Irving Bacon
Biography
Irving Bacon was an American character actor whose career took in close to 500 films. Born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and raised in San Diego, California, he spent several years on the stage before entering films in 1912 in Mack Sennett productions. He returned to Sennett in 1924 and became a frequent supporting player in silent and sound comedies. Bacon often played comical average guys in feature films, appearing in three dozen features in 1939 alone. Among his roles were the wily wagon driver in Holiday Inn (1942) and the father of Glenn Miller in The Glenn Miller Story (1954). His best-known role cast him as Mr. Beasley, a weary postman in Columbia's Blondie series. During the 1950s he worked steadily in television sitcoms, including two episodes of I Love Lucy.
71years old at death
- Born St. Joseph
- Died Hollywood
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 75
- Career span
- 27 years1931 to 1958
Genres
First and latest
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A role that slipped away
By 1933, Bacon was so established as a utility player that a Sennett comedy used him to replace Andy Clyde, and he wore Clyde's "old man" costume and makeup.
First role
Bacon spent a number of years on the stage, then entered films in 1912 in Mack Sennett productions. In 1924 the actor came back to the Sennett studio.
Irving Bacon movies on Netflix
Ambush at Cimarron Passas Judge Stanfield
Fort Massacreas Charlie
At Gunpointas Al Ferguson
Run for Coveras Scotty
A Star Is Bornas Graves
The Glenn Miller Storyas Mr. Miller
O. Henry's Full Houseas Ebeneezer Dorset (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Room for One Moreas Mayor Michael J. Kane
Cause for Alarm!as Mr. Carston, Postman
Born to Be Badas Jewelry Salesman
Riding Highas Hamburger Man
Woman in Hidingas Link
El Pasoas Stage Passenger
It's a Great Feelingas RR Information Clerk
Manhandledas Sgt. Fayle
The Big Catas Matt Cooper - Mailman
The Green Promiseas Julius Larkin
Albuquerqueas Dave Walton
Good Samas Tramp
Moonriseas Judd Jenkins
State of the Unionas Buck Swenson
The Velvet Touchas Herbie
Dear Ruthas Delivery Man
Monsieur Verdouxas Pierre Couvais
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxeras Melvin - Police Turnkey
Spellboundas Railway Gateman
Casanova Brownas Hotel Manager
The Thin Man Goes Homeas Tom
A Guy Named Joeas Cpl. Henderson
Action in the North Atlanticas Bartender
In Old Oklahomaas Ben
Johnny Come Latelyas Chief of Police
Shadow of a Doubtas Station Master
The Desperadoesas Dan Walters - Bartender
Two Weeks to Liveas Omar Tennyson Gimpel
Holiday Innas Gus
Pardon My Sarongas Gas Station Proprietor
Great Gunsas Postman
It Started with Eveas Raven
Meet John Doeas Beany
They Died with Their Boots Onas Uniform Salesman
Tobacco Roadas Bank Teller
Western Unionas Barber
Broadway Melody of 1940as Orange Stand Counterman
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bulletas Becker
His Girl Fridayas Gus
Michael Shayne: Private Detectiveas Fisherman
The Return of Frank Jamesas Bystander
At the Circusas Telegraph Clerk
Bachelor Motheras Clerk at Exchange Window
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fenceas Sheriff Clem Diggers
Made for Each Otheras Newark Radio Operator
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnas Tad
The Oklahoma Kidas Hotel Clerk
The Spirit of Culveras Clerk
Torchy Runs for Mayoras Hubert Ward
You Can't Cheat an Honest Manas Jailer
The Cowboy and the Ladyas Chester - Smith's Secretary
A Star Is Bornas Station Agent
Internes Can't Take Moneyas Jeff
Topperas Hotel Clerk
True Confessionas Coroner
Earthworm Tractorsas Taxicab Driver
Mr. Deeds Goes to Townas Frank
Broadway Billas Hamburger Stand Owner
It Happened One Nightas Gas Station Attendant
Lady for a Dayas Pool Hall Dupe
Private Detective 62as Cab Driver
The Boweryas Hick
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gangas Bill - Barber
If I Had a Millionas China Shop Salesman
Million Dollar Legsas Secretary of War
Union Depotas Depot Hotel Waiter
Bad Girlas Expectant Father
Fighting Caravansas Mustachioed Barfly
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Capra directed seven of these films, Raoul Walsh three and Norman Taurog three. Ward Bond appears in nine 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.









Films together
Ward Bond9 films together, 1933 to 1950
Ward Bond's page Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Hamburger ManBond as Lee
A Guy Named Joe1943IMDb rating 6.9Bacon as Cpl. HendersonBond as Al Yackey
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Bank TellerBond as Lov Bensey
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence1939IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Sheriff Clem DiggersBond as Hunk
Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Newark Radio OperatorBond as Jim Hatton
The Oklahoma Kid1939IMDb rating 6.4Bacon as Hotel ClerkBond as Wes Handley
Topper1937IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Hotel ClerkBond as Eddie
It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Bacon as Gas Station AttendantBond as Bus Driver
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Bacon as Pool Hall DupeBond as Mounted Policeman
Gary Cooper7 films together, 1931 to 1948
Gary Cooper's page Good Sam1948IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as TrampCooper as Sam Clayton
Casanova Brown1944IMDb rating 6.2Bacon as Hotel ManagerCooper as Casanova (Cass) Brown
Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Bacon as BeanyCooper as 'Long John' Willoughby
The Cowboy and the Lady1938IMDb rating 6.6Bacon as Chester - Smith's SecretaryCooper as Stretch Willoughby
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Bacon as FrankCooper as Longfellow Deeds
If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9Bacon as China Shop SalesmanCooper as Steve Gallagher
Fighting Caravans1931IMDb rating 5.7Bacon as Mustachioed BarflyCooper as Clint Belmet
Harry Davenport6 films together, 1938 to 1950
Harry Davenport's page Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Hamburger ManDavenport as Johnson
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer1947IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Melvin - Police TurnkeyDavenport as Judge Thaddeus Turner
The Thin Man Goes Home1944IMDb rating 7.3Bacon as TomDavenport as Dr. Bertram Charles
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet1940IMDb rating 7.4Bacon as BeckerDavenport as Judge
Made for Each Other1939IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Newark Radio OperatorDavenport as Dr. Healy
The Cowboy and the Lady1938IMDb rating 6.6Bacon as Chester - Smith's SecretaryDavenport as Uncle Hannibal Smith
Raymond Walburn6 films together, 1934 to 1950
Raymond Walburn's page Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Hamburger ManWalburn as Prof. Pettigrew
State of the Union1948IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Buck SwensonWalburn as Judge Alexander
The Desperadoes1943IMDb rating 6.5Bacon as Dan Walters - BartenderWalburn as Judge Cameron
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence1939IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Sheriff Clem DiggersWalburn as B. Townsend Thayer - The Professor
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Bacon as FrankWalburn as Walter
Broadway Bill1934IMDb rating 6.6Bacon as Hamburger Stand OwnerWalburn as Col. Pettigrew
George Chandler5 films together, 1932 to 1941
George Chandler's page Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Bank TellerChandler as Hotel Desk Clark
Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Bacon as BarberChandler as Herb
Broadway Melody of 19401940IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Orange Stand CountermanChandler as Mr. Jones
The Return of Frank James1940IMDb rating 6.6Bacon as BystanderChandler as Roy
Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1Bacon as Depot Hotel WaiterChandler as Panhandler Wanting One Dollar
Charles Lane5 films together, 1932 to 1948
Charles Lane's page State of the Union1948IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Buck SwensonLane as Blink Moran
Internes Can't Take Money1937IMDb rating 6.9Bacon as JeffLane as Grote
Private Detective 621933IMDb rating 6.7Bacon as Cab DriverLane as Process Server
The Bowery1933IMDb rating 6.8Bacon as HickLane as Doctor
Union Depot1932IMDb rating 7.1Bacon as Depot Hotel WaiterLane as Luggage Checkroom Clerk
Frank CapraDirector, 7 films, 1933 to 1950
All films by Frank Capra Riding High1950IMDb rating 6.3Bacon as Hamburger Man
State of the Union1948IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Buck Swenson
Meet John Doe1941IMDb rating 7.6Bacon as Beany
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Bacon as Frank
Broadway Bill1934IMDb rating 6.6Bacon as Hamburger Stand Owner
It Happened One Night1934IMDb rating 8.1Bacon as Gas Station Attendant
Lady for a Day1933IMDb rating 7.4Bacon as Pool Hall Dupe
Raoul WalshDirector, 3 films, 1933 to 1943
All films by Raoul Walsh Action in the North Atlantic1943IMDb rating 7.0Bacon as Bartender
They Died with Their Boots On1941IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Uniform Salesman
The Bowery1933IMDb rating 6.8Bacon as Hick
Norman TaurogDirector, 3 films, 1932 to 1952
All films by Norman Taurog Room for One More1952IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Mayor Michael J. Kane
Broadway Melody of 19401940IMDb rating 7.2Bacon as Orange Stand Counterman
If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9Bacon as China Shop Salesman
Also five films together1 more actor
- Gene LockhartRiding High (1950), Meet John Doe (1941), They Died with Their Boots On (1941), His Girl Friday (1940) and Earthworm Tractors (1936)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Irving Bacon's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$56.6 million
15 of the 75 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 75 films: 15 worldwide figure; 5 us gross only; 55 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 5US gross only
- 55Figure not found
Top grosser

Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 78% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$12M21.2% of the total
- 2$7.0M12.4% of the total
- 3$5.5M9.8% of the total
- 4$5.4M9.5% of the total
- 5$4.5M7.9% of the total
- 6$3.8M6.6% of the total
- 7$3.5M6.1% of the total
- 8$2.8M5.0% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.










