Image of Harry Semels

Harry Semels

One of the industry's most versatile character actors, in his almost 30-year career Harry Semels appeared in hundreds of films. Adept at playing everything from Spanish waiters to German soldiers to Italian villagers--and even a haughty District Attorney from time to time--his stocky build and droopy mustache were a familiar sight to moviegoers, especially in the '30s and '40s, his peak years. He often worked for Columbia Pictures, and in that capacity appeared as a foil for The Three Stooges on many occasions, most notably in Disorder in the Court (1936), where he was a District Attorney on the receiving end of the trio's antics during a murder trial. Date of Death 2 March 1946, Hollywood, California


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Born:
Nov 20, 1887 In New York City - New York - USA
Movie/TV Credits:
135
First Appeared:
In the movie The Black Secret 1919-01-02
Latest Project:
Movie Riding High 1950-04-12
Known For
Poster of She's Oil Mine
Poster of Drum Taps
Poster of The Royal Rider
Poster of Beware of Blondes
Filmography
Movie Riding High Bettor on Broadway Bill (archive footage) (uncredited) 1950-04-12
Movie The Diary of a Chambermaid Townsman (Uncredited) 1946-02-15
Movie Road to Utopia Lombardi - Spitting Passenger (uncredited) 1946-02-27
Movie Badman's Territory Bettor (uncredited) 1946-05-04
Movie I Love a Mystery Mr. G's Doorkeeper Servant (Uncredited) 1945-01-25
Movie Eve Knew Her Apples Tony (uncredited) 1945-04-12
Movie A Thousand and One Nights Leader of Caravan 1945-07-20
Movie The Unseen Hurdy-Gurdy Man 1945-05-12
Movie Make Your Own Bed Pedestrian 1944-06-10
Movie Strange Affair Man in Police Lineup (Uncredited) 1944-10-05
Movie Can't Help Singing Peon (uncredited) 1944-12-25
Movie The Hard Way Passerby (Uncredited) 1943-01-13
Movie After Midnight with Boston Blackie Greek Florist 1943-03-18
Movie Slightly Dangerous Italian at concert (uncredited) 1943-04-01
Movie The Chance of a Lifetime Jerome Wagner (Uncredited) 1943-10-26
Movie Dizzy Pilots Sky Aircraft Co. Representative (uncredited) 1943-09-24
Movie A Lady Takes a Chance Greek 1943-08-19
Movie Woman of the Year Mug (uncredited) 1942-02-05
Movie Moontide Waiter 1942-05-29
Movie Wild Bill Hickok Rides Saloon Bouncer 1942-01-31
Movie Road to Morocco Jolla's Warrior (uncredited) 1942-11-10
Movie Reunion in France R.R. Mechanic (uncredited) 1942-12-25
Movie She's Oil Mine Referee 1941-11-20
Movie General Nuisance Latin America Delagate 1941-09-18
Movie New Moon Bondsman 1940-06-28
Movie They Drive by Night Leo, Cashier (uncredited) 1940-07-26
Movie Strange Cargo Convict (uncredited) 1940-03-01
Movie Foreign Correspondent Sidewalk Crowd Extra (uncredited) 1940-08-16
Movie Phantom Raiders Cafe Bartender 1940-06-07
Movie And One Was Beautiful Courtroom Spectator 1940-04-05
Movie Little Nellie Kelly Immigrant at Citizenship Ceremony (uncredited) 1940-11-22
Movie Kit Carson Aide 1940-08-30
Movie North West Mounted Police Half-breed Archer 1940-10-22
Movie Seven Sinners Antro's Henchman (uncredited) 1940-10-25
Movie The Great Dictator Jewish Fruit Stand Proprietor (uncredited) 1940-10-15
Movie He Stayed for Breakfast Communist 1940-08-31
Movie Midnight Police Officer (uncredited) 1939-03-24
Movie Star Reporter Mike 1939-02-22
Movie Three Little Sew and Sews Count Alfred Gehrol 1939-01-06
Movie Thunder Afloat Cook on Tugboat (uncredited) 1939-09-15
Movie King of the Turf Coffee Pot Proprietor 1939-02-17
Movie Ninotchka Gurganov (uncredited) 1939-11-23
Movie Crashing Thru Man Who Reports Gunfight 1939-12-11
Movie Balalaika (uncredited) 1939-12-15
Movie Overland Mail Pancho 1939-11-16
Movie Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President Neighbor 1939-12-01
Movie The Amazing Mr. Williams Race Track Spectator (uncredited) 1939-11-22
Movie The Girl of the Golden West Peon Servant 1938-03-18
Movie State Police Albert Morton 1938-03-18
Movie I'll Give a Million Man in Cafe (uncredited) 1938-07-27
Movie Marie Antoinette Townsman at Execution (uncredited) 1938-08-26
Movie You Can't Take It with You Man (uncredited) 1938-09-01
Movie Flirting with Fate Member of Sancho's Band 1938-12-02
Movie Midnight Taxi Joe, Counterman 1937-04-04
Movie Swing It Professor Angelo 1937-03-13
Movie Kid Galahad (uncredited) 1937-05-29
Movie New News Prince Albert 1937-04-01
Movie The Soldier and the Lady Tartar (Uncredited) 1937-04-09
Movie My Dear Miss Aldrich Cafeteria Dining Customer (uncredited) 1937-09-17
Movie Wells Fargo Minor Role 1937-12-31
Movie Missing Witnesses Tony - Italian Shop Owner (uncredited) 1937-12-11
Movie Hollywood Round-Up Tony Papalini 1937-11-06
Movie Hot Water Barber (uncredited) 1937-09-24
Movie Disorder in the Court District Attorney (uncredited) 1936-05-30
Movie Human Cargo Barreto 1936-05-15
Movie One Rainy Afternoon Clerk (Uncredited) 1936-05-13
Movie I'll Name the Murderer Luigi 1936-01-26
Movie Movie Maniacs Cecil Z. Swinehardt - Director 1936-02-20
Movie Give Us This Night Prisoner 1936-03-06
Movie Am I Having Fun! The Maharajah Of Guzzi 1936-09-17
Movie The Case of the Velvet Claws A. G. 'Kicky' Kickopopolos 1936-07-03
Movie Midnight Blunders Dr. Wong (uncredited) 1936-12-13
Movie More Than a Secretary Apartment Custodian with Hose (uncredited) 1936-12-10
Movie The Charge of the Light Brigade Sepoy Chief (uncredited) 1936-10-20
Movie The Gay Desperado Manuel 1936-10-02
Movie The Revenge Rider Henchman Rankin 1935-03-18
Movie The Wedding Night Wedding Guest 1935-03-08
Movie Stone of Silver Creek R. J. Simmons 1935-04-14
Movie I Live My Life Greek Following Kay (Uncredited) 1935-10-04
Movie Hot Paprika The Commandante 1935-12-12
Movie I Don't Remember 'Doctor' in Gambling Hall 1935-12-25
Movie It Happened One Night Bus Passenger (uncredited) 1934-02-22
Movie Bridal Bail Hotel Manager 1934-02-09
Movie Bombay Mail Platform Conductor 1934-01-06
Movie A Very Honorable Guy Greek 1934-04-18
Movie Twentieth Century Poster Artist (uncredited) 1934-05-11
Movie One Too Many 1934-12-28
Movie I Sell Anything Statue Smasher (uncredited) 1934-10-20
Movie Broadway Bill Conductor Bettor on Broadway Bill (uncredited) 1934-11-30
Movie Our Daily Bread Italian Shoemaker (uncredited) 1934-10-02
Movie Down to Their Last Yacht Ship Passenger (uncredited) 1934-08-31
Movie The Thrill Hunter Henchman Lou Norton 1933-04-30
Movie Elmer, the Great Waiter (uncredited) 1933-04-29
Movie Drum Taps Henchman Pete 1933-01-23
Movie Storm at Daybreak Serbian Villager (uncredited) 1933-06-14
Movie Baby Face Speakeasy Drunk (uncredited) 1933-07-13
Movie I Am Suzanne! Balcony Spectator 1933-12-25
Movie Damaged Lives Waiter 1933-09-15
Movie Torch Singer Waiter in Bistro 1933-09-08
Movie This Is the Night Man in the Manhole (uncredited) 1932-04-08
Movie South of the Rio Grande Bandido Leader 1932-03-05
Movie Sally of the Subway Leopold Von Trump 1932-01-15
Movie Ghost Valley Pawnee 1932-05-13
Movie Sin's Pay Day Louie Joe 1932-03-02
Movie Tiger Shark Crewman (uncredited) 1932-09-24
Movie American Madness 1932-08-15
Movie Young Blood Tony Murullo 1932-11-05
Movie Texas Buddies Ken Kincaid 1932-10-18
Movie Vanity Street Italian Street Workman (uncredited) 1932-10-14
Movie Command Performance Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited) 1931-01-19
Movie The Yellow Ticket Jailer 1931-10-30
Movie Dishonored 1931-04-04
Movie Suicide Fleet Havana Merchant 1931-11-20
Movie Safe in Hell Jury Member (uncredited) 1931-12-12
Movie Night Beat Enricco Pommetti 1931-12-26
Movie Those Who Dance Hood 1930-04-18
Movie The Bad Man Jose 1930-09-11
Movie Hell's Angels Anarchist (uncredited) 1930-11-15
Movie Captain Thunder Barfly 1930-12-27
Movie The Royal Rider Parvene 1929-02-17
Movie Hawk of the Hills Sheckard 1929-03-16
Movie Weary River Telephone Informer / Friend at Barney's (uncredited) 1929-02-10
Movie The Delightful Rogue Hymie 1929-09-21
Movie Movie Night Movie Patron 1929-05-11
Movie Big News Reno Henchman (uncredited) 1929-09-06
Movie Beware of Blondes Portugee Joe 1928-07-01
Movie The Last Command A Soldier (uncredited) 1928-01-21
Movie Virgin Lips Patron 1928-07-25
Movie Riley the Cop French Policeman 1928-11-25
Movie Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans Carnival Gallery Man with Pig (uncredited) 1927-11-04
Movie The House Without a Key Saladine 1926-11-21
Movie Plunder Jude Deering 1923-01-28
Movie Rogues and Romance Pedro Pezet 1920-12-26
Movie The Black Secret 1919-01-02
Movie A Fallen Idol Tushau 1919-05-18