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Billy Bevan
Born · September 29, 1887
Died · November 26, 1957 (70 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Bio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Billy Bevan (born William Bevan Harris, 29 September 1887 – 26 November 1957) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became an American film actor. He appeared in 254 American films between 1916 and 1950. Bevan was born in the country town of Orange, New South Wales, Australia. He went on the stage at an early age, traveled to Sydney and spent eight years in Australian light opera, performing as Willie Bevan. He sailed to America with the Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company in 1912 and later toured Canada. Bevan broke into films with the Sigmund Lubin studio in 1916. When the company disbanded, Bevan became a supporting actor in Mack Sennett movie comedies. An expressive pantomimist, Bevan's quiet scene-stealing attracted attention, and by 1922 Bevan was a Sennett star. He supplemented his income, however, by establishing a citrus and avocado farm at Escondido, California. Usually filmed wearing a derby hat and a drooping mustache, Bevan may not have possessed an indelible screen character like Charlie Chaplin but he had a friendly, funny presence in the frantic Sennett comedies. Much of the comedy depended on Bevan's skilled timing and reactions; the famous "oyster" routine performed on film by Curly Howard, Lou Costello, and Huntz Hall—in which a bowl of "fresh oyster stew" shows alarming signs of life and battles the guy trying to eat it—was originated on film decades earlier by Bevan in the short film Wandering Willies. By the mid-1920s Bevan was often teamed with Andy Clyde; Clyde soon graduated to his own starring series. The late 1920s found Bevan playing in wild marital farces for Sennett. The advent of talking pictures took their toll on the careers of many silent stars, including Billy Bevan. Bevan began a second career in "talkies" as a character actor and bit player in roles such as that of a bus driver in the 1929 film High Voltage, a hotel employee in the Mae Murray film Peacock Alley, and the supporting role of Second Lieutenant Trotter in Journey's End in 1930. His starring roles had come to an end, however, and for the next 20 years he often would play rowdy Cockneys (as in Pack Up Your Troubles with The Ritz Brothers), and affable Englishmen (as in Tin Pan Alley and Terror by Night). He played a friendly bus conductor opposite Greer Garson in one of the opening scenes of Mrs. Miniver. Bevan died in 1957 in Escondido, California, just before new audiences discovered him in Robert Youngson's silent-comedy compilations. (The Youngson films mispronounce his name as "Be-VAN"; Bevan himself offered the proper pronunciation in a Voice of Hollywood reel in 1930.)
30 Years of Fun
(archive footage)
3.0
1963
The Golden Age of Comedy
archive footage
6.9
1957
Hans Christian Andersen
Town Councilman (uncredited)
6.3
1952
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
(archive footage)
0.0
1951
Three Secrets
Ed Jackson (uncredited)
6.4
1950
Rogues of Sherwood Forest
Will Scarlet
4.8
1950
Fortunes of Captain Blood
Billy Bragg
7.1
1950
Tell It to the Judge
Winston, Kitty's Butler (uncredited)
6.3
1949
The Secret Of St. Ives
Douglas (uncredited)
6.0
1949
The Secret Garden
Barney
7.1
1949
Let's Live a Little
Morton
6.3
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (1 episode)
6.6
1948
The Black Arrow
Dungeon Keeper
5.2
1948
The Swordsman
Old Andrew
0.0
1948
It Had to Be You
Evans
6.5
1947
Moss Rose
Harry, Cab Driver (uncredited)
6.4
1947
Cluny Brown
Uncle Arn Porritt
7.2
1946
Devotion
Mr. Ames (uncredited)
6.0
1946
Terror by Night
Conductor Taking Tickets
6.6
1946
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Malvolio Jones
7.1
1945
National Velvet
Constable (uncredited)
7.2
1945
Tonight and Every Night
Cabbie (uncredited)
5.2
1945
The Pearl of Death
Constable With Food Tray (uncredited)
7.1
1944
The Invisible Man's Revenge
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
5.6
1944
The Lodger
6.3
1944
Jane Eyre
Bookie (uncredited)
6.9
1943
The Return of the Vampire
Horace (uncredited)
6.0
1943
Forever and a Day
Wartime Cabby
7.4
1943
London Blackout Murders
Air Raid Warden
5.0
1943
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
(archive footage)
0.0
1943
I Married a Witch
Puritan Vendor (uncredited)
6.8
1942
Counter-Espionage
George Barrow
6.2
1942
Mrs. Miniver
Bus Conductor (uncredited)
7.0
1942
This Above All
Farmer
6.6
1942
The Man Who Wouldn't Die
Phillips
6.4
1942
Confirm or Deny
Mr. Bindle
3.8
1941
Suspicion
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
7.1
1941
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Mr. Weller
6.4
1941
Shining Victory
Chivers
5.9
1941
Penny Serenade
McDougal (uncredited)
6.6
1941
Tin Pan Alley
Stage Doorman
5.0
1940
The Long Voyage Home
Joe
6.6
1940
Rebecca
Policeman (uncredited)
7.9
1940
The Invisible Man Returns
Jim (uncredited)
6.2
1940
The Earl of Chicago
Castle Guide
5.6
1940
We Are Not Alone
Mr. Jones
6.1
1939
Pack Up Your Troubles
British Sergeant
6.2
1939
Captain Fury
Duffy
4.8
1939
Let Freedom Ring
Cockney (uncredited)
6.0
1939
A Christmas Carol
Street Watch Leader
7.0
1938
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Aquarium Guard
6.6
1938
Shadows Over Shanghai
Gallicuddy
5.7
1938
Mysterious Mr. Moto
Customs Official
5.7
1938
The Young in Heart
Kennel Man (uncredited)
6.6
1938
Blond Cheat
Bartender (uncredited)
6.0
1938
The Girl of the Golden West
Nick
4.6
1938
Bringing Up Baby
Joe (uncredited)
7.5
1938
The Wrong Road
McLean
4.3
1937
The Sheik Steps Out
Munson
4.0
1937
Another Dawn
Pvt. Hawkins
6.2
1937
Slave Ship
Atkins
4.8
1937
Personal Property
Frank (uncredited)
6.9
1937
God's Country and the Woman
Plug Hat
4.2
1937
Lloyd's of London
Innkeeper
7.2
1936
Piccadilly Jim
Taxi Driver
6.5
1936
Private Number
Frederick
6.5
1936
Dracula's Daughter
Police Constable Albert
5.9
1936
Champagne Charlie
Mr. Boswick
4.8
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Cabby (uncredited)
7.5
1936
Song and Dance Man
Curtis
0.0
1936
A Tale of Two Cities
Jerry Cruncher
6.8
1935
The Widow from Monte Carlo
Officer Watkins
5.0
1935
The Last Outpost
Private Foster
6.0
1935
Black Sheep
Alfred
7.0
1935
Vanessa: Her Love Story
Horse Auctioneer
6.0
1935
Mystery Woman
Jepson
0.0
1935
Caravan
Police Sergeant
5.0
1934
Limehouse Blues
Herb
4.2
1934
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Man in Hotel Room
5.3
1934
One More River
Cloakroom Attendant
5.3
1934
Shock
Meadows
6.0
1934
Stingaree
Mac
5.9
1934
The Lost Patrol
Hale
6.4
1934
Pop's Pal
Grandpa
0.0
1933
Alice in Wonderland
Two of Spades (uncredited)
6.1
1933
The Way to Love
M. Prial
0.0
1933
Too Much Harmony
Stage Director
5.0
1933
The Big Squeal
Jake Burke
0.0
1933
Thundering Taxis
One of the Taxi Boys
0.0
1933
Peg o' My Heart
Detective #2 (uncredited)
5.2
1933
A Study in Scarlet
Will Swallow
5.5
1933
Uncle Jake
Uncle Jake
0.0
1933
Looking Forward
Mr. Barker
6.2
1933
Techno-Crazy
Mary's Father - the Mayor
0.0
1933
Cavalcade
George Grainger
5.5
1933
Luxury Liner
Schultz
6.3
1933
She Whoops To Conquer
0.0
1933
Me and My Gal
Ashley, Arguing Drunk (uncredited)
6.5
1932
Payment Deferred
Charlie Hammond
5.9
1932
Honeymoon Beach
Billy Bevan
0.0
1932
Vanity Fair
Joseph Sedley
5.5
1932
Sky Devils
Colonel
5.5
1932
The Silent Witness
Horace Ward
5.5
1932
Who's Who in the Zoo
Father
0.0
1931
Waterloo Bridge
Soldier on the Make (uncredited)
7.0
1931
Transatlantic
Hodgkins
5.5
1931
Chances
Cuthbert (uncredited)
7.0
1931
Born to Love
Departing British Soldier (uncredited)
5.0
1931
For the Love o' Lil
Edward O. Walker
0.0
1930
Monte Carlo
Train Conductor (uncredited)
6.3
1930
Temptation
Sam
0.0
1930
Journey's End
Trotter
6.3
1930
Scotch
Gilbert - Addie's Brother
0.0
1930
Peacock Alley
Walter
4.3
1930
Weak But Willing
George Downing
0.0
1929
The Trespasser
Reporter (uncredited)
6.7
1929
High Voltage
Gus Jones
4.6
1929
Don't Get Jealous
Billy Blake
0.0
1929
Pink Pajamas
Billy Brooks
0.0
1929
Calling Hubby's Bluff
Billy Barton
0.0
1929
The Sky Hawk
Tom Berry
6.0
1929
His New Stenographer
Billy Brooks
0.0
1928
Riley the Cop
Paris Cabman
5.6
1928
Hubby's Weekend Trip
Bill Blake
0.0
1928
Motorboat Mamas
Billy Bender
0.0
1928
His Unlucky Night
Billy Trotter
0.0
1928
The Girl from Nowhere
Constable Billy Barnes
0.0
1928
The Bicycle Flirt
Doty Bassett - the Bicycle Flirt
0.0
1928
The Best Man
Best Man
0.0
1928
The Beach Club
0.0
1928
The Girl from Everywhere
Messenger
0.0
1927
The Bull Fighter
Pete De Tour
0.0
1927
Gold Digger of Weepah
The Barber
0.0
1927
The Golf Nut
Billy Divott
0.0
1927
Cured in the Excitement
Professor Brawn
0.0
1927
A Small Town Princess
Joe Whiffet
0.0
1927
Peaches and Plumbers
Bill the Plumber
0.0
1927
Easy Pickings
The Detective
0.0
1927
Should Sleepwalkers Marry?
Charley Carter
0.0
1927
Flirty Four-Flushers
Jerry Connors / Archibald De Shyster
5.0
1926
Masked Mamas
Casey McCorkle
0.0
1926
Should Husbands Marry?
The Cop
0.0
1926
Hoboken to Hollywood
Billy Judkins
0.0
1926
Hubby’s Quiet Little Game
Billy Foote
0.0
1926
A Sea Dog's Tale
Wilbur Watts
0.0
1926
Ice Cold Cocos
Gus Gander
0.0
1926
Musclebound Music
Billy Hornby
0.0
1926
Fight Night
Walter Moore
5.0
1926
Hayfoot, Strawfoot?
Pete
0.0
1926
Wandering Willies
Percy Nudge
0.0
1926
Circus Today
Gus Barnum
0.0
1926
Trimmed in Gold
Otto Stropp
0.0
1926
Whispering Whiskers
The Drifter
0.0
1926
From Rags to Britches
Joe Bush
0.0
1925
Over Thereabouts
Joe Dobell
0.0
1925
Butter Fingers
Nick
5.8
1925
The Iron Nag
Joe Gobb
0.0
1925
Sneezing Beezers
Joe Honck - Taxi Driver
0.0
1925
Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies
Hiram Case
0.0
1925
The Lion's Whiskers
Otto Klutch
0.0
1925
Giddap!
Gaspard De Brie
0.0
1925
Honeymoon Hardships
Farmer
0.0
1925
Off His Trolley
The Traffic Cop
0.0
1924
The Cannon Ball Express
Adam Fargo - Baggage Master
0.0
1924
Galloping Bungalows
John Syrup Soother
5.0
1924
Wandering Waistlines
Sandy Hook - Sailor
0.0
1924
Little Robinson Corkscrew
The Sheriff
0.0
1924
Three Foolish Weeks
King of Anchovia
0.0
1924
Lizzies of the Field
Bud Gasket
6.2
1924
East of the Water Plug
The Sheriff
0.0
1924
Wall Street Blues
The Janitor
0.0
1924
The Hollywood Kid
Studio Organist
5.3
1924
The White Sin
Travers Dale
6.0
1924
One Spooky Night
A.J. Bird Jr.
0.0
1924
Inbad the Sailor
Jake aka Inbad the Sailor
0.0
1923
One Cylinder Love
The Bachelor's Butler / Chauffeur / Footman
0.0
1923
The Extra Girl
Comedian
5.9
1923
Pitfalls of a Big City
Barfly (uncredited)
0.0
1923
Nip and Tuck
Sailor
0.0
1923
When Summer Comes
Lyons - the Tenderfoot
0.0
1922
The Crossroads of New York
Press Agent
0.0
1922
Gymnasium Jim
Jim
4.5
1922
On Patrol
The Amateur Cop
3.0
1922
The Duck Hunter
The Sportsman
0.0
1922
Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studios
Himself
0.0
1921
Bright Eyes
The Nosey Butler
0.0
1921
Be Reasonable
A Rolling Stone
7.3
1921
Love and Doughnuts
The Burglar
0.0
1921
Astray from the Steerage
A steerage passenger
0.0
1921
A Small Town Idol
Director
6.0
1921
The Quack Doctor
The Hired Lady's Sweetheart
0.0
1920
Distilled Love
5.0
1920
Cupid In Quarantine
The Father
5.0
1918
Her Rustic Romeo
0.0
1918
Somebody's Widow
Secretary
0.0
1918
Bombs and Bandits
The Chief of Police
0.0
1917
Pirates of the Air
The Bartender
0.0
1916
Gertie's Gasoline Glide
The Minister
5.0
1916