Bobby Barber

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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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

1963
The Wheeler Dealers
Movie Workman in Night Club (uncredited)
1962
To Kill a Mockingbird
Movie Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV show Juror (uncredited)
1957
The Joker is Wild
Movie Waiter (uncredited)
1957
Wagon Train
TV show Wagon Train Member (uncredited)
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
TV show
1957
Man of a Thousand Faces
Movie The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
1957
The Midnight Story
Movie Party Guest (uncredited)
1957
The Buster Keaton Story
Movie Soda Fountain Customer (uncredited)
1956
Pardners
Movie Townsman (uncredited)
1954
Living It Up
Movie Bellboy (uncredited)
1952
The Abbott and Costello Show
TV show Chauffeur
1952
Adventures of Superman
TV show Tony the Masseur
1952
Flesh and Fury
Movie
1951
Across the Wide Missouri
Movie Gardipe (uncredited)
1951
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Movie Sneaky (uncredited)

More credits

1950
Let's Dance
Movie Bartender (uncredited)
1950
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
Movie Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
1949
Undertow
Movie
1949
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Movie Dry Cleaning Man (uncredited)
1949
Africa Screams
Movie Chauffeur (uncredited)
1948
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
Movie Waiter
1948
On an Island with You
Movie (uncredited)
1947
I Walk Alone
Movie Newsboy (uncredited)
1947
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Movie Waiter (uncredited)
1947
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Movie Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
1947
Riff-Raff
Movie Customs Inspector (uncredited)
1947
Vigilantes of Boomtown
Movie Corbett's second
1946
Calcutta
Movie Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1946
Two Sisters from Boston
Movie Stagehand (uncredited)
1946
From This Day Forward
Movie Ice Man
1946
Road to Utopia
Movie Bartender (uncredited)
1945
Sensation Hunters
Movie Waiter (uncredited)
1945
Anchors Aweigh
Movie Salad Cook (uncredited)
1945
Lady on a Train
Movie
1945
Earl Carroll Vanities
Movie Cab Driver
1944
Practically Yours
Movie Man on Subway (uncredited)
1944
And Now Tomorrow
Movie Mill Worker
1944
Laura
Movie Newsboy (uncredited)
1944
Rainbow Island
Movie Native Banana Man