Billy Bevan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 29, 1887
- Died
- November 26, 1957 (aged 70)
- Birthplace
- Orange, New South Wales, Australia
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
Photos
Filmography
30 Years of Fun
Movie · as (archive footage)
The Golden Age of Comedy
Movie · as archive footage
Hans Christian Andersen
Movie · as Town Councilman (uncredited)
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
Movie · as (archive footage)
Fortunes of Captain Blood
Movie · as Billy Bragg
Rogues of Sherwood Forest
Movie · as Will Scarlet
Three Secrets
Movie · as Ed Jackson (uncredited)
The Secret Of St. Ives
Movie · as Douglas (uncredited)
The Secret Garden
Movie · as Barney
Tell It to the Judge
Movie · as Winston, Kitty's Butler (uncredited)
The Swordsman
Movie · as Old Andrew
The Black Arrow
Movie · as Dungeon Keeper
Let's Live a Little
Movie · as Morton
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Moss Rose
Movie · as Harry, Cab Driver (uncredited)
It Had to Be You
Movie · as Evans
Terror by Night
Movie · as Conductor Taking Tickets
Devotion
Movie · as Mr. Ames (uncredited)
Cluny Brown
Movie · as Uncle Arn Porritt
Tonight and Every Night
Movie · as Cabbie (uncredited)
National Velvet
Movie · as Constable (uncredited)
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Movie · as Malvolio Jones
The Pearl of Death
Movie · as Constable With Food Tray (uncredited)
The Invisible Man's Revenge
Movie · as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
The Lodger
Movie
Jane Eyre
Movie · as Bookie (uncredited)
London Blackout Murders
Movie · as Air Raid Warden
Forever and a Day
Movie · as Wartime Cabby
The Return of the Vampire
Movie · as Horace (uncredited)
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
Movie · as (archive footage)
Counter-Espionage
Movie · as George Barrow
The Man Who Wouldn't Die
Movie · as Phillips
Mrs. Miniver
Movie · as Bus Conductor (uncredited)
I Married a Witch
Movie · as Puritan Vendor (uncredited)
This Above All
Movie · as Farmer
Suspicion
Movie · as Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Shining Victory
Movie · as Chivers
Penny Serenade
Movie · as McDougal (uncredited)
Confirm or Deny
Movie · as Mr. Bindle
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Movie · as Mr. Weller
Rebecca
Movie · as Policeman (uncredited)
The Invisible Man Returns
Movie · as Jim (uncredited)
The Earl of Chicago
Movie · as Castle Guide
Tin Pan Alley
Movie · as Stage Doorman
The Long Voyage Home
Movie · as Joe
Pack Up Your Troubles
Movie · as British Sergeant
Let Freedom Ring
Movie · as Cockney (uncredited)
We Are Not Alone
Movie · as Mr. Jones
Captain Fury
Movie · as Duffy
Bringing Up Baby
Movie · as Joe (uncredited)
Mysterious Mr. Moto
Movie · as Customs Official
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie · as Nick
Shadows Over Shanghai
Movie · as Gallicuddy
Blond Cheat
Movie · as Bartender (uncredited)
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Movie · as Aquarium Guard
The Young in Heart
Movie · as Kennel Man (uncredited)
A Christmas Carol
Movie · as Street Watch Leader
God's Country and the Woman
Movie · as Plug Hat
Slave Ship
Movie · as Atkins
The Wrong Road
Movie · as McLean
The Sheik Steps Out
Movie · as Munson
Another Dawn
Movie · as Pvt. Hawkins
Personal Property
Movie · as Frank (uncredited)
Dracula's Daughter
Movie · as Albert
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie · as Cabby (uncredited)
Piccadilly Jim
Movie · as Taxi Driver
Private Number
Movie · as Frederick
Champagne Charlie
Movie · as Mr. Boswick
Song and Dance Man
Movie · as Curtis
Lloyd's of London
Movie · as Innkeeper
A Tale of Two Cities
Movie · as Jerry Cruncher
Mystery Woman
Movie · as Jepson
Black Sheep
Movie · as Alfred
Vanessa: Her Love Story
Movie · as Horse Auctioneer
The Last Outpost
Movie · as Private Foster
The Widow from Monte Carlo
Movie · as Officer Watkins
The Lost Patrol
Movie · as Hale
Limehouse Blues
Movie · as Herb
Stingaree
Movie · as Mac
Caravan
Movie · as Police Sergeant
Shock
Movie · as Meadows
One More River
Movie · as Cloakroom Attendant
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Movie · as Man in Hotel Room
Pop's Pal
Movie · as Grandpa
Cavalcade
Movie · as George Grainger
Luxury Liner
Movie · as Schultz
Too Much Harmony
Movie · as Stage Director
Looking Forward
Movie · as Mr. Barker
Alice in Wonderland
Movie · as Two of Spades (uncredited)
The Big Squeal
Movie · as Jake Burke
Peg o' My Heart
Movie · as Detective #2 (uncredited)
Thundering Taxis
Movie · as One of the Taxi Boys
She Whoops To Conquer
Movie
Uncle Jake
Movie · as Uncle Jake
The Way to Love
Movie · as M. Prial
A Study in Scarlet
Movie · as Will Swallow
Techno-Crazy
Movie · as Mary's Father - the Mayor
Payment Deferred
Movie · as Charlie Hammond
Vanity Fair
Movie · as Joseph Sedley
Sky Devils
Movie · as Colonel
The Silent Witness
Movie · as Horace Ward
Me and My Gal
Movie · as Ashley, Arguing Drunk (uncredited)
Honeymoon Beach
Movie · as Billy Bevan
The Spot on the Rug
Movie · as Gerald J. Fitzgerald
Who's Who in the Zoo
Movie · as Father
Born to Love
Movie · as Departing British Soldier (uncredited)
Transatlantic
Movie · as Hodgkins
Chances
Movie · as Cuthbert (uncredited)
Waterloo Bridge
Movie · as Soldier on the Make (uncredited)
Journey's End
Movie · as Trotter
Scotch
Movie · as Gilbert - Addie's Brother
Peacock Alley
Movie · as Walter
Temptation
Movie · as Sam
Monte Carlo
Movie · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
For the Love o' Lil
Movie · as Edward O. Walker
Don't Get Jealous
Movie · as Billy Blake
Calling Hubby's Bluff
Movie · as Billy Barton
Pink Pajamas
Movie · as Billy Brooks
Weak But Willing
Movie · as George Downing
High Voltage
Movie · as Gus Jones
The Sky Hawk
Movie · as Tom Berry
The Trespasser
Movie · as Reporter (uncredited)
The Bicycle Flirt
Movie · as Doty Bassett - The Bicycle Flirt
The Girl from Nowhere
Movie · as Constable Billy Barnes
Motorboat Mamas
Movie · as Billy Bender
Hubby's Weekend Trip
Movie · as Bill Blake
His New Stenographer
Movie · as Billy Brooks
The Best Man
Movie · as Best Man
The Beach Club
Movie · as Billy Doolittle
Riley the Cop
Movie · as Paris Cabman
His Unlucky Night
Movie · as Billy Trotter
The Lion's Roar
Movie · as Jake Higgs - Katie's Brother
Gold Digger of Weepah
Movie · as The Barber
The Girl from Everywhere
Movie · as Messenger
Should Sleepwalkers Marry?
Movie · as Charley Carter
Peaches and Plumbers
Movie · as Bill the Plumber
Cured in the Excitement
Movie · as Professor Brawn
The Bull Fighter
Movie · as Pete De Tour
Easy Pickings
Movie · as The Detective
The Golf Nut
Movie · as Billy Divott
A Small Town Princess
Movie · as Joe Whiffet
Musclebound Music
Movie · as Billy Hornby
Hayfoot, Strawfoot?
Movie · as Pete
Trimmed in Gold
Movie · as Otto Stropp
Should Husbands Marry?
Movie · as The Cop
Wandering Willies
Movie · as Percy Nudge
Hubby’s Quiet Little Game
Movie · as Billy Foote
Hoboken to Hollywood
Movie · as Billy Judkins
Flirty Four-Flushers
Movie · as Jerry Connors / Archibald De Shyster
Masked Mamas
Movie · as Casey McCorkle
Whispering Whiskers
Movie · as The Drifter
Circus Today
Movie · as Gus Barnum
A Sea Dog's Tale
Movie · as Wilbur Watts
Ice Cold Cocos
Movie · as Gus Gander
Fight Night
Movie · as Walter Moore
From Rags to Britches
Movie · as Joe Bush
Sneezing Beezers
Movie · as Joe Honck - Taxi Driver
Over Thereabouts
Movie · as Joe Dobell
Butter Fingers
Movie · as Nick
Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies
Movie · as Hiram Case
Giddap!
Movie · as Gaspard De Brie
The Lion's Whiskers
Movie · as Otto Klutch
The Iron Nag
Movie · as Joe Gobb
Honeymoon Hardships
Movie · as Farmer
Off His Trolley
Movie · as The Traffic Cop
East of the Water Plug
Movie · as The Sheriff
One Spooky Night
Movie · as A.J. Bird Jr.
Wandering Waistlines
Movie · as Sandy Hook - Sailor
The Cannon Ball Express
Movie · as Adam Fargo - Baggage Master
Little Robinson Corkscrew
Movie · as The Sheriff
Lizzies of the Field
Movie · as Bud Gasket
The Hollywood Kid
Movie · as Studio Organist
Galloping Bungalows
Movie · as John Syrup Soother
Wall Street Blues
Movie · as The Janitor
Three Foolish Weeks
Movie · as King of Anchovia
The White Sin
Movie · as Travers Dale
Pitfalls of a Big City
Movie · as Barfly (uncredited)
Inbad the Sailor
Movie · as Jake aka Inbad the Sailor
The Extra Girl
Movie · as Comedian
One Cylinder Love
Movie · as The Bachelor's Butler / Chauffeur / Footman
Nip and Tuck
Movie · as Sailor
The Crossroads of New York
Movie · as Press Agent
Gymnasium Jim
Movie · as Jim
When Summer Comes
Movie · as Lyons - the Tenderfoot
On Patrol
Movie · as The Amateur Cop
The Duck Hunter
Movie · as The Sportsman
Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studios
Movie · as Himself
Be Reasonable
Movie · as A Rolling Stone
Astray from the Steerage
Movie · as A steerage passenger
Bright Eyes
Movie · as The Nosey Butler
Love and Doughnuts
Movie · as The Burglar
A Small Town Idol
Movie · as Director
The Quack Doctor
Movie · as The Hired Lady's Sweetheart
Distilled Love
Movie
Love, Honor and Behave
Movie · as A Fake Lawyer
Married Life
Movie · as Hospital Staff / Janitor (uncredited)
Somebody's Widow
Movie · as Secretary
Her Rustic Romeo
Movie
Cupid In Quarantine
Movie · as The Father
Are Married Policemen Safe?
Movie
Bombs and Bandits
Movie · as The Chief of Police
Pirates of the Air
Movie · as The Bartender
Gertie's Gasoline Glide
Movie · as The Minister