Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

190

Gender

Male

Birthday

1875-03-23

Day of Death

1943-01-25 (68 years old)

Place of Birth

Duncannon, Pennsylvania, USA

Also Known As

Spencer Charters

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Spencer Charters (March 25, 1875 – January 25, 1943) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 220 films between 1920 and 1943, mostly in small supporting roles. Spencer Charters first stage work soon after leaving school was a walk on part, but it wasn't long before he was being given fair-sized roles. He played on Broadway between 1910 and 1929 and was a busy character actor in films during the 1930s and early 1940s. He often portrayed somewhat befuddeled judges, doctors, clerks, managers, and jailers. He died by suicide from a mix of sleeping pills and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Known For

Acting

Arsenic and Old Lace

1944

Arsenic and Old Lace

as

Marriage License Clerk

The Pursuit of Happiness

1934

The Pursuit of Happiness

as

Sam Evans

Four's a Crowd

1938

Four's a Crowd

as

Charlie (uncredited)

Blondie Plays Cupid

1940

Blondie Plays Cupid

as

Onkel Abner Henderson

Our Town

1940

Our Town

as

Constable

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

1939

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

as

Court Clerk

Petticoat Politics

1941

Petticoat Politics

as

Grandpa

The Covered Trailer

1939

The Covered Trailer

as

Sheriff

Welcome Home

1935

Welcome Home

as

Constable Mulhausen

High Sierra

1941

High Sierra

as

Ed

Lady Killer

1933

Lady Killer

as

It's a Gift

1934

It's a Gift

as

Gate Guard

Three Faces West

1940

Three Faces West

as

Dr. 'Nunk' Atterbury

Remember the Night

1940

Remember the Night

as

Judge at Rummage Sale

Moon Over Miami

1941

Moon Over Miami

as

Joe, the Postman

Second Fiddle

1939

Second Fiddle

as

Joe Clayton

Young Mr. Lincoln

1939

Young Mr. Lincoln

as

Judge Herbert A. Bell

Little Old New York

1923

Little Old New York

as

Bunny

Fashions of 1934

1934

Fashions of 1934

as

Man Removing Telephone

The Raven

1935

The Raven

as

Col. Bertram Grant

Movie Crazy

1932

Movie Crazy

as

J.L. O'Brien

Don't Bet on Blondes

1935

Don't Bet on Blondes

as

Doc

Murder on a Honeymoon

1935

Murder on a Honeymoon

as

Chief of Police Britt

In Old Chicago

1938

In Old Chicago

as

Commissioner W.J. Beavers

Crime School

1938

Crime School

as

Old Doctor

The Emperor's Candlesticks

1937

The Emperor's Candlesticks

as

Usher (uncredited)

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

1936

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

as

Dr. Bunting (uncredited)

Colleen

1936

Colleen

as

Doctor (uncredited)

1937

Pick a Star

as

Judge

Palmy Days

1931

Palmy Days

as

Mr. Clark

The Match King

1932

The Match King

as

Oscar

Lonely Wives

1931

Lonely Wives

as

Andrews, the Butler

Danger – Love at Work

1937

Danger – Love at Work

as

Taxi driver

The Golden Fleecing

1940

The Golden Fleecing

as

Justice of Peace

The Goose and the Gander

1935

The Goose and the Gander

as

Winkel 'Wink' Steinberg

Scattergood Survives a Murder

1942

Scattergood Survives a Murder

as

Sheriff

The Lady from Cheyenne

1941

The Lady from Cheyenne

as

Dr. McGuinness

The Nut Farm

1935

The Nut Farm

as

Sliscomb, the Landlord

Love on a Bet

1936

Love on a Bet

as

Plaza Ritz Hotel Owner

The Pride of the Yankees

1942

The Pride of the Yankees

as

Mr. Larsen (uncredited)

She Couldn't Say No

1940

She Couldn't Say No

as

Hank Woodcock

Mr. Chump

1938

Mr. Chump

as

Mr. Koeper

He Married His Wife

1940

He Married His Wife

as

Mayer

Five of a Kind

1938

Five of a Kind

as

Rev. Matthew Brand

The Preview Murder Mystery

1936

The Preview Murder Mystery

as

Jones - Watchman

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

1942

The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine

as

Cheevers Snow

Make a Wish

1937

Make a Wish

as

Station Agent

Lady Behave!

1937

Lady Behave!

as

Innkeeper

Mr. Boggs Steps Out

1938

Mr. Boggs Steps Out

as

Angus Tubbs

The Harvester

1936

The Harvester

as

Stubby Pratt

The Bride Walks Out

1936

The Bride Walks Out

as

Marriage Bureau Justice of the Peace (uncredited)

Mr. Skitch

1933

Mr. Skitch

as

Mr. Umpchay

Boy Trouble

1939

Boy Trouble

as

Bradley

Hotel Imperial

1939

Hotel Imperial

as

Visoff (uncredited)

Spendthrift

1936

Spendthrift

as

Col. Barnaby

Topper Takes a Trip

1938

Topper Takes a Trip

as

Judge

Career Woman

1936

Career Woman

as

Coroner McInery

Three Blind Mice

1938

Three Blind Mice

as

Hendricks

Pacific Blackout

1941

Pacific Blackout

as

Cornelius

Traveling Husbands

1931

Traveling Husbands

as

Joe

The Flying Irishman

1939

The Flying Irishman

as

Smedley

The Crooked Circle

1932

The Crooked Circle

as

Kinny

The Circus Clown

1934

The Circus Clown

as

Kingsley

Whoopee!

1930

Whoopee!

as

Jerome Underwood

Exile Express

1939

Exile Express

as

Henry P. Smith

Breaking the Ice

1938

Breaking the Ice

as

Smith

The St. Louis Kid

1934

The St. Louis Kid

as

Messeldopp

The Firebird

1934

The Firebird

as

Max Bauer, the Porter

Wake Up and Dream

1934

Wake Up and Dream

as

Earl Craft

The Gay Deception

1935

The Gay Deception

as

Mr. Mercer (uncredited)

Lady from Nowhere

1936

Lady from Nowhere

as

Alexander Scorzo

Blind Date

1934

Blind Date

as

Pa Taylor

In Person

1935

In Person

as

Parson Calverton Lunk

F-Man

1936

F-Man

as

Sheriff Hank 'One Gun' Groder

Inside Story

1939

Inside Story

as

Uncle Ben Perkins

Ex-Bad Boy

1931

Ex-Bad Boy

as

Henry Simmons

Banjo on My Knee

1936

Banjo on My Knee

as

Judge Tope

The Moon's Our Home

1936

The Moon's Our Home

as

Abner Simpson

Back in Circulation

1937

Back in Circulation

as

The Sheriff

Women in the Wind

1939

Women in the Wind

as

Farmer

Tobacco Road

1941

Tobacco Road

as

County Clerk

The Bat Whispers

1930

The Bat Whispers

as

The Caretaker

In Name Only

1939

In Name Only

as

Gardener

One Wild Night

1938

One Wild Night

as

Lem Halliday

The Hurricane

1937

The Hurricane

as

Judge (uncredited)

Ever Since Eve

1937

Ever Since Eve

as

Mike - Monteray Tavern Porter (uncredited)

Wells Fargo

1937

Wells Fargo

as

Jethro - Old Confederate

36 Hours to Kill

1936

36 Hours to Kill

as

Mr. Hutchins

Million Dollar Ransom

1934

Million Dollar Ransom

as

Pop McGarry (Uncredited)

Fugitive in the Sky

1936

Fugitive in the Sky

as

Henry Staeger

The Lady and the Mob

1939

The Lady and the Mob

as

Flanagan, Bank Guard

Spring Madness

1938

Spring Madness

as

Police Chief

The Tenderfoot

1932

The Tenderfoot

as

Oscar

Alias the Deacon

1940

Alias the Deacon

as

Sheriff Yates

Three Comrades

1938

Three Comrades

as

Herr Schultz

Jesse James

1939

Jesse James

as

Minister

The Famous Ferguson Case

1932

The Famous Ferguson Case

as

Fire Chief (uncredited)

Eight Bells

1935

Eight Bells

as

Walker

Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

1941

Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case

as

Judge White

Caravan

1934

Caravan

as

Flunkey (Uncredited)

Girl Loves Boy

1937

Girl Loves Boy

as

Rufus Boggs

Boulder Dam

1936

Boulder Dam

as

First Sheriff (uncredited)

They Made Her a Spy

1939

They Made Her a Spy

as

Lucius Wilkins

Dodge City

1939

Dodge City

as

Reverend (uncredited)

Two Thoroughbreds

1939

Two Thoroughbreds

as

Doc Purdy

Dr. Broadway

1942

Dr. Broadway

as

Oscar Titus

The Texas Rangers

1936

The Texas Rangers

as

Sheriff (uncredited)

Professor Beware

1938

Professor Beware

as

Sheriff Henry Sweatt

Drums Along the Mohawk

1939

Drums Along the Mohawk

as

Innkeeper

The Under-Pup

1939

The Under-Pup

as

Druggist

Dust Be My Destiny

1939

Dust Be My Destiny

as

F.W. Jennson (uncredited)

Postal Inspector

1936

Postal Inspector

as

Grumpy

The Farmer in the Dell

1936

The Farmer in the Dell

as

Milkman

The Secret Bride

1934

The Secret Bride

as

Diner 2 (uncredited)

Lucky Cisco Kid

1940

Lucky Cisco Kid

as

Hotel Guest

Whispering Smith Speaks

1935

Whispering Smith Speaks

as

Cal Stone

Bedtime Story

1941

Bedtime Story

as

Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

Janice Meredith

1924

Janice Meredith

as

Squire Hennion

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

1932

20,000 Years in Sing Sing

as

Officer Daniels (uncredited)

Female

1933

Female

as

Tom

The Kid From Texas

1939

The Kid From Texas

as

Deputy Sheriff Serving Attachment Papers

Hold 'Em Jail

1932

Hold 'Em Jail

as

Governor

So This Is Africa

1933

So This Is Africa

as

Doctor

Libeled Lady

1936

Libeled Lady

as

McCall the Magistrate

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

as

Mal (uncredited)

Jewel Robbery

1932

Jewel Robbery

as

Johann Christian Lenz

All American Chump

1936

All American Chump

as

Abiah Smith

Big Town Girl

1937

Big Town Girl

as

Isaiah Wickenback

Four Days Wonder

1936

Four Days Wonder

as

Gilroy

Man at Large

1941

Man at Large

as

Mr. Gallon

The Postman Didn't Ring

1942

The Postman Didn't Ring

as

Judge Ben Holt

They Asked For It

1939

They Asked For It

as

Chief Lawson

Rough Necking

1934

Rough Necking

as

Mr. Marshall

The Mine with the Iron Door

1936

The Mine with the Iron Door

as

Thad Hill

Santa Fe Trail

1940

Santa Fe Trail

as

Conductor

The Night Before the Divorce

1942

The Night Before the Divorce

as

Second Judge

Virginia City

1940

Virginia City

as

Sazerac Saloon Bartender (uncredited)

The Doctor Takes a Wife

1940

The Doctor Takes a Wife

as

Henry Quinn (uncredited)

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

1937

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

as

Uncle

Gambling Ship

1933

Gambling Ship

as

Detective

Friendly Neighbors

1940

Friendly Neighbors

as

Bumblebee Hibbs

The Loudspeaker

1934

The Loudspeaker

as

Burroughs

The Boys from Syracuse

1940

The Boys from Syracuse

as

Turnkey

Maryland

1940

Maryland

as

Judge

Gabriel Over the White House

1933

Gabriel Over the White House

as

Vice President (uncredited)

Romance in Manhattan

1935

Romance in Manhattan

as

Clerk (uncredited)

Vivacious Lady

1938

Vivacious Lady

as

Man Shaving on Train (uncredited)

From Headquarters

1933

From Headquarters

as

Teletype Man (uncredited)

Unexpected Father

1939

Unexpected Father

as

Magistrate

Yes, My Darling Daughter

1939

Yes, My Darling Daughter

as

Angus Dibble

Silver Queen

1942

Silver Queen

as

Doc Stonebraker

The Singing Hill

1941

The Singing Hill

as

Judge Henry Starrbottle

Stablemates

1938

Stablemates

as

Choirmaster

Forbidden Valley

1938

Forbidden Valley

as

Dr. Scudd

Bad Men of Missouri

1941

Bad Men of Missouri

as

Clem

They Died with Their Boots On

1941

They Died with Their Boots On

as

Station Master (uncredited)

So Ends Our Night

1941

So Ends Our Night

as

Swiss Policeman

April Folly

1920

April Folly

as

Dobbs

The Road to Reno

1938

The Road to Reno

as

The Judge

Meet the Missus

1940

Meet the Missus

as

Grandpa

The Remarkable Andrew

1942

The Remarkable Andrew

as

Dr. Clarence Upjohn

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

as

Self (archive footage)

Dangerous Number

1937

Dangerous Number

as

Jeffers Gass - Justice of the Peace

Slightly Dangerous

1943

Slightly Dangerous

as

Claudius Swade- motel owner (uncredited)

Venus Makes Trouble

1937

Venus Makes Trouble

as

Joel Willard

Fifty Roads to Town

1937

Fifty Roads to Town

as

George Hession

Stranded

1935

Stranded

as

Boatman

The Great American Pie Company

1935

The Great American Pie Company

as

Phineas Doolittle (uncredited)

Three on a Match

1932

Three on a Match

as

Street Cleaner (uncredited)

The Kennel Murder Case

1933

The Kennel Murder Case

as

Sergeant Snitkin (uncredited)

Back to Nature

1936

Back to Nature

as

Deputy Sheriff Putney

The Front Page

1931

The Front Page

as

Woodenshoes

The Jury's Secret

1938

The Jury's Secret

as

Old Man

Half a Sinner

1934

Half a Sinner

as

Noel Cunningham

Behind the Mike

1937

Behind the Mike

as

Pete Jones

The Mighty Treve

1937

The Mighty Treve

as

Watling

Joy of Living

1938

Joy of Living

as

Magistrate

Hips, Hips, Hooray!

1934

Hips, Hips, Hooray!

as

Mr. Clark

Hold That Ghost

1941

Hold That Ghost

as

Storekeeper (uncredited)

She Had to Eat

1937

She Had to Eat

as

Franklin (uncredited)

Girl from God's Country

1940

Girl from God's Country

as

Dealer

Till We Meet Again

1936

Till We Meet Again

as

Herr Hoffer

Central Park

1932

Central Park

as

Police Sergeant Riley (uncredited)

The Ghost Walks

1934

The Ghost Walks

as

Guard

Star of Midnight

1935

Star of Midnight

as

Hotel Doorman (uncredited)

Mountain Music

1937

Mountain Music

as

Justice of the Peace Sharody

Union Depot

1932

Union Depot

as

Police Officer Bert Brady (uncredited)

Look Who's Laughing

1941

Look Who's Laughing

as

Motel Manager

Checkers

1937

Checkers

as

Zeb

Murder on a Bridle Path

1936

Murder on a Bridle Path

as

Warden Sylvester Mahoney

Production

Crew

Directing