Billy Bevan
Acting • Born 1887-09-29 – Died 1957-11-26
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Billy Bevan (born William Bevan Harris, 29 September 1887 – 26 November 1957) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became an American film actor. He appeared in 254 American films between 1916 and 1950. Bevan was born in the country town of Orange, New South Wales, Australia. He went on the stage at an early age, traveled to Sydney and spent eight years in Australian light opera, performing as Willie Bevan. He sailed to America with the Pollard’s Lilliputian Opera Company in 1912 and later toured Canada. Bevan broke into films with the Sigmund Lubin studio in 1916. When the company disbanded, Bevan became a supporting actor in Mack Sennett movie comedies. An expressive pantomimist, Bevan's quiet scene-stealing attracted attention, and by 1922 Bevan was a Sennett star. He supplemented his income, however, by establishing a citrus and avocado farm at Escondido, California. Usually filmed wearing a derby hat and a drooping mustache, Bevan may not have possessed an indelible screen character like Charlie Chaplin but he had a friendly, funny presence in the frantic Sennett comedies. Much of the comedy depended on Bevan's skilled timing and reactions; the famous "oyster" routine performed on film by Curly Howard, Lou Costello, and Huntz Hall—in which a bowl of "fresh oyster stew" shows alarming signs of life and battles the guy trying to eat it—was originated on film decades earlier by Bevan in the short film Wandering Willies. By the mid-1920s Bevan was often teamed with Andy Clyde; Clyde soon graduated to his own starring series. The late 1920s found Bevan playing in wild marital farces for Sennett. The advent of talking pictures took their toll on the careers of many silent stars, including Billy Bevan. Bevan began a second career in "talkies" as a character actor and bit player in roles such as that of a bus driver in the 1929 film High Voltage, a hotel employee in the Mae Murray film Peacock Alley, and the supporting role of Second Lieutenant Trotter in Journey's End in 1930. His starring roles had come to an end, however, and for the next 20 years he often would play rowdy Cockneys (as in Pack Up Your Troubles with The Ritz Brothers), and affable Englishmen (as in Tin Pan Alley and Terror by Night). He played a friendly bus conductor opposite Greer Garson in one of the opening scenes of Mrs. Miniver. Bevan died in 1957 in Escondido, California, just before new audiences discovered him in Robert Youngson's silent-comedy compilations. (The Youngson films mispronounce his name as "Be-VAN"; Bevan himself offered the proper pronunciation in a Voice of Hollywood reel in 1930.)
Filmography
201 credits
Rebecca
Movie • 1940
Policeman (uncredited)
Bringing Up Baby
Movie • 1938
Joe (uncredited)
The Secret Of St. Ives
Movie • 1949
Douglas (uncredited)
Terror by Night
Movie • 1946
Conductor Taking Tickets
Dracula's Daughter
Movie • 1936
Albert
Suspicion
Movie • 1941
Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Movie • 1936
Cabby (uncredited)
Fortunes of Captain Blood
Movie • 1950
Billy Bragg
Pop's Pal
Movie • 1933
Grandpa
The Pearl of Death
Movie • 1944
Constable With Food Tray (uncredited)
Off His Trolley
Movie • 1924
The Traffic Cop
A Tale of Two Cities
Movie • 1935
Jerry Cruncher
Around the Town: British Film Stars and Studios
Movie • 1921
Himself
The Invisible Man Returns
Movie • 1940
Jim (uncredited)
The Invisible Man's Revenge
Movie • 1944
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Payment Deferred
Movie • 1932
Charlie Hammond
Mysterious Mr. Moto
Movie • 1938
Customs Official
Tonight and Every Night
Movie • 1945
Cabbie (uncredited)
Journey's End
Movie • 1930
Trotter
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie • 1938
Nick
Bombs and Bandits
Movie • 1917
The Chief of Police
The Lost Patrol
Movie • 1934
Hale
Gold Digger of Weepah
Movie • 1927
The Barber
The Girl from Everywhere
Movie • 1927
Messenger
The Bicycle Flirt
Movie • 1928
Doty Bassett - the Bicycle Flirt
The Girl from Nowhere
Movie • 1928
Constable Billy Barnes
Motorboat Mamas
Movie • 1928
Billy Bender
Hubby's Weekend Trip
Movie • 1928
Bill Blake
Don't Get Jealous
Movie • 1929
Billy Blake
Counter-Espionage
Movie • 1942
George Barrow
Cavalcade
Movie • 1933
George Grainger
Calling Hubby's Bluff
Movie • 1929
Billy Barton
Pink Pajamas
Movie • 1929
Billy Brooks
Musclebound Music
Movie • 1926
Billy Hornby
Hayfoot, Strawfoot?
Movie • 1926
Pete
East of the Water Plug
Movie • 1924
The Sheriff
The Man Who Wouldn't Die
Movie • 1942
Phillips
From Rags to Britches
Movie • 1925
Joe Bush
Trimmed in Gold
Movie • 1926
Otto Stropp
Should Sleepwalkers Marry?
Movie • 1927
Charley Carter
Should Husbands Marry?
Movie • 1926
The Cop
Pitfalls of a Big City
Movie • 1923
Barfly (uncredited)
Inbad the Sailor
Movie • 1923
Jake aka Inbad the Sailor
One Spooky Night
Movie • 1924
A.J. Bird Jr.
The Cannon Ball Express
Movie • 1924
Adam Fargo - Baggage Master
Wandering Waistlines
Movie • 1924
Sandy Hook - Sailor
The Crossroads of New York
Movie • 1922
Press Agent
Little Robinson Corkscrew
Movie • 1924
The Sheriff
Sneezing Beezers
Movie • 1925
Joe Honck - Taxi Driver
Over Thereabouts
Movie • 1925
Joe Dobell
Peaches and Plumbers
Movie • 1927
Bill the Plumber
Cured in the Excitement
Movie • 1927
Professor Brawn
The Bull Fighter
Movie • 1927
Pete De Tour
Weak But Willing
Movie • 1929
George Downing
God's Country and the Woman
Movie • 1937
Plug Hat
Pirates of the Air
Movie • 1916
The Bartender
Luxury Liner
Movie • 1933
Schultz
His New Stenographer
Movie • 1928
Billy Brooks
High Voltage
Movie • 1929
Gus Jones
Butter Fingers
Movie • 1925
Nick
Wandering Willies
Movie • 1926
Percy Nudge
Hubby’s Quiet Little Game
Movie • 1926
Billy Foote
Vanity Fair
Movie • 1932
Joseph Sedley
The Best Man
Movie • 1928
Best Man
The Beach Club
Movie • 1928
Piccadilly Jim
Movie • 1936
Taxi Driver
Mrs. Miniver
Movie • 1942
Bus Conductor (uncredited)
Sky Devils
Movie • 1932
Colonel
The Slappiest Days of Our Lives
Movie • 1951
(archive footage)
Limehouse Blues
Movie • 1934
Herb
Super-Hooper-Dyne Lizzies
Movie • 1925
Hiram Case
Stingaree
Movie • 1934
Mac
Slave Ship
Movie • 1937
Atkins
Hoboken to Hollywood
Movie • 1926
Billy Judkins
Lizzies of the Field
Movie • 1924
Bud Gasket
Flirty Four-Flushers
Movie • 1926
Jerry Connors / Archibald De Shyster
Masked Mamas
Movie • 1926
Casey McCorkle
Astray from the Steerage
Movie • 1921
A steerage passenger
Be Reasonable
Movie • 1921
A Rolling Stone
Mystery Woman
Movie • 1935
Jepson
The Sky Hawk
Movie • 1929
Tom Berry
Whispering Whiskers
Movie • 1926
The Drifter
The Wrong Road
Movie • 1937
McLean
Pack Up Your Troubles
Movie • 1939
British Sergeant
The Hollywood Kid
Movie • 1924
Studio Organist
Who's Who in the Zoo
Movie • 1931
Father
Scotch
Movie • 1930
Gilbert - Addie's Brother
Shining Victory
Movie • 1941
Chivers
Peacock Alley
Movie • 1930
Walter
Too Much Harmony
Movie • 1933
Stage Director
Shadows Over Shanghai
Movie • 1938
Gallicuddy
Galloping Bungalows
Movie • 1924
John Syrup Soother
Circus Today
Movie • 1926
Gus Barnum
Looking Forward
Movie • 1933
Mr. Barker
Hans Christian Andersen
Movie • 1952
Town Councilman (uncredited)
A Sea Dog's Tale
Movie • 1926
Wilbur Watts
Ice Cold Cocos
Movie • 1926
Gus Gander
Black Sheep
Movie • 1935
Alfred
Private Number
Movie • 1936
Frederick
Gymnasium Jim
Movie • 1922
Jim
Moss Rose
Movie • 1947
Harry, Cab Driver (uncredited)
The Extra Girl
Movie • 1923
Comedian
Bright Eyes
Movie • 1921
The Nosey Butler
Love and Doughnuts
Movie • 1921
The Burglar
Easy Pickings
Movie • 1927
The Detective
Penny Serenade
Movie • 1941
McDougal (uncredited)
Alice in Wonderland
Movie • 1933
Two of Spades (uncredited)
Somebody's Widow
Movie • 1918
Secretary
Gertie's Gasoline Glide
Movie • 1916
The Minister
Blond Cheat
Movie • 1938
Bartender (uncredited)
Champagne Charlie
Movie • 1936
Mr. Boswick
Arrest Bulldog Drummond
Movie • 1938
Aquarium Guard
Born to Love
Movie • 1931
Departing British Soldier (uncredited)
Caravan
Movie • 1934
Police Sergeant
Let Freedom Ring
Movie • 1939
Cockney (uncredited)
We Are Not Alone
Movie • 1939
Mr. Jones
The Big Squeal
Movie • 1933
Jake Burke
The Swordsman
Movie • 1948
Old Andrew
When Summer Comes
Movie • 1922
Lyons - the Tenderfoot
On Patrol
Movie • 1922
The Amateur Cop
Wall Street Blues
Movie • 1924
The Janitor
One Cylinder Love
Movie • 1923
The Bachelor's Butler / Chauffeur / Footman
The Duck Hunter
Movie • 1922
The Sportsman
Her Rustic Romeo
Movie • 1918
Jane Eyre
Movie • 1943
Bookie (uncredited)
Three Foolish Weeks
Movie • 1924
King of Anchovia
It Had to Be You
Movie • 1947
Evans
The Sheik Steps Out
Movie • 1937
Munson
Transatlantic
Movie • 1931
Hodgkins
Riley the Cop
Movie • 1928
Paris Cabman
Confirm or Deny
Movie • 1941
Mr. Bindle
Another Dawn
Movie • 1937
Pvt. Hawkins
Shock
Movie • 1934
Meadows
The Earl of Chicago
Movie • 1940
Castle Guide
The Lodger
Movie • 1944
London Blackout Murders
Movie • 1943
Air Raid Warden
The Golf Nut
Movie • 1927
Billy Divott
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Movie • 1941
Mr. Weller
The Black Arrow
Movie • 1948
Dungeon Keeper
Rogues of Sherwood Forest
Movie • 1950
Will Scarlet
Peg o' My Heart
Movie • 1933
Detective #2 (uncredited)
Thundering Taxis
Movie • 1933
One of the Taxi Boys
Vanessa: Her Love Story
Movie • 1935
Horse Auctioneer
Tin Pan Alley
Movie • 1940
Stage Doorman
The Silent Witness
Movie • 1932
Horace Ward
The Long Voyage Home
Movie • 1940
Joe
She Whoops To Conquer
Movie • 1933
The Last Outpost
Movie • 1935
Private Foster
Nip and Tuck
Movie • 1923
Sailor
Temptation
Movie • 1930
Sam
Forever and a Day
Movie • 1943
Wartime Cabby
Me and My Gal
Movie • 1932
Ashley, Arguing Drunk (uncredited)
Personal Property
Movie • 1937
Frank (uncredited)
Captain Fury
Movie • 1939
Duffy
I Married a Witch
Movie • 1942
Puritan Vendor (uncredited)
Monte Carlo
Movie • 1930
Train Conductor (uncredited)
Uncle Jake
Movie • 1933
Uncle Jake
The Trespasser
Movie • 1929
Reporter (uncredited)
Giddap!
Movie • 1925
Gaspard De Brie
The Young in Heart
Movie • 1938
Kennel Man (uncredited)
National Velvet
Movie • 1945
Constable (uncredited)
A Christmas Carol
Movie • 1938
Street Watch Leader
Honeymoon Beach
Movie • 1932
Billy Bevan
Song and Dance Man
Movie • 1936
Curtis
The White Sin
Movie • 1924
Travers Dale
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Movie • 1945
Malvolio Jones
A Small Town Idol
Movie • 1921
Director
The Quack Doctor
Movie • 1920
The Hired Lady's Sweetheart
The Return of the Vampire
Movie • 1943
Horace (uncredited)
Cupid In Quarantine
Movie • 1918
The Father
The Iron Nag
Movie • 1925
Joe Gobb
The Lion's Whiskers
Movie • 1925
Otto Klutch
Honeymoon Hardships
Movie • 1925
Farmer
His Unlucky Night
Movie • 1928
Billy Trotter
Happy Times and Jolly Moments
Movie • 1943
(archive footage)
Fight Night
Movie • 1926
Walter Moore
A Small Town Princess
Movie • 1927
Joe Whiffet
Chances
Movie • 1931
Cuthbert (uncredited)
Let's Live a Little
Movie • 1948
Morton
The Widow from Monte Carlo
Movie • 1935
Officer Watkins
Lloyd's of London
Movie • 1936
Innkeeper
Three Secrets
Movie • 1950
Ed Jackson (uncredited)
The Golden Age of Comedy
Movie • 1957
archive footage
Waterloo Bridge
Movie • 1931
Soldier on the Make (uncredited)
One More River
Movie • 1934
Cloakroom Attendant
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Movie • 1934
Man in Hotel Room
The Secret Garden
Movie • 1949
Barney
This Above All
Movie • 1942
Farmer
Devotion
Movie • 1946
Mr. Ames (uncredited)
The Way to Love
Movie • 1933
M. Prial
For the Love o' Lil
Movie • 1930
Edward O. Walker
Tell It to the Judge
Movie • 1949
Winston, Kitty's Butler (uncredited)
A Study in Scarlet
Movie • 1933
Will Swallow
30 Years of Fun
Movie • 1963
(archive footage)
Techno-Crazy
Movie • 1933
Mary's Father - the Mayor
Cluny Brown
Movie • 1946
Uncle Arn Porritt
Distilled Love
Movie • 1920
Are Married Policemen Safe?
Movie • 1918
Love, Honor and Behave
Movie • 1920
A Fake Lawyer
Married Life
Movie • 1920
Hospital Staff / Janitor (uncredited)
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self