Edward S. Brophy was born on February 27, 1895, in the vibrant city of New York, where he would later embark on a remarkable journey in the film industry. After receiving his education at the prestigious University of Virginia, Brophy began his career in the movies, initially taking on small and bit-part roles starting from 1919. However, he soon switched to behind-the-scenes work, opting for job security, while still making appearances in small parts.
As a property master for Buster Keaton's production unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Brophy had the unique opportunity to appear in a memorable sequence in Keaton's classic film, The Cameraman (1928). In this iconic scene, Brophy and Keaton found themselves in a tiny wardrobe room, both attempting to undress simultaneously. Keaton would go on to cast Brophy in larger parts in two of his talkies, and by 1934, Brophy had abandoned his work behind the scenes and dedicated himself to acting full-time.
With his distinctive appearance, characterized by a chubby, bald-headed face, pop-eyes, and a high-pitched voice, Brophy appeared in numerous comedic roles throughout his career. He also ventured into dramatic parts, although he was less effective in these roles. One of his most notable performances was as the Marine in Manila who adopts the dog "Tripoli" in Howard Hawks' war propaganda masterpiece, Air Force (1943),providing memorable comic relief in this iconic film.
As the years went by, Brophy began to take on fewer roles, with his last appearance being in director John Ford's Western, Two Rode Together (1961). Unfortunately, Brophy passed away on May 27, 1960, during the production of this film, in Pacific Palisades, California. Despite his passing, Brophy will always be remembered by film enthusiasts as the voice of Timothy Mouse in Walt Disney's classic 1941 cartoon, Dumbo.
