Bobby Barber

Biography

Bobby Barber was an American actor whose career ran to more than 250 films and television shows, most of them small parts that often went uncredited. Born Robert S. Barbera in New York City, he was known above all as a foil for Abbott and Costello, appearing in many of their movies and roughly half of their television series. Off camera he served as a kind of court jester, lifting the mood between takes with practical jokes and pranks, and he sometimes barged into a shot and stopped filming. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) he came through a door where Lon Chaney Jr. was expected, and in another outtake from that same film he followed Bela Lugosi down a staircase, mimicking his walk. Late credits included Lou Costello's final movie, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959), and appearances as an extra on Leave It to Beaver. Barber died in 1976.

81years old at death

Born December 18, 1894New York City
Died May 24, 1976Seal Beach
Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21

Movie Career

Films: 37
Career span: 25 years1932 to 1957

Genres

Comedy57%, 21 films
Romance41%, 15 films
Drama35%, 13 films
Crime22%, 8 films
Musical19%, 7 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Getting ready for a role
In an outtake from Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Bela Lugosi walked solemnly down a staircase while Barber trailed behind him copying his steps, breaking up the cast and crew.
Getting ready for a role
Barber sometimes interrupted a take on purpose, as in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein where Costello opened a door expecting Lon Chaney Jr. and Barber walked in instead, wrecking the scene.

Bobby Barber movies on Netflix

Jailhouse Rock1957IMDb rating 6.5as Film Crew Member
The Joker Is Wild1957IMDb rating 7.0as Waiter
The Midnight Story1957IMDb rating 6.7as Party Guest
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6as Sneaky
Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2as Gardipe
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3as Arab on Jeep's Hood
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7as Dry Cleaning Man
Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0as Chauffeur
Undertow1949IMDb rating 6.6
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3as Waiter
Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2as Minor Role
I Walk Alone1947IMDb rating 7.0as Newsboy
Riff-Raff1947IMDb rating 6.8as Customs Inspector
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer1947IMDb rating 7.2as Birthday Cake Waiter
Calcutta1946IMDb rating 6.4as Taxi Driver
Anchors Aweigh1945IMDb rating 7.0as Salad Cook
Road to Utopia1945IMDb rating 7.1as Bartender
Laura1944IMDb rating 7.9as Newsboy
Passage to Marseille1944IMDb rating 6.8as Frenchman
Buckskin Frontier1943IMDb rating 6.0as Townsman
Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7as Candy Butcher
The Sky's the Limit1943IMDb rating 6.3as Canteen Waiter
Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2as Waiter
In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7as Sailor in Finale
Second Chorus1941IMDb rating 5.7as Room Service Waiter
The Gay Falcon1941IMDb rating 6.5as Angelo
The Lady Eve1941IMDb rating 7.7as Ship's Waiter with Toupee
Primrose Path1940IMDb rating 6.8as Benny
Road to Singapore1940IMDb rating 6.6as Man Hit with Soap Suds
Stranger on the Third Floor1940IMDb rating 6.8as Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer
Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9
Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4as Hotel Staffer Moving Bed
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Italian Waiter at Nightclub
Breakfast for Two1937IMDb rating 6.4as Window Washer
History Is Made at Night1937IMDb rating 7.3as Paul - Waiter at Victor's
Dodsworth1936IMDb rating 7.7as Italian Taxi Driver
Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5as Speakeasy Patron

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Horse Feathers1932 Comedy, Family, Musicalas Speakeasy Patron
IMDb rating 7.514K votes
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Waiter
IMDb rating 7.321K votes
Laura1944as Newsboy
IMDb rating 7.957K votes
Dodsworth1936as Italian Taxi Driver
IMDb rating 7.711K votes
Jailhouse Rock1957as Film Crew Member
IMDb rating 6.511K votes
The Lady Eve1941as Ship's Waiter with Toupee
IMDb rating 7.726K votes
Undertow1949
IMDb rating 6.61.2K votes
Road to Singapore1940as Man Hit with Soap Suds
IMDb rating 6.64.3K votes

Most often with

Charles Barton directed four of these films, Charles Lamont three and Norman Z. McLeod two. Two actors appear in nine of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Lou Costello

Bud Abbott

Marc Lawrence

Fred Astaire

James Flavin

Don Beddoe

Charles BartonDirector, 4 films Charles LamontDirector, 3 films Norman Z. McLeodDirector, 2 films

Films together

Lou Costello9 films together, 1941 to 1951
Lou Costello's page
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Barber as SneakyCostello as Lou Francis
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Barber as Arab on Jeep's HoodCostello as Lou Hotchkiss
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Dry Cleaning ManCostello as Freddie Phillips
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Barber as ChauffeurCostello as Stanley Livington
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Barber as WaiterCostello as Wilbur Gray
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Barber as Minor RoleCostello as Joe Bascom aka Humphrey Fish
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Candy ButcherCostello as Weejie McCoy
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Barber as WaiterCostello as Ferdinand Jones
- In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Sailor in FinaleCostello as Pomeroy Watson
Bud Abbott9 films together, 1941 to 1951
Bud Abbott's page
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Barber as SneakyAbbott as Bud Alexander
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Barber as Arab on Jeep's HoodAbbott as Bud Jones
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Dry Cleaning ManAbbott as Casey Edwards
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Barber as ChauffeurAbbott as Buzz Johnson
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Barber as WaiterAbbott as Chick Young
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Barber as Minor RoleAbbott as Harry Lambert
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Candy ButcherAbbott as Flash Fulton
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Barber as WaiterAbbott as Chuck Murray
- In the Navy1941IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Sailor in FinaleAbbott as Smokey Adams
Marc Lawrence4 films together, 1941 to 1950
Marc Lawrence's page
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Barber as Arab on Jeep's HoodLawrence as Frankie--Loan Shark
- I Walk Alone1947IMDb rating 7.0Barber as NewsboyLawrence as Nick Palestro
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Candy ButcherLawrence as Phil
- Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2Barber as WaiterLawrence as Charlie Smith
Fred Astaire3 films together, 1938 to 1943
Fred Astaire's page
- The Sky's the Limit1943IMDb rating 6.3Barber as Canteen WaiterAstaire as Fred Atwell (Fred Burton)
- Second Chorus1941IMDb rating 5.7Barber as Room Service WaiterAstaire as Danny O'Neill
- Carefree1938IMDb rating 6.9Astaire as Tony Flagg
James Flavin3 films together, 1944 to 1949
James Flavin's page
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Dry Cleaning ManFlavin as Insp. Wellman
- Anchors Aweigh1945IMDb rating 7.0Barber as Salad CookFlavin as Radio Cop
- Laura1944IMDb rating 7.9Barber as NewsboyFlavin as Det. McEveety
Don Beddoe3 films together, 1946 to 1957
Don Beddoe's page
- The Joker Is Wild1957IMDb rating 7.0Barber as WaiterBeddoe as Heckler at Copacabana
- The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer1947IMDb rating 7.2Barber as Birthday Cake WaiterBeddoe as Joey
- Calcutta1946IMDb rating 6.4Barber as Taxi DriverBeddoe as Jack Collins
Charles BartonDirector, 4 films, 1948 to 1949
All films by Charles Barton
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff1949IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Dry Cleaning Man
- Africa Screams1949IMDb rating 6.0Barber as Chauffeur
- Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948IMDb rating 7.3Barber as Waiter
- Mexican Hayride1948IMDb rating 6.2Barber as Minor Role
Charles LamontDirector, 3 films, 1943 to 1951
All films by Charles Lamont
- Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man1951IMDb rating 6.6Barber as Sneaky
- Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion1950IMDb rating 6.3Barber as Arab on Jeep's Hood
- Hit the Ice1943IMDb rating 6.7Barber as Candy Butcher
Norman Z. McLeodDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1938
All films by Norman Z. McLeod
- Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4Barber as Hotel Staffer Moving Bed
- Horse Feathers1932IMDb rating 7.5Barber as Speakeasy Patron
Also three films together6 more actors
- Ginger RogersPrimrose Path (1940), Carefree (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Charles CoburnThe Lady Eve (1941), Road to Singapore (1940) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Spencer ChartersHold That Ghost (1941), Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Eric BloreThe Sky's the Limit (1943), The Lady Eve (1941) and Breakfast for Two (1937)
- Franklin PangbornCarefree (1938), Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Shemp HowardAfrica Screams (1949), Hold That Ghost (1941) and In the Navy (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Bobby Barber's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$37.6 million

12 of the 37 films have a worldwide figure.

12Worldwide figure
25Figure not found

Top grosser

Anchors Aweigh1945Salad Cook$7.5 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 86% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Anchors Aweigh1945as Salad Cook
$7.5M19.9% of the total
2
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer1947as Birthday Cake Waiter
$5.5M14.7% of the total
3
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein1948as Waiter
$4.8M12.8% of the total
4
Jailhouse Rock1957as Film Crew Member
$4.0M10.6% of the total
5
Road to Singapore1940as Man Hit with Soap Suds
$3.2M8.5% of the total
6
The Joker Is Wild1957as Waiter
$3.0M8.0% of the total
7
The Sky's the Limit1943as Canteen Waiter
$2.2M5.8% of the total
8
Laura1944as Newsboy
$2.0M5.3% of the total