
Walter Connolly
Biography
Walter Connolly (April 8, 1887 – May 28, 1940) was an American actor. While some film historians complain that a number of his performances were annoying or overbaked, he was for the most part applauded for his zesty contributions to a number of comedy classics. Frank Capra's Lady for a Day (1933), Broadway Bill (1934) and It Happened One Night (1934), as well as the Carole Lombard/Fredric March screwball farce Nothing Sacred (1937) as news reporter March's hot-headed editor boss are sure-fire examples.
The son of the head of the Western Union relay office, he attended St. Xavier College and the University of Dublin in Ireland before making his New York debut in 1910 in an outdoor presentation of "As You Like It". For the next year or so he was a member of E.H. Sothern's touring company and played supporting roles in a number of Shakespearean shows on the road. After a few silent pictures left him unimpressed with film-making, he turned to the Broadway stage in the 1920s and scored quite well. Somewhat short and tubby, it was not difficult for the jowly, mustachioed actor to seize laughs and he found his share in such outings as "The Talking Parrot" (1923), "Applesauce" (1925), "The Springboard" (1927), "The Happy Husband" (1928), "Stepping Out" (1929), "Your Uncle Dudley" (1930), "Anatol" (1931), "Six Characters in Search of an Author" (1931), "The Good Fairy" (1932) and "The Late Christopher Bean" (1932).
With his talents as a stage farceur firmly established, it was time to make a second attempt at a film career and Hollywood (specifically, Columbia) wisely opened their doors to him. Interestingly, his debut in a full-length talking picture came at age 45 in the form of a drama, Washington Merry-Go-Round (1932), where he was third-billed as a rather benign senator. For the next seven years Connolly, often playing older than he really was, could be found everywhere giving good fluster to the greatest and glossiest of stars -- Janet Gaynor, Carole Lombard, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Paul Muni, Spencer Tracy, and Ginger Rogers, among hordes of others.
His hobbies were collecting old books and theatre programmes. Connolly was married to actress Nedda Harrigan from 1923 to his death. They had one daughter, Ann (1924–2006). Connolly suffered a fatal stroke on May 28, 1940, and was buried in New St. Joseph Cemetery in Cincinnati.
Acting (49 movies)

It Happened One Night
1934

Twentieth Century
1934

Libeled Lady
1936

Too Hot to Handle
1938

The Bitter Tea of General Yen
1932

Man Against Woman
1932

The Good Earth
1937

Lady for a Day
1933

Nothing Sacred
1937

Fifth Avenue Girl
1939

Four's a Crowd
1938

Lady by Choice
1934

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1939

Broadway Bill
1934

Nancy Steele Is Missing!
1937

First Lady
1937

Good Girls Go to Paris
1939

The Music Goes 'Round
1936

Coast Guard
1939

Start Cheering
1938

The League of Frightened Men
1937

Those High Grey Walls
1939

The King Steps Out
1936

No More Orchids
1932

Paddy the Next Best Thing
1933

The Girl Downstairs
1938

The Great Victor Herbert
1939

Let's Get Married
1937

Father Brown, Detective
1934

So Red the Rose
1935

She Couldn't Take It
1935

East of Fifth Avenue
1933

Washington Merry-Go-Round
1932

Whom the Gods Destroy
1934

Bridal Suite
1939

The Captain Hates the Sea
1934

Man's Castle
1933

Servants' Entrance
1934

One Way Ticket
1935

Master of Men
1933

Once to Every Woman
1934

Eight Girls in a Boat
1934

White Lies
1935

Breakdowns of 1938
1938

Hollywood on Parade No. B-1
1934

Soak the Rich
1936

Black Shadows on a Silver Screen
1975

Penitentiary
1938

A Soldier's Oath
1915
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