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  • BIRTH 17/12/1894
  • DEATH 24/05/1976
  • Country United States
  • MOVIES 32

Bobby Barber

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.

Bobby Barber

Movies (32)

Modern Times
Modern Times
Worker (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
To Kill a Mockingbird
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Laura
Laura
Newsboy (uncredited)
Horse Feathers
Horse Feathers
Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
Waiter
Across the Wide Missouri
Across the Wide Missouri
Gardipe (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
Broadway Melody of 1940
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer,…
Dry Cleaning Man (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
Man of a Thousand Faces
The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
Carefree
Carefree
(uncredited)
I Walk Alone
I Walk Alone
Newsboy (uncredited)
The Joker is Wild
The Joker is Wild
Waiter (uncredited)
Hit the Ice
Hit the Ice
Candy Butcher (uncredited)
History Is Made at Night
History Is Made at Night
Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)
I'm No Angel
I'm No Angel
Man in Crowd (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the…
Sneaky (uncredited)
Presenting Lily Mars
Presenting Lily Mars
Busboy
Calcutta
Calcutta
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Second Chorus
Second Chorus
Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
The Lady Eve
Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)
Vivacious Lady
Vivacious Lady
Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Powder Town
Powder Town
Waiter (uncredited)
Breakfast for Two
Breakfast for Two
Window Washer (uncredited)
Dodsworth
Dodsworth
Italian Taxi Driver (Uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign…
Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
Topper Takes a Trip
Topper Takes a Trip
Hotel Staffer Moving Bed (uncredited)
Smartest Girl in Town
Smartest Girl in Town
Hotel Porter
Stranger on the Third Floor
Stranger on the Third Floor
Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)
Roxie Hart
Roxie Hart
Bald Juror (uncredited)
Let's Dance
Let's Dance
George - Bartender (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
Anchors Aweigh
Salad Cook on Olvera Street (uncredited)