Andrew Tombes

American actor (1885–1976)

Character actor
comedian

Years active1917–1956

Andrew Tombes (29 June 1885 – 17 March 1976) was an American comedian and character actor.

Biography

The son of a grocer, originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, Tombes was educated at Phillips Exeter Academy.^[1] Early in his career, he worked as a vaudeville comic. By December 1914 he had appeared in the headlining act for the opening of the Kansas City Orpheum Theatre.^[2]

He successfully ascended to Broadway comedies beginning in 1917, in the revue Miss 1917, and appeared there consistently through the 1920s, for instance in Poor Little Ritz Girl in 1920, Tip-Toes in 1925, and the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922 and 1927.^[3]

Tombes' first film appearances were in 1933, as he was already approaching 50 years old. He made a total of about 150 films for various studios.

Selected filmography

The Bowery (1933) - Shill (uncredited)
Broadway Through a Keyhole (1933) - Sidney - Columnist (uncredited)
Moulin Rouge (1934) - McBride
Doubting Thomas (1935) - Huxley Hossefrosse
Here Comes Cookie (1935) - Botts
Music Is Magic (1935) - Ben Pomeroy
Thanks a Million (1935) - Mr. Grass
King of Burlesque (1936) - Slattery
It Had to Happen (1936) - Dooley
Here Comes Trouble (1936) - Adams
The Country Beyond (1936) - Sen. Rawlings
Half Angel (1936) - Jury Foreman (uncredited)
Ticket to Paradise (1936) - Nirney
Hot Money (1936) - Willie
Stage Struck (1936) - Burns Heywood
The Devil Is a Sissy (1936) - Muldoon - a Policeman (uncredited)
The Holy Terror (1937) - Commander J.J. Otis
Time Out for Romance (1937) - James Blanchard
Fair Warning (1937) - J.C. Farnham
Turn Off the Moon (1937) - Dr. Wakefield
Charlie Chan at the Olympics (1937) - Police Chief Scott
Sing and Be Happy (1937) - Thomas Lane
Riding on Air (1937) - Eddie Byrd
Easy Living (1937) - E.J. Hulgar
Meet the Boyfriend (1937) - J. Ardmore Potts
Big City (1937) - Inspector Matthews
45 Fathers (1937) - Judge
Checkers (1937) - Tobias Somers
Borrowing Trouble (1937) - Uncle George
Everybody Sing (1938) - Smith - The Gary Society Man (uncredited)
Sally, Irene and Mary (1938) - Judge Wyler
Battle of Broadway (1938) - Judge Hutchins
Romance on the Run (1938) - J.W. Ridgeway
One Wild Night (1938) - Police Chief William Nolan
A Desperate Adventure (1938) - Cosmo Carrington
Vacation from Love (1938) - Judge Brandon
Five of a Kind (1938) - Dr. Bruno
Always in Trouble (1938) - J. C. Darlington
Thanks for Everything (1938) - Mayor
Boy Trouble (1939) - Mr. Svively
What a Life (1939) - Professor Abernathy
Too Busy to Work (1939) - Wilbur Wentworth
Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939) - Robinson (uncredited)
Balalaika (1939) - Wilbur Allison (uncredited)
Money to Burn (1939) - Brown
Wolf of New York (1940) - Sylvester Duncan
Village Barn Dance (1940) - James Rutherford Sr.
In Old Missouri (1940) - Attorney
Captain Caution (1940) - Sad Eyes
Third Finger, Left Hand (1940) - Mr. Kelland (uncredited)
Melody and Moonlight (1940) - Promoter (uncredited)
Charter Pilot (1940) - Brady
The Wild Man of Borneo (1941) - 'Doc' Dunbar
Meet the Chump (1941) - Revello
A Girl, a Guy and a Gob (1941) - Bus Conductor (uncredited)
Meet John Doe (1941) - Spencer
Double Date (1941) - Judge Perkins
Melody for Three (1941) - Mickey Delany
Sis Hopkins (1941) - Mayor
Caught in the Draft (1941) - Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Mountain Moonlight (1941) - Sen. Marvin
Lady Scarface (1941) - Art Seidel - hotel detective
World Premiere (1941) - Nixon
A Dangerous Game (1941) - Silas Biggsby
Last of the Duanes (1941) - Sheriff Frank Taylor
Texas (1941) - Tennessee
Down Mexico Way (1941) - Mayor Tubbs
Louisiana Purchase (1941) - Dean Albert Manning
Bedtime Story (1941) - Pierce
Hellzapoppin' (1941) - Max Kane (uncredited)
Don't Get Personal (1942) - James M. Snow
Blondie Goes to College (1942) - J.J 'Snookie' Wadsworth
Call Out the Marines (1942) - Mr. Woods (uncredited)
A Close Call for Ellery Queen (1942) - Bates
Obliging Young Lady (1942) - First Train Conductor
Larceny, Inc. (1942) - Oscar Engelhart
My Gal Sal (1942) - Corbin
They All Kissed the Bride (1942) - Crane
Between Us Girls (1942) - Doctor
Road to Morocco (1942) - Oso Bucco (uncredited)
Reveille with Beverly (1943) - Mr. Smith
The Meanest Man in the World (1943) - Judge (uncredited)
Hi'ya, Chum (1943) - Jerry MackIntosh, Cook
It Ain't Hay (1943) - Big-Hearted Charlie
A Stranger in Town (1943) - Roscoe Swade
It's a Great Life (1943) - Insurance Agent (uncredited)
Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) - Mr. McGowan (uncredited)
Coney Island (1943) - Horace Carter (uncredited)
Honeymoon Lodge (1943) - Judge Wilkins
Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) - Mike
Let's Face It (1943) - Judge Henry Clay Pigeon
I Dood It (1943) - Mr. Spelvin
Crazy House (1943) - Horace L. Gregory
My Kingdom for a Cook (1943) - Abe Mason (uncredited)
Swing Fever (1943) - Dr. Clyde L. Star
Riding High (1943) - P.D. Smith (uncredited)
The Mad Ghoul (1943) - Eagan
His Butler's Sister (1943) - Brophy
Phantom Lady (1944) - Bartender
Week-End Pass (1944) - Constable
Show Business (1944) - Judge (uncredited)
Bathing Beauty (1944) - Justice of the Peace (uncredited)
Kansas City Kitty (1944) - Judge (uncredited)
Reckless Age (1944) - Mr. Cook
The Merry Monahans (1944) - Osborne (uncredited)
San Fernando Valley (1944) - Cyclone Kenyon
The Singing Sheriff (1944) - Jonas
Goin' to Town (1944) - Parker
Murder in the Blue Room (1944) - Dr. Carroll
Something for the Boys (1944) - Southern Colonel (uncredited)
Lake Placid Serenade (1944) - Skating Club Head
Can't Help Singing (1944) - Sad Sam
Night Club Girl (1945) - Simmons
Bring On the Girls (1945) - Dr. Spender
G.I. Honeymoon (1945) - Reverend Horace
Patrick the Great (1945) - Sam Bassett
Rhapsody in Blue (1945) - Mr. Million
You Came Along (1945) - Drunk
Incendiary Blonde (1945) - Hadley (uncredited)
Don't Fence Me In (1945) - Cartwright
Frontier Gal (1945) - Judge Prescott
Two Sisters from Boston (1946) - Recording Session Director (uncredited)
Badman's Territory (1946) - Doc Grant
Sing While You Dance (1946) - Gorman
Beat the Band (1947) - 'Professor' Enrico Blanchetti / Mr. Dillingham
The Devil Thumbs a Ride (1947) - Joe Brayden, Night Watchman
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947) - De Witt (uncredited)
Copacabana (1947) - Anatole Murphy (uncredited)
Hoppy's Holiday (1947) - Mayor Patton
Christmas Eve (1947) - Auctioneer
Louisiana (1947)
My Wild Irish Rose (1947) - Herman Baxter - Bartender (uncredited)
Two Guys from Texas (1948) - The Texan
Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949) - Ted Held
Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance (1950) - Sheriff Grogan
The Jackpot (1950) - Attorney Pritchett (uncredited)
Watch the Birdie (1950) - Doctor (uncredited)
A Wonderful Life (1951) – Harry Jenkins
Belle Le Grand (1951) - Cartwright (uncredited)
Oklahoma Annie (1952) - Mayor of Eureka
I Dream of Jeanie (1952) - R.E. Howard
How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) - Police Sgt. Moon
The Go-Getter (1956) - Mr. Symington (final film role)

References

^ Gordon, Dr Roger L. (2018). Supporting Actors in Motion Pictures. Dorrance Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781480944992. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^ The enchanted years of the stage: Kansas City at the crossroads of American ... by Felicia Hardison Londré, David Austin Latchaw, page 230
^ "Andrew Tombes". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.