George Chandler

Biography

George Chandler was an American actor who worked steadily in supporting and character roles across more than 140 feature films. He was born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1898 and grew up in Hinsdale. Early in his career he performed a vaudeville act as George Chandler, the Musical Nut, playing violin, and he made his film debut in 1929. He often played small comic parts such as bartenders, shopkeepers, reporters, and clerks, and he appeared in the 1933 short comedy The Fatal Glass of Beer as a young man who drinks beer in a saloon. Other film work included Footlight Parade (1933) and The Shanghai Cobra (1945). On television he was best known as Uncle Petrie Martin on Lassie, and he later starred in the series Ichabod and Me from 1961 to 1962. In 1960 he was elected to lead the Screen Actors Guild. He died in 1985.

86years old at death

Born June 30, 1898Waukegan
Died June 10, 1985Panorama City
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22

Movie Career

Films: 48
Career span: 48 years1931 to 1979

Genres

Drama50%, 24 films
Romance40%, 19 films
Comedy35%, 17 films
Crime21%, 10 films
Western19%, 9 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Billed as "George Chandler, the Musical Nut," his vaudeville act early in his career combined comedy with his violin playing.

George Chandler movies on Netflix

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979IMDb rating 6.0as Elderly Man
Every Which Way But Loose1978IMDb rating 6.3as Clerk at D.M.V.
Capone1975IMDb rating 5.7as Robert E. Crowe
Escape to Witch Mountain1975IMDb rating 6.3as Grocer
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!1975IMDb rating 3.8as Jonathan Kent
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken1966IMDb rating 7.3as Judge Harley Nast
Dead Ringer1964IMDb rating 7.3as George, Chauffeur
The High and the Mighty1954IMDb rating 6.6as Ben Sneed
Island in the Sky1953IMDb rating 6.8as Rene
Hans Christian Andersen1952IMDb rating 6.9as Farmer
The Narrow Margin1952IMDb rating 7.6as Accomplice Running Newsstand
Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2as Gowie
Kansas Raiders1950IMDb rating 6.1as Willie
Canadian Pacific1949IMDb rating 6.0as Telegraph Operator
Knock on Any Door1949IMDb rating 6.6as Cashier
Hollow Triumph1948IMDb rating 6.7as Aubrey - Assistant
Nightmare Alley1947IMDb rating 7.7as Hobo at Stan's Left Hand
Dead Reckoning1946IMDb rating 7.0as Louis Ord
Strange Impersonation1946IMDb rating 6.3as J W Rinse, plaintiffs' atty.
Suspense1946IMDb rating 6.5as Joe's Pal at Sandwich Counter
The Mask of Diijon1946IMDb rating 5.6as Diner Counterman
It's in the Bag!1945IMDb rating 6.6as 1st Elevator Operator
Strange Confession1945IMDb rating 6.5as Harper
This Man's Navy1945IMDb rating 6.3as Bert Bland
Without Love1945IMDb rating 6.6as Elevator Boy
It Happened Tomorrow1944IMDb rating 7.0as Bob
Tall in the Saddle1944IMDb rating 6.9as Saddle Maker
Lady of Burlesque1943IMDb rating 6.2as Jake, stage hand
Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9as Amos Hart
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3as Hotel Desk Clark
Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7as Herb
Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8as Haley
Broadway Melody of 19401940IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Jones
The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6as Roy
Exile Express1939IMDb rating 5.2as Marvln McGee
Mannequin1938IMDb rating 6.6as 'Swing' Magoo
The Shining Hour1938IMDb rating 6.4as Press Agent
Three Comrades1938IMDb rating 7.1as First comic with singer
Nothing Sacred1937IMDb rating 6.8as Photographer
Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8as Milton Jackson
Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8as Bell Hop
Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7as Witness
The Fatal Glass of Beer1933IMDb rating 6.6as Chester Snavely - Their Son
Is My Face Red?1932IMDb rating 6.0as Reporter
Me and My Gal1932IMDb rating 6.6as Eddie Collins
Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1as Panhandler Wanting One Dollar
Man of the World1931IMDb rating 6.2as Fred
Sob Sister1931IMDb rating 6.7as Reporter

Best known for

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

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Every Which Way But Loose1978 Action, Comedyas Clerk at D.M.V.
IMDb rating 6.332K votes
The Fatal Glass of Beer1933 Comedy, Westernas Chester Snavely - Their Son
IMDb rating 6.62.0K votes
Dead Reckoning1946as Louis Ord
IMDb rating 7.010K votes
Dead Ringer1964as George, Chauffeur
IMDb rating 7.37.5K votes
Fury1936as Milton Jackson
IMDb rating 7.815K votes
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Grocer
IMDb rating 6.313K votes
The Narrow Margin1952as Accomplice Running Newsstand
IMDb rating 7.610K votes
Strange Impersonation1946as J W Rinse, plaintiffs' atty.
IMDb rating 6.3948 votes

Most often with

William A. Wellman directed seven of these films, Fritz Lang three and Frank Borzage three. Three actors appear in five 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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Irving Bacon

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Charters

Bess Flowers

Paul Fix

John Carradine

William A. WellmanDirector, 7 films

Fritz LangDirector, 3 films Frank BorzageDirector, 3 films

Films together

Irving Bacon5 films together, 1932 to 1941
Irving Bacon's page
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Chandler as Hotel Desk ClarkBacon as Bank Teller
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Chandler as HerbBacon as Barber
- Broadway Melody of 19401940IMDb rating 7.2Chandler as Mr. JonesBacon as Orange Stand Counterman
- The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as RoyBacon as Bystander
- Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1Chandler as Panhandler Wanting One DollarBacon as Depot Hotel Waiter
Spencer Tracy5 films together, 1932 to 1945
Spencer Tracy's page
- Without Love1945IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as Elevator BoyTracy as Pat Jamieson
- Mannequin1938IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as 'Swing' MagooTracy as John Hennessey
- Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8Chandler as Milton JacksonTracy as Joe Wilson
- Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8Chandler as Bell HopTracy as Haggerty
- Me and My Gal1932IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as Eddie CollinsTracy as Danny Dolan
Spencer Charters5 films together, 1935 to 1941
Spencer Charters's page
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Chandler as Hotel Desk ClarkCharters as County Clerk
- Exile Express1939IMDb rating 5.2Chandler as Marvln McGeeCharters as Justice of the Peace Henry P. Smith
- Three Comrades1938IMDb rating 7.1Chandler as First comic with singerCharters as Herr Schultz
- Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8Chandler as Bell HopCharters as Magistrate
- Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7Chandler as WitnessCharters as Hotel Doorman
Bess Flowers4 films together, 1935 to 1952
Bess Flowers's page
- The Narrow Margin1952IMDb rating 7.6Chandler as Accomplice Running NewsstandFlowers as Wagon Restaurant Diner
- Dead Reckoning1946IMDb rating 7.0Chandler as Louis OrdFlowers as Nightclub Guest
- Nothing Sacred1937IMDb rating 6.8Chandler as PhotographerFlowers as Nightclub Extra
- Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7Chandler as WitnessFlowers as Mary Smith
Paul Fix4 films together, 1938 to 1954
Paul Fix's page
- The High and the Mighty1954IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as Ben SneedFix as Frank Briscoe
- Island in the Sky1953IMDb rating 6.8Chandler as ReneFix as Wally Miller
- Tall in the Saddle1944IMDb rating 6.9Chandler as Saddle MakerFix as Bob Clews
- Mannequin1938IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as 'Swing' MagooFix as Smooch Hanrahan
John Carradine3 films together, 1940 to 1945
John Carradine's page
- It's in the Bag!1945IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as 1st Elevator OperatorCarradine as Jefferson T. Pike
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Chandler as HerbCarradine as Doc Murdoch
- The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as RoyCarradine as Bob Ford
William A. WellmanDirector, 7 films, 1937 to 1954
All films by William A. Wellman
- The High and the Mighty1954IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as Ben Sneed
- Island in the Sky1953IMDb rating 6.8Chandler as Rene
- Across the Wide Missouri1951IMDb rating 6.2Chandler as Gowie
- This Man's Navy1945IMDb rating 6.3Chandler as Bert Bland
- Lady of Burlesque1943IMDb rating 6.2Chandler as Jake, stage hand
- Roxie Hart1942IMDb rating 6.9Chandler as Amos Hart
- Nothing Sacred1937IMDb rating 6.8Chandler as Photographer
Fritz LangDirector, 3 films, 1936 to 1941
All films by Fritz Lang
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Chandler as Herb
- The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as Roy
- Fury1936IMDb rating 7.8Chandler as Milton Jackson
Frank BorzageDirector, 3 films, 1938
All films by Frank Borzage
- Mannequin1938IMDb rating 6.6Chandler as 'Swing' Magoo
- The Shining Hour1938IMDb rating 6.4Chandler as Press Agent
- Three Comrades1938IMDb rating 7.1Chandler as First comic with singer
Also three films together11 more actors
- John WayneThe High and the Mighty (1954), Island in the Sky (1953) and Tall in the Saddle (1944)
- Ward BondTall in the Saddle (1944), Tobacco Road (1941) and Sob Sister (1931)
- Byron FoulgerSuspense (1946), Arizona (1940) and Exile Express (1939)
- John QualenThe High and the Mighty (1954), Hans Christian Andersen (1952) and Hollow Triumph (1948)
- J. Carrol NaishAcross the Wide Missouri (1951), Canadian Pacific (1949) and Strange Confession (1945)
- Addison RichardsStrange Confession (1945), Western Union (1941) and Exile Express (1939)
- William PowellLibeled Lady (1936), Star of Midnight (1935) and Man of the World (1931)
- Guy KibbeeThree Comrades (1938), Union Depot (1932) and Man of the World (1931)
- Charley GrapewinTobacco Road (1941), Three Comrades (1938) and Libeled Lady (1936)
- Robert YoungWestern Union (1941), The Shining Hour (1938) and Three Comrades (1938)
- Marion MartinSuspense (1946), It Happened Tomorrow (1944) and Lady of Burlesque (1943)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What George Chandler's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$134 million

9 of the 48 films have a worldwide figure.

9Worldwide figure
2US gross only
1Never in cinemas
36Figure not found

Top grosser

Every Which Way But Loose1978Clerk at D.M.V.$85.2 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Every Which Way But Loose1978as Clerk at D.M.V.
$85M63.4% of the total
2
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again1979as Elderly Man
$21M15.6% of the total
3
Escape to Witch Mountain1975as Grocer
$20M14.9% of the total
4
Knock on Any Door1949as Cashier
$2.1M1.6% of the total
5
Capone1975as Robert E. Crowe
$2.0M1.5% of the total
6
The Shining Hour1938as Press Agent
$1.4M1.0% of the total
7
Fury1936as Milton Jackson
$1.3M1.0% of the total
8
Star of Midnight1935as Witness
$831K0.6% of the total