Harry Cheshire
Biography
Harry Cheshire was an American character actor with more than 100 film credits, usually in small parts, who got his start in show business in 1908 entertaining audiences between reels of silent shorts at Kansas City's Old Nickelodeon Theater. Born in Emporia, Kansas, he acted with the Hi Jinks Company and Liberty Players stage troupes in the 1920s and 1930s and performed on a musical program for a St. Louis radio station, where he became known as Pappy Cheshire while appearing with his Hilly Billy Band. His first film role came in the Republic musical Barnyard Follies in 1940, and he went on to play small-town judges in westerns and the minister who marries George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life. On television he was Judge Ben Wiley on Buffalo Bill, Jr. from 1955 to 1956, Judge Traeger on Lawman from 1958 to 1962, and a guest on shows including The Lone Ranger and I Love Lucy.
76years old at death
- Born Emporia
- Died Orange County
- Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 11 years1946 to 1957
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First role
Cheshire started in show business in 1908, performing for crowds at the Old Nickelodeon Theater in Kansas City between showings of short silent films.
About the name
Cheshire got the nickname Pappy from his appearances as Pappy Cheshire with his Hilly Billy Band on KMOX, a St. Louis radio station.
Harry Cheshire movies on Netflix
My Man Godfreyas Elliott
The Restless Breedas Mayor Johnson
The First Traveling Salesladyas Judge Benson
Phffftas Nina's Divorce Lawyer
The Sniperas Mayor
The Woman on Pier 13as J. Francis Cornwall
Riders of the Whistling Pinesas Dr. Daniel Chadwick
Moonriseas J.B. Sykes
Nightmare Alleyas Mr. Prescott
Shoot to Killas Mike Blake
Springtime in the Sierrasas Cap Foster(Harry V. Cheshire)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueballas Jules Sparkle
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Five 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
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1954 to 1956
Bess Flowers's page The First Traveling Saleslady1956IMDb rating 5.4Cheshire as Judge BensonFlowers as Restaurant Patron
Phffft1954IMDb rating 6.6Cheshire as Nina's Divorce LawyerFlowers as Nightclub Patron / Woman at Airport
Chet Brandenburg2 films together, 1947 to 1957
Chet Brandenburg's page The Restless Breed1957IMDb rating 5.3Cheshire as Mayor JohnsonBrandenburg as Townsman
Nightmare Alley1947IMDb rating 7.7Cheshire as Mr. PrescottBrandenburg as Carnival Patron
Byron Foulger2 films together, 1946 to 1952
Byron Foulger's page The Sniper1952IMDb rating 7.1Cheshire as MayorFoulger as Peter Eureka
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball1946IMDb rating 5.9Cheshire as Jules SparkleFoulger as Simon Little
Ian Keith2 films together, 1946 to 1947
Ian Keith's page Nightmare Alley1947IMDb rating 7.7Cheshire as Mr. PrescottKeith as Pete Krumbein
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball1946IMDb rating 5.9Cheshire as Jules SparkleKeith as Vitamin Flintheart
Hank Patterson2 films together, 1947 to 1956
Hank Patterson's page The First Traveling Saleslady1956IMDb rating 5.4Cheshire as Judge BensonPatterson as Courtroom Spectator
Springtime in the Sierras1947IMDb rating 6.1Cheshire as Cap Foster(Harry V. Cheshire)Patterson as Old-Timer
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.


