Clarence Kolb

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Clarence Kolb
Kolb in Lost Honeymoon (1947)
Born
Clarence William Kolb

(1874-07-31)July 31, 1874
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 25, 1964(1964-11-25) (aged 90)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1916–1957
Spouse
May Cloy
​
(m. 1915)​

Clarence William Kolb, sometimes given as C. William Kolb, (July 31, 1874 – November 25, 1964) was an American vaudeville performer and actor known for his comedy routines that featured a Dutch dialect.[1]

Biography[edit]

Kolb (left) and Max Dill

Kolb started out as one half of a vaudeville comedy team, Kolb and Dill, with Max Dill. They styled their act on the famous team of Weber and Fields.[2] In addition to their stage work, they appeared in a series of short films and a feature-length movie in 1917. Afterwards, Kolb made a return to vaudeville, only returning to the movies in the late 1930s.

In 1935, Kolb left the act to work in films as a character actor,[2] eventually appearing in 75  feature films.[1] He became famous for portraying the same type of character in many films, namely, a politician or businessman. He is best remembered for his roles as the grumpy father in the multi-Academy Award-nominated hit comedy film Merrily We Live (1938), as the corrupt mayor in the comedy His Girl Friday (1940),[citation needed] and as Mr. Honeywell in the television sitcom My Little Margie (1952).[3] Kolb played himself in his last movie appearance, Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), opposite Danny Beck (who played the late Max Dill).

On September 1, 1917, Kolb married dancer May Cloy (whose birth name was Mabel S. Larsen).[4] They were still married when he died.[5]

Kolb died at age 90 of a stroke at the Orchard Gables Sanitarium in Hollywood.[6][7][8]

Partial filmography[edit]

Three Pals (1916)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Bladen, Barbara (December 8, 1964). "The Marquee". The Times. California, San Mateo. p. 28. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Slide, Anthony (2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 291. ISBN 9781617032509. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 732–733. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  4. ^ "Clarence Kolb Weds Dancer; Plans Guarded From Friends". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. September 2, 1917. p. 13. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Clarence Kolb; Vaudeville Star, Television Actor". Tampa Bay Times. Florida, St. Petersburg. November 28, 1964. p. 15. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clarence Kolb, Veteran Actor, Dies Here at 90." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 26, 1964. p. A 12.
  7. ^ California Death Index, Name: Clarence W. Kolb, Birth Date: 07-31-1874, Sex: Male, Birth Place: Ohio, Death Place: Los Angeles (70), Death Date: 11-25-1964, Age: 90 yrs.
  8. ^ Social Security Death Index, Name: Clarence Kolb, Birth: July 31, 1875, Issued: California, Death: Nov 1964, Last Residence: (California).

External links[edit]

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