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Jimmy Conlin

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For the footballer, see James Conlin.

Jimmy Conlin
Colin in Dick Tracy's Dilemma (1947)
Born(1884-10-14)October 14, 1884
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedMay 7, 1962(1962-05-07) (aged 77)
Encino, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1928–1959
Spouses
Myrtle Glass
​
​
(m. 1918; died 1945)​
Dorothy Ryan
​
​
(m. 1948)​

Jimmy Conlin (October 14, 1884 – May 7, 1962) was an American character actor who appeared in almost 150 films in his 32-year career.

Career

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Conlin was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1884, and his acting career started in vaudeville. He and singer Myrtle Glass worked up a musical vaudeville act in 1918; they were married later that year. Conlin & Glass played the Keith-Albee-Orpheum circuits in big-city theaters.[1] They also starred together in two short films, Sharps and Flats (1928) and Zip! Boom! Bang! (1929) for Vitaphone.[1] These early shorts display Conlin's musical talents, including his impressive skills at the piano. In later years Conlin became strictly a character comedian, with little opportunity to show his vaudeville skills.

Jimmy Conlin made another comedy short without Glass in 1930 (A Tight Squeeze), but his film career started in earnest in 1933, and for the next 27 years, every year saw the release of at least one film in which Conlin appeared. Recognizable by his small size and odd appearance, Conlin played all sorts of small roles and bit parts, many times not receiving an onscreen credit. He typically wore horn-rimmed spectacles, and arranged his hair with shaggy blond bangs that hung over his face. Today's audiences may remember him as the assistant bartender to W. C. Fields in My Little Chickadee, the collections agent in the Fred Astaire musical Second Chorus, the beggar posing as a blind man in Dick Tracy's Dilemma, and the elderly horse trainer in Rolling Home.

L. to R. : Jimmy Conlin, Harold Lloyd, Torben Meyer, and Arline Judge in The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947)

In the 1940s, Conlin was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges.[2] His roles in Sturges' films were often sizable and often came with good billing. One of his best performances came in Sturges' The Sin of Harold Diddlebock in 1946, when he played "Wormy", the racetrack tout who persuades Harold Lloyd to have his first drink, setting off the events of the film. The loyalty between Sturges and Conlin ran both ways, and when the former golden boy of Hollywood fell on hard times, Conlin remained a friend, stayed in contact, and helped out in any way he could.[1]

Jimmy Conlin worked steadily in Hollywood, appearing in 10 to 13 films annually through 1945. He withdrew from films briefly, after his wife of 27 years died in 1945, but he resumed his career in 1946 and was as busy as ever in 1947.

With many major studios cutting back on new productions and discontinuing low-budget "B" pictures, Conlin had fewer opportunities from 1948 forward, but continued to appear in occasional movies into the 1950s. His personal life took a turn for the better; he married the former Dorothy Ryan in 1948.

Conlin did not make many television appearances, but he did have a regular role as a bartender on Duffy's Tavern,[3] a syndicated series from 1954.[1] His last two films were released in 1959: Anatomy of a Murder and The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock.

Death

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Conlin died at his home in Encino, California on May 7, 1962, at the age of 77.[4] He was survived by his second wife, Dorothy.

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Erickson, Hal Biography (Allmovie)
  2. ^ Conlin appeared in The Great McGinty, Christmas in July, The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Hail the Conquering Hero, The Great Moment and The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
  3. ^ "Jimmy Conlin, Actor, Is Dead". The Lincoln Star. Nebraska, Lincoln. Associated Press. May 8, 1962. p. 15. Retrieved January 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "Jimmy Conlin, Veteran Film, TV Actor, Dies". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. May 8, 1962. p. Part II-Page 1. Retrieved January 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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