Harlan Briggs
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 16, 1879
- Died
- January 26, 1952 (aged 72)
- Birthplace
- Blissfield, Michigan, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Harlan Briggs (August 17, 1879 – January 26, 1952) was an American actor and vaudeville performer who was active from the 1930s until his death in 1952. During the course of his career he appeared on Broadway, in over 100 films, as well as appearing on television once towards the end of his career. Briggs was born in Blissfield, Michigan. Although he was a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, he chose to go into acting rather than pursue a career in law. His acting career began in vaudeville at around the beginning of the 20th century. He would make his Broadway debut in 1926, in the drama Up the Line. He worked steadily on Broadway through 1935. On August 6, 1929 he began a successful run in the featured role of G. A. Appleby in It's a Wise Child at the Belasco Theatre. In 1934 he had another featured role in the successful play Dodsworth, as Tubby Pearson. The show opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 24, 1934 and ran for 147 performances, starring Walter Huston as Samuel Dodsworth. After a six-week hiatus, the show reopened at the Shubert on August 20 and ran for an additional 168 performances. When Samuel Goldwyn bought the rights to the play, Briggs was one of two of the original Broadway cast to reprise their roles in the film, the other being Huston in the title role. Briggs would focus on his film career for the remainder of the 1930s, before returning to Broadway in the 1940s, combining both stage and screen performances during that decade. The most successful of his Broadway appearances in the 1940s was as Constable Small in Ramshackle Inn, which featured ZaSu Pitts in her Broadway debut. The Story of Mary Surratt, in which Briggs appeared in 1947, was Briggs' 400th play. Beginning with Dodsworth, Briggs worked consistently in films over the next 16 years, until his death in 1952, appearing in over 100 films. His most famous role was as Dr. Stall in the 1940 comedy classic The Bank Dick, starring W.C. Fields. Other notable films in which he appeared include After the Thin Man (1936), Stella Dallas (1937), Having Wonderful Time (1938), The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), My Little Chickadee (1940), Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940), State Fair (1945), Night and Day (1946), Little Women (1949), Goodbye, My Fancy (1951), and Carrie (1952). The last film on which Briggs worked was The Sea Hornet, which was in production in April and May 1951, and released later that year. On January 26, 1952, Briggs died in Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital from complications resulting from a heart attack. His death occurred almost half a year prior to the release of Carrie. Briggs married actress Viola Scott on July 3, 1914. They had four sons.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Carrie
Movie · as Joe Brant
The Sea Hornet
Movie · as Watchman
Little Women
Movie · as Old Crony at Grace's Store (uncredited)
A Double Life
Movie · as Oscar Bernard
Danger Street
Movie · as Darnstein
Humoresque
Movie · as Toy Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Cynthia
Movie · as J.M. Dingle, Napoleon Hardware
Spoilers of the North
Movie · as Salty
Personality Kid
Movie · as Mr. Howard
My Pal Trigger
Movie · as Dr. Bentley
Magnificent Doll
Movie · as Quinn (uncredited)
Mysterious Intruder
Movie · as Mr. Brown
Canyon Passage
Movie · as Dr. Balance (uncredited)
Conflict
Movie · as Pawnbroker #2 (uncredited)
The Remarkable Andrew
Movie · as Sheriff Clem Watkins
There's One Born Every Minute
Movie · as Luke Simpson
The Vanishing Virginian
Movie · as Mr. Rogard
Among the Living
Movie · as Judge
One Foot in Heaven
Movie · as Mac MacFarland (uncredited)
Paris Calling
Movie · as French Inn Proprietor (uncredited)
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Movie · as Denton Offut
Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise
Movie · as San Francisco Coroner
The Bank Dick
Movie · as Doctor Stall
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk
Movie · as Foreman in Jury
Edison, the Man
Movie · as Bisbee
Brother Orchid
Movie · as Thomas A. Bailey - Acme Paving (uncredited)
My Little Chickadee
Movie · as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
I Love You Again
Movie · as Mayor Carver (uncredited)
Lucky Partners
Movie · as Mayor (uncredited)
Young as You Feel
Movie · as Dr. Kinsley
Jennie
Movie · as Mr. Veitch
Blondie Takes a Vacation
Movie · as Mr. Holden
Maisie
Movie · as Deputy Sheriff Cal Hoskins
Boy Trouble
Movie · as Mr. Pike
Tell No Tales
Movie · as Davie Bryant
The Mysterious Miss X
Movie · as Charlie Graham
Made for Each Other
Movie · as Judge (uncredited)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Movie · as Mr. Rucker (uncredited)
Calling Dr. Kildare
Movie · as James Galt
Fifth Avenue Girl
Movie · as Stanton (uncredited)
Frontier Marshal
Movie · as Editor
The Man They Could Not Hang
Movie · as Defense Attorney Parker (uncredited)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie · as Mr. Edwards (uncredited)
Bad Little Angel
Movie · as Lem Dodd, Man in Jim's Office (uncredited)
Flight at Midnight
Movie · as 'Pop' Hussey
Cafe Society
Movie · as Justice of the Peace
Reckless Living
Movie · as 'Colonel' Harris
Having Wonderful Time
Movie · as Mr. Shaw
A Yank at Oxford
Movie · as Printer (uncredited)
A Man to Remember
Movie · as Homer Ramsey
Meet the Girls
Movie · as Ship's Captain
The Missing Guest
Movie · as Frank Kendall - Editor
One Wild Night
Movie · as Mayor
Sing, You Sinners
Movie · as Customer at Gas Station (uncredited)
Opening Day
Movie · as Mr. Garnish
You and Me
Movie · as Thomas McTavish (uncredited)
A Family Affair
Movie · as Oscar Stubbins
Riding on Air
Movie · as Mr. Harrison
Exclusive
Movie · as Springer
Quick Money
Movie · as Thorndyke Barnsdale
Live, Love and Learn
Movie · as Justice of The Peace
Easy Living
Movie · as Magazine Office Manager
Stella Dallas
Movie · as Mr. Beamer (uncredited)
Beg, Borrow or Steal
Movie · as Mr. Virgil Miller
Behind the Mike
Movie · as Sheriff
Marked Woman
Movie · as Sad Man in Nightclub (uncredited)
Trouble at Midnight
Movie · as Sheriff
That’s My Story
Movie · as Sheriff Allen
Happy Go Lucky
Movie · as U.S. Consul E.R. Brown
Dodsworth
Movie · as Tubby Pearson
Mad Holiday
Movie · as Mr. Kinney
Kissing Time
Movie · as David Sullivan (uncredited)
Seasoned Greetings
Movie · as Ben Jones (uncredited)