Loyal Underwood (August 6, 1893 - September 30, 1966) was an American stock actor for Charlie Chaplin's film studio.

Loyal Underwood
BornAugust 6, 1893
Rockford, Illinois
DiedSeptember 30, 1966 (aged 73)
Los Angeles, California

Biography

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Born in 1893 in Rockford, Illinois, Underwood's movie debut was in The Count, a 1916 Chaplin short film created for the Mutual Film Corporation. Underwood is uncredited as he was for the four other Mutual shorts in which he appeared.

In 1918, Chaplin started work for First National and Loyal Underwood was on hand. He was credited and appeared in all seven First National Shorts which Chaplin directed.

Underwood was a short man. Next to the short Chaplin at 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), he appeared puny and weak. Hence, the comedy of a situation in which such a man is the antagonist; Chaplin's character routinely shrugged him off.

Between 1921 and 1927, Underwood appeared in several other lesser known films. In the next twenty years, he was again appearing uncredited in films, such as Arizona Bad Man, Let's Dance and The Paleface.

In 1928, Underwood worked as a writer and director at radio station KNX in Los Angeles.[1]

Underwood's final film was a credited role, albeit a small one, as a Street Musician in Chaplin's final American film Limelight in 1952.

Underwood died in Los Angeles on September 30, 1966, in Southern California, and is buried in the Sheltering Hills section at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. He was 73. Decades after his death, he lies in a still-unmarked curbside grave.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1916 The Count Small Guest Short, Uncredited
1918 A Dog's Life Man in Dance Hall Short, Uncredited
1918 Shoulder Arms Short German Officer
1919 Sunnyside Fat Boy's Father Short, Uncredited
1919 A Day's Pleasure Angry Little Man in Street Short, Uncredited
1919 The Professor Flophouse Proprietor Short, Uncredited
1921 The Man Who Woke Up Writer
1921 Lucky Carson 'Runt' Sloan
1922 Pay Day Workman #3 Short
1922 My American Wife Danny O'Hare
1923 The Pilgrim Small Deacon
1924 The Dixie Handicap Losing Jones
1927 Shootin' Irons Blinky
1935 Arizona Bad Man Square Dance Caller Uncredited
1935 Fighting Caballero Musician Uncredited
1948 Isn't It Romantic? Townsman Uncredited
1948 The Paleface Bearded Character Uncredited
1950 Let's Dance Cowboy Uncredited
1951 My Favorite Spy Beggar Uncredited
1952 Limelight Street Musician (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ "Radio ride to Hawaii is on KNX program". Los Angeles Evening Express. May 14, 1928. p. 22. Retrieved March 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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