Charley Chase
Biography
Charley Chase was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and director who started out in vaudeville as a teenager and broke into movies at the Christie Film Company in 1912. Born Charles Joseph Parrott in Baltimore, he joined Keystone Studios, took bit parts in Mack Sennett comedies, graduated to juvenile leads by 1915 and also directed as Charles Parrott. From 1920 he directed for Hal Roach, oversaw the earliest Our Gang shorts and became the studio's director-general, then returned to performing in 1923 with his own series under the name Charley Chase. He specialized in the comedy of embarrassment, playing hapless young businessmen and befuddled husbands, and his silent shorts Mighty Like a Moose and Crazy Like a Fox are counted among the finest of the era. He moved into sound films in 1929 and appeared in the Laurel and Hardy picture Sons of the Desert (1933). Robert Youngson later included him in The Golden Age of Comedy (1957).
46years old at death
- Born Baltimore
- Died Hollywood
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Charles Parott, Charlie Chase and Charles Chase
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 43 years1914 to 1957
Every film, newest first
- 1957The Golden Age of ComedyIMDb rating 7.1
- 1933Sons of the DesertIMDb rating 7.5
- 1914The MasqueraderIMDb rating 5.9
Genres
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A change of course
Before becoming a star, Chase directed many comedies for Chaplin imitator Billy West, which featured a young Oliver Hardy as the villain.
First role
Charley Chase launched his movie career in 1912 with the Christie Film Company. He later joined Keystone Studios, taking small roles in Mack Sennett's films, among them Charlie Chaplin's.
About the name
Chase adopted the screen name Charley Chase in 1923 when he returned to performing in his own series of shorts after Harold Lloyd left Hal Roach Studios.
Behind the camera
In 1920, Chase started directing films for the Hal Roach Studios, and one of his early jobs there was overseeing the first Our Gang shorts.
Charley Chase movies on Netflix
Worked with
Charley Chase shares two films with Oliver Hardy, 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
Oliver Hardy's page
Stan Laurel's page
Bess Flowers's page
Chet Brandenburg's page
Ellen Corby's page
Brooks Benedict's page
William A. SeiterDirector, 1 film, 1933
All films by William A. Seiter
All films by Charles Chaplin
Robert YoungsonDirector, 1 film, 1957
All films by Robert Youngson
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.