Barnett Parker
Known for Acting · 47 credits
- Born
- 1886-09-10
- Died
- 1941-08-05
- Place of birth
- Batley, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Also known as
- William Barnett Parker
Biography
Within the British colony of expatriate actors in Hollywood during the 1930's, Barnett Parker, born 11 September 1886, in Batley, Yorkshire, England, was among the most stereotypical. Harrowgate College-educated, straight-backed, balding and well-intoned, Parker caricatured a multitude of unctuous, stiff-upper-lip butlers, man-servants or waiters, though his performances could, at times, verge on the brink of being camp. When driven to frustration his characters commonly resorted to incoherent twitter or wild gesticulation.
Parker was trained under Marie Tempest and George Alexander in England. He first acted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre as Wilfred Tavish in Arthur Wing Pinero's "The "Mind the Paint" Girl" in 1912. He was well served with further roles in hit plays like "Hobson's Choice" (1915), "Artists and Models" (1924) and "The Red Robe" (1928). He was at first prone to reject film offers, professing to favor acting on stage. Nonetheless, the celluloid medium eventually beckoned, enticing him to sign with the East Coast-based studio Thanhouser in 1915. He worked in films during the daytime (while treading the boards at night) and quickly landed a plum role as a weak socialite, rescuing Gladys Hulette in Prudence, the Pirate (1916). He was seldom thereafter afforded the opportunity for heroic acts. During the 1930's, he was primarily in demand for small roles as dandified or 'silly ass' Britishers, giving value for money in films like Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Personal Property (1937), Live, Love and Learn (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937). Looking rather older than his years, Barnett Parker died at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles after multiple heart attacks on August 5, 1941.
Known For
Movies (47)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936
as Butler (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
1938
as Prince de Rohan
Broadway Melody of 1938
1937
as Jerry Jason
At the Circus
1939
as Whitcomb
The Reluctant Dragon
1941
as Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon") (voice)
Born to Dance
1936
as Floorwalker
Libeled Lady
1936
as Butler (uncredited)
Listen, Darling
1938
as Abercrombie
The General Died at Dawn
1936
as Dining Car Man (uncredited)
A Man Betrayed
1941
as George
Personal Property
1937
as Arthur Trevelyan
One Night in the Tropics
1940
as Thompson, Steve's Butler (uncredited)
He Married His Wife
1940
as Huggins
Double Wedding
1937
as Mr. Flint, Margit's Bookkeeper
Love Thy Neighbor
1940
as George - Fred's Chauffeur
The Big Parade of Comedy
1964
as Arthur Trevelyan in 'Personal Property' (arch. foot.) (uncred.)
Babes in Arms
1939
as William
The Girl Downstairs
1938
as Hugo
Live, Love and Learn
1937
as Alfredo
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.6
2004
as Dragon (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Hotel for Women
1939
as Photographer
Wake Up and Live
1937
as Foster
Espionage
1937
as Bill Cordell
Kisses for Breakfast
1941
as Phillips
The Emperor's Candlesticks
1937
as Albert, Stephan's Butler
Love Is a Headache
1938
as Hotchkiss, Carlotta's Butler
She Married a Cop
1939
as Bekins, the Butler
Hold That Kiss
1938
as Maurice
Hullabaloo
1940
as Samuel Stephens
Roaming Lady
1936
as Waters
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney
1937
as Purser
The President's Mystery
1936
as Roger
Tall, Dark and Handsome
1941
as Quentin
Navy Blue and Gold
1937
as Graves
Ready, Willing and Able
1937
as Waiter
La Conga Nights
1940
as Hammond
Dangerous Number
1937
as Minehardi
Sally, Irene and Mary
1938
as Oscar
We Who Are About to Die
1937
as John Barkley
Prudence the Pirate
1916
as John Astorbilt
Married Before Breakfast
1937
as Tweed
The Flight of the Duchess
1916
as The Duke
New Wine
1941
as The Duke
The Misleading Lady
1920
as Steve
The Traffic Cop
1916
as Book Agent
A Girl's Best Years
1936
as Primrose
Bill Bunks the Bandit
1915
as Bill - a Gentleman from the East
About Barnett Parker
Within the British colony of expatriate actors in Hollywood during the 1930's, Barnett Parker, born 11 September 1886, in Batley, Yorkshire, England, was among the most stereotypical. Harrowgate College-educated, straight-backed, balding and well-intoned, Parker caricatured a multitude of unctuous, stiff-upper-lip butlers, man-servants or waiters, though his performances could, at times, verge on the brink of being camp. When driven to frustration his characters commonly resorted to incoherent twitter or wild gesticulation. Parker was trained… With 47 credits spanning from 1915 to 2004, Barnett Parker has appeared in 47 films and 0 TV shows.
Fans searching for Barnett Parker movies, Barnett Parker filmography, or the latest projects starring Barnett Parker can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Barnett Parker Movies
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) — as Butler (uncredited)
- Marie Antoinette (1938) — as Prince de Rohan
- Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) — as Jerry Jason
- At the Circus (1939) — as Whitcomb
- The Reluctant Dragon (1941) — as Dragon (segment "The Reluctant Dragon") (voice)
Where to Watch Barnett Parker Films
Most Barnett Parker movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Barnett Parker, check our movies catalogue and browse page.