Douglass Dumbrille
Born
October 12, 1889
Died
April 2, 1974 (84 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Douglass Rupert Dumbrille (October 13, 1889 – April 2, 1974) was a Canadian actor and one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood.
In 1913, the East Coast film industry was flourishing and that year he appeared in the film What Eighty Million Women Want, but it would be another 11 years before he appeared on screen again.
In 1924, he made his Broadway debut and worked off and on in the theatre for several years while supplementing his income by selling such products as car accessories, tea, insurance, real estate, and books.
During the Great Depression, Dumbrille moved to the West Coast of the U.S., where he specialized in playing secondary character roles alongside the great stars of the day. His physical appearance and suave voice equipped him for roles as slick politician, corrupt businessman, crooked sheriff, or unscrupulous lawyer.
He was highly regarded by the studios and was sought out by Cecil B. DeMille, Frank Capra, Hal Roach and other prominent Hollywood filmmakers. A friend of fellow Canadian-born director Allan Dwan, Dumbrille played Athos in Dwan’s 1939 adaptation of The Three Musketeers.
Dumbrille had roles in more than 200 motion pictures and, with the advent of television, made numerous appearances in the 1950s and 1960s. He had the ability to project a balance of menace and pomposity in roles as the "heavy" in comedy films, such as those of the Marx Brothers or Abbott and Costello.
Known For
Complicated Women
Self (archive footage)
2003
Batman
The Doctor · (1 episode)
1966
Johnny Cool
1963
Petticoat Junction
Dave La Salle · (1 episode)
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies
(1 episode)
1962
Air Patrol
Millard Nolan
1962
Bringing Up Buddy
(1 episode)
1960
The Untouchables
Judge Ben Harlow · (1 episode)
1959
The Twilight Zone
Mr. Halpert · (1 episode)
1959
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
(2 episodes)
1959
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
Warden · (1 episode)
1959
The Buccaneer
Collector of the Port
1958
77 Sunset Strip
(1 episode)
1958
Bat Masterson
Gen. Taylor Millard · (1 episode)
1958
Perry Mason
Judge Robert Adler · (1 episode)
1957
Perry Mason
Judge · (1 episode)
1957
Shake, Rattle and Rock!
Eustace Fentwick III
1956
Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers
(1 episode)
1956
The Ten Commandments
Jannes
1956
Hey, Jeannie!
Gen. Hardwicke · (1 episode)
1956
Mobs, Inc.
Leland Cameron James
1956
Jungle Safari
Lang
1956
Matinee Theater
(1 episode)
1955
Crossroads
(78 episodes)
1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
Red Beecham · (1 episode)
1955
Allen in Movieland
Self- Lawyer
1955
A Life at Stake
Gus Hillman
1955
Jupiter's Darling
Scipio
1955
The Millionaire
B.G. Greenwise · (1 episode)
1955
Studio 57
Goldy · (1 episode)
1954
The Lawless Rider
Marshal Brady (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1954
Public Defender
Frank Hackman · (1 episode)
1954
World for Ransom
Insp. McCollum
1954
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
Powhatan (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1953
Letter to Loretta
George Haviland · (1 episode)
1953
Plunder of the Sun
Consul (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1953
Julius Caesar
Lepidus
1953
The Life Of Riley
Cunningham · (2 episodes)
1953
The Life Of Riley
(2 episodes)
1953
Rapture
W.C. Hutton
1952
Sky Full of Moon
Rodeo Official
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
J.B. Creston · (1 episode)
1952
The Ford Television Theatre
(1 episode)
1952
Cavalcade of America
Lord Rawdon · (1 episode)
1952
Apache War Smoke
Maj. Dekker
1952
Son of Paleface
Sheriff McIntyre
1952
Scaramouche
Assembly President
1952
China Smith
(8 episodes)
1952
Dangerous Assignment
(1 episode)
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Governor Spriggs · (1 episode)
1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Governor William Claiborne · (1 episode)
1951
A Millionaire for Christy
J.C. Thompson
1951
Racket Squad
(3 episodes)
1951
The Kangaroo Kid
Vincent Moller
1950
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Mr. Arthur J. Cahill · (1 episode)
1950
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
Judge Strickland · (2 episodes)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Whitfield · (1 episode)
1950
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
Sheik Hamud El Khalid
1950
The Savage Horde
Col. Price
1950
Riding High
Eddie Howard
1950
Buccaneer's Girl
Capt. Martos
1950
Tell It to the Judge
George Ellerby
1949
Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch
Captain Lance
1949
The Lone Wolf and His Lady
John J. Murdock
1949
Alimony
Burton Crail
1949
Riders of the Whistling Pines
Henry Mitchell
1949
Dynamite
Hank Gibbons
1949
Last of the Wild Horses
Charlie Cooper
1948
Blonde Savage
Mark Harper
1947
Beyond Our Own
E.W. Osborne
1947
The Fabulous Texan
Luke Roland
1947
Christmas Eve
Dr. Bunyan
1947
Dragnet
Frank Farrington
1947
Dishonored Lady
District Attorney O'Brien
1947
It's a Joke, Son!
Big Dan Healey
1947
Monsieur Beaucaire
George Washington
1946
Under Nevada Skies
Courtney
1946
Spook Busters
Dr. Coslow
1946
The Cat Creeps
Tom McGalvey
1946
Night in Paradise
High Priest
1946
The Catman of Paris
Henry Borchard
1946
Road to Utopia
Ace Larson
1946
Pardon My Past
Uncle Wills
1945
The Daltons Ride Again
Sheriff Hoskins
1945
Flame of the West
Marshal Tom Nightlander
1945
The Frozen Ghost
Inspector Brant
1945
A Medal for Benny
General
1945
Jungle Queen
Lang
1945
Lost in a Harem
Nimativ
1944
Gypsy Wildcat
Baron Tovar
1944
Forty Thieves
Tad Hammond
1944
Jungle Woman
District Attorney
1944
Lumberjack
Daniel J. Keefer
1944
Uncertain Glory
Police Commissioner LaFarge
1944
False Colors
Mark Foster
1943
Du Barry Was a Lady
Willie / Duc de Rigor
1943
Stand by for Action
Capt. Ludlow
1942
King of the Mounties
Harper
1942
I Married an Angel
Baron Szigethy
1942
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Gen. William Henry Harrison
1942
A Gentleman After Dark
Enzo Calibra
1942
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Jake Rainwater
1942
Castle in the Desert
Paul Manderley
1942
Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime
John Matthews
1941
The Big Store
Mr. Grover
1941
Washington Melodrama
District Attorney Donnelly
1941
Road to Zanzibar
Slave trader
1941
The Roundup
Capt. Bob Lane
1941
Murder Among Friends
Carter Stevenson
1941
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Benny Gordon (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1940
South of Pago Pago
Williams
1940
Virginia City
Maj. Drewery
1940
Slightly Honorable
George Taylor
1939
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Stephen Holloway
1939
City in Darkness
B. Petroff (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1939
Thunder Afloat
District Commander
1939
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island
Stewart Salsbury, alias Thomas Gregory
1939
Tell No Tales
Matt Cooper (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1939
Captain Fury
Preston
1939
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Comdr. La Costa
1939
The Three Musketeers
Athos (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1939
Kentucky
John Dillon - 1861
1938
Sharpshooters
Count Maxim
1938
Storm Over Bengal
Ramin Khan
1938
Crime Takes a Holiday
J.J. Grant
1938
The Mysterious Rider
Pecos Bill aka Ben Wade
1938
Fast Company
Arnold Stamper (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1938
Stolen Heaven
Klingman
1938
The Buccaneer
Governor William C.C. Claiborne
1938
The Firefly
Marquis de Melito
1937
Ali Baba Goes to Town
Prince Musah
1937
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Mr. Korum, a Conspirator
1937
A Day at the Races
Morgan
1937
Woman in Distress
Jerome Culver
1937
Counterfeit Lady
August Marino
1936
End of the Trail
Bill Mason
1936
M'Liss
Lou Ellis
1936
The Princess Comes Across
Lorel
1936
The Witness Chair
Stanley Whittaker
1936
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
John Cedar
1936
The Music Goes 'Round
Bishop
1936
You May Be Next!
Beau Gardner
1936
The Lone Wolf Returns
Morphew
1935
The Calling of Dan Matthews
Jeff Hardy
1935
Crime and Punishment
Grilov
1935
Peter Ibbetson
Colonel Forsythe
1935
The Public Menace
Mario Tonelli
1935
Love Me Forever
Miller
1935
Unknown Woman
1935
Air Hawks
Victor Arnold
1935
Naughty Marietta
Prince de Namours de la Bonfain, Marietta's Uncle
1935
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer
Mohammed Khan
1935
The Secret Bride
Breeden
1934
Broadway Bill
Eddie Morgan
1934
Treasure Island
Pirate of the Spanish Main
1934
Operator 13
General Stuart
1934
Fog Over Frisco
Joshua Mayard
1934
Harold Teen
H.H. Snatcher (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1934
Journal of a Crime
Cartier (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1934
Hi, Nellie!
Dawes
1934
Lady Killer
Spade Maddock
1933
The World Changes
Buffalo Bill Cody
1933
Female
George Mumford
1933
The Way to Love
Agent Chapusard
1933
I Loved a Woman
U.S. Attorney Brandt (uncredited)
1933
Baby Face
Brody
1933
The Man Who Dared
Judge Collier
1933
Heroes for Sale
Chief Engineer Jim (uncredited)
1933
Elmer, the Great
Stillman (uncredited)
1933
The Working Man
Lawyer Hammersmith (uncredited)
1933
The Rustler's Roundup
Bill Brett (as Douglas Dunbrile)
1933
King of the Jungle
Ed Peters
1933
Hard to Handle
District Attorney (uncredited)
1933
Laughter in Hell
Ed Perkins
1933
Smoke Lightning
Sam Edson
1933
That's My Boy
Coach "Daisy" Adams
1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
District Attorney (uncredited)
1932
The Pride of the Legion
McMahon
1932
Blondie of the Follies
Murchenson
1932
The Wiser Sex
Chauffeur - aka The Wop
1932
The Symphony Murder Mystery
Giuseppe Benito
1932
His Woman
Alisandroe
1931
The Door Knocker
Gangster
1931