Ralph Dumke

Biography

Ralph Dumke was an American comedian and actor whose career ran from the early 1920s until 1964. Born in South Bend, Indiana, he began in Chicago vaudeville as half of a comedy duo with Ed East called The Mirthquakers. They toured the B. F. Keith Circuit for ten years and were among the opening acts at Radio City Music Hall in 1932. The pair also became radio stars, hosting NBC's daily Sisters of the Skillet from 1930 to 1937. Dumke's Broadway debut came in 1942, as Hercules in By Jupiter, and he returned to Broadway in 1940s musicals. From 1949 to 1961 he was a character actor in more than forty films, including All the King's Men (1949) and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), as well as The Breaking Point (1950). On television he starred in Captain Billy's Showboat, hosted Movieland Quiz, and made guest appearances on shows such as I Love Lucy and Perry Mason.

64years old at death

Born July 25, 1899South Bend
Died January 4, 1964Sherman Oaks
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Ralph Ernest Dumke

Movie Career

Films: 13
Career span: 12 years1949 to 1961

Genres

Drama54%, 7 films
Comedy31%, 4 films
Crime31%, 4 films
Romance31%, 4 films
Thriller23%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Ralph Dumke was part of a comedy act called "The Mirthquakers," and one of its high points was being among the leading acts when Radio City Music Hall opened on December 27, 1932.
First role
Dumke's Broadway debut came in 1942, when he played Hercules in the original production of By Jupiter, the Rodgers and Hart musical.
Beyond film
Dumke and Ed East became national radio stars as the comedy duo behind "Sisters of the Skillet," a daily 15 minute NBC Radio afternoon show they hosted from 1930 to 1937, filling it with sketches, jokes and humorous musical numbers.
First role
Dumke began his career in Chicago in the early 1920s as a vaudeville entertainer in a comedy duo with Ed East called "The Mirthquakers."

Ralph Dumke movies on Netflix

All in a Night's Work1961IMDb rating 6.2as Baker
Loving You1957IMDb rating 6.5as Jim Tallman
Forever, Darling1956IMDb rating 6.0as Henry Opdyke
Invasion of the Body Snatchers1956IMDb rating 7.7as Police Chief Nick Grivett
The Solid Gold Cadillac1956IMDb rating 7.4as Warren Gillie
The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5as Clint
She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9as Sheriff
Lili1953IMDb rating 7.2as M. Corvier
The Mob1951IMDb rating 7.1as Police Commissioner
Mystery Street1950IMDb rating 7.2as Jim Black the Tattooist
The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5as Hannagan
Where Danger Lives1950IMDb rating 6.7as Klauber
All the King's Men1949IMDb rating 7.4as Tiny Duffy

Best known for

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

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Invasion of the Body Snatchers1956 Horror, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Police Chief Nick Grivett
IMDb rating 7.761K votes
All the King's Men1949 Dramaas Tiny Duffy
IMDb rating 7.418K votes
The Breaking Point1950as Hannagan
IMDb rating 7.55.3K votes
Where Danger Lives1950as Klauber
IMDb rating 6.73.8K votes
Loving You1957as Jim Tallman
IMDb rating 6.52.8K votes
Lili1953as M. Corvier
IMDb rating 7.24.5K votes
The Solid Gold Cadillac1956as Warren Gillie
IMDb rating 7.42.8K votes
Mystery Street1950as Jim Black the Tattooist
IMDb rating 7.24.2K votes

Most often with

Chet Brandenburg 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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Chet Brandenburg

Robert Mitchum

Whit Bissell

Wallace Ford

Broderick Crawford

Ray Collins

Films together

Chet Brandenburg3 films together, 1949 to 1954
Chet Brandenburg's page
- She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9Dumke as SheriffBrandenburg as Out-of-Towner
- The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5Dumke as HannaganBrandenburg as Taxi Driver
- All the King's Men1949IMDb rating 7.4Dumke as Tiny DuffyBrandenburg as Man Listening to Speech
Robert Mitchum2 films together, 1950 to 1954
Robert Mitchum's page
- She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9Dumke as SheriffMitchum as Doctor Robert Sellers
- Where Danger Lives1950IMDb rating 6.7Dumke as KlauberMitchum as Jeff Cameron
Whit Bissell2 films together, 1955 to 1956
Whit Bissell's page
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers1956IMDb rating 7.7Dumke as Police Chief Nick GrivettBissell as Emergency Room Psychiatrist
- The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5Dumke as ClintBissell as FBI Agent Carson
Wallace Ford2 films together, 1950 to 1954
Wallace Ford's page
- She Couldn't Say No1954IMDb rating 5.9Dumke as SheriffFord as Joe Wheelen
- The Breaking Point1950IMDb rating 7.5Dumke as HannaganFord as F.R. Duncan
Broderick Crawford2 films together, 1949 to 1951
Broderick Crawford's page
- The Mob1951IMDb rating 7.1Dumke as Police CommissionerCrawford as Johnny Damico
- All the King's Men1949IMDb rating 7.4Dumke as Tiny DuffyCrawford as Willie Stark
Ray Collins2 films together, 1955 to 1956
Ray Collins's page
- The Solid Gold Cadillac1956IMDb rating 7.4Dumke as Warren GillieCollins as Alfred Metcalfe
- The Desperate Hours1955IMDb rating 7.5Dumke as ClintCollins as Sheriff Masters
Also two films together7 more actors
- Ralph BrooksForever, Darling (1956) and Mystery Street (1950)
- Richard DeaconInvasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956)
- Mabel AlbertsonAll in a Night's Work (1961) and Forever, Darling (1956)
- Tol AveryShe Couldn't Say No (1954) and Where Danger Lives (1950)
- Walter BurkeMystery Street (1950) and All the King's Men (1949)
- Edmon RyanMystery Street (1950) and The Breaking Point (1950)
- Sherry JacksonThe Breaking Point (1950) and Where Danger Lives (1950)
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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