Jay Adler

Biography

Jay Adler was an American actor who worked in theater, television, and film and died in 1978. He was born in New York City into the acting family of Jacob and Sara Adler, part of the city's Yiddish theater community. His Broadway credits included Man Bites Dog, Prelude, Blind Alley, and Cafe Crown. In 1934 he helped form the Theater Mart Group with Harry Thomashefsky and Boris Bernardi, a cooperative players' company in New York. His career ran from 1938 to 1976, and he built up more than 130 credits, usually in small character parts across many films and TV series. Among his films were Jerry Lewis's The Family Jewels (1965), Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956), and The Big Combo (1955). He also appeared in The Asphalt Jungle, Straightaway, and the film The Lawbreakers.

81years old at death

Born September 26, 1896New York City
Died September 23, 1978Woodland Hills
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22

Movie Career

Films: 28
Career span: 36 years1938 to 1974

Genres

Drama61%, 17 films
Crime50%, 14 films
Film-Noir18%, 5 films
Romance14%, 4 films
Thriller14%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
In 1934, Adler helped found the Theater Mart Group in New York City with Harry Thomashefsky and Boris Bernardi, a cooperative of players and staff that planned to produce plays like those of the city's Group Theatre.

Jay Adler movies on Netflix

Macon County Line1974IMDb rating 6.5as Impound Yard Man
Grave of the Vampire1972IMDb rating 5.0as Zach
The Family Jewels1965IMDb rating 6.2as Attorney
Where Love Has Gone1964IMDb rating 6.1as Bartender
Who's Got the Action?1962IMDb rating 5.5as Motorist
Curse of the Undead1959IMDb rating 6.0as Bartender
Saddle the Wind1958IMDb rating 6.6as Hank
The Brothers Karamazov1958IMDb rating 6.7as Pawnbroker
Sweet Smell of Success1957IMDb rating 8.0as Manny Davis
Crime of Passion1956IMDb rating 6.4as Mr. Nalence
The Catered Affair1956IMDb rating 7.4as Sam Leiter
The Killing1956IMDb rating 7.9as Leo the Loanshark
Illegal1955IMDb rating 7.0as Joseph Carter
Love Me or Leave Me1955IMDb rating 7.1as Orry
Man with the Gun1955IMDb rating 6.7as Cal
Murder Is My Beat1955IMDb rating 6.0as Bartender Louie
The Big Combo1955IMDb rating 7.3as Detective Sam Hill
Down Three Dark Streets1954IMDb rating 6.6as Uncle Max - aka Charles Martell
The Long Wait1954IMDb rating 6.5as Joe the Bellhop
99 River Street1953IMDb rating 7.4as Christopher
Vice Squad1953IMDb rating 6.8as Frankie Pierce
Scandal Sheet1952IMDb rating 7.4as Bailey
The Bad and the Beautiful1952IMDb rating 7.7as Mr. Z - Party Guest
The Prisoner of Zenda1952IMDb rating 6.9
The Turning Point1952IMDb rating 6.8as Sammy Lester
Cry Danger1951IMDb rating 7.3as Williams
The Underworld Story1950IMDb rating 6.9as Munsey's Assistant
The Saint in New York1938IMDb rating 6.3as Eddie

Best known for

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

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The Killing1956 Crime, Drama, Film-Noiras Leo the Loanshark
IMDb rating 7.9107K votes
Sweet Smell of Success1957 Drama, Film-Noiras Manny Davis
IMDb rating 8.041K votes
The Big Combo1955as Detective Sam Hill
IMDb rating 7.310K votes
99 River Street1953as Christopher
IMDb rating 7.44.1K votes
The Family Jewels1965as Attorney
IMDb rating 6.22.7K votes
Grave of the Vampire1972as Zach
IMDb rating 5.01.8K votes
Cry Danger1951as Williams
IMDb rating 7.33.1K votes
Crime of Passion1956as Mr. Nalence
IMDb rating 6.43.7K votes

Most often with

Phil Karlson directed two of these films, Richard Brooks two and Robert Parrish two. Ted de Corsia appears in four 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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Ted de Corsia

Whit Bissell

Emile Meyer

Bess Flowers

Bette Davis

Kathleen FreemanPhil KarlsonDirector, 2 films

Richard BrooksDirector, 2 films

Robert ParrishDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ted de Corsia4 films together, 1952 to 1956
Ted de Corsia's page
- The Killing1956IMDb rating 7.9Adler as Leo the LoansharkCorsia as Policeman Randy Kennan
- Man with the Gun1955IMDb rating 6.7Adler as CalCorsia as "Frenchy" Lescaux
- The Big Combo1955IMDb rating 7.3Adler as Detective Sam HillCorsia as Ralph Bettini
- The Turning Point1952IMDb rating 6.8Adler as Sammy LesterCorsia as Harrigan
Whit Bissell3 films together, 1952 to 1964
Whit Bissell's page
- Where Love Has Gone1964IMDb rating 6.1Adler as BartenderBissell as Professor Bell
- The Big Combo1955IMDb rating 7.3Adler as Detective Sam HillBissell as Doctor (scenes deleted)
- The Turning Point1952IMDb rating 6.8Adler as Sammy LesterBissell as Buck
Emile Meyer3 films together, 1955 to 1974
Emile Meyer's page
- Macon County Line1974IMDb rating 6.5Adler as Impound Yard ManMeyer as Gurney
- Sweet Smell of Success1957IMDb rating 8.0Adler as Manny DavisMeyer as Lt. Harry Kello
- Man with the Gun1955IMDb rating 6.7Adler as CalMeyer as Saul Atkins
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1954 to 1955
Bess Flowers's page
- Illegal1955IMDb rating 7.0Adler as Joseph CarterFlowers as Diner at Bar of Justice Restaurant
- The Long Wait1954IMDb rating 6.5Adler as Joe the BellhopFlowers as Woman in Gambling House
Bette Davis2 films together, 1956 to 1964
Bette Davis's page
- Where Love Has Gone1964IMDb rating 6.1Adler as BartenderDavis as Mrs. Gerald Hayden
- The Catered Affair1956IMDb rating 7.4Adler as Sam LeiterDavis as Agnes Hurley
Kathleen Freeman2 films together, 1951 to 1952
Kathleen Freeman's page
- The Prisoner of Zenda1952IMDb rating 6.9
- Cry Danger1951IMDb rating 7.3Adler as WilliamsFreeman as Cigarette Clerk #2
Phil KarlsonDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1953
All films by Phil Karlson
- 99 River Street1953IMDb rating 7.4Adler as Christopher
- Scandal Sheet1952IMDb rating 7.4Adler as Bailey
Richard BrooksDirector, 2 films, 1956 to 1958
All films by Richard Brooks
- The Brothers Karamazov1958IMDb rating 6.7Adler as Pawnbroker
- The Catered Affair1956IMDb rating 7.4Adler as Sam Leiter
Robert ParrishDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1958
All films by Robert Parrish
- Saddle the Wind1958IMDb rating 6.6Adler as Hank
- Cry Danger1951IMDb rating 7.3Adler as Williams
Also two films together32 more actors
- Ray TealSaddle the Wind (1958) and The Turning Point (1952)
- Edward G. RobinsonIllegal (1955) and Vice Squad (1953)
- Ellen CorbyThe Family Jewels (1965) and Illegal (1955)
- Royal DanoSaddle the Wind (1958) and Crime of Passion (1956)
- Lee Van CleefThe Big Combo (1955) and Vice Squad (1953)
- John HoytCurse of the Undead (1959) and The Big Combo (1955)
- Broderick CrawfordDown Three Dark Streets (1954) and Scandal Sheet (1952)
- Claude AkinsMan with the Gun (1955) and Down Three Dark Streets (1954)
- Ralph BrooksSweet Smell of Success (1957) and Crime of Passion (1956)
- Jonathan HaleScandal Sheet (1952) and The Saint in New York (1938)
- Barry KelleyThe Long Wait (1954) and Vice Squad (1953)
- Sterling HaydenCrime of Passion (1956) and The Killing (1956)
- Tom TullyLove Me or Leave Me (1955) and The Turning Point (1952)
- James MillicanThe Long Wait (1954) and Scandal Sheet (1952)
- Dick PowellThe Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Cry Danger (1951)
- Lana TurnerWho's Got the Action? (1962) and The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
- Richard ErdmanSaddle the Wind (1958) and Cry Danger (1951)
- DeForest KelleyWhere Love Has Gone (1964) and Illegal (1955)
- Edward BinnsCurse of the Undead (1959) and Vice Squad (1953)
- Jane GreerWhere Love Has Gone (1964) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)
- Peter LeedsLove Me or Leave Me (1955) and 99 River Street (1953)
- Roy GordonMurder Is My Beat (1955) and The Big Combo (1955)
- Gene ReynoldsDown Three Dark Streets (1954) and 99 River Street (1953)
- William ChalleeSaddle the Wind (1958) and Man with the Gun (1955)
- Dan TobinWho's Got the Action? (1962) and The Catered Affair (1956)
- Henry KulkyIllegal (1955) and Love Me or Leave Me (1955)
- Stafford ReppThe Brothers Karamazov (1958) and Down Three Dark Streets (1954)
- Steve MitchellThe Killing (1956) and The Big Combo (1955)
- Peggie CastleThe Long Wait (1954) and 99 River Street (1953)
- James McCallionIllegal (1955) and The Big Combo (1955)
- Mary Ellen KayThe Long Wait (1954) and Vice Squad (1953)
- Nick BorganiWhere Love Has Gone (1964) and Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Jay Adler's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$34.9 million

5 of the 28 films have a worldwide figure.

5Worldwide figure
2US gross only
21Figure not found

Top grosser

Macon County Line1974Impound Yard Man$18.0 million

Highest grossing

The five biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Macon County Line1974as Impound Yard Man
$18M51.6% of the total
2
The Prisoner of Zenda1952
$5.6M16.1% of the total
3
The Brothers Karamazov1958as Pawnbroker
$5.4M15.5% of the total
4
The Bad and the Beautiful1952as Mr. Z - Party Guest
$3.4M9.7% of the total
5
Sweet Smell of Success1957as Manny Davis
$2.5M7.2% of the total