
Victor Potel
Born
October 12, 1889
Died
March 8, 1947 (57 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Lafayette, Indiana, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career.
Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series.
Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness.
In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges.
Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
Known For

The Egg and I
Crowbar
1947

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Prof. Potelle
1947

Yankee Fakir
Contest Chairman
1947

The Devil Thumbs a Ride
1947

The Glass Alibi
Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)
1946

Rhythm Round-Up
Slim Jensen
1945

Flame of Barbary Coast
Train Fireman
1945

A Medal for Benny
Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)
1945

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Newspaper Editor
1944

Hail the Conquering Hero
Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)
1944

The Great Moment
First Dental Patient
1944

It Happened Tomorrow
1944

Wagon Wheels West
Posse Rider (uncredited)
1943

The Good Fellows
Branders (uncredited)
1943

The Man in the Trunk
Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)
1942

The Palm Beach Story
Mr. McKeewie
1942

Sullivan's Travels
Cameraman
1941

Ride on Vaquero
Ole
1941

The Lady from Cheyenne
Lem
1941

Pot o' Gold
Olaf Svenson (uncredited)
1941

The Lady Eve
Second Steward (uncredited)
1941

Trail of the Vigilantes
Conductor
1940

Li'l Abner
Fantastic Brown
1940

Christmas in July
Davenola Salesman
1940

The Villain Still Pursued Her
Policeman (uncredited)
1940

The Great McGinty
Cook (uncredited)
1940

Girl from God's Country
Barber
1940

Three Faces West
Postman
1940

Young Tom Edison
Mr. Tompkins
1940

Slightly Honorable
Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)
1939

Chip of the Flying U
Station Agent
1939

Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Man in Store
1939

Blondie Brings Up Baby
Lars (uncredited)
1939

Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Ranch Hand
1939

The Housekeeper's Daughter
Suspect
1939

Hollywood Cavalcade
Slim
1939

Second Fiddle
Steve - Crane Operator
1939

Down the Wyoming Trail
Slim
1939

Let Freedom Ring
Ole Swensen (uncredited)
1939

Stand Up and Fight
Coach Driver
1939

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Steve
1938

On the Great White Trail
Lyons
1938

The Girl of the Golden West
Lem - Stagecoach Driver
1938

Adventure's End
Tall Sailor (uncredited)
1937
Small Town Boy
Abner Towner
1937

Western Gold
Jasper
1937

White Bondage
Luke Stacey
1937

Two Gun Law
Cassius
1937

God's Country and the Woman
Turpentine
1937

Laughing at Trouble
Lem Parker
1936

The Captain's Kid
Deputy Jake Hutchinson
1936

Fury
Jorgeson (uncredited)
1936
Down to the Sea
Andy
1936

O'Malley of the Mounted
Gabby - the Cook
1936

Yellow Dust
Jugger - the Bartender
1936

Three Godfathers
'Buck Tooth'
1936

Song of the Saddle
Little Casino
1936

Man Hunt
Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)
1936
The Broken Coin
1936

Gun Play
Brawler (uncredited)
1935

The Fighting Marines
Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12]
1935

The Last of the Clintons
Jed Clinton
1935

Moonlight on the Prairie
Tall Saloon Cowboy
1935

Shipmates Forever
Loafer (uncredited)
1935

She Couldn't Take It
Farmer
1935

Waterfront Lady
Alex
1935

The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
Kinso
1935

Western Frontier
Slim
1935

Whispering Smith Speaks
Bill Prouty
1935

The Drunkard
Farmer Gates
1935

The Cowboy and the Bandit
Lanky
1935

Mississippi
Guest (uncredited)
1935

Ruggles of Red Gap
Curly - Cowboy
1935

Big Boy Rides Again
Ranch Foreman Scarface
1935

Frontier Days
Deputy Tex Hatch
1934

Thunder Over Texas
Dick
1934

Inside Information
Rice - Thin Detective
1934

Twisted Rails
Tom Watson
1934

Damaged Lives
Undetermined Role
1933

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
The General
1933

Face in the Sky
Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited)
1933

Partners
Deputy Lem
1932
Selling Shorts
Slim Bassil
1931

The Squaw Man
Andy
1931

King of the Wild
Peterson
1931

Scandal Sheet
Reporter
1931

Ten Cents a Dance
Smith, a Sailor
1931

Forward, March!
1930

The Virtuous Sin
Sentry
1930

Doughboys
Svendenburg
1930

Paradise Island
Swede
1930

Call of the West
Trig Peters
1930

The Bad One
Sailor
1930

The Virginian
Nebrasky
1929

Border Romance
Slim
1929

Captain Swagger
Jean
1928

Melody of Love
The Gawk
1928

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
Tom Turner
1928

What Price Beauty?
1928
Uneasy Payments
Press Agent
1927
Racing Romance
Constable
1926

The Lodge in the Wilderness
Goofus
1926
Morganson's Finish
Ole Jensen
1926

Below the Line
'Cuckoo' Niles
1925

Ten Days
1925

A Lost Lady
Ivy Peters
1924
A Self-Made Failure
Pokey Jones
1924

The Law Forbids
Joel Andrews
1924

Reno
Detective McRae
1923

Quincy Adams Sawyer
Hiram Maxwell
1922

The Loaded Door
Slim
1922

A Tailor-Made Man
Peter
1922

Step on It!
Noisy Johnson
1922

At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern
The Poet
1922

One a Minute
Jingo Pitts
1921

Lavender and Old Lace
Joe Pendleton
1921

Bob Hampton of Placer
Willie McNeil
1921

Billions
Pushkin
1920

The Heart of a Child
Charley Peastone
1920

Mary's Ankle
Johnny Stokes
1920

Water, Water, Everywhere
Steve Brainard
1920

A Petal on the Current
1919

The Outcasts of Poker Flat
1919

Full of Pep
Beanpole
1919

Captain Kidd, Jr.
Constable Sam
1919

Who's Your Father?
Comedy Role
1918
Baseball Madness
1917

Hearts and Saddles
1917
What Darwin Missed
Professor Alonzo Bozzle
1916
Just a Few Little Things
Archie
1916
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
1915

Versus Sledge Hammers
The Count
1915
Broncho Billy Steps In
1915
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
1915

The Bachelor's Burglar
1915
The Revenue Agent
The Minister
1915

His Regeneration
Pawn Shop Clerk
1915

Ingomar of the Hills
1915

Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
A Cattle Owner
1915

Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair
Slippery Slim
1915

Sophie's Home-Coming
Slippery Slim
1915

When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese
Slippery Slim
1915

Sentimental Sophie
Slippery Slim
1915

Broncho Billy and the Sisters
The Minister
1915

When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs
Slippery Slim
1915

The Battle of Snakeville
Slippery Slim
1915

Snakeville's Rising Sons
Slippery Slim
1914

Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
1914

Slippery Slim Gets Square
Slippery Slim
1914

Snakeville's Blind Pig
Slippery Slim
1914
Sophie's Sweetheart
Slippery Slim
1914

Sophie's Fatal Wedding
Slippery Slim
1914

Snakeville's Reform Wave
Slippery Slim
1914

A Horse on Sophie
Slippery Slim
1914

Sophie and the Man of Her Choice
Slippery Slim
1914

Slippery Slim and the Impersonator
Slippery Slim
1914

Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator
Slippery Slim
1914

Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie
Slippery Slim
1914

Broncho Billy Rewarded
The Hotel Proprietor
1914

Snakeville's Peace-Maker
Slippery Slim
1914

When Slippery Slim Met the Champion
Slippery Slim
1914

Slippery Slim Gets Cured
Slippery Slim
1914

Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
1914
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
1914
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
1914
Broncho Billy Wins Out
The School Trustee
1914

Snakeville's New Waitress
Slippery Slim
1914

Slippery Slim -- Diplomat
Slippery Slim
1914

Sophie Gets Stung
Slippery Slim
1914

Sophie Finds a Hero
Slippery Slim
1914

The Wooing of Sophie
Slippery Slim
1914

Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
The Hotel Clerk
1914

The Snakeville Volunteer
Slippery Slim
1914

The Good-for-Nothing
Old Clerk
1914

Sophie Pulls a Good One
Slippery Slim
1914

Sophie Starts Something
Slippery Slim
1914

Broncho Billy's Leap
1914
Broncho Billy's Sermon
The Sheriff
1914

Pie for Sophie
Snicklefritz
1914

A Gamblers' Way
The Bartender
1914

Broncho Billy and the Red Man
1914

What Came to Bar Q
Bartender
1914

Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
The Storekeeper
1914

A Night on the Road
Sheriff's Assistant
1914

Broncho Billy-Guardian
1914

Snakeville's New Doctor
Slippery Slim
1914

A Snakeville Courtship
Slippery Slim
1913

That Pair from Thespia
Second Actor
1913

Sophie's New Foreman
Slippery Slim
1913

The Three Gamblers
1913

Broncho Billy's Squareness
1913

A Romance of the Hills
1913

Sophie's Hero
Slippery Slim
1913

Broncho Billy's First Arrest
1913

The Last Laugh
1913

Alkali Ike and the Wildman
Slippery Slim
1913
Broncho Billy's Oath
1913

Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
The Druggist
1913

Broncho Billy Reforms
A Thief
1913

Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
Outlaw
1913

Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
Slippery Slim
1913

Alkali Ike's Misfortunes
Slippery Slim
1913
Alkali Ike's Homecoming
Slippery Slim
1913
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
1913

Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
Dr. Huff
1913
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
1913

Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
Jailer
1913

The Making of Broncho Billy
1913
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
1913

Broncho Billy's Promise
1912

Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
1912
Alkali Ike's Close Shave
Slippery Slim
1912

An Indian's Friendship
1912

The Tomboy on Bar Z
1912

Alkali Ike Stung!
1912
An Indian Sunbeam
A Cowboy
1912

Alkali Ike's Pants
1912
The Tenderfoot Foreman
1912

Broncho Billy for Sheriff
1912

Alkali Ike Plays the Devil
1912

Broncho Billy's Pal
1912

A Story of Montana
1912

Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
1912
On the Cactus Trail
1912

Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
1912
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
1912
The Biter Bitten
1912
The Prospector's Legacy
1912

Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
1912
The Oath of His Office
1912
Widow Jenkins' Admirers
1912
The Loafer
1912

A Child of the West
1912

Broncho Billy's Adventure
Cowboy
1911

Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
1911
The Forester's Plea
1911

Town Hall, Tonight
The Tall Schultz Brother
1911

The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
1911

Broncho Bill's Last Spree
Slippery Slim
1911
The Two Fugitives
1911

The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
1911
A Hungry Pair
Skinny
1911
The Infant at Snakeville
1911

Alkali Ike's Auto
1911
The Puncher's New Love
1911
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
1911
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
1911

Across the Plains
1911
The Sheriff's Chum
1911
The Bad Man's Downfall
1911
Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash
Lank
1911
The Two Reformations
1911
The Border Ranger
1911
The Count and the Cowboys
The Count
1911
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
1910
Hank and Lank: Blind Men
Lank
1910
The Tenderfoot Messenger
1910
A Cowboy's Vindication
1910
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
1910
Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men
Lank
1910
Hank and Lank: Lifesavers
Lank
1910

A Westerner's Way
1910
The Silent Message
1910
Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests
Lank
1910
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
1910
Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme
Lank
1910
The Bearded Bandit
1910
Patricia of the Plains
1910
Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some
Lank
1910
The Tout's Remembrance
1910
Hank and Lank: Joyriding
Lank
1910
A Dog on Business
1910