Walter Woolf King | |
|---|---|
.jpg) King in Today I Hang (1942) | |
| Born | Walter Woolf King November 2, 1899 |
| Died | October 24, 1984 (aged 84) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1918–1977 |
| Spouse(s) | Ernestyne Bachrach (m. 193?; div. 19??) |
| Children | Barbara Jean Meier Walter Woolf King Jr.[1] |
Walter Woolf King (November 2, 1899 – October 24, 1984) was an American film, television and stage actor and singer.
Born in San Francisco, California in 1899, King started singing for a living at a young age and performed mostly in churches. He made his Broadway debut in 1919, and became a well-known baritone in operettas and musical comedies. King billed himself as Walter Woolf and Walter King early in his career, eventually settling on a combination of all three names in the mid-1930s.
In 1936, King was host of the Flying Red Horse Tavern on CBS radio.[2]
King began his film career in musicals but quickly moved into supporting roles. He is probably best remembered today for his villainous roles in two films starring the Marx Brothers: A Night at the Opera (1935) and Go West (1940). He also appeared with Laurel & Hardy in Swiss Miss (1938). King made several appearances on radio and later became an actors' agent. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was seen in several often uncredited bit parts and smaller roles in television and films.
One credited TV role was as “Major Clinton” in the 1958 S1E38 offering, “The Monty Britton Story” on Wagon Train.
In the first episode of The Munsters he is credited for his role as George Washington. His final appearance was in the 1977 TV movie One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story.
King died in Beverly Hills, California in 1984.
- ^ "Walter Woolf King is Dead;Leading Actor and Singer". The New York Times. October 29, 1984.
- ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 234.