
Clarence Kolb
ActingAbout Clarence Kolb
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Clarence William Kolb (July 31, 1874 – November 25, 1964) was an American vaudeville performer and actor. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the only child of second generation Austrian parents who owned a local meat company. Kolb started out as one half of a vaudeville comedy team, Kolb and Dill, with Max Dill. They styled their act on the famous team of Weber and Fields. In addition to their stage work, they appeared in a series of short films and a feature length movie in 1917. Afterwards, Kolb made a return to vaudeville, and he only returned to the movies in the late 1930s. He became famous for portraying the same type of character in many films, namely a politician or businessman. He is best remembered for his role as the grumpy father in the multi-Academy Awards nominated hit comedy film Merrily We Live (1938), the corrupt mayor in the comedy His Girl Friday (1940), and as Mr. Honeywell in the television sitcom My Little Margie (1952). Kolb played himself in his last movie appearance, Man of a Thousand Faces (1957), opposite Danny Beck (who played the late Max Dill). Clarence Kolb died at age 90 of a stroke at the Orchard Gables Sanitarium in Hollywood. He is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Clarence Kolb reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Clarence Kolb's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 34% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Clarence Kolb remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in His Girl Friday, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Clarence Kolb Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Clarence Kolb's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Clarence Kolb.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Man of a Thousand Faces | Clarence Kolb | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Shake, Rattle and Rock! | Judge McCombs | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Rose Bowl Story | Gramps Burke | Flop | Similar → |
| 1949 | Adam's Rib | Judge Reiser | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Impact | Darcy | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Christmas Eve | Judge Alston | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | Blondie in the Dough | J.T. Thorp | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Fabulous Joe | Cornelius Belmont, II | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | Fun on a Weekend | Quigley Quackenbush | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Lost Honeymoon | Mr. Evans | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Pilgrim Lady | Prof. Rankin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | White Tie and Tails | Mr. Arkwright | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn | Mr. Austin | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Something for the Boys | Colonel Grubbs (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Irish Eyes Are Smiling | Leo Betz | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Standing Room Only | Glen Ritchie | Flop | Similar → |
| 1943 | True to Life | Mr. Huggins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Falcon in Danger | Stanley Harris Palmer | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Sky's the Limit | Harvey J. Sloan (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hellzapoppin' | Andrew Rand | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Bedtime Story | Collins | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | You're in the Army Now | General Winthrop | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Night of January 16th | Tilton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Nothing But the Truth | Mr. Van Dusen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Blossoms in the Dust | Senator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Caught in the Draft | Col. Peter Fairbanks | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Michael Shayne: Private Detective | Hiram P. Brighton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Tugboat Annie Sails Again | J.B. Armstrong | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | No Time for Comedy | Richard Benson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Man Who Talked Too Much | E.A. Smith | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Five Little Peppers at Home | J.H. King | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | His Girl Friday | Mayor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Amazing Mr. Williams | Captain McGovern | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Beware Spooks! | Lester Lewis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Five Little Peppers And How They Grew | J.H. King | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Good Girls Go to Paris | Ted Dayton Sr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Society Lawyer | Mr. Leonard | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | I Was a Convict | John B. Harrison | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Honolulu | Mr. Horace Grayson | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Law West of Tombstone | Samuel 'Sam' Kent | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Carefree | Judge Travers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Give Me a Sailor | Captain Tallant | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Merrily We Live | Henry Kilbourne | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Gold Is Where You Find It | Senator Walsh | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Wells Fargo | John Butterfield | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | Portia on Trial | John Condon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Toast of New York | Cornelius Vanderbilt | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Maid of Salem | Town Crier (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | A Girl's Best Years | Doctor (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Fury | Durkin's Friend (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Clarence Kolb - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Clarence Kolb?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Clarence Kolb is "His Girl Friday" with a rating of 7.4/10.
How many movies has Clarence Kolb acted in?
Clarence Kolb has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Clarence Kolb?
Other notable films include "Fury", "Hellzapoppin'", and "Adam's Rib".




