Leo Willis
Biography
Leo Willis was an American actor who began in the silent era and specialized in tough guys and comic villains. Born in Wapanucka, Oklahoma, he worked at the Hal Roach Studios alongside Harold Lloyd, Laurel and Hardy, and Charley Chase. An early appearance was in William S. Hart's 1916 western The Return of Draw Egan, where a fight between the star and Willis drew notice from the Nashville Tennessean, and he was also featured in Hart's follow-up, The Devil's Double. In The Kid Brother (1927), his turn as one of the hero's older brothers was praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the critic Harriette Underhill. From 1927 onward he played mostly minor roles in 11 Laurel and Hardy films, among them Call of the Cuckoo and Flying Elephants, and his final part came in the 1936 Charley Chase short On the Wrong Trek.
62years old at death
- Born Oklahoma
- Died Monterey County
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 20 years1916 to 1936
Every film, newest first
- 1936The Bohemian GirlIMDb rating 6.6
- 1929Welcome DangerIMDb rating 5.9
- 1927The Kid BrotherIMDb rating 7.6
- 1916Hell's HingesIMDb rating 6.7
Genres
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First role
In his third film, the 1916 William S. Hart western The Return of Draw Egan, Willis fought Hart in a scene the Nashville Tennessean called one of the film's principal thrills and dubbed him one of Inceville's strongest men.
Leo Willis movies on Netflix
Worked with
Leo Willis shares two films with Harold Lloyd, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Harold Lloyd's page
Brooks Benedict's page
Oliver Hardy's page
Stan Laurel's page
Eddie Borden's page
Eddy Chandler's page
Lewis MilestoneDirector, 1 film, 1927
All films by Lewis Milestone
Ted WildeDirector, 1 film, 1927
All films by Ted Wilde
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.