Mike Donlin

Biography

Mike Donlin was an American professional baseball outfielder who later became a screen actor. Born in Peoria in 1878, he played Major League Baseball from 1899 to 1914, mostly in the National League, for seven teams across twelve seasons. His most notable years were with the New York Giants, where he was an outfielder on John McGraw's teams that won the 1904 pennant and the 1905 World Series. A leading hitter of the dead-ball era, he finished with a .333 career batting average, 28th all time, and five times ranked among the league's top three hitters. He co-wrote and appeared in the one-act play Stealing Home in 1908, then gradually moved from stage to screen. His films included small roles in The General (1926), Warming Up (1928), Paramount's first sound feature, and an uncredited part in One Way Passage (1932). Though he made at least 53 film appearances, stardom never came, and he also advised on baseball movies.

55years old at death

Born May 30, 1878Peoria
Died September 24, 1933Hollywood
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Also credited as Michael Joseph Donlin and Michael J. Donlin

Movie Career

Films: 12
Career span: 10 years1923 to 1933

Genres

Drama58%, 7 films
Comedy42%, 5 films
Romance33%, 4 films
Crime25%, 3 films
Adventure17%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

About the name
Donlin was known as "Turkey Mike," a nickname that came from his gait while walking, and he hit .340 with Baltimore, which ranked second in the league.
A change of course
After retiring from baseball, Donlin moved to Hollywood, where his close friend John Barrymore helped him find film work; he made at least 53 screen appearances but never became a star.

Mike Donlin movies on Netflix

She Done Him Wrong1933IMDb rating 6.3as Tout
20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8as Inmate
One Way Passage1932IMDb rating 7.5as Hong Kong Bartender
The Purchase Price1932IMDb rating 6.4as Shivaree Attendee Tom Buchanan
Her Man1930IMDb rating 6.5as Bartender
Up the River1930IMDb rating 5.9as Upstate Baseball Manager
Spite Marriage1929IMDb rating 6.9as Man in Ship's Engine Room
Thunderbolt1929IMDb rating 6.4as Kentucky Sampson
Beggars of Life1928IMDb rating 7.4as Bill
Ella Cinders1926IMDb rating 6.9as Film Studio Gateman
The General1926IMDb rating 8.1as Union General
The Unknown Purple1923IMDb rating 7.3as Burton

Best known for

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

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The General1926 Action, Adventure, Comedyas Union General
IMDb rating 8.1106K votes
Spite Marriage1929 Comedyas Man in Ship's Engine Room
IMDb rating 6.92.9K votes
Beggars of Life1928as Bill
IMDb rating 7.41.6K votes
Ella Cinders1926as Film Studio Gateman
IMDb rating 6.91.2K votes
One Way Passage1932as Hong Kong Bartender
IMDb rating 7.55.0K votes
Thunderbolt1929as Kentucky Sampson
IMDb rating 6.41.1K votes
Her Man1930as Bartender
IMDb rating 6.5579 votes
20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932as Inmate
IMDb rating 6.83.2K votes

Most often with

Buster Keaton directed two of these films, Tay Garnett two and William A. Wellman two. Warren Hymer 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.

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Warren Hymer

Spencer Tracy

Lyle Talbot

Buster Keaton

Louise Beavers

Richard Arlen

Buster KeatonDirector, 2 films

Tay GarnettDirector, 2 films

William A. WellmanDirector, 2 films

Films together

Warren Hymer3 films together, 1930 to 1932
Warren Hymer's page
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8Donlin as InmateHymer as Hype
- One Way Passage1932IMDb rating 7.5Donlin as Hong Kong BartenderHymer as Sgt. Steve Burke
- Up the River1930IMDb rating 5.9Donlin as Upstate Baseball ManagerHymer as Dannemora Dan
Spencer Tracy2 films together, 1930 to 1932
Spencer Tracy's page
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8Donlin as InmateTracy as Tommy Connors
- Up the River1930IMDb rating 5.9Donlin as Upstate Baseball ManagerTracy as Saint Louis
Lyle Talbot2 films together, 1932
Lyle Talbot's page
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8Donlin as InmateTalbot as Bud Saunders
- The Purchase Price1932IMDb rating 6.4Donlin as Shivaree Attendee Tom BuchananTalbot as Eddie Fields
Buster Keaton2 films together, 1926 to 1929
Buster Keaton's page
- Spite Marriage1929IMDb rating 6.9Donlin as Man in Ship's Engine RoomKeaton as Elmer
- The General1926IMDb rating 8.1Donlin as Union GeneralKeaton as Johnnie Gray
Louise Beavers2 films together, 1929 to 1933
Louise Beavers's page
- She Done Him Wrong1933IMDb rating 6.3Donlin as ToutBeavers as Pearl
- Thunderbolt1929IMDb rating 6.4Donlin as Kentucky SampsonBeavers as Black Cat Cafe Patron
Richard Arlen2 films together, 1928 to 1929
Richard Arlen's page
- Thunderbolt1929IMDb rating 6.4Donlin as Kentucky SampsonArlen as Bob Moran
- Beggars of Life1928IMDb rating 7.4Donlin as BillArlen as The Boy (Jim)
Buster KeatonDirector, 2 films, 1926 to 1929
All films by Buster Keaton
- Spite Marriage1929IMDb rating 6.9Donlin as Man in Ship's Engine Room
- The General1926IMDb rating 8.1Donlin as Union General
Tay GarnettDirector, 2 films, 1930 to 1932
All films by Tay Garnett
- One Way Passage1932IMDb rating 7.5Donlin as Hong Kong Bartender
- Her Man1930IMDb rating 6.5Donlin as Bartender
William A. WellmanDirector, 2 films, 1928 to 1932
All films by William A. Wellman
- The Purchase Price1932IMDb rating 6.4Donlin as Shivaree Attendee Tom Buchanan
- Beggars of Life1928IMDb rating 7.4Donlin as Bill
Also two films together6 more actors
- Roscoe KarnsOne Way Passage (1932) and Beggars of Life (1928)
- Glen CavenderOne Way Passage (1932) and The General (1926)
- Stanley FieldsOne Way Passage (1932) and Her Man (1930)
- David LandauShe Done Him Wrong (1933) and The Purchase Price (1932)
- Jed ProutyThe Purchase Price (1932) and Ella Cinders (1926)
- E.H. CalvertThunderbolt (1929) and Ella Cinders (1926)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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