Jack Oakie
Biography
Jack Oakie was an American actor who starred mostly in films and worked on stage, radio, and television. Born in Sedalia, Missouri, and raised largely in Oklahoma, he began in amateur theater in New York as a mimic and comedian, then made his professional Broadway debut in 1923 as a chorus boy in Little Nellie Kelly. He appeared in Broadway musicals and comedies from 1923 to 1927, then moved to Hollywood near the end of the silent era. He signed with Paramount Pictures in 1927, and his first talking picture, The Dummy, came in 1929. After his Paramount contract ended in 1934, he freelanced and appeared in 87 films, becoming known for collegiate-themed films and for refusing screen makeup. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for playing Napaloni in Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator (1940). He had his own radio series, Jack Oakie's College, and appeared on television programs including The Real McCoys and Bonanza.
74years old at death
- Born Sedalia
- Died Northridge
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Lewis Delaney Offield (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 13
- Career span
- 29 years1932 to 1961
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First role
While in New York, Oakie performed in amateur theater as a mimic and comedian. In 1923 he made his professional Broadway debut as a chorus boy in George M. Cohan's Little Nellie Kelly.
A first
Oakie was nicknamed "The World's Oldest Freshman" in the 1930s because he appeared in so many films with a collegiate theme.
Beyond film
Since no film studio contract restricted him, Oakie moved into radio. From 1936 to 1938 he starred in Jack Oakie's College, his own CBS musical-comedy radio series.
About the name
Jack Oakie took his adopted first name, Jack, from the name of the first character he ever played on stage.
Jack Oakie movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Great Dictator1940 Comedy, Drama, Waras Napaloni - Dictator of Bacteria
IMDb rating 8.4260K votes
Most often with
H. Bruce Humberstone directed two of these films. George Barbier appears in three 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
George Barbier's page
Irving Bacon's page
Rock Hudson's page
Harry Hayden's page
Emma Dunn's page
Billy Gilbert's page
H. Bruce HumberstoneDirector, 2 films, 1932 to 1943
All films by H. Bruce Humberstone
Also two films together2 more actors
- Eddie DunnHello, Frisco, Hello (1943) and The Great Dictator (1940)
- W.C. FieldsIf I Had a Million (1932) and Million Dollar Legs (1932)
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.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.