Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
August 18, 1899
Place of Birth:
Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, UK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlie Hall (19 August 1899 – 7 December 1959) was an English film actor. He is best known as the "Little Nemesis" of Laurel and Hardy and appeared in nearly 50 films with them, so that Hall was the most frequent supporting actor of their films.
Hall was born in Ward End, Birmingham, Warwickshire, and learned carpentry as a trade, but as a teenager, he became a member of the Fred Karno troupe of stage comedians. In his late teens, he visited his sister in New York and stayed there, finding employment as a stagehand. While working behind the scenes, he met the comic actor Bobby Dunn and they became friends; Dunn convinced Hall to take a stab again at acting, which he did. By the mid-1920s, Hall was working for Hal Roach. Stan Laurel, one of Roach's comedy stars, was also a graduate of the Karno troupe.
As an actor, Hall worked with such comedians as Buster Keaton and Charley Chase, but is best remembered as a comic foil for Laurel and Hardy. He appeared in nearly 50 of their films, sometimes in bit parts, but often as a mean landlord or opponent in many of their memorable tit-for-tat sequences. Unlike the usual villains in Laurel and Hardy films, who were big and burly, Charlie Hall (billed as "Charley" Hall in the Roach comedies) was of short stature, standing 5 ft 5 in tall. His height and slight English accent allowed him to be convincingly cast as a college student, despite being 40 years old, in Laurel and Hardy's A Chump at Oxford.
Hall almost never played starring roles; the exception was in 1941, when he was teamed with character comedian Frank Faylen by Monogram Pictures. Hall continued to play bits and supporting roles in short subjects and features through the 1940s and 1950s, occasionally on TV, appearing very briefly in Charlie Chaplin's final American film, Limelight (1952).
In 1956 he played a small but important part in the TV show Cheyenne, season 1, episode 11, "Quicksand", starring Clint Walker, with Dennis Hopper, John Alderson, Wright King and Peggy Webber. His last role was in a Joe McDoakes short film starring George O'Hanlon, So You Want to Play the Piano, in 1956.
Hall died in North Hollywood, California, on 7 December 1959. A J D Wetherspoon's public house in Erdington, is named The Charlie Hall as a tribute to him.
Year | Movie | Role |
---|---|---|
2024 | Laurel & Hardy: Year Two | |
2023 | Laurel & Hardy: Year One | |
1982 | Dance of the Cookoos | Receptionist / Postman / Delivery Man |
1968 | The Best of Laurel and Hardy | Annoyed Shopkeeper (archive footage) (uncredited) |
1967 | The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy | |
1956 | So You Want to Play the Piano | |
1955 | Illegal | Bellhop (uncredited) |
1952 | Limelight | Newsboy (uncredited) |
1950 | The Milkman | Ed (uncredited) |
1946 | Without Reservations | Window-Washer (uncredited) |
1946 | Dressed to Kill | Cab Driver (uncredited) |
1946 | Abie's Irish Rose | Hotel Porter (as Charles Hall) |
1946 | Sister Kenny | Airport Attendant (uncredited) |
1945 | On Stage Everybody | Painter (uncredited) |
1944 | The Lodger | Comedian |
1944 | Girls! Girls! Girls! | Apartment House Waiter |
1944 | Radio Rampage | Jack - Radio Repairman |
1944 | In Society | Mugg (uncredited) |
1944 | Hi, Beautiful | Milkman (uncredited) |
1943 | The Ape Man | Barney |
1943 | So's Your Uncle | Waiter |
1943 | His Butler's Sister | Porter |
1943 | Honeymoon Lodge | Hotel Handyman |
1942 | Framing Father | Silver Slipper Waiter |
1942 | Man From Headquarters | Newspaper Photographer |
1942 | The Falcon Takes Over | Louie (Uncredited) |
1942 | The Big Street | Caviar Waiter in New York (Uncredited) |
1941 | San Antonio Rose | Waitress |
1941 | Niagara Falls | Bellhop (uncredited) |
1941 | Top Sergeant Mulligan | Budd Doolittle |
1941 | An Apple in His Eye | Dan - Edgar's Neighbor |
1941 | I'll Fix It | The Laundry Man |
1941 | Father Steps Out | Short Hobo 'Nap', aka Napoleon |
1941 | The Mexican Spitfire's Baby | Nightclub Waiter |
1941 | A Quiet Fourth | Edgar's Neighbor |
1941 | Hellzapoppin' | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
1940 | Saps at Sea | Desk Clerk (uncredited) |
1940 | Vigil in the Night | Courtroom Spectator |
1940 | Mexican Spitfire | Elevator Operator |
1940 | A Chump at Oxford | Student |
1940 | One Night in the Tropics | Second S.S. Atlantica Steward (uncredited) |
1940 | Primrose Path | Man in Diner (uncredited) |
1940 | Millionaires in Prison | Cockney Convict Heckler (uncredited) |
1940 | You Can't Fool Your Wife | Ritz Amsterdam Bellboy |
1940 | Curtain Call | Second Waiter |
1940 | Mexican Spitfire Out West | Elevator Boy |
1940 | A Trailer Tragedy | Homeless Thief in Washroom |
1939 | Five Came Back | Airport Worker (uncredited) |
1939 | Man About Town | Bob's Assistant (uncredited) |
1939 | Bachelor Mother | Dance Hall Official (uncredited) |
1939 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Mercury (uncredited) |
1939 | Captain Fury | Gossiping Citizen |
1938 | Hey! Hey! USA | Leary's pal |
1937 | Shall We Dance | Bartender (uncredited) |
1936 | An All American Toothache | (uncredited) |
1936 | Our Relations | Man in Pawnshop (uncredited) |
1935 | Tit for Tat | Mr. Hall |
1935 | Top Hat | (uncredited) |
1935 | Sing Sister Sing | Porter (uncredited) |
1935 | Hot Money | Tenant (uncredited) |
1935 | Twin Triplets | Ambulance Attendant (uncredited) |
1935 | Treasure Blues | Moving Man (uncredited) |
1935 | Thicker Than Water | Bank Teller (uncredited) |
1935 | Bonnie Scotland | Native Henchman (uncredited) |
1935 | In Love at 40 | Man Getting Shave |
1934 | The Live Ghost | Sailor at Table (as Charles Hall) |
1934 | Them Thar Hills | Mr. Hall |
1934 | Soup and Fish | Second Butler, Announcing Guests (uncredited) |
1934 | One-Horse Farmers | Subway Passenger (uncredited) |
1934 | Opened by Mistake | Intern (uncredited) |
1934 | Maid in Hollywood | Cameraman (uncredited) |
1934 | Babes in the Goods | Spectator (uncredited) |
1934 | Kentucky Kernels | Cigarette Stand Owner |
1934 | Ocean Swells | Sailor |
1934 | Babes in Toyland | Townsman (uncredited) |
1934 | Rough Necking | Postman |
1934 | Cockeyed Cavaliers | Coach Driver |
1934 | Another Wild Idea | Man Pushed into Fountain |
1934 | Bridal Bail | Irate Movie Patron |
1934 | The Undie-World | T.N.T. Room Busboy |
1934 | Love on a Ladder | Pool Hall Patron |
1934 | Hi'–Neighbor! | Window Washer |
1934 | Mike Fright | Elevator Operator |
1933 | Hold Your Temper | |
1933 | The Midnight Patrol | Tire thief's partner |
1933 | Morning Glory | Actor (uncredited) |
1933 | Nature in the Wrong | Organ Grinder |
1933 | Maids a la Mode | Party Guest (uncredited) |
1933 | Backs to Nature | Hunter (uncredited) |
1933 | One Track Minds | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
1933 | Beauty and the Bus | Theatre Usher (uncredited) |
1933 | Air Fright | Pilot (uncredited) |
1933 | Busy Bodies | Shop Worker (uncredited) |
1933 | Me and My Pal | Delivery Boy (uncredited) |
1933 | Sons of the Desert | Waiter (uncredited) |
1933 | Twice Two | Delivery Boy |
1933 | Rhapsody in Brew | Waiter (uncredited) |
1933 | Keg o' My Heart | Waiter (uncredited) |
1933 | The Druggist's Dilemma | Charlie Zeno |
1933 | Diplomaniacs | Shaffner the Valet (uncredited) |
1933 | King Kong | Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited) |
1933 | What Fur | |
1932 | Just a Pain in the Parlor | Servant |
1932 | A Slip at the Switch | Second Tramp |
1932 | Show Business | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
1932 | Sealskins | Sealnapper's Accomplice (uncredited) |
1932 | The Music Box | Postman (uncredited) |
1932 | The Soilers | Elevator Operator (uncredited) |
1932 | Strictly Unreliable | The Stage Manager (as Charley Hall) |
1932 | Sneak Easily | Page |
1932 | Pack Up Your Troubles | Janitor (uncredited) |
1932 | Too Many Women | Man on Street (uncredited) |
1932 | Wild Babies! | Explorer's Man, Wellington (as Charley Hall) |
1932 | Any Old Port! | Stan's Second |
1932 | Love Pains | Unimpressed Party Guest (uncredited) |
1932 | Cynara | Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) |
1932 | Mr. Bride | Tipsy Ship Passenger |
1932 | Million Dollar Legs | Klopstokian Athlete (uncredited) |
1932 | What Price Hollywood? | Reporter (uncredited) |
1931 | One of the Smiths | Dancer (uncredited) |
1931 | Be Big! | Bellboy |
1931 | War Mamas | Doughboy (uncredited) |
1931 | The Pajama Party | Inebriated Party Guest (uncredited) |
1931 | On the Loose | Shooting Gallery Attendant (uncredited) |
1931 | Let's Do Things | Waiter (uncredited) |
1931 | Sweepstakes | Little Cook |
1931 | The Skulls | The Landlord |
1931 | The Chiselers | Bellboy / Landlord |
1931 | Laughing Gravy | Landlord (uncredited) |
1931 | Playing at Politics | Elevator Operator |
1931 | Scratch-As-Catch-Can | |
1931 | The Pip from Pittsburg | Kay's Dancing Partner |
1931 | Come Clean | Ice Cream Attendant |
1931 | The Panic Is On | Man on the Street (uncredited) |
1931 | The Kick-Off! | Man on the Street (uncredited) |
1931 | Mama Loves Papa | Milkman (uncredited) |
1931 | Haunted at Midnight | Man on Train |
1930 | Bear Shooters | Charlie |
1930 | The Real McCoy | Mountain Man (uncredited) |
1930 | Dollar Dizzy | Bellhop |
1930 | Below Zero | |
1930 | The Fighting Parson | The Waiter (uncredited) |
1930 | Shivering and Shaking | Street Cleaner (uncredited) |
1930 | The Night Life | Cabdriver (uncredited) |
1930 | Blotto | Cabdriver |
1930 | Let's Go Native | Mover (uncredited) |
1930 | Fifty Million Husbands | Neighbor |
1930 | Night of Goblins | Passenger |
1930 | Only Saps Work | Waiter (uncredited) |
1930 | Men of the North | Townsman at Hearing (uncredited) |
1929 | Leaping Love | Ambulance Attendant (uncredited) |
1929 | Double Whoopee | Cabdriver |
1929 | They Go Boom! | Landlord |
1929 | Boxing Gloves | Sidewalk diner attendant |
1929 | Little Mother | Taxi driver |
1929 | A Pair of Tights | Man in Fender-Bender (uncredited) |
1929 | Movie Night | Audience Member (uncredited) |
1929 | Skirt Shy | Postman (uncredited) |
1929 | Berth Marks | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
1929 | Men O' War | Boater (uncredited) |
1929 | The Hoose-Gow | Treetop Lookout (uncredited) |
1929 | Angora Love | Neighbor |
1929 | Bacon Grabbers | Truck driver |
1929 | That's My Wife | Waiter (uncredited) |
1929 | Wrong Again | Neighbor |
1929 | Snappy Sneezer | Streetcar passenger (uncredited) |
1928 | Leave 'Em Laughing | The Landlord |
1928 | Came the Dawn | Little Moving Man (uncredited) |
1928 | Should Married Men Go Home? | Soda Jerk (uncredited) |
1928 | You're Darn Tootin' | Musician |
1928 | Captain Swagger | Messenger |
1928 | Two Tars | Shopkeeper |
1928 | Must We Marry? | |
1927 | Forgotten Sweeties | |
1927 | Sugar Daddies | Hotel extra |
1927 | Fluttering Hearts | Man under car |
1927 | The Second 100 Years | Convict |
1927 | Seeing the World | English chauffeur |
1927 | Call of the Cuckoo | Asylum Inmate |
1927 | Duck Soup | Moving man (uncredited) |
1927 | Love 'Em and Weep | Tillsbury's Butler |
1927 | The Battle of the Century | Pie Delivery Man (uncredited) |
1927 | The Second 100 Years | Convict (uncredited) |
1927 | With Love and Hisses | Soldier (uncredited) |
1927 | Eve's Love Letters | Cab driver (uncredited) |
1927 | College | Coxswain (uncredited) |
1926 | Thundering Fleas | Musician |
1926 | Mighty Like a Moose | Shoe Shine Man |
1926 | Bromo and Juliet | Stagehand (uncredited) |
1925 | Madame Sans Jane | Steward |
1925 | Unfriendly Enemies | First Soldier Over the Top |
1925 | Isn't Life Terrible? | Steward Who Drops Plates |
1924 | Near Dublin | Villager |
1924 | Smithy | Worker |
1924 | Postage Due | Customer |
1924 | The Cowboy Sheik | Party guest |
1924 | A Ten-Minute Egg | First Bellhop (uncredited) |
1924 | Zeb vs. Paprika | |
1923 | Mother's Joy | |
1922 | Do Me a Favor | A Fireman |
1921 | The Janitor |
Year | TV Show | Role |
---|---|---|
1959 | No Hiding Place | |
1955 | Cheyenne | Kevin |
1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Man with Pool Cue (uncredited) |
1953 | Topper | Man in lower bunk in jail (uncredited) |
1952 | The Abbott and Costello Show | Jake - Roofer |