Gus Schilling

Biography

Gus Schilling was an American film actor who came out of burlesque comedy and usually played nervous comic parts, often without a screen credit. Born in New York City, he began his career on Broadway as an understudy for the comedy stars Bert Lahr and Joe Penner, then became a favorite among burlesque comedians. Orson Welles noticed him in New York, followed him to Florida and cast him in a stage production of Shakespearean scenes, and kept his promise to put him in his first film. Schilling made his screen debut in Citizen Kane (1941) and appeared in five Welles pictures, among them The Lady from Shanghai (1947), Macbeth and Touch of Evil, his last performance, released after his death. He was known for jittery roles such as the symphony conductor in Hellzapoppin' (1941), and from 1945 to 1950 he co-starred with Richard Lane in 11 comedy shorts for Columbia Pictures. He died in 1957.

48years old at death

Born June 20, 1908New York City
Died June 16, 1957Hollywood
Star sign: GeminiLast day of the sign, on the Cancer cusp

Movie Career

Films: 8
Career span: 15 years1941 to 1956

Genres

Drama63%, 5 films
Comedy50%, 4 films
Film-Noir25%, 2 films
Musical25%, 2 films
Action13%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

Big break
Orson Welles spotted Gus Schilling in New York, followed him to Florida, and there hired him for a stage production of several Shakespearean scenes. Welles then promised him a part in his first motion picture and kept that promise with Citizen Kane.
First role
Schilling's rubbery face and flustered gestures made him a natural comedian. He began his career on Broadway as an understudy for comedy stars Bert Lahr and Joe Penner, and burlesque comedians soon welcomed him into their profession.

Gus Schilling movies on Netflix

Bigger Than Life1956IMDb rating 7.4as Druggist
She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9as Ed Gruman
On Dangerous Ground1951IMDb rating 7.2as Lucky
The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5as Goldie
There's One Born Every Minute1942IMDb rating 5.6as Professor Asa Quisenberry
You Were Never Lovelier1942IMDb rating 7.2as Fernando
Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2as The Headwaiter / Screening Room Reporter
Hellzapoppin'1941IMDb rating 7.4as Orchestra Conductor

Best known for

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

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Citizen Kane1941 Drama, Mysteryas The Headwaiter / Screening Room Reporter
IMDb rating 8.2497K votes
The Lady from Shanghai1947 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Goldie
IMDb rating 7.537K votes
On Dangerous Ground1951as Lucky
IMDb rating 7.29.3K votes
You Were Never Lovelier1942as Fernando
IMDb rating 7.24.6K votes
She Couldn't Say No1954as Ed Gruman
IMDb rating 5.9995 votes
Hellzapoppin'1941as Orchestra Conductor
IMDb rating 7.44.0K votes
There's One Born Every Minute1942as Professor Asa Quisenberry
IMDb rating 5.6213 votes
Bigger Than Life1956as Druggist
IMDb rating 7.49.1K votes

Most often with

Orson Welles directed two of these films, Nicholas Ray two. Eight 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.

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Orson Welles

Harry Shannon

Rita Hayworth

Everett Sloane

Hugh Herbert

Erskine Sanford

Orson WellesDirector, 2 films

Nicholas RayDirector, 2 films

Films together

Orson Welles2 films together, 1941 to 1947
Orson Welles's page
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as GoldieWelles as Michael O'Hara
- Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2Schilling as The Headwaiter / Screening Room ReporterWelles as Charles Foster Kane
Harry Shannon2 films together, 1941 to 1947
Harry Shannon's page
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as GoldieShannon as Cab Driver
- Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2Schilling as The Headwaiter / Screening Room ReporterShannon as Kane's Father
Rita Hayworth2 films together, 1942 to 1947
Rita Hayworth's page
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as GoldieHayworth as Elsa Bannister
- You Were Never Lovelier1942IMDb rating 7.2Schilling as FernandoHayworth as Maria Acuña
Everett Sloane2 films together, 1941 to 1947
Everett Sloane's page
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as GoldieSloane as Arthur Bannister
- Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2Schilling as The Headwaiter / Screening Room ReporterSloane as Mr. Bernstein
Hugh Herbert2 films together, 1941 to 1942
Hugh Herbert's page
- There's One Born Every Minute1942IMDb rating 5.6Schilling as Professor Asa QuisenberryHerbert as Lemuel P. Twine…
- Hellzapoppin'1941IMDb rating 7.4Schilling as Orchestra ConductorHerbert as Quimby
Erskine Sanford2 films together, 1941 to 1947
Erskine Sanford's page
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as GoldieSanford as Judge
- Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2Schilling as The Headwaiter / Screening Room ReporterSanford as Herbert Carter / Screening Room Reporter
Orson WellesDirector, 2 films, 1941 to 1947
All films by Orson Welles
- The Lady from Shanghai1947IMDb rating 7.5Schilling as Goldie
- Citizen Kane1941IMDb rating 8.2Schilling as The Headwaiter / Screening Room Reporter
Nicholas RayDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1956
All films by Nicholas Ray
- Bigger Than Life1956IMDb rating 7.4Schilling as Druggist
- On Dangerous Ground1951IMDb rating 7.2Schilling as Lucky
Also two films together2 more actors
- Barbara BrownThere's One Born Every Minute (1942) and You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
- William AllandThe Lady from Shanghai (1947) and Citizen Kane (1941)
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.

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