifty' Morrison * '' Rockabye'' (1932) as Jimmy Dunn * '' Olsen's Big Moment'' (1933) as Robert Brewster III * '' Private Jones'' (1933) as Spivey * ''Private Wives'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Walter * ''Hunting Trouble'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Walter * ''Caliente Love'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Harrison * ''Dream Stuff'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Cousin Walter * ''Road Queen'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Walter Knox * ''Daddy Knows Best'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Mr. Boyce * ''Husbands' Reunion'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Walter * ''The Big Fibber'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler, as Walter Moore * ''Meet The Champ'' (1933) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''Sailors Beware'' (1933) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Smitty * ''One Awful Night'' (1933) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * '' So This Is Harris'' (1933, Oscar winner for Best Short Subject) Phil Harris three-reeler co-starring Walter Catlett as himself * '' Mama Loves Papa'' (1933) as Tom Walker * '' Arizona to Broadway'' (1933) as Ned Flynn * '' Only Yesterday'' (1933) as Barnes (uncredited) * ''Gold Nuggets'' (1933) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''Elmer Steps Out'' (1934. Columbia) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Elmer * ''Get Along Little Hubby'' (1934, Columbia) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Elmer Tuttle * ''The New Dealers'' (1934) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''News Hounds'' (1934) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''Making the Rounds'' (1934) Eugene Pallette and Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''The Fuller Gush Man'' (1934) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Harry Judson * ''Old Maid's Mistake'' (1934) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * '' Unknown Blonde'' (1934) as Publicity Man * '' The Captain Hates the Sea'' (1934) as Joe Silvers * '' Lightning Strikes Twice'' (1934) as Gus * ''

Every Night at Eight ''Every Night at Eight'' is a 1935 American comedy musical film starring George Raft and Alice Faye and made by Walter Wanger Productions Inc. and Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Raoul Walsh and produced by Walter Wanger from a screenp ...

'' (1935) as Master of Ceremonies * '' The Affair of Susan'' (1935) as Gilbert * ''In the Sweet Bye and Bye'' (1935) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Elmer * ''

'' (1935) as Barsad * '' Mr. Deeds Goes to Town'' (1936) as Morrow, the Poet * '' We Went to College'' (1936) as Senator Budger * '' Follow Your Heart'' (1936) as Joe Sheldon * '' Cain and Mabel'' (1936) as Jake Sherman * '' Four Days' Wonder'' (1936) as Duffy * '' Banjo on My Knee'' (1936) as Warfield Scott * '' Sing Me a Love Song'' (1936) as Mr. Sprague (uncredited) * '' I Loved a Soldier'' (1936) * ''Fibbing Fibbers'' (1936, Columbia) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''Upper Cutlets'' (1936, aka ''Uppercutlets'') Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * '' On the Avenue'' (1937) as Jake Dibble * '' Love Is News'' (1937) as Eddie Johnson * '' Wake Up and Live'' (1937) as Gus Avery * '' Love Under Fire'' (1937) as Tip Conway * ''

Varsity Show The Varsity Show is one of the oldest traditions at Columbia University. Founded in 1893 as a fundraiser for the university's fledgling athletic teams, the Varsity Show now draws together the entire Columbia undergraduate community for a series of ...

'' (1937) as Professor Sylvester Biddle * '' Danger – Love at Work'' (1937) as Uncle Alan * '' Every Day's a Holiday'' (1937) as Nifty Bailey * ''Come Up Riches'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) as Slocum * '' Zaza'' (1938) as Marlardot * '' Going Places'' (1938) as Franklin Dexter * '' Exile Express'' (1939) as Gus * '' Kid Nightingale'' (1939) as Skip Davis * ''Static in the Attic'' (1939, Columbia) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * ''

'' (1940) as Honest John Worthington Foulfellow (uncredited voice) * '' Half a Sinner'' (1940) as Station Attendant * '' Pop Always Pays'' (1940) as Tommy Lane * ''Comin' Round the Mountain'' (1940) as W.P.A. Clerk * '' Spring Parade'' (1940) as Headwaiter * '' The Quarterback'' (1940) as Tom * ''

Li'l Abner ''Li'l Abner'' was a satirical American comic strip that appeared in multiple newspapers in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It featured a fictional clan of hillbillies living in the impoverished fictional mountain village of Dogpatch, ...

'' (1940) as Barber * ''You're Next!'' (1940) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Slocum * ''Alex In Wonderland'' (1940) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as Fred * ''Blondes and Blunders'' (1940) Walter Catlett two-reeler; as himself * '' Remedy for Riches'' (1940) as Clem * '' Honeymoon for Three'' (1941) as Waiter * '' The Wild Man of Borneo'' (1941) as 'Doc' Skelby * '' You're the One'' (1941) as Program Director * '' Horror Island'' (1941) as Sergeant McGoon * ''

Million Dollar Baby ''Million Dollar Baby'' is a 2004 American sports drama film directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay by Paul Haggis. It is based on stories from the 2000 collection ''Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner' ...

'' (1941) as Mr. Simpson * '' Hello, Sucker'' (1941) as G. Remington 'Max' Conway * '' Bad Men of Missouri'' (1941) as Mr. Pettibone * ''

Manpower Human resources (HR) is the set of people who make up the workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy. A narrower concept is human capital, the knowledge and skills which the individuals command. Similar terms include ...

'' (1941) as Sidney Whipple * '' Unfinished Business'' (1941) as Billy Ross * '' Sing Another Chorus'' (1941) as Theodore Gateson * '' It Started with Eve'' (1941) as Doctor Harvey * '' Steel Against the Sky'' (1941) as Professor Rupert Sampson * '' Wild Bill Hickok Rides'' (1942) as Sylvester W. Twigg * '' Star Spangled Rhythm'' (1942) as Walter * '' My Gal Sal'' (1942) as Col. Truckee * ''

Syncopation In music, syncopation is a variety of rhythms played together to make a piece of music, making part or all of a tune or piece of music off-beat (music), off-beat. More simply, syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of ...

'' (1942) as Spelvin * ''

'' (1942) as Theatre Manager * '' Maisie Gets Her Man'' (1942) as Jasper * '' Give Out, Sisters'' (1942) as Gribble * '' Between Us Girls'' (1942) as Desk Sergeant * '' Heart of the Golden West'' (1942) as Colonel Silas Popen * ''How's About It'' (1943) as Whipple * '' They Got Me Covered'' (1943) as Hotel Manager * '' Hit Parade of 1943'' (1943) as J. MacClellan Davis * '' Cowboy in Manhattan'' (1943) as Ace Robbins * '' Get Going'' (1943) as Horace Doblem * '' The West Side Kid'' (1943) as Ramsey Fensel * '' Fired Wife'' (1943) as Judge Allen * '' His Butler's Sister'' (1943) as Mortimer Kalb * '' Up in Arms'' (1944) as Major Brock * '' Hat Check Honey'' (1944) as Tim Martel * '' Her Primitive Man'' (1944) as Hotel Clerk * '' Lady, Let's Dance'' (1944) as Timber Applegate * '' Pardon My Rhythm'' (1944) as O'Bannion * '' Ghost Catchers'' (1944) as Colonel Breckinridge Marshall * '' Three Is a Family'' (1944) as Barney Meeker * '' My Gal Loves Music'' (1944) as Dr. Bilbo * '' Hi, Beautiful'' (1944) as Gerald Bisbee * '' Lake Placid Serenade'' (1944) as Carlton Webb * '' The Man Who Walked Alone'' (1945) as Wiggins * '' I Love a Bandleader'' (1945) as B. Templeton James * '' Riverboat Rhythm'' (1946) as Colonel Jeffrey "Smitty" Witherspoon * '' Slightly Scandalous'' (1946) as Mr. Wright * '' I'll Be Yours'' (1947) as Mr. Buckingham * '' Are You with It?'' (1948) as Jason (Pop) Carter * '' Mr. Reckless'' (1948) as Joel Hawkins * '' The Boy with Green Hair'' (1948) as The King * '' Henry, the Rainmaker'' (1949) as Mayor Colton * '' Leave It to Henry'' (1949) as Mayor Colton * '' Look for the Silver Lining'' (1949) as himself * '' Dancing in the Dark'' (1949) as Joe Brooks * '' The Inspector General'' (1949) as Colonel Castine * '' Father Makes Good'' (1950) as Mayor George Colton * '' Father's Wild Game'' (1950) as Mayor George Colton * '' Father Takes the Air'' (1951) as Mayor George Colton * '' Here Comes the Groom'' (1951) as Mr. McGonigle * '' Honeychile'' (1951) as Al Moore * '' Davy Crockett and the River Pirates'' (1956) as Colonel Plug (archive footage) * '' Friendly Persuasion'' (1956) as Professor Quigley * ''The Gay Nineties'' (1956) * ''

'' (1957) as Gov. Alfred E. "Al" Smith

Broadway stage credits

* ''So Long Letty'' (1916–1917) * ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Foll ...

of 1917'' (1917) * ''Follow the Girl'' (1918) * '' Sally'' (1920–1922, 1923) * ''Dear Sir'' (1924) * '' Lady, Be Good'' (1924–1925) * ''Lucky'' (1927) * '' Treasure Girl (1928)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Catlett, Walter 1889 births 1960 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors American male voice actors Male actors from San Francisco American vaudeville performers Comedians from San Francisco American male comedians Members of The Lambs Club