Walter Connolly, a character actor, had a film career that lasted seven years, from 1932 to 1939. Despite being in the industry for a relatively short period, he made significant contributions to several comedy classics. His notable roles include Frank Capra's "Lady for a Day" (1933),"Broadway Bill" (1934),and "It Happened One Night" (1934),as well as the screwball farce "Nothing Sacred" (1937).
Born on April 8, 1887, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Connolly was schooled there and later attended St. Xavier College and the University of Dublin in Ireland. He began his career in 1910 with an outdoor presentation of "As You Like It" in New York. He then joined E.H. Sothern's touring company and played supporting roles in several Shakespearean shows.
After a few silent pictures, Connolly turned to the Broadway stage in the 1920s and scored well. He appeared in numerous stage productions, including "The Talking Parrot" (1923),"Applesauce" (1925),and "The Happy Husband" (1928).
Connolly's talents as a stage farceur led him to Hollywood, where he made his debut in a full-length talking picture, "Washington Merry-Go-Round" (1932),at the age of 45. He went on to play older roles, often opposite the greatest stars of the time, including Janet Gaynor, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, and Ginger Rogers.
Throughout his career, Connolly was known for his zesty performances and his ability to hold his own alongside some of the biggest stars of the era. He appeared in a range of films, from dramas to comedies to whodunnits, and even held leading roles in several films, including "Whom the Gods Destroy" (1934) and "Soak the Rich" (1936).
Connolly was married to actress Nedda Harrigan in 1920, and they had one daughter, actress Ann Connolly. He suffered a fatal stroke on May 28, 1940, at the age of 53, and received his final divorce decree on the day he died.
