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Billy Bevan

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
202

Gender
Male

Birthday
September 29, 1887 (138 years old)

Place of Birth
Orange, New South Wales, Australia

Billy Bevan

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Billy Bevan (born William Bevan Harris, 29 September 1887 – 26 November 1957) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became an American film actor. He appeared in 254 American films between 1916 and 1950.

Bevan was born in the country town of Orange, New South Wales, Australia. He went on the stage at an early age, traveled to Sydney and spent eight years in Australian light opera, performing as Willie Bevan. He sailed to America with the Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company in 1912 and later toured Canada. Bevan broke into films with the Sigmund Lubin studio in 1916. When the company disbanded, Bevan became a supporting actor in Mack Sennett movie comedies. An expressive pantomimist, Bevan's quiet scene-stealing attracted attention, and by 1922 Bevan was a Sennett star. He supplemented his income, however, by establishing a citrus and avocado farm at Escondido, California.

Usually filmed wearing a derby hat and a drooping mustache, Bevan may not have possessed an indelible screen character like Charlie Chaplin but he had a friendly, funny presence in the frantic Sennett comedies. Much of the comedy depended on Bevan's skilled timing and reactions; the famous "oyster" routine performed on film by Curly Howard, Lou Costello, and Huntz Hall—in which a bowl of "fresh oyster stew" shows alarming signs of life and battles the guy trying to eat it—was originated on film decades earlier by Bevan in the short film Wandering Willies.

By the mid-1920s Bevan was often teamed with Andy Clyde; Clyde soon graduated to his own starring series. The late 1920s found Bevan playing in wild marital farces for Sennett.

The advent of talking pictures took their toll on the careers of many silent stars, including Billy Bevan. Bevan began a second career in "talkies" as a character actor and bit player in roles such as that of a bus driver in the 1929 film High Voltage, a hotel employee in the Mae Murray film Peacock Alley, and the supporting role of Second Lieutenant Trotter in Journey's End in 1930. His starring roles had come to an end, however, and for the next 20 years he often would play rowdy Cockneys (as in Pack Up Your Troubles with The Ritz Brothers), and affable Englishmen (as in Tin Pan Alley and Terror by Night). He played a friendly bus conductor opposite Greer Garson in one of the opening scenes of Mrs. Miniver.

Bevan died in 1957 in Escondido, California, just before new audiences discovered him in Robert Youngson's silent-comedy compilations. (The Youngson films mispronounce his name as "Be-VAN"; Bevan himself offered the proper pronunciation in a Voice of Hollywood reel in 1930.)

Known For

Acting

196330 Years of Funas (archive footage)
1957The Golden Age of Comedyas archive footage
1952Hans Christian Andersenas Town Councilman (uncredited)
1951The Slappiest Days of Our Livesas (archive footage)
1950Three Secretsas Ed Jackson (uncredited)
1950Rogues of Sherwood Forestas Will Scarlet
1950Fortunes of Captain Bloodas Billy Bragg
1949Tell It to the Judgeas Winston, Kitty's Butler (uncredited)
1949The Secret Of St. Ivesas Douglas (uncredited)
1949The Secret Gardenas Barney
1948Let's Live a Littleas Morton
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas Self
1948The Black Arrowas Dungeon Keeper
1948The Swordsmanas Old Andrew
1947It Had to Be Youas Evans
1947Moss Roseas Harry, Cab Driver (uncredited)
1946Cluny Brownas Uncle Arn Porritt
1946Devotionas Mr. Ames (uncredited)
1946Terror by Nightas Conductor Taking Tickets
1945The Picture of Dorian Grayas Malvolio Jones
1945National Velvetas Constable (uncredited)
1945Tonight and Every Nightas Cabbie (uncredited)
1944The Pearl of Deathas Constable With Food Tray (uncredited)
1944The Invisible Man's Revengeas Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1944The Lodgeras
1943Jane Eyreas Bookie (uncredited)
1943The Return of the Vampireas Horace (uncredited)
1943Forever and a Dayas Wartime Cabby
1943London Blackout Murdersas Air Raid Warden
1943Happy Times and Jolly Momentsas (archive footage)
1942I Married a Witchas Puritan Vendor (uncredited)
1942Counter-Espionageas George Barrow
1942Mrs. Miniveras Bus Conductor (uncredited)
1942This Above Allas Farmer
1942The Man Who Wouldn't Dieas Phillips
1941Confirm or Denyas Mr. Bindle
1941Suspicionas Ticket Taker (uncredited)
1941Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeas Mr. Weller
1941Shining Victoryas Chivers
1941Penny Serenadeas McDougal (uncredited)
1940Tin Pan Alleyas Stage Doorman
1940The Long Voyage Homeas Joe
1940Rebeccaas Policeman (uncredited)
1940The Invisible Man Returnsas Jim (uncredited)
1940The Earl of Chicagoas Castle Guide
1939We Are Not Aloneas Mr. Jones
1939Pack Up Your Troublesas British Sergeant
1939Captain Furyas Duffy
1939Let Freedom Ringas Cockney (uncredited)
1938A Christmas Carolas Street Watch Leader
1938Arrest Bulldog Drummondas Aquarium Guard
1938Shadows Over Shanghaias Gallicuddy
1938Mysterious Mr. Motoas Customs Official
1938The Young in Heartas Kennel Man (uncredited)
1938Blond Cheatas Bartender (uncredited)
1938The Girl of the Golden Westas Nick
1938Bringing Up Babyas Joe (uncredited)
1937The Wrong Roadas McLean
1937The Sheik Steps Outas Munson
1937Another Dawnas Pvt. Hawkins
1937Slave Shipas Atkins
1937Personal Propertyas Frank (uncredited)
1937God's Country and the Womanas Plug Hat
1936Lloyd's of Londonas Innkeeper
1936Piccadilly Jimas Taxi Driver
1936Private Numberas Frederick
1936Dracula's Daughteras Albert
1936Champagne Charlieas Mr. Boswick
1936Mr. Deeds Goes to Townas Cabby (uncredited)
1936Song and Dance Manas Curtis
1935A Tale of Two Citiesas Jerry Cruncher
1935The Widow from Monte Carloas Officer Watkins
1935The Last Outpostas Private Foster
1935Black Sheepas Alfred
1935Vanessa: Her Love Storyas Horse Auctioneer
1935Mystery Womanas Jepson
1934Caravanas Police Sergeant
1934Limehouse Bluesas Herb
1934Bulldog Drummond Strikes Backas Man in Hotel Room
1934One More Riveras Cloakroom Attendant
1934Shockas Meadows
1934Stingareeas Mac
1934The Lost Patrolas Hale
1933Pop's Palas Grandpa
1933Alice in Wonderlandas Two of Spades (uncredited)
1933The Way to Loveas M. Prial
1933Too Much Harmonyas Stage Director
1933The Big Squealas Jake Burke
1933Thundering Taxisas One of the Taxi Boys
1933Peg o' My Heartas Detective #2 (uncredited)
1933A Study in Scarletas Will Swallow
1933Uncle Jakeas Uncle Jake
1933Looking Forwardas Mr. Barker
1933Techno-Crazyas Mary's Father - the Mayor
1933Cavalcadeas George Grainger
1933Luxury Lineras Schultz
1933She Whoops To Conqueras
1932Me and My Galas Ashley, Arguing Drunk (uncredited)
1932Payment Deferredas Charlie Hammond
1932Honeymoon Beachas Billy Bevan
1932The Spot on the Rugas Gerald J. Fitzgerald
1932Vanity Fairas Joseph Sedley
1932Sky Devilsas Colonel
1932The Silent Witnessas Horace Ward
1931Who's Who in the Zooas Father
1931Waterloo Bridgeas Soldier on the Make (uncredited)
1931Transatlanticas Hodgkins
1931Chancesas Cuthbert (uncredited)
1931Born to Loveas Departing British Soldier (uncredited)
1930For the Love o' Lilas Edward O. Walker
1930Monte Carloas Train Conductor (uncredited)
1930Temptationas Sam
1930Journey's Endas Trotter
1930Scotchas Gilbert - Addie's Brother
1930Peacock Alleyas Walter
1929Weak But Willingas George Downing
1929The Trespasseras Reporter (uncredited)
1929High Voltageas Gus Jones
1929Don't Get Jealousas Billy Blake
1929Pink Pajamasas Billy Brooks
1929Calling Hubby's Bluffas Billy Barton
1929The Sky Hawkas Tom Berry
1928His New Stenographeras Billy Brooks
1928Riley the Copas Paris Cabman
1928Hubby's Weekend Tripas Bill Blake
1928Motorboat Mamasas Billy Bender
1928His Unlucky Nightas Billy Trotter
1928The Girl from Nowhereas Constable Billy Barnes
1928The Bicycle Flirtas Doty Bassett - the Bicycle Flirt
1928The Best Manas Best Man
1928The Beach Clubas
1927The Girl from Everywhereas Messenger
1927The Bull Fighteras Pete De Tour
1927Gold Digger of Weepahas The Barber
1927The Golf Nutas Billy Divott
1927Cured in the Excitementas Professor Brawn
1927A Small Town Princessas Joe Whiffet
1927Peaches and Plumbersas Bill the Plumber
1927Easy Pickingsas The Detective
1927Should Sleepwalkers Marry?as Charley Carter
1926Flirty Four-Flushersas Jerry Connors / Archibald De Shyster
1926Masked Mamasas Casey McCorkle
1926Should Husbands Marry?as The Cop
1926Hoboken to Hollywoodas Billy Judkins
1926Hubby’s Quiet Little Gameas Billy Foote
1926A Sea Dog's Taleas Wilbur Watts
1926Ice Cold Cocosas Gus Gander
1926Musclebound Musicas Billy Hornby
1926Fight Nightas Walter Moore
1926Hayfoot, Strawfoot?as Pete
1926Wandering Williesas Percy Nudge
1926Circus Todayas Gus Barnum
1926Trimmed in Goldas Otto Stropp
1926Whispering Whiskersas The Drifter
1925From Rags to Britchesas Joe Bush
1925Over Thereaboutsas Joe Dobell
1925Butter Fingersas Nick
1925The Iron Nagas Joe Gobb
1925Sneezing Beezersas Joe Honck - Taxi Driver
1925Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizziesas Hiram Case
1925The Lion's Whiskersas Otto Klutch
1925Giddap!as Gaspard De Brie
1925Honeymoon Hardshipsas Farmer
1924Off His Trolleyas The Traffic Cop
1924The Cannon Ball Expressas Adam Fargo - Baggage Master
1924Galloping Bungalowsas John Syrup Soother
1924Wandering Waistlinesas Sandy Hook - Sailor
1924Little Robinson Corkscrewas The Sheriff
1924Three Foolish Weeksas King of Anchovia
1924Lizzies of the Fieldas Bud Gasket
1924East of the Water Plugas The Sheriff
1924Wall Street Bluesas The Janitor
1924The Hollywood Kidas Studio Organist
1924The White Sinas Travers Dale
1924One Spooky Nightas A.J. Bird Jr.
1923Inbad the Sailoras Jake aka Inbad the Sailor
1923One Cylinder Loveas The Bachelor's Butler / Chauffeur / Footman
1923The Extra Girlas Comedian
1923Pitfalls of a Big Cityas Barfly (uncredited)
1923Nip and Tuckas Sailor
1922When Summer Comesas Lyons - the Tenderfoot
1922The Crossroads of New Yorkas Press Agent
1922Gymnasium Jimas Jim
1922On Patrolas The Amateur Cop
1922The Duck Hunteras The Sportsman
1921Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studiosas Himself
1921Bright Eyesas The Nosey Butler
1921Be Reasonableas A Rolling Stone
1921Love and Doughnutsas The Burglar
1921Astray from the Steerageas A steerage passenger
1921A Small Town Idolas Director
1920Love, Honor and Behaveas A Fake Lawyer
1920The Quack Doctoras The Hired Lady's Sweetheart
1920Married Lifeas Hospital Staff / Janitor (uncredited)
1920Distilled Loveas
1918Cupid In Quarantineas The Father
1918Her Rustic Romeoas
1918Are Married Policemen Safe?as
1918Somebody's Widowas Secretary
1917Bombs and Banditsas The Chief of Police
1916Pirates of the Airas The Bartender
1916Gertie's Gasoline Glideas The Minister

Production

1920The Quack Doctor...Director