CineScope
Barnett Parker picture

Barnett Parker

Acting
Known For

54 Years Old

Within the British colony of expatriate actors in Hollywood during the 1930's, Barnett Parker, born 11 September 1886, in Batley, Yorkshire, England, was among the most stereotypical. Harrowgate College-educated, straight-backed, balding and well-intoned, Parker caricatured a multitude of unctuous, stiff-upper-lip butlers, man-servants or waiters, though his performances could, at times, verge on the brink of being camp. When driven to frustration his characters commonly resorted to incoherent twitter or wild gesticulation. Parker was trained under Marie Tempest and George Alexander in England. He first acted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre as Wilfred Tavish in Arthur Wing Pinero's "The "Mind the Paint" Girl" in 1912. He was well served with further roles in hit plays like "Hobson's Choice" (1915), "Artists and Models" (1924) and "The Red Robe" (1928). He was at first prone to reject film offers, professing to favor acting on stage. Nonetheless, the celluloid medium eventually beckoned, enticing him to sign with the East Coast-based studio Thanhouser in 1915. He worked in films during the daytime (while treading the boards at night) and quickly landed a plum role as a weak socialite, rescuing Gladys Hulette in Prudence, the Pirate (1916). He was seldom thereafter afforded the opportunity for heroic acts. During the 1930's, he was primarily in demand for small roles as dandified or 'silly ass' Britishers, giving value for money in films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Personal Property (1937), Live, Love and Learn (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937). Looking rather older than his years, Barnett Parker died at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles after multiple heart attacks on August 5, 1941.

Born

Batley, Yorkshire, England, UK on 10th September 1886

Died

5th August 1941

All Credits

The Reluctant Dragon Image
The Reluctant Dragon
Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon") (voice)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Image
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Butler (uncredited)
Double Wedding Image
Double Wedding
Mr. Flint, Margit's Bookkeeper
Libeled Lady Image
Libeled Lady
Butler (uncredited)
At the Circus Image
At the Circus
Whitcomb
Marie Antoinette Image
Marie Antoinette
Prince de Rohan
Babes in Arms Image
Babes in Arms
William
Born to Dance Image
Born to Dance
Floorwalker
One Night in the Tropics Image
One Night in the Tropics
Thompson, Steve's Butler (uncredited)
The Big Parade of Comedy Image
The Big Parade of Comedy
Arthur Trevelyan in 'Personal Property' (arch. foot.) (uncred.)
Live, Love and Learn Image
Live, Love and Learn
Alfredo
Broadway Melody of 1938 Image
Broadway Melody of 1938
Jerry Jason
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6 Image
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
The Dragon (voice) (archive sound)
Navy Blue and Gold Image
Navy Blue and Gold
Graves
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Image
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
Purser
Listen, Darling Image
Listen, Darling
Abercrombie
The President's Mystery Image
The President's Mystery
Roger
Love Thy Neighbor Image
Love Thy Neighbor
George - Fred's Chauffeur
Sally, Irene and Mary Image
Sally, Irene and Mary
Oscar
A Man Betrayed Image
A Man Betrayed
George
Personal Property Image
Personal Property
Arthur Trevelyan
Roaming Lady Image
Roaming Lady
Waters
The Emperor's Candlesticks Image
The Emperor's Candlesticks
Albert, Stephan's Butler
Hullabaloo Image
Hullabaloo
Samuel Stephens
Tall, Dark and Handsome Image
Tall, Dark and Handsome
Quentin
We Who Are About to Die Image
We Who Are About to Die
John Barkley
Hold That Kiss Image
Hold That Kiss
Maurice
Ready, Willing and Able Image
Ready, Willing and Able
Waiter
The General Died at Dawn Image
The General Died at Dawn
Dining Car Man (uncredited)
Love Is a Headache Image
Love Is a Headache
Hotchkiss, Carlotta's Butler
The Misleading Lady Image
The Misleading Lady
Steve
La Conga Nights Image
La Conga Nights
Hammond
She Married a Cop Image
She Married a Cop
Bekins, the Butler
The Girl Downstairs Image
The Girl Downstairs
Hugo
Espionage Image
Espionage
Bill Cordell
He Married His Wife Image
He Married His Wife
Huggins
Hotel for Women Image
Hotel for Women
Photographer
Kisses for Breakfast Image
Kisses for Breakfast
Phillips
Wake Up and Live Image
Wake Up and Live
Foster
Dangerous Number Image
Dangerous Number
Minehardi
New Wine Image
New Wine
The Duke
A Girl's Best Years Image
A Girl's Best Years
Primrose
Married Before Breakfast Image
Married Before Breakfast
Tweed
The Flight of the Duchess Image
The Flight of the Duchess
The Duke
Prudence the Pirate Image
Prudence the Pirate
John Astorbilt
No Image
The Traffic Cop
Book Agent
No Image
Bill Bunks the Bandit
Bill - a Gentleman from the East