Douglass Dumbrille

Douglass Dumbrille

Deceased · Born: Oct 13, 1889 · Died: Apr 2, 1974

Personal Details

BornOct 13, 1889 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Spouse
  • Patricia Mowbray

    ( May 19, 1960 to Apr 2, 1974 )
  • Jessie Lawson

    ( Dec 31, 1969 to Jan 12, 1958 )
Parents
  • Richard Willie Dumbrille

Biography

Person Biography:

Douglass Dumbrille was a renowned character actor born on October 13, 1889, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He began his career as a bank clerk in his hometown before pursuing a career in acting. Dumbrille made his Broadway debut in 1924 and went on to appear in numerous productions throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including dramas, romantic comedies, and musical operettas.

He transitioned to the silent screen in 1924, portraying Thomas Jefferson in the historical film "The Declaration of Independence". However, he did not return to film until 1931, when he began playing a variety of roles, including villains, in films such as "His Woman", "Blondie of the Follies", and "Lady Killer".

Dumbrille's career spanned over five decades, during which he appeared in over 200 films and television shows. He was known for his distinctive features, beady eyes, and suave presence, which made him a versatile and sought-after actor. Dumbrille was also a talented comedic foil, appearing in numerous comedy films and television shows.

In his personal life, Dumbrille was married twice, first to Jessie Lawson, with whom he had two sons, and then to Patricia Mowbray, who was 28 years his junior. Dumbrille passed away on April 2, 1974, at the age of 84, leaving behind a legacy as one of Hollywood's most beloved and enduring character actors.

Career

1962
Air Patrol
Air Patrol as Millard Nolan
1960
High Time
High Time as Judge Carter (uncredited)
1958
The Buccaneer
The Buccaneer as Collector of the Port
1956
Shake, Rattle & Rock!
Shake, Rattle & Rock! as Eustace Fentwick III
1955
A Life at Stake
A Life at Stake as Gus Hillman
1954
The Lawless Rider
The Lawless Rider as Marshal Brady (as Douglas Dumbrille)
World for Ransom
World for Ransom as Insp. McCollum
1953
Plunder of the Sun
Plunder of the Sun as Consul (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas
Captain John Smith and Pocahontas as Powhatan (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar as Lepidus
1952
Son of Paleface
Son of Paleface as Sheriff McIntyre
Sky Full of Moon
Sky Full of Moon as Rodeo Official
Apache War Smoke
Apache War Smoke as Maj. Dekker
Scaramouche
Scaramouche as Assembly President
1951
1950
Buccaneer's Girl
Buccaneer's Girl as Capt. Martos
The Kangaroo Kid
The Kangaroo Kid as Vincent Moller
The Savage Horde
The Savage Horde as Col. Price
Riding High
Riding High as Eddie Howard
1949
Tell It to the Judge
Tell It to the Judge as George Ellerby
Alimony
Alimony as Burton Crail
1948
Last of the Wild Horses
Last of the Wild Horses as Charlie Cooper
1947
Dragnet
Dragnet as Frank Farrington
It's a Joke, Son!
It's a Joke, Son! as Big Dan Healey
Dishonored Lady
Dishonored Lady as District Attorney O'Brien
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve as Dr. Bunyan
Blonde Savage
Blonde Savage as Mark Harper
Beyond Our Own
Beyond Our Own as E.W. Osborne
The Fabulous Texan
The Fabulous Texan as Luke Roland
1946
Night in Paradise
Night in Paradise as High Priest
The Catman of Paris
The Catman of Paris as Henry Borchard
Spook Busters
Spook Busters as Dr. Coslow
The Cat Creeps
The Cat Creeps as Tom McGalvey
Monsieur Beaucaire
Monsieur Beaucaire as George Washington
1945
Road to Utopia
Road to Utopia as Ace Larson
Pardon My Past
Pardon My Past as Uncle Wills
The Frozen Ghost
The Frozen Ghost as Inspector Brant
Flame of the West
Flame of the West as Marshal Tom Nightlander
The Daltons Ride Again
The Daltons Ride Again as Sheriff Hoskins
1944
Uncertain Glory
Uncertain Glory as Police Commissioner LaFarge
Lumberjack
Lumberjack as Daniel J. Keefer
Gypsy Wildcat
Gypsy Wildcat as Baron Tovar
Forty Thieves
Forty Thieves as Tad Hammond
Jungle Woman
Jungle Woman as District Attorney
1943
False Colors
False Colors as Mark Foster
Du Barry Was a Lady
Du Barry Was a Lady as Willie / Duc de Rigor
1942
Castle in the Desert
Castle in the Desert as Paul Manderley
I Married an Angel
I Married an Angel as Baron Szigethy
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Ten Gentlemen from West Point as Gen. William Henry Harrison
Stand by for Action
Stand by for Action as Capt. Ludlow
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Ride 'Em Cowboy as Jake Rainwater
The Big Store
The Big Store as Mr. Grover
The Round Up
The Round Up as Capt. Bob Lane
Road to Zanzibar
Road to Zanzibar as Slave trader
Murder Among Friends
Murder Among Friends as Carter Stevenson
Washington Melodrama
Washington Melodrama as District Attorney Donnelly
1940
Virginia City
Virginia City as Maj. Drewery
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Michael Shayne: Private Detective as Benny Gordon (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1939
Tell No Tales
Tell No Tales as Matt Cooper (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Slightly Honorable
Slightly Honorable as George Taylor
Mr. Moto in Danger Island
Mr. Moto in Danger Island as Comdr. La Costa
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers as Athos (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Captain Fury
Captain Fury as Preston
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island as Stewart Salsbury, alias Thomas Gregory
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Rovin' Tumbleweeds as Stephen Holloway
City in Darkness
City in Darkness as B. Petroff (as Douglas Dumbrille)
1938
The Mysterious Rider
The Mysterious Rider as Pecos Bill aka Ben Wade
The Buccaneer
The Buccaneer as Governor William C.C. Claiborne
Kentucky
Kentucky as John Dillon - 1861
Fast Company
Fast Company as Arnold Stamper (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Storm Over Bengal
Storm Over Bengal as Ramin Khan
1937
The Firefly
The Firefly as Marquis de Melito
Woman in Distress
Woman in Distress as Jerome Culver
The Emperor's Candlesticks
The Emperor's Candlesticks as Mr. Korum, a Conspirator
1936
You May Be Next!
You May Be Next! as Beau Gardner
1935
Peter Ibbetson
Peter Ibbetson as Colonel Forsythe
Naughty Marietta
Naughty Marietta as Prince de Namours de la Bonfain, Marietta's Uncle
The Public Menace
The Public Menace as Mario Tonelli
Air Hawks
Air Hawks as Victor Arnold
Cardinal Richelieu
Cardinal Richelieu as Count Baradas
1934
Operator 13
Operator 13 as General Stuart
Hi, Nellie
Hi, Nellie as Dawes
Journal of a Crime
Journal of a Crime as Cartier (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Fog Over Frisco
Fog Over Frisco as Joshua Mayard
Broadway Bill
Broadway Bill as Eddie Morgan
Treasure Island
Treasure Island as Pirate of the Spanish Main
1933
Laughter in Hell
Laughter in Hell as Ed Perkins
Baby Face
Baby Face as Brody
The World Changes
The World Changes as Buffalo Bill Cody
I Loved a Woman
I Loved a Woman as U.S. Attorney Brandt (uncredited)
Elmer, the Great
Elmer, the Great as Stillman (uncredited)
Hard to Handle
Hard to Handle as District Attorney (uncredited)
The Working Man
The Working Man as Lawyer Hammersmith (uncredited)
Female
Female as George Mumford
Heroes for Sale
Heroes for Sale as Chief Engineer Jim (uncredited)
1932
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as District Attorney (uncredited)
1931
His Woman
His Woman as Alisandroe