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Clarence Kolb

Clarence William Kolb, sometimes given as C. William Kolb, (July 31, 1874 – November 25, 1964) was an American vaudeville performer and actor known for his comedy routines that featured a Dutch dialect.[1]

Biography

Kolb (left) and Max Dill

Kolb started out as one half of a vaudeville comedy team, Kolb and Dill, with Max Dill. They styled their act on the famous team of Weber and Fields.[2] In addition to their stage work, they appeared in a series of short films and a feature-length movie in 1917. Afterwards, Kolb made a return to vaudeville, only returning to the movies in the late 1930s.[citation needed]

In 1935, Kolb left the act to work in films as a character actor,[2] eventually appearing in 75  feature films.[1] He became famous for portraying similar characters in several films, usually, a businessman or politician. He is best remembered for his role as Henry Kilbourne, the flustered father in the multi-Academy Award-nominated hit comedy film Merrily We Live (1938), and as the corrupt mayor in the comedy His Girl Friday (1940). On television, he was known for his role Mr. Honeywell in the sitcom My Little Margie (1952).[3] Kolb played himself in his final movie appearance, Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), opposite Danny Beck (who played the late Max Dill).

On September 1, 1917, Kolb married dancer May Cloy (whose birth name was Mabel S. Larsen).[4] They remained married until his death.[5]

Kolb died on November 25, 1964 at the Orchard Gables Sanitarium in Hollywood. He was 90 years old.[6][7][8]

Partial filmography

Three Pals (1916)

References

  1. ^ a b Bladen, Barbara (December 8, 1964). "The Marquee". The Times. California, San Mateo. p. 28. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Slide, Anthony (2012). The Encyclopedia of Vaudeville. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 291. ISBN 9781617032509. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 732–733. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  4. ^ "Clarence Kolb Weds Dancer; Plans Guarded From Friends". The San Francisco Examiner. California, San Francisco. September 2, 1917. p. 13. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Clarence Kolb; Vaudeville Star, Television Actor". Tampa Bay Times. Florida, St. Petersburg. November 28, 1964. p. 15. Retrieved March 17, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Clarence Kolb, Veteran Actor, Dies Here at 90." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 26, 1964. p. A 12.
  7. ^ California Death Index, Name: Clarence W. Kolb, Birth Date: 07-31-1874, Sex: Male, Birth Place: Ohio, Death Place: Los Angeles (70), Death Date: 11-25-1964, Age: 90 yrs.
  8. ^ Social Security Death Index, Name: Clarence Kolb, Birth: July 31, 1875, Issued: California, Death: Nov 1964, Last Residence: (California).