Victor Potel

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career. Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series. Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness. In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges. Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.

Known For

De frente, marchen

Prof. Potelle

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

Branders (uncredited)

The Good Fellows

Tall Sailor (uncredited)

Adventure's End

Mr. McKeewie

The Palm Beach Story

The Tomboy on Bar Z

Alkali Ike's Auto

Sailor

The Bad One

Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress

Steve

The Strange Case of Dr. Meade

Peterson

King of the Wild

Davenola Salesman

Christmas in July

Comedy Role

Who's Your Father?

The Making of Broncho Billy

Trig Peters

Call of the West

Nebrasky

The Virginian

Newspaper Editor

The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek

Jasper

Western Gold

Charley Peastone

The Heart of a Child

Lem - Stagecoach Driver

The Girl of the Golden West

The Minister

Broncho Billy and the Sisters

Slippery Slim

Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair

Slippery Slim

When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs

Slippery Slim

Sophie's Home-Coming

Slippery Slim

The Battle of Snakeville

Slippery Slim

Sophie's Sweetheart

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's Blind Pig

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's Rising Sons

Slippery Slim

Slippery Slim Gets Square

Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office

Slippery Slim

Sentimental Sophie

Slippery Slim

When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese

Archie

Just a Few Little Things

Ingomar of the Hills

Slippery Slim

Alkali Ike and the Wildman

Cameraman

Sullivan's Travels

Broncho Billy's First Arrest

Hiram Maxwell

Quincy Adams Sawyer

Baseball Madness

Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12]

The Fighting Marines

Deputy Lem

Partners

Lank

Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests

Lank

Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme

Lank

Hank and Lank: Lifesavers

A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law

The Silent Message

A Westerner's Way

Lank

Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men

Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present

A Cowboy's Vindication

Lank

Hank and Lank: Blind Men

The Bad Man's Christmas Gift

The Tenderfoot Messenger

The Count

The Count and the Cowboys

The Border Ranger

A Child of the West

The Tenderfoot Foreman

The Prospector's Legacy

Widow Jenkins' Admirers

The Biter Bitten

The Oath of His Office

The Ranch Girl's Mistake

The Two Reformations

Lank

Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash

The Bad Man's Downfall

The Sheriff's Chum

Broncho Billy and the Red Man

The Indian Maiden's Lesson

The Bunco Game at Lizardhead

Across the Plains

The Infant at Snakeville

The Puncher's New Love

The Storekeeper

Broncho Billy and the Bad Man

The Corporation and the Ranch Girl

Broncho Billy-Guardian

Skinny

A Hungry Pair

Alkali Ike's Pants

A Thief

Broncho Billy Reforms

The Two Fugitives

Slippery Slim

Broncho Bill's Last Spree

Broncho Billy's Squareness

The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine

The Tall Schultz Brother

Town Hall, Tonight

The Forester's Plea

A Dog on Business

Lank

Hank and Lank: Joyriding

Lank

Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some

The Tout's Remembrance

Patricia of the Plains

The Bearded Bandit

A Cattle Owner

Broncho Billy and the Vigilante

On the Cactus Trail

A Story of Montana

Broncho Billy's Pal

Broncho Billy for Sheriff

Alkali Ike Plays the Devil

A Cowboy

An Indian Sunbeam

Alkali Ike Stung!

Slippery Slim

Alkali Ike's Close Shave

Broncho Billy's Gun Play

Broncho Billy's Promise

An Indian's Friendship

Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife

Jailer

Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid

Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter

Dr. Huff

Broncho Billy's Gratefulness

The Accusation of Broncho Billy

Slippery Slim

Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist

Slippery Slim

Alkali Ike's Homecoming

Slippery Slim

Alkali Ike's Misfortunes

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's New Doctor

Broncho Billy's Oath

The Last Laugh

The Three Gamblers

Slippery Slim

Sophie's Hero

A Romance of the Hills

Second Actor

That Pair from Thespia

Slippery Slim

A Snakeville Courtship

Sheriff's Assistant

A Night on the Road

Slippery Slim

Sophie's New Foreman

Slippery Slim

Slippery Slim Gets Cured

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's Peace-Maker

Slippery Slim

When Slippery Slim Met the Champion

The Hotel Proprietor

Broncho Billy Rewarded

The Bartender

A Gamblers' Way

Slippery Slim

Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie

Slippery Slim

Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator

Bartender

What Came to Bar Q

Slippery Slim

Sophie and the Man of Her Choice

Slippery Slim

Slippery Slim and the Impersonator

The Sheriff

Broncho Billy's Sermon

Broncho Billy's Leap

The Hotel Clerk

Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark

The Minister

The Revenue Agent

The Bachelor's Burglar

Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber

Slippery Slim

Sophie Starts Something

Slippery Slim

The Snakeville Volunteer

Slippery Slim

Sophie Pulls a Good One

Snicklefritz

Pie for Sophie

Slippery Slim

The Wooing of Sophie

Slippery Slim

Sophie Finds a Hero

Slippery Slim

Sophie Gets Stung

Slippery Slim

A Horse on Sophie

Slippery Slim

Sophie's Fatal Wedding

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's Reform Wave

Slippery Slim

Snakeville's New Waitress

The School Trustee

Broncho Billy Wins Out

Broncho Billy's Wild Ride

Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need

Broncho Billy, the Vagabond

Slippery Slim

Slippery Slim -- Diplomat

Broncho Billy Steps In

Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp

Peter

A Tailor-Made Man

Joe Pendleton

Lavender and Old Lace

Undetermined Role

Damaged Lives

The Broken Coin

Turpentine

God's Country and the Woman

Old Clerk

The Good-for-Nothing

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

Farmer Gates

The Drunkard

Ranch Foreman Scarface

Big Boy Rides Again

Noisy Johnson

Step on It!

Slim

The Loaded Door

'Buck Tooth'

Three Godfathers

Jingo Pitts

One a Minute

Andy

The Squaw Man

Kinso

The Adventures of Rex and Rinty

Sentry

The Virtuous Sin

Andy

Down to the Sea

Slim Bassil

Selling Shorts

Constable Sam

Captain Kidd, Jr.

Slim

Border Romance

Jed Clinton

The Last of the Clintons

It Happened Tomorrow

Abner Towner

Small Town Boy

Brawler (uncredited)

Gun Play

Lyons

On the Great White Trail

Deputy Tex Hatch

Frontier Days

Tom Turner

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come

Willie McNeil

Bob Hampton of Placer

Beanpole

Full of Pep

Steve Brainard

Water, Water, Everywhere

'Cuckoo' Niles

Below the Line

Dick

Thunder Over Texas

Detective McRae

Reno

Olaf Svenson (uncredited)

Pot o' Gold

Lanky

The Cowboy and the Bandit

Slim

Western Frontier

Slim

Hollywood Cavalcade

Jugger - the Bartender

Yellow Dust

Reporter

Scandal Sheet

Policeman (uncredited)

The Villain Still Pursued Her

Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited)

Face in the Sky

Coach Driver

Stand Up and Fight

Guest (uncredited)

Mississippi

Ole Swensen (uncredited)

Let Freedom Ring

Slim

Down the Wyoming Trail

Steve - Crane Operator

Second Fiddle

Ranch Hand

Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence

Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)

Slightly Honorable

Svendenburg

Doughboys

Suspect

The Housekeeper's Daughter

Lars (uncredited)

Blondie Brings Up Baby

The General

Hallelujah, I'm a Bum

Swede

Paradise Island

Jorgeson (uncredited)

Fury

Bill Prouty

Whispering Smith Speaks

Man in Store

Rovin' Tumbleweeds

Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)

The Man in the Trunk

Smith, a Sailor

Ten Cents a Dance

Mr. Tompkins

Young Tom Edison

Second Steward (uncredited)

The Lady Eve

Professor Alonzo Bozzle

What Darwin Missed

The Loafer

Rice - Thin Detective

Inside Information

Johnny Stokes

Mary's Ankle

Station Agent

Chip of the Flying U

Tall Saloon Cowboy

Moonlight on the Prairie

Conductor

Trail of the Vigilantes

Lem

The Lady from Cheyenne

Ole

Ride on Vaquero

Cassius

Two Gun Law

Little Casino

Song of the Saddle

Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)

Man Hunt

Luke Stacey

White Bondage

Alex

Waterfront Lady

Cook (uncredited)

The Great McGinty

Fantastic Brown

Li'l Abner

Postman

Three Faces West

Jean

Captain Swagger

Deputy Jake Hutchinson

The Captain's Kid

Train Fireman

Flame of Barbary Coast

Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)

The Glass Alibi

Hearts and Saddles

Slim Jensen

Rhythm Round-Up

The Count

Versus Sledge Hammers

The Poet

At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern

Pawn Shop Clerk

His Regeneration

Curly - Cowboy

Ruggles of Red Gap

Loafer (uncredited)

Shipmates Forever

Posse Rider (uncredited)

Wagon Wheels West

The Gawk

Melody of Love

Press Agent

Uneasy Payments

Pushkin

Billions

A Petal on the Current

Goofus

The Lodge in the Wilderness

Constable

Racing Romance

Ole Jensen

Morganson's Finish

Farmer

She Couldn't Take It

Crowbar

The Egg and I

The Devil Thumbs a Ride

Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)

A Medal for Benny

Barber

Girl from God's Country

Ten Days

Tom Watson

Twisted Rails

Outlaw

Broncho Billy and the Western Girls

The Druggist

Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County

Gabby - the Cook

O'Malley of the Mounted

First Dental Patient

The Great Moment

Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape

Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner

Cowboy

Broncho Billy's Adventure

Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy

Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)

Hail the Conquering Hero

What Price Beauty?

Contest Chairman

Yankee Fakir

Lem Parker

Laughing at Trouble

Ivy Peters

A Lost Lady

Joel Andrews

The Law Forbids

Pokey Jones

A Self-Made Failure

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

272

Gender

Male

Birthday

1889-10-12

Place of Birth

Lafayette, Indiana, USA

Also Known As

Vic Potel