Charles Kemper (September 6, 1900 – May 12, 1950) was an American character actor born in Oklahoma. The heavy-set actor was for decades a successful stage actor.

Charles Kemper
Charles Kemper in On Dangerous Ground, 1951
Born(1900-09-06)September 6, 1900
DiedMay 12, 1950(1950-05-12) (aged 49)
Resting placeHoly Cross Cemetery, Culver City
Plot: Section C, Lot 206, Grave 1
OccupationFilm actor
Years active1929–1950

Movie career edit

Like many actors in New York, Kemper worked in short comedies filmed at the Astoria Studios. In 1937 he was signed by Educational Pictures as a leading comic, playing timid characters in the tradition of Educational's silent-era star Lloyd Hamilton. He soon became a foil for Educational's newest find Danny Kaye, who was then a dialect comedian. Kemper and Kaye might have continued in these miniature sketches, but the studio ceased production in mid-1938.

Kemper pursued a career in Hollywood, beginning in 1945, as a character actor. Kemper had memorable supporting roles in films including The Southerner (1945), Scarlet Street (1945), Gallant Journey (1946), The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947), and the film noir On Dangerous Ground (as Pop Daly, his last film role).

Kemper died at the age of 49 when he was involved in a car accident in Burbank, California.

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1945 The Southerner Tim
1945 An Angel Comes to Brooklyn Phineas Aloysius Higby
1945 Scarlet Street Homer Higgins
1946 Gallant Journey Father 'Dickie' Ball
1946 Sister Kenny Mr. McIntyre
1947 The Shocking Miss Pilgrim Herbert Jothan
1947 King of the Wild Horses Rudy
1947 Gunfighters Sheriff Kiscaden
1947 That Hagen Girl Jim Hagen
1948 Fury at Furnace Creek Peaceful Jones
1948 Fighting Father Dunne Emmett Mulvey
1948 Belle Starr's Daughter Deputy Gaffer
1948 Yellow Sky Walrus
1949 Adventure in Baltimore Mr. Steuben
1949 The Doolins of Oklahoma Thomas 'Arkansas' Jones
1949 Intruder in the Dust Crawford Gowrie
1950 The Nevadan Sheriff Dyke Merrick
1950 Stars in My Crown Prof. Sam Houston Jones
1950 A Ticket to Tomahawk Chuckity
1950 Wagon Master Uncle Shiloh Clegg
1950 Where Danger Lives Police Chief
1950 Mr. Music Mr. Danforth
1950 California Passage Sheriff Willy Clair
1951 On Dangerous Ground Pop Daly (final film role)

External links edit