Bobby Barber
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bobby Barber (December 18, 1894 – May 24, 1976) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films. Barber is notable for his work as a foil for Abbott and Costello on and off screen.
Barber was often used by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as a form of "court jester" on the set of their films. It was his job to keep the energy level up with pranks and practical jokes. Sometimes, he even suddenly appeared on camera during a take to break up the cast and crew. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Costello answers a knock at the door expecting to see large actor Lon Chaney Jr. Instead, the very short Barber walks in wearing a funny hat with a feather. In another outtake from that film, Bela Lugosi, in full Dracula regalia, is solemnly descending a staircase to meet Abbott and Costello when all of a sudden the actors and crew burst out laughing. Lugosi, annoyed, turns around to see Barber following right behind him, mimicking his steps.
Barber also appeared in bit parts, such as a delivery boy, waiter, bellhop, or man on the street, often uncredited in movies, and in many of Abbott and Costello's films and about half their television shows. Sometimes his likeness was in a picture on a wall or a "wanted" poster in a post office. His final film appearance was in Lou Costello's last movie, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). His film career included bit parts in over 100 (known) feature films.
Acting (101 movies)
The Lady Eve
1941
You Can't Ration Love
1944
Dodsworth
1936
History Is Made at Night
1937
Hit the Ice
1943
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
1947
Soup to Nuts
1930
Carefree
1938
Having Wonderful Time
1938
The Monster and the Girl
1941
And Now Tomorrow
1944
The Midnight Story
1957
Fight for Your Lady
1937
Super-Sleuth
1937
Lady on a Train
1945
Vivacious Lady
1938
Rainbow Island
1944
I Love a Soldier
1944
Across the Wide Missouri
1951
Let's Dance
1950
Topper Takes a Trip
1938
Spring Parade
1940
The Sky's the Limit
1943
Anchors Aweigh
1945
Breakfast for Two
1937
The Leather Pushers
1940
Matri-Phony
1942
Vigilantes of Boomtown
1947
The Wheeler Dealers
1963
Calcutta
1946
Pot o' Gold
1941
I'm No Angel
1933
We're Only Human
1935
Walking on Air
1936
Everybody's Doing It
1938
The Villain Still Pursued Her
1940
Africa Screams
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
1949
Professor Beware
1938
Practically Yours
1944
Pest from the West
1939
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
The Preview Murder Mystery
1936
The Life of the Party
1930
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
1948
Sensation Hunters
1945
Hollywood Boulevard
1936
The Joker is Wild
1957
Smartest Girl in Town
1936
Modern Times
1936
Beyond the Blue Horizon
1942
Broadway Melody of 1940
1940
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
Primrose Path
1940
Horse Feathers
1932
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
1951
Laura
1944
All by Myself
1943
King of the Texas Rangers
1941
They Knew What They Wanted
1940
Stranger on the Third Floor
1940
Second Chorus
1941
Road to Singapore
1940
Undertow
1949
Earl Carroll Vanities
1945
Reveille with Beverly
1943
Cracked Nuts
1941
Dizzy Pilots
1943
A Lady Takes a Chance
1943
The Night of June 13
1932
Powder Town
1942
Cipher Bureau
1938
A Date with the Falcon
1942
My Favorite Spy
1942
Crazy House
1943
Hi Diddle Diddle
1943
Presenting Lily Mars
1943
The Gay Falcon
1941
From This Day Forward
1946
Roxie Hart
1942
Road to Utopia
1946
Man of a Thousand Faces
1957
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
1950
Doughboys
1930
In the Navy
1941
Hold That Ghost
1941
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
1947
Who Done It?
1942
Two Sisters from Boston
1946
Swing Fever
1943
Great Guy
1936
I Walk Alone
1947
Riff-Raff
1947
The Buster Keaton Story
1957
Pardners
1956
Las Vegas Nights
1941
Dangerous to Know
1938
Give Me a Sailor
1938
Flesh and Fury
1952
Living It Up
1954
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