Bobby Barber
Biography
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.
Known For
Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
Barber
You Can't Ration Love
Italian Taxi Driver (Uncredited)
Dodsworth
Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)
History Is Made at Night
Candy Butcher (uncredited)
Hit the Ice
Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Revolutionary (uncredited)
Soup to Nuts
(uncredited)
Carefree
Bartender (uncredited)
Having Wonderful Time
Undertaker's Assistant
Alimony Aches
Juryman (uncredited)
The Monster and the Girl
Mill Worker
And Now Tomorrow
Party Guest (uncredited)
The Midnight Story
Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Fight for Your Lady
Photographer
Super-Sleuth
Lady on a Train
Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Vivacious Lady
Funhouse Attendant
I Love a Soldier
Native Banana Man
Rainbow Island
Gardipe (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
Hotel Staffer Moving Bed (uncredited)
Topper Takes a Trip
George - Bartender (uncredited)
Let's Dance
Waiter Who Spills Tray (uncredited)
Spring Parade
Canteen Waiter (uncredited)
The Sky's the Limit
Salad Cook on Olvera Street (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
Window Washer (uncredited)
Breakfast for Two
Dentist Patient
I Don't Remember
The Leather Pushers
Snake Charmer (uncredited)
Matri-Phony
Corbett's second
Vigilantes of Boomtown
Workman in Night Club (uncredited)
The Wheeler Dealers
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Calcutta
Prisoner (uncredited)
Pot o' Gold
Man in Crowd (uncredited)
I'm No Angel
Counterman
We're Only Human
Silent Waiter at Beach Club (uncredited)
Walking on Air
Short Slap Happy Henchman
Everybody's Doing It
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Dry Cleaning Man (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Chauffeur (uncredited)
Africa Screams
Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag
Professor Beware
Man on Subway (uncredited)
Practically Yours
Musician (uncredited)
Pest from the West
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Prop Man (Uncredited)
The Preview Murder Mystery
Waiter
The Life of the Party
Waiter
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
Snacking Bus Rider
Nothing But Pleasure
Waiter (uncredited)
Sensation Hunters
Man with Gong (uncredited)
Hollywood Boulevard
Waiter (uncredited)
The Joker is Wild
Hotel Porter
Smartest Girl in Town
Worker (uncredited)
Modern Times
Member of La'oa's Gang (uncredited)
Beyond the Blue Horizon
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
Bellhop
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
Benny (uncredited)
Primrose Path
Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Horse Feathers
Sneaky (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Newsboy (uncredited)
Laura
Waiter
All by Myself
Eduardo
King of the Texas Rangers
Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)
Stranger on the Third Floor
Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)
They Knew What They Wanted
Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)
Road to Singapore
Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
Second Chorus
Undertow
Cab Driver
Earl Carroll Vanities
Collins (uncredited)
Reveille with Beverly
Waiter
Cracked Nuts
Private (uncredited)
Dizzy Pilots
Gambler
A Lady Takes a Chance
Jury Foreman (uncredited)
The Night of June 13
Waiter (uncredited)
Powder Town
Cipher Bureau
Spectator (uncredited)
A Date with the Falcon
Man in Park in Front of Kay
My Favorite Spy
Bald Man / Director
Crazy House
Saloon Waiter (uncredited)
Hi Diddle Diddle
Busboy
Presenting Lily Mars
Angelo (uncredited)
The Gay Falcon
Ice Man
From This Day Forward
Bald Juror (uncredited)
Roxie Hart
Bartender (uncredited)
Road to Utopia
The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
Doughboy (uncredited)
Doughboys
Sailor in Finale (uncredited)
In the Navy
Waiter (uncredited)
Hold That Ghost
Waiter (uncredited)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
Test Technician in Booth (uncredited)
Who Done It?
Stagehand (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited)
Swing Fever
Grocery Clerk (Uncredited)
Great Guy
Newsboy (uncredited)
I Walk Alone
Customs Inspector (uncredited)
Riff-Raff
All in Fun
clothing salesman on street
Pep Up
Soda Fountain Customer (uncredited)
The Buster Keaton Story
Townsman (uncredited)
Pardners
Waiter Who Gets Slapped
Las Vegas Nights
Waiter (uncredited)
Dangerous to Know
Sailor (uncredited)
Give Me a Sailor
Flesh and Fury
Bellboy (uncredited)
Living It Up
Man in Greased Pig Contest (uncredited)
One Sunday Afternoon
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
106
Gender
Male
Birthday
1894-12-17
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, USA
Also Known As
Robert S. Barbera