Harry Semels
One of the industry's most versatile character actors, in his almost 30-year career Harry Semels appeared in hundreds of films. Adept at playing everything from Spanish waiters to German soldiers to Italian villagers--and even a haughty District Attorney from time to time--his stocky build and droopy mustache were a familiar sight to moviegoers, especially in the '30s and '40s, his peak years. He often worked for Columbia Pictures, and in that capacity appeared as a foil for The Three Stooges on many occasions, most notably in Disorder in the Court (1936), where he was a District Attorney on the receiving end of the trio's antics during a murder trial. Date of Death 2 March 1946, Hollywood, California
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- Born:
- Nov 20, 1887 In New York City - New York - USA
- Movie/TV Credits:
- 150
- First Appeared:
- In the movie The Black Secret 1919-01-02
- Latest Project:
- Movie Riding High 1950-04-12
Known For
Filmography
| Movie | Riding High | Bettor on Broadway Bill (archive footage) (uncredited) | 1950-04-12 |
| Movie | The Diary of a Chambermaid | Townsman (Uncredited) | 1946-02-15 |
| Movie | Road to Utopia | Lombardi - Spitting Passenger (uncredited) | 1946-02-27 |
| Movie | Badman's Territory | Bettor (uncredited) | 1946-05-04 |
| Movie | I Love a Mystery | Mr. G's Doorkeeper Servant (Uncredited) | 1945-01-25 |
| Movie | Eve Knew Her Apples | Tony (uncredited) | 1945-04-12 |
| Movie | A Thousand and One Nights | Leader of Caravan | 1945-07-20 |
| Movie | The Unseen | Hurdy-Gurdy Man | 1945-05-12 |
| Movie | Make Your Own Bed | Pedestrian | 1944-06-10 |
| Movie | Strange Affair | Man in Police Lineup (Uncredited) | 1944-10-05 |
| Movie | Can't Help Singing | Peon (uncredited) | 1944-12-25 |
| Movie | The Hard Way | Passerby (Uncredited) | 1943-01-13 |
| Movie | After Midnight with Boston Blackie | Greek Florist | 1943-03-18 |
| Movie | Slightly Dangerous | Italian at concert (uncredited) | 1943-04-01 |
| Movie | The Chance of a Lifetime | Jerome Wagner (Uncredited) | 1943-10-26 |
| Movie | Dizzy Pilots | Sky Aircraft Co. Representative (uncredited) | 1943-09-24 |
| Movie | A Lady Takes a Chance | Greek | 1943-08-19 |
| Movie | Wild Bill Hickok Rides | Saloon Bouncer | 1942-01-31 |
| Movie | Two Yanks in Trinidad | Waiter (uncredited) | 1942-03-26 |
| Movie | Woman of the Year | Mug (uncredited) | 1942-02-05 |
| Movie | Road to Morocco | Jolla's Warrior (uncredited) | 1942-11-10 |
| Movie | Reunion in France | R.R. Mechanic (uncredited) | 1942-12-25 |
| Movie | Moontide | Waiter (uncredited) | 1942-05-29 |
| Movie | General Nuisance | Latin America Delagate | 1941-09-18 |
| Movie | She's Oil Mine | Referee | 1941-11-20 |
| Movie | They Drive by Night | Leo, Cashier (uncredited) | 1940-07-26 |
| Movie | New Moon | Bondsman | 1940-06-28 |
| Movie | Strange Cargo | Convict (uncredited) | 1940-03-01 |
| Movie | Foreign Correspondent | Sidewalk Crowd Extra (uncredited) | 1940-08-16 |
| Movie | Phantom Raiders | Cafe Bartender | 1940-06-07 |
| Movie | And One Was Beautiful | Courtroom Spectator | 1940-04-05 |
| Movie | Little Nellie Kelly | Immigrant at Citizenship Ceremony (uncredited) | 1940-11-22 |
| Movie | Kit Carson | Aide | 1940-08-30 |
| Movie | North West Mounted Police | Half-breed Archer | 1940-10-22 |
| Movie | Seven Sinners | Antro's Henchman (uncredited) | 1940-10-25 |
| Movie | The Great Dictator | Jewish Fruit Stand Proprietor (uncredited) | 1940-10-15 |
| Movie | He Stayed for Breakfast | Communist | 1940-08-31 |
| Movie | Midnight | Police Officer (uncredited) | 1939-03-24 |
| Movie | Star Reporter | Mike | 1939-02-22 |
| Movie | King of the Turf | Coffee Pot Proprietor | 1939-02-17 |
| Movie | Thunder Afloat | Cook on Tugboat (uncredited) | 1939-09-15 |
| Movie | Three Little Sew and Sews | Count Alfred Gehrol | 1939-01-06 |
| Movie | Ninotchka | Gurganov (uncredited) | 1939-11-23 |
| Movie | Balalaika | (uncredited) | 1939-12-15 |
| Movie | Overland Mail | Pancho | 1939-11-16 |
| Movie | Crashing Thru | Man Who Reports Gunfight | 1939-12-11 |
| Movie | Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President | Neighbor | 1939-12-01 |
| Movie | The Amazing Mr. Williams | Race Track Spectator (uncredited) | 1939-11-22 |
| Movie | The Girl of the Golden West | Peon Servant | 1938-03-18 |
| Movie | A Slight Case of Murder | Partygoer (uncredited) | 1938-02-26 |
| Movie | State Police | Albert Morton | 1938-03-18 |
| Movie | I'll Give a Million | Man in Cafe (uncredited) | 1938-07-27 |
| Movie | Marie Antoinette | Townsman at Execution (uncredited) | 1938-08-26 |
| Movie | Flirting with Fate | Member of Sancho's Band | 1938-12-02 |
| Movie | You Can't Take It with You | Man (uncredited) | 1938-09-01 |
| Movie | The Soldier and the Lady | Tartar (Uncredited) | 1937-04-09 |
| Movie | Midnight Taxi | Joe, Counterman | 1937-04-04 |
| Movie | Swing It Professor | Angelo | 1937-03-13 |
| Movie | The Last Train from Madrid | Guard (uncredited) | 1937-06-25 |
| Movie | New News | Prince Albert | 1937-04-01 |
| Movie | Kid Galahad | (uncredited) | 1937-05-29 |
| Movie | My Dear Miss Aldrich | Cafeteria Dining Customer (uncredited) | 1937-09-17 |
| Movie | Wells Fargo | Minor Role | 1937-12-31 |
| Movie | Missing Witnesses | Tony - Italian Shop Owner (uncredited) | 1937-12-11 |
| Movie | Hollywood Round-Up | Tony Papalini | 1937-11-06 |
| Movie | Hot Water | Barber (uncredited) | 1937-09-24 |
| Movie | Human Cargo | Barreto | 1936-05-15 |
| Movie | The Case of the Velvet Claws | A. G. 'Kicky' Kickopopolos | 1936-07-03 |
| Movie | One Rainy Afternoon | Clerk (Uncredited) | 1936-05-13 |
| Movie | I'll Name the Murderer | Luigi | 1936-01-26 |
| Movie | Movie Maniacs | Cecil Z. Swinehardt - Director | 1936-02-20 |
| Movie | Give Us This Night | Prisoner | 1936-03-06 |
| Movie | Disorder in the Court | District Attorney (uncredited) | 1936-05-30 |
| Movie | Midnight Blunders | Dr. Wong (uncredited) | 1936-12-13 |
| Movie | Anthony Adverse | Lottery Celebrant | 1936-08-26 |
| Movie | More Than a Secretary | Apartment Custodian with Hose (uncredited) | 1936-12-10 |
| Movie | The Charge of the Light Brigade | Sepoy Chief (uncredited) | 1936-10-20 |
| Movie | Am I Having Fun! | The Maharajah Of Guzzi | 1936-09-17 |
| Movie | The Luckiest Girl in the World | Bum | 1936-10-01 |
| Movie | The Gay Desperado | Manuel | 1936-10-02 |
| Movie | The Revenge Rider | Henchman Rankin | 1935-03-18 |
| Movie | The Wedding Night | Wedding Guest | 1935-03-08 |
| Movie | Stone of Silver Creek | R. J. Simmons | 1935-04-14 |
| Movie | I Live My Life | Greek Following Kay (Uncredited) | 1935-10-04 |
| Movie | Les Misérables | Cochepaille | 1935-04-20 |
| Movie | Hot Paprika | The Commandante | 1935-12-12 |
| Movie | I Don't Remember | 'Doctor' in Gambling Hall | 1935-12-25 |
| Movie | A Very Honorable Guy | Greek | 1934-04-18 |
| Movie | It Happened One Night | Bus Passenger (uncredited) | 1934-02-22 |
| Movie | Bridal Bail | Hotel Manager | 1934-02-09 |
| Movie | Bombay Mail | Platform Conductor | 1934-01-06 |
| Movie | Twentieth Century | Poster Artist (uncredited) | 1934-05-11 |
| Movie | Down to Their Last Yacht | Ship Passenger (uncredited) | 1934-08-31 |
| Movie | One Too Many | 1934-12-28 | |
| Movie | Broadway Bill | Conductor Bettor on Broadway Bill (uncredited) | 1934-11-30 |
| Movie | Mills of the Gods | 1934-12-15 | |
| Movie | I Sell Anything | Statue Smasher (uncredited) | 1934-10-20 |
| Movie | Our Daily Bread | Italian Shoemaker (uncredited) | 1934-10-02 |
| Movie | Storm at Daybreak | Serbian Villager (uncredited) | 1933-06-14 |
| Movie | The Thrill Hunter | Henchman Lou Norton | 1933-04-30 |
| Movie | Drum Taps | Henchman Pete | 1933-01-23 |
| Movie | Hold Your Man | Neighbor in Hallway (uncredited) | 1933-06-30 |
| Movie | Elmer, the Great | Waiter (uncredited) | 1933-04-29 |
| Movie | Baby Face | Speakeasy Drunk (uncredited) | 1933-07-13 |
| Movie | I Am Suzanne! | Balcony Spectator | 1933-12-25 |
| Movie | The Bowery | Artist (uncredited) | 1933-10-07 |
| Movie | Damaged Lives | Waiter | 1933-09-15 |
| Movie | Torch Singer | Waiter in Bistro | 1933-09-08 |
| Movie | This Is the Night | Man in the Manhole (uncredited) | 1932-04-08 |
| Movie | South of the Rio Grande | Bandido Leader | 1932-03-05 |
| Movie | Sally of the Subway | Leopold Von Trump | 1932-01-15 |
| Movie | Ghost Valley | Pawnee | 1932-05-13 |
| Movie | Sin's Pay Day | Louie Joe | 1932-03-02 |
| Movie | Vanity Street | Italian Street Workman (uncredited) | 1932-10-14 |
| Movie | American Madness | 1932-08-15 | |
| Movie | Young Blood | Tony Murullo | 1932-11-05 |
| Movie | Virtue | Tony (uncredited) | 1932-10-25 |
| Movie | Texas Buddies | Ken Kincaid | 1932-10-18 |
| Movie | Tiger Shark | Crewman (uncredited) | 1932-09-24 |
| Movie | Dance, Fools, Dance | Emilio (uncredited) | 1931-02-07 |
| Movie | Command Performance | Sergeant of the Guard (uncredited) | 1931-01-19 |
| Movie | Dishonored | 1931-04-04 | |
| Movie | The Yellow Ticket | Jailer | 1931-10-30 |
| Movie | Night Beat | Enricco Pommetti | 1931-12-26 |
| Movie | Safe in Hell | Jury Member (uncredited) | 1931-12-12 |
| Movie | Suicide Fleet | Havana Merchant (uncredited) | 1931-11-20 |
| Movie | Platinum Blonde | Waiter (uncredited) | 1931-10-31 |
| Movie | Those Who Dance | Hood | 1930-04-18 |
| Movie | The Bad Man | Jose | 1930-09-11 |
| Movie | Hell's Angels | Anarchist (uncredited) | 1930-11-15 |
| Movie | Captain Thunder | Barfly | 1930-12-27 |
| Movie | The Royal Rider | Parvene | 1929-02-17 |
| Movie | Weary River | Telephone Informer / Friend at Barney's (uncredited) | 1929-02-10 |
| Movie | Hawk of the Hills | Sheckard | 1929-03-16 |
| Movie | The Delightful Rogue | Hymie | 1929-09-21 |
| Movie | Movie Night | Movie Patron | 1929-05-11 |
| Movie | Big News | Reno Henchman (uncredited) | 1929-09-06 |
| Movie | The Desert Bride | Kassim’s Henchman (uncredited) | 1928-03-26 |
| Movie | The Last Command | A Soldier (uncredited) | 1928-01-21 |
| Movie | Virgin Lips | Patron | 1928-07-25 |
| Movie | Riley the Cop | French Policeman | 1928-11-25 |
| Movie | Beware of Blondes | Portugee Joe | 1928-07-01 |
| Movie | Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans | Carnival Gallery Man with Pig (uncredited) | 1927-11-04 |
| Movie | The House Without a Key | Saladine | 1926-11-21 |
| Movie | Plunder | Jude Deering | 1923-01-28 |
| Movie | The Sky Ranger | Dr. Santro | 1921-05-01 |
| Movie | Rogues and Romance | Pedro Pezet | 1920-12-26 |
| Movie | The Black Secret | 1919-01-02 | |
| Movie | A Fallen Idol | Tushau | 1919-05-18 |
| Movie | The American Way | Half Breed | 1919-07-07 |