Barnett Parker
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 10, 1886
- Died
- August 5, 1941 (aged 54)
- Birthplace
- Batley, Yorkshire, England, UK
Biography
Within the British colony of expatriate actors in Hollywood during the 1930's, Barnett Parker, born 11 September 1886, in Batley, Yorkshire, England, was among the most stereotypical. Harrowgate College-educated, straight-backed, balding and well-intoned, Parker caricatured a multitude of unctuous, stiff-upper-lip butlers, man-servants or waiters, though his performances could, at times, verge on the brink of being camp. When driven to frustration his characters commonly resorted to incoherent twitter or wild gesticulation. Parker was trained under Marie Tempest and George Alexander in England. He first acted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre as Wilfred Tavish in Arthur Wing Pinero's "The "Mind the Paint" Girl" in 1912. He was well served with further roles in hit plays like "Hobson's Choice" (1915), "Artists and Models" (1924) and "The Red Robe" (1928). He was at first prone to reject film offers, professing to favor acting on stage. Nonetheless, the celluloid medium eventually beckoned, enticing him to sign with the East Coast-based studio Thanhouser in 1915. He worked in films during the daytime (while treading the boards at night) and quickly landed a plum role as a weak socialite, rescuing Gladys Hulette in Prudence, the Pirate (1916). He was seldom thereafter afforded the opportunity for heroic acts. During the 1930's, he was primarily in demand for small roles as dandified or 'silly ass' Britishers, giving value for money in films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Personal Property (1937), Live, Love and Learn (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937). Looking rather older than his years, Barnett Parker died at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles after multiple heart attacks on August 5, 1941.
Known For
Filmography
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
Movie · as Dragon (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy
Movie · as Arthur Trevelyan in 'Personal Property' (arch. foot.) (uncred.)
The Reluctant Dragon
Movie · as Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon") (voice)
Tall, Dark and Handsome
Movie · as Quentin
New Wine
Movie · as The Duke
A Man Betrayed
Movie · as George
Kisses for Breakfast
Movie · as Phillips
He Married His Wife
Movie · as Huggins
One Night in the Tropics
Movie · as Thompson, Steve's Butler (uncredited)
Hullabaloo
Movie · as Samuel Stephens
Love Thy Neighbor
Movie · as George - Fred's Chauffeur
La Conga Nights
Movie · as Hammond
At the Circus
Movie · as Whitcomb
Babes in Arms
Movie · as William
She Married a Cop
Movie · as Bekins, the Butler
Hotel for Women
Movie · as Photographer
Listen, Darling
Movie · as Abercrombie
The Girl Downstairs
Movie · as Hugo
Love Is a Headache
Movie · as Hotchkiss, Carlotta's Butler
Hold That Kiss
Movie · as Maurice
Sally, Irene and Mary
Movie · as Oscar
Marie Antoinette
Movie · as Prince de Rohan
Double Wedding
Movie · as Mr. Flint, Margit's Bookkeeper
Broadway Melody of 1938
Movie · as Jerry Jason
Personal Property
Movie · as Arthur Trevelyan
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Movie · as Albert, Stephan's Butler
Married Before Breakfast
Movie · as Tweed
Wake Up and Live
Movie · as Foster
Live, Love and Learn
Movie · as Alfredo
We Who Are About to Die
Movie · as John Barkley
Ready, Willing and Able
Movie · as Waiter
Navy Blue and Gold
Movie · as Graves
Espionage
Movie · as Bill Cordell
Dangerous Number
Movie · as Minehardi
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
Movie · as Purser
Born to Dance
Movie · as Floorwalker
The President's Mystery
Movie · as Roger
Libeled Lady
Movie · as Butler (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie · as Butler (uncredited)
A Girl's Best Years
Movie · as Primrose
Roaming Lady
Movie · as Waters
The General Died at Dawn
Movie · as Dining Car Man (uncredited)
The Misleading Lady
Movie · as Steve
The Flight of the Duchess
Movie · as The Duke
The Traffic Cop
Movie · as Book Agent
Prudence the Pirate
Movie · as John Astorbilt
Bill Bunks the Bandit
Movie · as Bill - a Gentleman from the East