Wikipedia / Irving Bacon
Wikipedia / Irving Bacon
Irving Ernest Bacon (September 6, 1893 – February 5, 1965) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 500 films.
Early years
Bacon was the son of entertainers Millar West Bacon (who was a teenager) and Myrtle Vane. He was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and grew up in San Diego, California. His parents divorced in 1900. His father remarried, to Lena Ann Davis in Spokane later that year.
Career
Bacon played on the stage for a number of years before getting into films in 1912 in Mack Sennett productions. The actor returned to the Sennett studio in 1924, and appeared frequently in Sennett's silent and sound comedies as a supporting actor. By 1933, Bacon was so well established as a utility player that he was pressed into service to replace Andy Clyde—wearing Clyde's "old man" costume and makeup—in a Sennett comedy.
Bacon often played comical "average guys" in scores of feature films; in 1939 alone he appeared in three dozen features. Today's audiences may know him as the soda jerk in the W. C. Fields comedy Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, the wily wagon driver in the Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire musical Holiday Inn, the angry motel guest in the Oscar-winning short Star in the Night, and Glenn Miller's father in The Glenn Miller Story. His most familiar role was as Mr. Beasley, the weary postman in Columbia Pictures' Blondie film series. During the 1950s, Bacon worked steadily in a number of television sitcoms, most notably I Love Lucy, in which he appeared in two episodes, one of which cast him as Ethel Mertz's father.
Personal life
He worked as a Carburetor and Magneto Machinist for the San Diego Battery and Ignition Company according to his 1917 WWI draft Registration Card."
Bacon was married to Freda Lee Scoville until her death in 1928; they had a son and a daughter. In June 1930, Bacon married Margaret Beaver; they had a son, Frank. They were divorced in 1934. In 1937, he wed, lastly, Alice Bernice Peters. He died on February 5, 1965, aged 71, in Hollywood.
Filmography
Film | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1923 | Minor Role | Uncredited | |
1927 | Wade Rexton | ||
Man Who Jumps Out of Window | Uncredited | ||
The Casting Director | |||
1928 | Uncredited | ||
The Head Man | Mayor | ||
The Good-Bye Kiss | Col. Von Stein | ||
1929 | Townsman | Uncredited | |
Chumley | |||
Henchman Slim | Uncredited | ||
McGonigle | Uncredited | ||
Slim | |||
1930 | Yokel Driver | Uncredited | |
Harry | |||
Bit | Uncredited | ||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
1931 | Reporter Kent | Uncredited | |
Mustachioed Barfly | Uncredited | ||
Photographer | Uncredited | ||
Masher | Uncredited | ||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
Ranger Repeater | |||
Expectant Father | Uncredited | ||
Ramrod | |||
Hotel Valet | Uncredited | ||
Juror | Uncredited | ||
1932 | Depot Hotel Waiter | Uncredited | |
Henry - License Clerk | |||
Slim Dugan | Uncredited | ||
Sparks | |||
Rural Service Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Grocery Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Secretary of War | Uncredited | ||
Gus, the Desk Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Prisoner | |||
First Hotel Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Bill - Barber | Uncredited | ||
China Shop Salesman | Uncredited | ||
Oscar | Uncredited | ||
Court Guard | Uncredited | ||
Messenger with Bracelet | Uncredited | ||
1933 | Lagors | ||
Radio Announcer | Uncredited | ||
Stage Door Man | |||
Helen's father | Short | ||
Grover - Brooks' Chauffeur | Uncredited | ||
Reporter | Uncredited | ||
Amarillo Weatherman | Uncredited | ||
Assistant Burgher / Photographer | Uncredited | ||
Earle Yokum | Uncredited | ||
Deputy | Uncredited | ||
Cab Driver | |||
Prison Doctor | Uncredited | ||
Construction Engineer Surveyor | Uncredited | ||
Crab Counterman | Uncredited | ||
Pool Hall Dupe | Uncredited | ||
Rev. Dr. Simmons | Uncredited | ||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
Hick | Uncredited | ||
Nosy Man at Gambling Table | Uncredited | ||
Storekeeper | Uncredited | ||
Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Dice Player | Uncredited | ||
Zeke | Uncredited | ||
Highbrow | |||
1934 | Messenger | Uncredited | |
Joel Prentiss | |||
Secretary | Uncredited | ||
Hotel Desk Clerk in Philipsburg | Uncredited | ||
Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Hick | Uncredited | ||
Police Insp. Ned Pickens | |||
Townsman | Uncredited | ||
Cook | (scenes deleted) | ||
Gambling House Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Navy Secretary | (scenes deleted) | ||
Regan | |||
Coat Salesman | Uncredited | ||
Hat Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Stage Manager | |||
Bijah | |||
Heinie | |||
Harry | Uncredited | ||
Gray Shirt Garage Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Milkman | Uncredited | ||
Hamburger Stand Owner | Uncredited | ||
Harry - Bartender | Uncredited | ||
Silas | Uncredited | ||
Weight-Guesser | Uncredited | ||
Court | |||
1935 | Counterman | Uncredited | |
Man With Pelican | Uncredited | ||
McLean (male nurse) | |||
Theater Manager | Uncredited | ||
Cal | |||
Cowboy | Uncredited | ||
Clerk Getting Tied Up | Uncredited | ||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
Town Character | Uncredited | ||
Lunch Man | |||
Merry-Go-Round Operator | Uncredited | ||
Postal Worker | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Vernoy | Uncredited | ||
Cornelius | Uncredited | ||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
Cabby | Uncredited | ||
Passenger | Uncredited | ||
Entwhistle | Uncredited | ||
Bartender #1 | |||
Thompson | |||
Gus Skinner | |||
Gun Store Proprietor | |||
It's a Great Life | Slim | Uncredited | |
Brick Briggs | |||
Man at Toll Gate | Uncredited | ||
Butcher | Uncredited | ||
Slim | |||
Mr. Perkins | |||
Jake - a Factory Worker | Uncredited | ||
Ed Simpson | |||
1936 | Henry - the Drunken Wagon Driver | Uncredited | |
Windy Watkins, Traft Foreman | |||
Mailman | |||
Stuttering Man | Uncredited | ||
Farmer on Hay Wagon | Uncredited | ||
Carl | |||
Maine Driver | Uncredited | ||
Frank | Uncredited | ||
Pretty | |||
Chauffeur | Uncredited | ||
Rider - Dance Director | |||
Picnicker | Uncredited | ||
Rodeo Announcer | Uncredited | ||
Hugh's Chauffeur | Uncredited | ||
Taxicab Driver | |||
Hamburger Stand Proprietor | Uncredited | ||
Chauffeur | |||
Fireworks Salesman | Uncredited | ||
Charlie - the Janitor | Uncredited | ||
Gus - Trocadero Bartender | |||
David's Father | Uncredited | ||
Happy | |||
Dr. Mumford | Uncredited | ||
Keough | |||
Drug Store Clerk | |||
Property Man | |||
Peg Leg Holden | |||
Hysterical Trooper | Uncredited | ||
Smokey | |||
Jerry | |||
1937 | Detective | Uncredited | |
Jeff | |||
Station Agent | Uncredited | ||
Tall Soldier | Uncredited | ||
Policeman Guarding Front Entrance | Uncredited | ||
Fingerprint Expert | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Kinney - Man with Toothache | Uncredited | ||
Palmer | Uncredited | ||
Happy Elmer | |||
Hotel Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Dr. Boomgarten | |||
Curson - Accountant | Uncredited | ||
Jim Sloane | |||
Elevator Operator | Uncredited | ||
Organist | Uncredited | ||
Gas Station Attendant | |||
Quartet member | |||
The Coroner | |||
1938 | Porter | Uncredited | |
Evans - The Reitter Chauffeur | |||
Prisoner Playing Harmonica | Uncredited | ||
Wilkins | |||
Sheriff Tuttle | Uncredited | ||
Sam | |||
Minor Role | (scenes deleted) | ||
Palace Hotel Clerk | |||
Painter | Uncredited | ||
Sol Grunnion | Uncredited | ||
Counterman | Uncredited | ||
Counter Man | Uncredited | ||
Foreman of jury | |||
Harvey, Streetcar Conductor | |||
Reporter | Uncredited | ||
Pvt. Collins | Uncredited | ||
Lecturer on Seals | |||
The Druggist | Uncredited | ||
Cannery Official | Uncredited | ||
Henry - the Head Waiter | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Spengler - the Process Server | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Dobbs | |||
Robert Forbes | |||
Crankpool (process server #2) | |||
Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Chester - Smith's Secretary | Uncredited | ||
Meggs | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Beazley - the Mailman | Uncredited | ||
Phil | Uncredited | ||
Assistant Director | Uncredited | ||
1939 | Speed - Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | |
Patrol Sergeant at Italian Restaurant | Uncredited | ||
Store Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Newark Radio Operator | Uncredited | ||
Tad | Uncredited | ||
Jailer | Uncredited | ||
Tracy | Uncredited | ||
Storekeeper | Uncredited | ||
Hotel Clerk | |||
1st Mailman | Uncredited | ||
Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Information Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Real Estate Man | Uncredited | ||
Conductor | |||
Hubert Ward | |||
Hotel Clerk | |||
Clerk at Exchange Window | Uncredited | ||
Harvey Vaughan | |||
Mike - Fingerprint Man | Uncredited | ||
Fred Haskill | |||
Mailman | |||
Convict in Prison Yard | Uncredited | ||
Simpson | |||
'Mushy' | |||
Second Stage Manager | Uncredited | ||
Clerk | |||
Doughboy | Uncredited | ||
Telegraph Clerk | Uncredited | ||
Woodbury | Uncredited | ||
Sheriff Clem Diggers | |||
Mailman | |||
Gilligan | |||
Corporal | |||
Hollywood Slaves | |||
1940 | Paul Gillis | ||
Gus | Uncredited | ||
Hospital Official | Uncredited | ||
Driver | |||
Becker | |||
Soda Jerk | Uncredited | ||
Mailman | |||
Jefferson Hotel Desk Clerk | |||
Sam Appleby - Gas Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Sheriff | Uncredited | ||
Soldier | |||
On Their Own | |||
Lippincott, GBG & P Clerk | |||
Love, Honor and Oh-Baby! | Cab Driver | ||
Storekeeper | Uncredited | ||
Sweeney | |||
Mailman | |||
Harry Gilpin | |||
Bystander | |||
Otis | |||
Tom Norton | |||
Wes Stillman | |||
Mailman | |||
Abner | |||
Taxi Driver | (scenes deleted) | ||
Fisherman | |||
Real Estate Broker | |||
1941 | Cigar Store Proprietor | Uncredited | |
Wagon Driver | Uncredited | ||
Barber | |||
Skeet | Uncredited | ||
Teller | |||
Mailman | Uncredited | ||
Service Station Attendant | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Albert Merney | |||
Projectionist | Uncredited | ||
Beany | |||
Deck hand | Uncredited | ||
Jailer Smoky | |||
Radio Station Manager Twitchell | |||
Income Tax Man | Uncredited | ||
Mailman | |||
Cogswell | |||
Mr. Smedley | |||
Doorman | Uncredited | ||
Raven | |||
The Soda Jerk | |||
Postman | |||
Mr. McCloskey | |||
Conrad - Taxi Driver | |||
Uniform Salesman | Uncredited | ||
(scenes deleted) | |||
Ferryman | (scenes deleted) | ||
Train conductor | |||
Cecil | |||
1942 | Constable Caleb Weaver | ||
Bart Munson | |||
Sheriff / Fire Chief | |||
Mr. Crumb | |||
Parson | Uncredited | ||
Hotel Manager | Uncredited | ||
Sweetheart of the Fleet | Standish | ||
Motel Proprietor | Uncredited | ||
Stu Johnson | |||
Gus | |||
Stagehand | |||
Mr. Crumb, Former Mailman | |||
Gas Station Proprietor | Uncredited | ||
Dr. Howard | |||
Soda Clerk | |||
Mr. Hardwicke | |||
Crumb | Uncredited | ||
New England Farmer - 'Old Glory' Number | Uncredited | ||
1943 | First Reporter | Uncredited | |
Station Master | |||
Ticket Agent | Uncredited | ||
Omar Tennyson Gimpel | |||
Mr. Kelly | |||
Alf Cluckus | |||
Orrin Todds | |||
Peterson | |||
Bartender | Uncredited | ||
Dan Walters | |||
Mailman | |||
Jimmy, Malt Shop Proprietor | |||
Dr. Bacon | |||
Waiter | Uncredited | ||
'Gas' Man | Uncredited | ||
Dempster | |||
School Principal | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Crum | |||
Sheriff | Uncredited | ||
John | Uncredited | ||
Ben | Alternative title: War of the Wildcats | ||
Harry the Hamburger Man | Uncredited | ||
Cpl. Henderson | Uncredited | ||
Newsman | Alternative title: The Beautiful Cheat | ||
1944 | Prof. Frost | ||
Week-End Pass | Sheriff Todd | ||
Peter Van Stoon | Uncredited | ||
Track Man | |||
Janitor at Navy Dept. | Uncredited | ||
Missionary | Uncredited | ||
Man Saying 'Let's Go Pick Oranges' | Uncredited | ||
Bartender at Cocktail Lounge | Uncredited | ||
Sailor Projectionist | Uncredited | ||
Hotel Manager | |||
Tower, the Butler | |||
Tom | |||
Bath House Barber | Uncredited | ||
1945 | Sheriff James Whitcolm Wyatt | ||
Customer in Music Shop | Uncredited | ||
Mr. Merney | |||
Irving Krunk | |||
Dennis Colby | |||
Nosey Stationmaster | |||
Sam Skelly | |||
Railway Gateman | Uncredited | ||
1946 | Train Conductor | ||
Rainbow | |||
Toll Gate Attendant | |||
1947 | Mr. Piper | ||
Pierre Couvais | |||
Thaddeus Bellwether | |||
Delivery Man | |||
Melvin | Alternative title: Bachelor Knight (UK) | ||
Gas Station Owner | Uncredited | ||
1948 | Bert Hillman | ||
Dave Walton | |||
Jake Willis | |||
Buck Swanson | |||
Albert | |||
Tramp | |||
Judd Jenkins | |||
Mr. Webb | |||
Hollywood Realtor | Uncredited | ||
Telegrapher | Uncredited | ||
Short | |||
1949 | Jake | ||
George Beachwood | Uncredited | ||
Mr Larkins | |||
Stage Passenger | Uncredited | ||
Matt Cooper - Mailman | |||
Sgt. Fayle | |||
Real Estate Agent | (scenes deleted) | ||
RR Information Clerk | |||
Jury Foreman | Uncredited | ||
Mike Man | |||
Chris Dobbs | |||
1950 | "Pops" Link | ||
Harlan | Uncredited | ||
Hamburger Man | |||
Mr. Conover | Uncredited | ||
Tunk Johnson | Uncredited | ||
Jewelry Salesman | |||
Filbert - Mechanic | |||
Benson, Jewelry Clerk | Uncredited | ||
1951 | Joe Carston | ||
Conductor | |||
Baines, Butler | |||
Abner | |||
Sheriff Skeeter Davis | |||
1952 | Mayor Michael J. Kane | ||
Sheriff | |||
Ebenezer Dorset | (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief"), Uncredited | ||
1953 | Casey | ||
Sgt. Monday Wash | |||
Sheriff Doolittle | |||
Old Guard | |||
1954 | Mr. Miller | ||
Doc Sorin | |||
John Maddocks | |||
Doc | |||
Graves | |||
1955 | Scotty | ||
1955 | Al Ferguson | ||
1955 | Doc Carter | ||
1956 | Tully Morgan | ||
1958 | Judge Stanfield | ||
1958 | Charlie | ||
1958 | Fort Apache | ||
Television | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1951 | 1 episode | ||
1952 | Mr. Willoughby | 1 episode | |
1953 | 1 episode | ||
1954 | Hamilton Carter | 1 episode | |
1954–1955 | Mr. Townsend - Roberta's father | 2 episodes | |
1955 | Charlie Irwin, Sr. | 1 episode | |
Dad | 1 episode | ||
Will Potter (Ethel's Father) | 1 Episode | ||
1956 | Patton | 1 episode | |
1956–1957 | Andyi | 2 episodes | |
1957 | Crackers | 1 episode | |
1958 | Howard Anderson | 1 episode | |
Mayor Webster | 1 episode | ||
1960 | Tooey | 1 episode |
References
External links