Otto Hoffman

Born: 2 May 1879, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: 23 June 1944, Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Otto Hoffman was a character actor who appeared in around 200 films. Most of his roles were small with few lines.

Two Seconds (1932) as S.J. Peters, Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

With Vivienne Osborne and a sleeping drunk, Edward G. Robinson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bachelor Bait (1934) as Postal Clerk (uncredited)

 

Stuart Erwin is on the right.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) as Deaf judge (uncredited)

 

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as New York Globe teletype operator

Robert Benchley

Born: 15 September 1889, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Died: 21 November 1945, New York City, New York, USA

 

Robert Benchley career was varied. At one time or another he was a writer, magazine editor, comedian, humorist in newspapers and magazines and still found time to act in over 100 movies. His son Peter Benchley is the author of 'Jaws', which was made into a film in 1975.

 

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Stebbins

 

The Trouble with Husbands (1940) as Joe Doakes

With Ruth Lee.

Practically Yours (1944) as Judge Robert Simpson

 

It's in the Bag! (1945) as Parker

Alfred Hitchcock

Born: 13 August 1899, Leytonestone, London, England

Died: 29 April 1980, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

 

The great director who couldn't resist making cameo appearances in his own films.

 

The Lodger (1927) as Extra in Newspaper Office/Man in crowd (uncredited)

 

Alfred is in the centre of this shot.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blackmail (1929) as Man on Subway (uncredited)

 

Alfred is on the left.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 39 Steps (1935) as Passerby Who Throws Litter (uncredited)

 

The Lady Vanishes (1938) as Man at Victoria Station (uncredited)

 

Hitchcock, with a fag in his mouth, walks across this general shot holding a lunch box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Man with newspaper in street (uncredited)

 

With Joel McCrea and a rotoscoped background.


















Shadow of a Doubt (1943) as Card Player on Train (uncredited)

Alfred has his back to us. The other actors are Sarah Edwards, Edward Fielding and Clarence Muse.

Lifeboat (1944) as Man in newspaper advert (uncredited)

William Bendix is holding the newspaper.

















The Paradine Case (1947) as Man carrying cello case (uncredited)

With Gregory Peck.

Rope (1948) as Man Walking in Street Before Credits (uncredited)

Bottom left of the picture, walking with a lady.

Dial M for Murder (1954) as Man in College Reunion Photograph (uncredited)

Eddie Conrad

Born: 27 October 1892, New York City, New York, USA
Died: 1 April 1941, Los Angeles, California, USA

Eddie Conrad was a vaudeville comic who used his talent to find his way into films in 1927 with his own movie showcase 'Broadway's Favourite Comedian'.

Lucky Partners (1940) as Nick #2 (Credited as Edward Conrad)

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Latvian (Credited as Edward Conrad)

James Finlayson

Born: 27 August 1887, Falkirk, Scotland
Died: 9 October 1953, Los Angeles, California, USA

Long associated with the Hal Roach Studios and Laurel and Hardy films.

Oranges and Lemons (1923) as Worker (uncredited)

James Finalyson is on his knees in this shot.

The Soilers (1923) as Smacknamara

Yes, Yes, Nanette (1925) as Hillory, Nanette's New Husband (Credited as Jimmie Finlayson)

 

This was a short comedy with James Finlayson as the star. It was co-directed by Clarence Hennecke and Stan Laurel and featured Oliver Hardy.

With Oliver Hardy.


















Dizzy Daddies (1926) as Jonathan Haig

The Nickel-Hopper (1926) as Resident of 625 Park Street (uncredited)

With an unidentified actress.

Anything Once! (1927) as Mabel's Boss

 

The Second Hundred Years (1927) as Governor Browne Van Dyke

Love 'Em and Weep (1927) as Titus Tillsbury (Credited as Jimmie Finlayson)

With Charlotte Mineau.
















Big Business (1929) as Homeowner (uncredited)

For the Defense (1930) as Parrott

 

Another Fine Mess (1930) as Col. Wilburforce Buckshot (uncredited)

Chickens Come Home (1931) as Butler (uncredited)

 

Way Out West (1937) as Mickey Finn

Block-Heads (1938) as Finn, Man on Stairs

The Flying Deuces (1939) as Jailor

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Dutch peasant (uncredited)

One Night in Lisbon (1941) as Air Raid Warden (uncredited)

A poor shot of James in this film. I hope to replace this one someday.

















Yanks Ahoy (1943) as Cook Flynn (uncredited)

This was James Finlayson's last appearance in a Hal Roach film.

















The Perils of Pauline (1947) as Comic chef

James Finlayson is 2nd left in this picture. The other chefs are Hank Mann on the left and Chester Conklin. William Demarest, the director, has his arms around his actors.















Grand Canyon Trail (1948) as Sheriff

Challenge to Lassie (1949) as Reporter (uncredited)

James is in the middle of the picture.

The shorter man on the left.

Alexander Granach

Born: 18 April 1893, Wierzbowce, Galicia, Austria-Hungary (Now Ukraine)
Died: 14 March 1945, New Tork City, New York, USA

Alexander Granach was a noted actor in Germany and was most famous for his role as Knock in 'Nosferatu (1922)'. Granach was Jewish and fled to the Soviet Union and eventually USA during Hitler's reign. He settled in Hollywood and resumed his film career becoming much sought after during the war years for roles that required a certain accent.

The Adjutant of the Czar (1929) as Stranger

Foreign Correspondent (1940) as Hotel valet (uncredited)