Arthur Housman
Biography
Arthur Housman was an American actor of the silent and early sound eras, and one of the first screen comedians audiences knew by name. Born in New York City, he started at the Edison studio there as a light leading man and slapstick performer. In 1913 and 1914 Edison paired him with character actor William Wadsworth in the team Waddy and Arty. With Edison's stock company he took part in early synchronized-sound experiments, including The Edison Minstrels and Jack's Joke. In the 1930s he specialized in comic drunkards, becoming Hollywood's most familiar example, usually in cameo parts. His best remembered work included Laurel and Hardy films such as Scram!, Our Relations (1936) and The Live Ghost. He appeared in Movie Crazy (1932) and After the Thin Man, and he sometimes played sober character parts, as the timekeeper in a Three Stooges short called Punch Drunks. He later took larger roles in inexpensive independent features, including With Love and Kisses (1936).
52years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 7
- Career span
- 16 years1920 to 1936
First and latest
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A first
Arthur Housman was among the first screen comedians audiences knew by name, and he was also one of the first to join a movie comedy team. For the pioneer Edison studio in New York, he worked as a light leading man and slapstick comic.
First role
The Edison company paired Housman with William Wadsworth, a character actor, to form the comedy duo "Waddy and Arty" during 1913-14.
A first
Housman took part in Edison's experimental talking pictures, appearing in reels such as The Edison Minstrels, where he played the interlocutor who made the spoken announcements.
A change of course
Housman started out as a leading man, but in 1930s films he was best known as Hollywood's most familiar comic drunkard. He usually took cameo parts in features, though short films gave him better opportunities.
Arthur Housman movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Arthur Housman shares two films with Harold Lloyd, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Harold Lloyd's page
Robert McWade's page
Gino Corrado's page
Alan Hale's page
J. Farrell MacDonald's page
Jack Chefe's page
Clyde BruckmanDirector, 2 films, 1930 to 1932
All films by Clyde Bruckman
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.