Hugh Herbert

Biography

Hugh Herbert was an American film comedian who began in vaudeville, writing more than 150 plays and sketches. Born in Binghamton, New York, he studied at Cornell University before touring vaudeville circuits, where he played serious roles. The arrival of talking pictures drew stage-trained actors to Hollywood, and he became a popular movie comedian known for a flustered, absent-minded character and a giggling catchphrase that imitators copied as woo woo. He appeared in Warner Brothers films such as Footlight Parade (1933), Dames (1934), Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935). He also took leads in B comedies, especially Sh! The Octopus (1937), and played a nutty detective in Hellzapoppin' (1941). After signing with Universal Pictures in 1939 and later joining Columbia Pictures in 1943, he continued to star in short subjects. He wrote six screenplays and directed He Knew Women (1930). A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated to him in 1960.

66years old at death

Born August 10, 1885Binghamton
Died March 12, 1952North Hollywood
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 16 years1932 to 1948

Genres

Comedy88%, 14 films
Romance50%, 8 films
Musical25%, 4 films
Music19%, 3 films
Drama13%, 2 films

First and latest

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Behind the camera
Hugh Herbert started out in vaudeville and went on to write more than 150 plays and sketches during his career.
A first
Herbert's catchphrase "Hoo-hoo-hoo, wonderful, wonderful, hoo hoo hoo!" was copied so widely, by Curly Howard, Mickey Rooney and Etta Candy, that he switched to "woo woo" in the 1940s.
First role
Before his screen career, Herbert was seen on major vaudeville circuits in serious roles, including as a pathetic old Hebrew.

Hugh Herbert movies on Netflix

A Song Is Born1948IMDb rating 6.9as Professor Twingle
One Touch of Venus1948IMDb rating 6.6as Mercury(scenes deleted)
There's One Born Every Minute1942IMDb rating 5.6as Lemuel P. Twine…
Hellzapoppin'1941IMDb rating 7.4as Quimby
The Black Cat1941IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Penny
Eternally Yours1939IMDb rating 5.6as Benton
Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3as Jenkins
Sh! The Octopus1937IMDb rating 5.5as Kelly
The Singing Marine1937IMDb rating 5.8as Aeneas Phinney
One Rainy Afternoon1936IMDb rating 5.9as Toto
A Midsummer Night's Dream1935IMDb rating 6.8as Snout
Gold Diggers of 19351935IMDb rating 6.8as T. Mosley Thorpe
Dames1934IMDb rating 7.0as Ezra Ounce
Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4as Corey Pratt
Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5as Bowers
Million Dollar Legs1932IMDb rating 6.8as Secretary of the Treasury

Best known for

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

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The Black Cat1941 Comedy, Horror, Mysteryas Mr. Penny
IMDb rating 6.12.4K votes
Hellzapoppin'1941 Action, Comedy, Musicalas Quimby
IMDb rating 7.44.0K votes
Gold Diggers of 19351935as T. Mosley Thorpe
IMDb rating 6.83.2K votes
Footlight Parade1933as Bowers
IMDb rating 7.56.7K votes
Sh! The Octopus1937as Kelly
IMDb rating 5.5795 votes
Dames1934as Ezra Ounce
IMDb rating 7.02.7K votes
Eternally Yours1939as Benton
IMDb rating 5.6988 votes
Four's a Crowd1938as Jenkins
IMDb rating 6.31.4K votes

Most often with

Lloyd Bacon directed two of these films, Busby Berkeley two and Ray Enright two. Dick Powell appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Dick Powell

Guy Kibbee

Frank McHugh

Bess Flowers

Henry O'Neill

James Cagney

Lloyd BaconDirector, 2 films

Busby BerkeleyDirector, 2 films Ray EnrightDirector, 2 films

Films together

Dick Powell6 films together, 1933 to 1937
Dick Powell's page
- The Singing Marine1937IMDb rating 5.8Herbert as Aeneas PhinneyPowell as Bob Brent
- A Midsummer Night's Dream1935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as SnoutPowell as Lysander
- Gold Diggers of 19351935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as T. Mosley ThorpePowell as Dick Curtis
- Dames1934IMDb rating 7.0Herbert as Ezra OuncePowell as Jimmy Higgens
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Herbert as Corey PrattPowell as Tommy
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Herbert as BowersPowell as Scotty
Guy Kibbee4 films together, 1933 to 1942
Guy Kibbee's page
- There's One Born Every Minute1942IMDb rating 5.6Herbert as Lemuel P. Twine…Kibbee as Lester Cadwalader, Sr.
- Dames1934IMDb rating 7.0Herbert as Ezra OunceKibbee as Horace Hemingway
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Herbert as Corey PrattKibbee as Henry Simpson
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Herbert as BowersKibbee as Gould
Frank McHugh3 films together, 1933 to 1935
Frank McHugh's page
- A Midsummer Night's Dream1935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as SnoutMcHugh as Quince
- Gold Diggers of 19351935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as T. Mosley ThorpeMcHugh as Humbolt Prentiss
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Herbert as BowersMcHugh as Francis
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1942 to 1948
Bess Flowers's page
- One Touch of Venus1948IMDb rating 6.6Herbert as Mercury(scenes deleted)Flowers as Department Store Shopper
- There's One Born Every Minute1942IMDb rating 5.6Herbert as Lemuel P. Twine…Flowers as Luncheon Attendee
Henry O'Neill2 films together, 1934 to 1937
Henry O'Neill's page
- The Singing Marine1937IMDb rating 5.8Herbert as Aeneas PhinneyO'Neill as Captain Skinner
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Herbert as Corey PrattO'Neill as Richard
James Cagney2 films together, 1933 to 1935
James Cagney's page
- A Midsummer Night's Dream1935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as SnoutCagney as Bottom
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Herbert as BowersCagney as Chester Kent
Lloyd BaconDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1934
All films by Lloyd Bacon
- Wonder Bar1934IMDb rating 6.4Herbert as Corey Pratt
- Footlight Parade1933IMDb rating 7.5Herbert as Bowers
Busby BerkeleyDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1935
All films by Busby Berkeley
- Gold Diggers of 19351935IMDb rating 6.8Herbert as T. Mosley Thorpe
- Dames1934IMDb rating 7.0Herbert as Ezra Ounce
Ray EnrightDirector, 2 films, 1934 to 1937
All films by Ray Enright
- The Singing Marine1937IMDb rating 5.8Herbert as Aeneas Phinney
- Dames1934IMDb rating 7.0Herbert as Ezra Ounce
Also two films together20 more actors
- Allen JenkinsSh! The Octopus (1937) and The Singing Marine (1937)
- Broderick CrawfordThe Black Cat (1941) and Eternally Yours (1939)
- Joan BlondellDames (1934) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Olivia de HavillandFour's a Crowd (1938) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935)
- Grant MitchellA Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) and Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
- Ralph BrooksOne Touch of Venus (1948) and There's One Born Every Minute (1942)
- Arthur AylesworthGold Diggers of 1935 (1935) and Dames (1934)
- Berton ChurchillThe Singing Marine (1937) and Dames (1934)
- Mischa AuerHellzapoppin' (1941) and One Rainy Afternoon (1936)
- Eve ArdenOne Touch of Venus (1948) and Eternally Yours (1939)
- Ruth DonnellyWonder Bar (1934) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- John EldredgeThe Black Cat (1941) and Sh! The Octopus (1937)
- Zasu PittsEternally Yours (1939) and Dames (1934)
- Herman BingFour's a Crowd (1938) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Renie RianoThere's One Born Every Minute (1942) and Four's a Crowd (1938)
- Claire DoddThe Black Cat (1941) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Joseph CawthornOne Rainy Afternoon (1936) and Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
- Gus SchillingThere's One Born Every Minute (1942) and Hellzapoppin' (1941)
- Ruby KeelerDames (1934) and Footlight Parade (1933)
- Marcia RalstonSh! The Octopus (1937) and The Singing Marine (1937)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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Hugh Herbert's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
	Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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