Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jimmy Conlin (October 14, 1884 – May 7, 1962) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 150 films in his 32-year career. Conlin was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1884, and his acting career started out in vaudeville, where he and his first wife Myrtle Glass played the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuits billed as "Conlin & Glass", a song-and-dance team. They also starred together in two short films, Sharps and Flats (1928) and Zip! Boom! Bang! (1929) for Vitaphone. Conlin made another comedy short without Glass in 1930 (A Tight Squeeze), but his film career started for good in 1933, and for the next 27 years, with the single exception of 1951, every year saw the release of at least one film in which Conlin appeared – at the height of his career, often more than a dozen of them. Recognizable by his small size and odd appearance, Conlin played all sorts of small roles and bit parts, many times not receiving an onscreen credit. In the 1940s, Conlin was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges. His roles in Sturges' films were often sizable and often came with good billing. One of his best performances came in Sturges' The Sin of Harold Diddlebock in 1946, when he played "Wormy", the racetrack tout who convinces Harold Lloyd to have his first drink, setting off the events of the film. The loyalty between Sturges and Conlin ran both ways, and when the former golden boy of Hollywood fell on hard times, Conlin remained a friend, stayed in contact, and helped out in any way he could. Conlin did not make many television appearances, but he did have a regular role as a bartender on Duffy's Tavern, a syndicated series from 1954. He made his final film in 1959, when he played a habitual criminal in Anatomy of a Murder.
Acted in 107
1950s
- 1959
The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock
Magruder
- 1955
The Seven Little Foys
Stage Doorman
- 1953
It Happens Every Thursday
Matthew
The Jazz Singer
Mr. Demming, Photographer
- 1951
- 1950
Sideshow
Johnny
Operation Haylift
Ed North
1940s
- 1949
Prejudice
Young Joe
- 1948
Hazard
Manager, Nevada Rest Motel (uncredited)
- 1947
Mourning Becomes Electra
Abner Small
The Hucksters
Blake - Blue Penguin Inn Proprietor
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Pete the Hermit
It's a Joke, Son!
Senator Alexander P. Leeds
- 1946
Blue Skies
Jeffrey (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
Grandpa Chandler (uncredited)
- 1945
Bring on the Girls
Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
- 1944
The Town Went Wild
Lemuel Jones, Justice of the Peace
Lost in a Harem
Arab Follower (uncredited)
Hail the Conquering Hero
Judge Dennis
And the Angels Sing
Messenger (uncredited)
- 1943
Swing Shift Maisie
Man at Meeting (Uncredited)
Petticoat Larceny
Jitters
Dixie
Publisher (uncredited)
Hitler's Madman
Dvorak - the Shopkeeper
Taxi, Mister
Disgruntled Former Baseball Player for Bay Ridge Turtles
Slightly Dangerous
Bartender at opera (uncredited)
- 1942
Madame Spy
Caretaker Winston
Broadway
Newsman (uncredited)
Obliging Young Lady
Mr. McIntyre - Linda's Neighbor (uncredited)
The Remarkable Andrew
Private Henry Bartholowmew Smith
The Lady Is Willing
Bum (uncredited)
Woman of the Year
Reporter at Bar (uncredited)
- 1941
Sullivan's Travels
Trusty
New York Town
Burt (uncredited)
The Gay Falcon
Bartender (uncredited)
A Shot in the Dark
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Ridin' on a Rainbow
Joe
Let's Make Music
Tim
- 1940
Christmas in July
Arbuster (uncredited)
Angels Over Broadway
Pawn Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum
Tour Bus Barker
The Great McGinty
The Lookout - At Felgman's
The Way of All Flesh
Second Hobo
Florian
Stock Guard
Edison, the Man
Waiter
Two Girls on Broadway
Poem Vendor (uncredited)
King of the Lumberjacks
Jimmy, the Piano Player (uncredited)
My Little Chickadee
Squawk Mulligan - Bartender (uncredited)
Calling Philo Vance
Dr. Doremus - Coroner
1930s
- 1939
The Amazing Mr. Williams
Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
$1,000 a Touchdown
Sheriff (uncredited)
No Place to Go
Rivers
Torchy Runs for Mayor
Coroner (uncredited)
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Newspaper Morgue-Keeper (uncredited)
Idiot's Delight
Stagehand
- 1938
Comet Over Broadway
Burlesque Comic (uncredited)
The Shining Hour
Man Shaving on Plane (uncredited)
Hard to Get
Dour Diner (uncredited)
Broadway Musketeers
Hobart Skinner
Smashing the Rackets
Witness
Prison Farm
Dave, the Grocer
Cocoanut Grove
Motel Proprietor
Torchy Blane in Panama
Botkin (as James Conlon)
Over the Wall
Davis' Handler
He Couldn't Say No
Ambulance Driver
Blondes at Work
Coroner (uncredited)
Mannequin
Elevator Operator (Uncredited)
Crashing Hollywood
Crisby
- 1937
The Adventurous Blonde
Dr. Bolger, coroner
Living on Love
Man with Monkey (uncredited)
Captains Courageous
Martin (uncredited)
The Man Who Found Himself
Nosey Watson
Find the Witness
Swifty Mullins (uncredited)
- 1936
Rose Bowl
Browning Hills
The Accusing Finger
(scene deleted)
And Sudden Death
Mr. Tweets
Rose Marie
Joe - Piano Player (uncredited)
- 1935
The Bride Comes Home
Len Noble
- 1934
Handy Andy
Henry (uncredited)
She Learned About Sailors
Irate Neighbor
City Limits
Napoleon, Second Hobo
Cross Country Cruise
Sid
- 1933
Advice to the Lovelorn
Movie
The Bowery
Enlistee (uncredited)
College Humor
Dr. Mandel
Grand Slam
Oscar Smelt
Appearances1
1920s
- 1928
Sharps and Flats
Self