Charlie Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charlie Hall (19 August 1899 – 7 December 1959) was an English film actor. He is best known as the "Little Nemesis" of Laurel and Hardy and appeared in nearly 50 films with them, so that Hall was the most frequent supporting actor of their films.
Hall was born in Ward End, Birmingham, Warwickshire, and learned carpentry as a trade, but as a teenager, he became a member of the Fred Karno troupe of stage comedians. In his late teens, he visited his sister in New York and stayed there, finding employment as a stagehand. While working behind the scenes, he met the comic actor Bobby Dunn and they became friends; Dunn convinced Hall to take a stab again at acting, which he did. By the mid-1920s, Hall was working for Hal Roach. Stan Laurel, one of Roach's comedy stars, was also a graduate of the Karno troupe.
As an actor, Hall worked with such comedians as Buster Keaton and Charley Chase, but is best remembered as a comic foil for Laurel and Hardy. He appeared in nearly 50 of their films, sometimes in bit parts, but often as a mean landlord or opponent in many of their memorable tit-for-tat sequences. Unlike the usual villains in Laurel and Hardy films, who were big and burly, Charlie Hall (billed as "Charley" Hall in the Roach comedies) was of short stature, standing 5 ft 5 in tall. His height and slight English accent allowed him to be convincingly cast as a college student, despite being 40 years old, in Laurel and Hardy's A Chump at Oxford.
Hall almost never played starring roles; the exception was in 1941, when he was teamed with character comedian Frank Faylen by Monogram Pictures. Hall continued to play bits and supporting roles in short subjects and features through the 1940s and 1950s, occasionally on TV, appearing very briefly in Charlie Chaplin's final American film, Limelight (1952).
In 1956 he played a small but important part in the TV show Cheyenne, season 1, episode 11, "Quicksand", starring Clint Walker, with Dennis Hopper, John Alderson, Wright King and Peggy Webber. His last role was in a Joe McDoakes short film starring George O'Hanlon, So You Want to Play the Piano, in 1956.
Hall died in North Hollywood, California, on 7 December 1959. A J D Wetherspoon's public house in Erdington, is named The Charlie Hall as a tribute to him.
Photos
Movies (207)
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
2024 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dance of the Cookoos
1982 · Receptionist / Postman / Delivery Man
The Best of Laurel and Hardy
1968 · Annoyed Shopkeeper (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
1967
So You Want to Play the Piano
1956
Illegal
1955 · Bellhop (uncredited)
Limelight
1952 · Newsboy (uncredited)
The Milkman
1950 · Ed (uncredited)
Abie's Irish Rose
1946 · Hotel Porter (as Charles Hall)
Sister Kenny
1946 · Airport Attendant (uncredited)
Dressed to Kill
1946 · Cab Driver (uncredited)
Without Reservations
1946 · Window-Washer (uncredited)
On Stage Everybody
1945 · Painter (uncredited)
Hi, Beautiful
1944 · Milkman (uncredited)
In Society
1944 · Mugg (uncredited)
Girls! Girls! Girls!
1944 · Apartment House Waiter
Radio Rampage
1944 · Jack - Radio Repairman
The Lodger
1944 · Comedian
His Butler's Sister
1943 · Porter
So's Your Uncle
1943 · Waiter
Honeymoon Lodge
1943 · Hotel Handyman
The Ape Man
1943 · Barney
Police Bullets
1942 · Rabbit
The Big Street
1942 · Waiter in New York (uncredited)
The Falcon Takes Over
1942 · Louie (Uncredited)
Framing Father
1942 · Silver Slipper Waiter
Man From Headquarters
1942 · Newspaper Photographer
Hellzapoppin'
1941 · Taxi Driver (uncredited)
A Quiet Fourth
1941 · Edgar's Neighbor
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
1941 · Nightclub Waiter
Niagara Falls
1941 · Bellhop (uncredited)
Top Sergeant Mulligan
1941 · Budd Doolittle
I'll Fix It
1941 · The Laundry Man
Father Steps Out
1941 · Short Hobo 'Nap', aka Napoleon
San Antonio Rose
1941 · Waitress
An Apple in His Eye
1941 · Dan - Edgar's Neighbor
They Met in Argentina
1941 · Sailor in Cantina Brawl (uncredited)
One Night in the Tropics
1940 · Second S.S. Atlantica Steward (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire Out West
1940 · Elevator Boy
A Trailer Tragedy
1940 · Homeless Thief in Washroom
Millionaires in Prison
1940 · Cockney Convict Heckler (uncredited)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
1940 · Ritz Amsterdam Bellboy
Saps at Sea
1940 · Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Curtain Call
1940 · Second Waiter
Primrose Path
1940 · Man in Diner (uncredited)
Vigil in the Night
1940 · Courtroom Spectator
A Chump at Oxford
1940 · Student
Mexican Spitfire
1940 · Elevator Operator
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
1939 · Mercury (uncredited)
Bachelor Mother
1939 · Dance Hall Official (uncredited)
Man About Town
1939 · Bob's Assistant (uncredited)
Five Came Back
1939 · Airport Worker (uncredited)
Captain Fury
1939 · Gossiping Citizen
Hey! Hey! USA
1938 · Leary's pal
Shall We Dance
1937 · Bartender (uncredited)
Our Relations
1936 · Man in Pawnshop (uncredited)
An All American Toothache
1936 · (uncredited)
Hot Money
1935 · Tenant (uncredited)
Twin Triplets
1935 · Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Top Hat
1935 · (uncredited)
In Love at 40
1935 · Man Getting Shave
Bonnie Scotland
1935 · Native Henchman (uncredited)
Thicker Than Water
1935 · Bank Teller (uncredited)
Sing Sister Sing
1935 · Porter (uncredited)
Treasure Blues
1935 · Moving Man (uncredited)
Tit for Tat
1935 · Mr. Hall
Babes in Toyland
1934 · Townsman (uncredited)
The Live Ghost
1934 · Sailor at Table (as Charles Hall) (uncredited)
Kentucky Kernels
1934 · Cigarette Stand Owner (uncredited)
Opened by Mistake
1934 · Intern (uncredited)
Mike Fright
1934 · Elevator Operator
Ocean Swells
1934 · Sailor
One-Horse Farmers
1934 · Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Them Thar Hills
1934 · Mr. Hall
Cockeyed Cavaliers
1934 · Coach Driver
Another Wild Idea
1934 · Man Pushed into Fountain
Maid in Hollywood
1934 · Cameraman (uncredited)
Rough Necking
1934 · Postman
The Undie-World
1934 · T.N.T. Room Busboy
Soup and Fish
1934 · Second Butler, Announcing Guests (uncredited)
Love on a Ladder
1934 · Pool Hall Patron
Hi'–Neighbor!
1934 · Window Washer
Next Week-End
1934
Babes in the Goods
1934 · Spectator (uncredited)
Bridal Bail
1934 · Irate Movie Patron
Sons of the Desert
1933 · Waiter (uncredited)
Air Fright
1933 · Pilot (uncredited)
Hold Your Temper
1933
Backs to Nature
1933 · Hunter (uncredited)
Keg o' My Heart
1933 · Waiter (uncredited)
What Fur
1933
Busy Bodies
1933 · Shop Worker (uncredited), Writer
Rhapsody in Brew
1933 · Waiter (uncredited)
Beauty and the Bus
1933 · Theatre Usher (uncredited)
Morning Glory
1933 · Actor (uncredited)
The Midnight Patrol
1933 · Tire thief's partner
The Druggist's Dilemma
1933 · Charlie Zeno
One Track Minds
1933 · Train Passenger (uncredited)
Diplomaniacs
1933 · Shaffner the Valet (uncredited)
Me and My Pal
1933 · Delivery Boy (uncredited)
King Kong
1933 · Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
Nature in the Wrong
1933 · Organ Grinder
Maids a la Mode
1933 · Party Guest (uncredited)
Twice Two
1933 · Delivery Boy (uncredited), Writer
Cynara
1932 · Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Mr. Bride
1932 · Tipsy Ship Passenger
Sneak Easily
1932 · Page
The Soilers
1932 · Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Pack Up Your Troubles
1932 · Janitor (uncredited)
Show Business
1932 · Train Passenger (uncredited)
A Slip at the Switch
1932 · Second Tramp
Million Dollar Legs
1932 · Klopstokian Athlete (uncredited)
What Price Hollywood?
1932 · Reporter (uncredited)
Wild Babies!
1932 · Explorer's Man, Wellington (as Charley Hall)
Too Many Women
1932 · Man on Street (uncredited)
Strictly Unreliable
1932 · The Stage Manager (as Charley Hall)
Just a Pain in the Parlor
1932 · Servant
The Music Box
1932 · Postman (uncredited)
Any Old Port!
1932 · Stan's Second (uncredited)
Love Pains
1932 · Unimpressed Party Guest (uncredited)
Sealskins
1932 · Sealnapper's Accomplice (uncredited)
On the Loose
1931 · Shooting Gallery Attendant (uncredited)
The Kick-Off!
1931 · Man on the Street (uncredited)
War Mamas
1931 · Doughboy (uncredited)
Scratch-As-Catch-Can
1931
Mama Loves Papa
1931 · Milkman (uncredited)
The Pajama Party
1931 · Inebriated Party Guest (uncredited)
Come Clean
1931 · Ice Cream Attendant, Writer
The Panic Is On
1931 · Man on the Street (uncredited)
Sweepstakes
1931 · Little Cook
Let's Do Things
1931 · Waiter (uncredited)
One of the Smiths
1931 · Dancer (uncredited)
Haunted at Midnight
1931 · Man on Train
Playing at Politics
1931 · Elevator Operator
The Skulls
1931 · The Landlord
Laughing Gravy
1931 · Landlord (uncredited)
The Pip from Pittsburg
1931 · Kay's Dancing Partner (uncredited)
Be Big!
1931 · Bellboy (uncredited)
The Chiselers
1931 · Bellboy / Landlord
Only Saps Work
1930 · Waiter (uncredited)
Los cazadores de osos
1930 · Bootlegger
Night of Goblins
1930 · Passenger
Dollar Dizzy
1930 · Bellhop
Men of the North
1930 · Townsman at Hearing (uncredited)
Let's Go Native
1930 · Mover (uncredited)
Hog Wild
1930 · Story
Fifty Million Husbands
1930 · Neighbor (uncredited)
Bear Shooters
1930 · Charlie
Shivering and Shaking
1930 · Street Cleaner (uncredited)
Below Zero
1930
The Night Life
1930 · Cabdriver (uncredited)
Blotto
1930 · Cabdriver
The Fighting Parson
1930 · The Waiter (uncredited)
The Real McCoy
1930 · Mountain Man (uncredited)
Angora Love
1929 · Neighbor
Skirt Shy
1929 · Postman (uncredited)
The Hoose-Gow
1929 · Treetop Lookout (uncredited)
Bacon Grabbers
1929 · Truck Driver
They Go Boom!
1929 · Landlord
Boxing Gloves
1929 · Sidewalk diner attendant
Snappy Sneezer
1929 · Streetcar passenger (uncredited)
Men O' War
1929 · Boater (uncredited)
Leaping Love
1929 · Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Little Mother
1929 · Taxi driver
Berth Marks
1929 · Train Passenger (uncredited)
Double Whoopee
1929 · Cabdriver
Movie Night
1929 · Audience Member (uncredited)
Big Business
1929 · Neighbor (uncredited)
That's My Wife
1929 · Waiter (uncredited)
Wrong Again
1929 · Neighbor
A Pair of Tights
1929 · Man in Fender-Bender (uncredited)
Must We Marry?
1928
Two Tars
1928 · Shopkeeper
Captain Swagger
1928 · Messenger
Should Married Men Go Home?
1928 · Soda Jerk (uncredited)
You're Darn Tootin'
1928 · Musician
Crooks Can't Win
1928 · 'Bull' Savage
Came the Dawn
1928 · Little Moving Man (uncredited)
Leave 'Em Laughing
1928 · The Landlord
The Battle of the Century
1927 · Pie Delivery Man (uncredited)
Call of the Cuckoo
1927 · Asylum Inmate
The Second Hundred Years
1927 · Convict, Convict (uncredited)
Sugar Daddies
1927 · Hotel extra
College
1927 · Coxswain (uncredited)
With Love and Hisses
1927 · Soldier (uncredited)
Fluttering Hearts
1927 · Man under car
Love 'Em and Weep
1927 · Tillsbury's Butler
Eve's Love Letters
1927 · Cab driver (uncredited)
Forgotten Sweeties
1927
Duck Soup
1927 · Moving man (uncredited)
Seeing the World
1927 · English chauffeur
Are Brunettes Safe?
1927 · Villager at Train Station (uncredited)
Bromo and Juliet
1926 · Stagehand (uncredited)
Thundering Fleas
1926 · Musician
Mighty Like a Moose
1926 · Shoe Shine Man
Unfriendly Enemies
1925 · First Soldier Over the Top
Madame Sans Jane
1925 · Steward
Isn't Life Terrible?
1925 · Steward Who Drops Plates
A Ten-Minute Egg
1924 · First Bellhop (uncredited)
Near Dublin
1924 · Villager
Zeb vs. Paprika
1924
Postage Due
1924 · Customer
The Cowboy Sheik
1924 · Party guest
Smithy
1924 · Worker
Mother's Joy
1923
Do Me a Favor
1922 · A Fireman
The Janitor
1921
