Victor Potel
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career. Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series. Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness. In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges. Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (50)
The Egg and I
as Crowbar
1947
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
as Prof. Potelle
1947
Yankee Fakir
as Contest Chairman
1947
The Devil Thumbs a Ride
1947
The Glass Alibi
as Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)
1946
Rhythm Round-Up
as Slim Jensen
1945
Flame of Barbary Coast
as Train Fireman
1945
A Medal for Benny
as Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)
1945
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
as Newspaper Editor
1944
Hail the Conquering Hero
as Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)
1944
The Great Moment
as First Dental Patient
1944
It Happened Tomorrow
1944
Wagon Wheels West
as Posse Rider (uncredited)
1943
The Good Fellows
as Branders (uncredited)
1943
The Man in the Trunk
as Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)
1942
The Palm Beach Story
as Mr. McKeewie
1942
Sullivan's Travels
as Cameraman
1941
Ride on Vaquero
as Ole
1941
The Lady from Cheyenne
as Lem
1941
Pot o' Gold
as Olaf Svenson (uncredited)
1941
The Lady Eve
as Second Steward (uncredited)
1941
Trail of the Vigilantes
as Conductor
1940
Li'l Abner
as Fantastic Brown
1940
Christmas in July
as Davenola Salesman
1940
The Villain Still Pursued Her
as Policeman (uncredited)
1940
The Great McGinty
as Cook (uncredited)
1940
Girl from God's Country
as Barber
1940
Three Faces West
as Postman
1940
Young Tom Edison
as Mr. Tompkins
1940
Slightly Honorable
as Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)
1939
Chip of the Flying U
as Station Agent
1939
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
as Man in Store
1939
Blondie Brings Up Baby
as Lars (uncredited)
1939
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
as Ranch Hand
1939
The Housekeeper's Daughter
as Suspect
1939
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Slim
1939
Second Fiddle
as Steve - Crane Operator
1939
Down the Wyoming Trail
as Slim
1939
Let Freedom Ring
as Ole Swensen (uncredited)
1939
Stand Up and Fight
as Coach Driver
1939
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
as Steve
1938
On the Great White Trail
as Lyons
1938
The Girl of the Golden West
as Lem - Stagecoach Driver
1938
Adventure's End
as Tall Sailor (uncredited)
1937
Small Town Boy
as Abner Towner
1937
Western Gold
as Jasper
1937
White Bondage
as Luke Stacey
1937
Two Gun Law
as Cassius
1937
God's Country and the Woman
as Turpentine
1937
Laughing at Trouble
as Lem Parker
1936