Harry Semels
Encyclopedia
Harry Semels was an American
film actor. He appeared in over 315 film between 1917 and 1946.
shorts including Disorder in the Court
, Wee Wee Monsieur
and Three Little Sew and Sews
. He also appeared in features films like Road to Morocco
, The Princess and the Pirate
and The Kid from Brooklyn
. A versatile character actor, Semels often appeared as serial villains, waiters, soldiers, lawyers, et al.
.
on March 2, 1946. He is interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film actor. He appeared in over 315 film between 1917 and 1946.
Career
Semels appeared in his first film in 1917. He began to achieve fame after arriving at Columbia Pictures, appearing several Three StoogesThree Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts including Disorder in the Court
Disorder in the Court
Disorder in the Court is the 15th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, Wee Wee Monsieur
Wee Wee Monsieur
Wee Wee Monsieur is the 29th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
and Three Little Sew and Sews
Three Little Sew and Sews
Three Little Sew and Sews is the 36th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
. He also appeared in features films like Road to Morocco
Road to Morocco
Road to Morocco is an 1942 American comedy film about two fast-talking guys tossed up on a desert shore and sold into slavery to a beautiful princess...
, The Princess and the Pirate
The Princess and the Pirate
The Princess and the Pirate is a 1944 American comedy film released by Samuel Goldwyn, starring Bob Hope and Virginia Mayo. This was the only appearance in a Goldwyn film by Paramount Pictures star Hope.-Plot:...
and The Kid from Brooklyn
The Kid from Brooklyn
The Kid from Brooklyn is a 1946 comedy film starring Danny Kaye and co-starring Virginia Mayo, Vera-Ellen, Steve Cochran, and Eve Arden, about a milkman who becomes world boxing champion....
. A versatile character actor, Semels often appeared as serial villains, waiters, soldiers, lawyers, et al.
Personal life
Semels had two children, Ruth and David. David was killed in action during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Death
Semels died of a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on March 2, 1946. He is interred in Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California. It is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood...
.
Selected filmography
- Dizzy PilotsDizzy PilotsDizzy Pilots is the 74th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(19431943 in filmThe year 1943 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 3 - 1st missing persons telecast * February 20 - American film studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor films....
) - Back from the FrontBack from the FrontBack From the Front is the 70th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(1943) - Three Little Sew and SewsThree Little Sew and SewsThree Little Sew and Sews is the 36th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(19391939 in filmThe year 1939 in motion pictures can be justified as being called the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year .- Events :Motion picture historians and film often rate...
) - Wee Wee MonsieurWee Wee MonsieurWee Wee Monsieur is the 29th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(19381938 in filmThe year 1938 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*January — MGM announces that Judy Garland would be cast in the role of "Dorothy" in the upcoming Wizard of Oz motion picture. Ray Bolger is cast as the "Tinman" and Buddy Ebsen is cast as the "Scarecrow". At Bolger's insistence,...
) - Disorder in the CourtDisorder in the CourtDisorder in the Court is the 15th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(19361936 in filmThe year 1936 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May 29 - Fritz Lang's first Hollywood film Fury, starring Spencer Tracy and Bruce Cabot, is released.*November 6 - first Porky Pig animated cartoon...
) - Half Shot ShootersHalf Shot ShootersHalf Shot Shooters is the 14th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(1936) - Under Two Flags (1936)
- Movie ManiacsMovie ManiacsMovie Maniacs is the thirteenth short subject film starring American slapstick comedy trio the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(1936) - Three Little BeersThree Little BeersThree Little Beers is the 11th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
(19351935 in film-Events:*Judy Garland signs a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .*Seven year old Shirley Temple wins a special Academy Award.*The Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment started in order to educate the Bantu peoples.-Top grossing films:-Academy Awards:...
) - The Thrill HunterThe Thrill Hunter-Cast:* Buck Jones as Buck Crosby * Dorothy Revier as Marjorie Lane* Edward LeSaint as Director Ed Jackson* Eddie Kane as Sam Levine, producer* Arthur Rankin as Roy Lang* Frank LaRue as Rancher Hall* Robert Ellis as Al Blake...
(1933) - Sin's Pay DaySin's Pay Day-Cast:* Lloyd Whitlock as Robert Webb* Dorothy Revier as Iris Markey* Mickey Rooney as Chubby Dennis* Forrest Stanley as James Markey* Bess Flowers as Jane Webb* Hal Price as Jake Bernheim* Alfred Cross as David Lee* Harry Semels as Louie Joe...
(1932) - Sally of the SubwaySally of the Subway-Cast:* Jack Mulhall as Ludwig* Dorothy Revier as Sally* Blanche Mehaffey as Angela* Huntley Gordon as Gordon* Harry Semels as Von Trump* Crauford Kent as Moffit* John Webb Dillon as McMillan, Henchman* William P. Burt as Scraggs, Henchman...
(1932) - Night BeatNight Beat (1931 film)-Cast:* Jack Mulhall as Johnny* Patsy Ruth Miller as Eleanor* Walter McGrail as Martin* Harry Cording as Chill Scarpelli* Ernie Adams as Weissenkorn* Richard Cramer as Featherstone* Harry Semels as Italian...
(1931) - The Lion and the LambThe Lion and the Lamb-Cast:* Walter Byron as Dave* Carmel Myers as Inez* Raymond Hatton as Muggsy* Montagu Love as Professor Tottie* Miriam Seegar as Madge* Charles K. Gerrard as Bert * Will Stanton as Ruebin* Charles Wildish as First Lascar...
(1931) - The Tiger's ShadowThe Tiger's ShadowThe Tiger's Shadow is a 1928 drama film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet.-Cast:* Gladys McConnell - Jane Barstow* Hugh Allan - Larry Trent* Frank Lackteen - Dr. Sandro* Edward Cecil - Slayton* Harry Semels - Hawks...
(19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
) - Beware of BlondesBeware of Blondes-Cast:* Dorothy Revier as Mary* Matt Moore as Jeffrey* Roy D'Arcy as Harry* Robert Edeson as Costigan* Walter P. Lewis as Tex* Hazel Howell as Blonde Mary* Harry Semels as Portugee Joe...
(1928) - Riley the CopRiley the CopRiley the Cop is a 1928 comedy film directed by John Ford. It was a silent film with a synchronized music track.-Cast:* J. Farrell MacDonald - James 'Aloysius' Riley * Nancy Drexel - Mary Coronelli...
(1928) - The Yellow CameoThe Yellow CameoThe Yellow Cameo is a 1928 adventure film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Kay Cottrell* Edward Hearn - Terry Lawton* Cyclone the Dog - Cyclone, the Dog* Noble Johnson - Smoke Dawson...
(1928) - Hawk of the HillsHawk of the Hills (1927 serial)Hawk of the Hills is a 1927 Western film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Mary* Walter Miller - Laramie* James Robert Chandler - Clyde Selby* Jack Ganzhorn - Henry Selby* Frank Lackteen - The Hawk* Paul Panzer - Manson...
(19271927 in film-Events:*January 10 - Fritz Lang's science-fiction fantasy Metropolis premieres in Germany.*April 7 - Abel Gance's Napoleon often considered his best known and greatest masterpiece, premiers at the Paris Opéra and would demonstrate techniques and equipment that would not be used for years to...
) - On GuardOn Guard (serial)On Guard is a 1927 drama film serial directed by Arch Heath. It is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Cullen Landis - Bob Adams* Muriel Kingston - Betty Lee* Louise Du Pre - Catherine Nevens* Walter P. Lewis - James Stagg* Tom Blake - Sergeant Major Murphy...
(1927) - The Isle of Forgotten WomenThe Isle of Forgotten WomenThe Isle of Forgotten Women is a 1927 silent drama film directed by George B. Seitz. It was released as Forgotten Women in the UK.-Cast:* Conway Tearle as Bruce Paine* Dorothy Sebastian as Marua* Gibson Gowland as John Stort...
(1927) - The House Without a KeyThe House Without a Key (serial)The House Without a Key is a 1926 mystery film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. It is based on the novel of the same name and is the first onscreen appearance of the fictional detective Charlie Chan, although the main stars are Allene Ray and Walter Miller. The film is now considered to be...
(19261926 in film-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
) - Play BallPlay Ball (serial)Play Ball is a 1925 drama film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Walter Miller - Jack Rollins* Allene Ray - Doris Sutton* Harry Semels - Count Segundo* J. Barney Sherry - Thomas W. Sutton...
(19251925 in film-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
) - Into the NetInto the NetInto the Net is a 1924 film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Edna Murphy - Natalie Van Cleef* Jack Mulhall - Bob Clayton* Constance Bennett - Madge Clayton* Bradley Barker - Bert Moore...
(19241924 in film-Events:* Entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer Pictures to create Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer...
) - PlunderPlunder (serial)Plunder is a drama film serial directed by George B. Seitz. During the production of this serial in August 1922, John Stevenson, a stuntman for Pearl White, was killed doing a stunt from a moving bus to an elevated platform.-Cast:...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - SpeedSpeed (serial)Speed is a 1922 action film serial directed by George B. Seitz.The story is a typically convoluted serial plot. Speed Stnsbury is heir to a large fortune. A master criminal hires someone to frame Speed for murder and bank robbery...
(19221922 in film-Events:* June 11 - United States première of Robert J. Flaherty's Nanook of the North, the first commercially successful feature length documentary film....
) - Hurricane HutchHurricane HutchHurricane Hutch is a 1921 adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is considered to be lost. The story concerns the search for a lost formula for making paper from seaweed that will save a mortgaged papermill.-Cast:...
(19211921 in film-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1921:U.S.A. unless stated*$10,000 Under a Pillow, silent film directed by Frank Moser*The Ace of Hearts, silent film directed by Wallace Worsley*Across the Divide, silent film directed by John Holloway...
) - The Sky RangerThe Sky RangerThe Sky Ranger is a 1921 comedy film serial directed by George B. Seitz. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* George B. Seitz - George Oliver Rockwell* June Caprice - June Elliott* Harry Semels - Dr...
(1921) - Velvet FingersVelvet FingersVelvet Fingers is a 1920 adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz. Although the film is considered to be lost by some sources, a copy of it is actually available in the archives of the Cinémathèque Française.-Cast:* George B...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - The Phantom FoeThe Phantom FoeThe Phantom Foe is a 1920 adventure film serial directed by Bertram Millhauser.-Cast:* Warner Oland - Uncle Lew Selkirk* Juanita Hansen - Janet Dale* Wallace McCutcheon Jr...
(1920) - Rogues and RomanceRogues and RomanceRogues and Romance is a 1920 silent drama film directed by George B. Seitz. The film was shot in Europe.-Cast:* June Caprice as Sylvia Lee* George B. Seitz as Reginald Van Ransen* Harry Semels as Pedro Pezet* Marguerite Courtot as Carmelita...
(1920) - Pirate GoldPirate Gold (1920 serial)Pirate Gold is a 1920 adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz.-Cast:* Marguerite Courtot - Gabrielle Hall* George B. Seitz - Ivanhoe 'Hoey' Tuttle* Frank Redman - Austin Tuttle* William P. Burt - Tanner* Joe Cuny - Kaidy...
(1920) - The Black SecretThe Black SecretThe Black Secret is a 1919 adventure film serial directed by George B. Seitz. It was shot in Fort Lee, New Jersey and the nearby Hudson Palisades when many early film studios in America's first motion picture industry were based there at the beginning of the 20th century...
(19191919 in filmThe year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
) - Bound and GaggedBound and Gagged (serial)Bound and Gagged is a silent film serial produced by George B. Seitz Productions and distributed by Pathé. It was a spoof of the cliched melodramatic serials of the era....
(1919) - "Harry Semenation: A Documentary" (1945)