Dick Wessel
Biography
Dick Wessel was an American actor whose burly build made him a character player in features from the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His early work consisted of bit parts, among them a silent blacksmith's assistant in Laurel and Hardy's Bonnie Scotland (1935), and he gradually gained lines in films such as Yankee Doodle Dandy. Comedy producer Hal Roach gave him his first featured roles in 1941. From 1946 he worked in Columbia two-reel comedies, often for writer-director Edward Bernds, and became a comic foil for Andy Clyde, The Three Stooges, and other short-subject stars; he also took over the mailman part in the Blondie series. His sole leading role was the ex-convict killer Cueball in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946). He played a bartender in Harvey (1950) and a mug posing as Florida's governor in Pocketful of Miracles. On television he co-starred as Carney Kohler in Riverboat from 1959 to 1961. He died in 1965.
52years old at death
- Born Milwaukee
- Died Studio City
- Star sign: TaurusFirst day of the sign, on the Aries cusp
- Also credited as Richard Michael Wessel and Richard M. Wessel
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 20 years1946 to 1966
Genres
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A first
Dick Wessel's only leading role was as strangler Harry "Cueball" Lake in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946), a chilling portrayal that became his best-remembered part.
Big break
Wessel's first featured roles came in 1941, when comedy producer Hal Roach gave him larger parts after years as a bit player.
A role that slipped away
After Eddie Acuff departed the Blondie series, Bernds brought in Dick Wessel to take over as the mailman who kept getting flattened by Dagwood Bumstead.
Dick Wessel movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Thirteen actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Kathleen Freeman's page
Franklyn Farnum's page
Ann Doran's page
Leon Ames's page
Alan Mowbray's page
Gloria Grahame's page
Also two films together7 more actors
- Eddie BordenPitfall (1948) and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
- Don AndersonThe Gazebo (1959) and Love Is Better Than Ever (1952)
- John McGiverWho's Minding the Store? (1963) and The Gazebo (1959)
- Don HaggertyCanadian Pacific (1949) and Pitfall (1948)
- Jane WyattCanadian Pacific (1949) and Pitfall (1948)
- Skelton KnaggsBlackbeard, the Pirate (1952) and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
- Red SkeltonWatch the Birdie (1950) and Merton of the Movies (1947)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.