Spencer Charters

Biography

Spencer Charters was a burly, moon faced man who got his start in the theater where he basically stayed until 1930. Thereafter, he quickly launched a career as a character actor in movies. His specialty was a lower-to-middle-class worker, and he portrayed many types, including judges, doctors, clerks, managers, jailers, etc. Charters was a busy man, with over 200 parts from 1930 to 1943. By the late 1930s, Charters was feeling the effects of advancing age, and was unable to play more than short bit parts. He ended his life in 1943 via sleeping pills and carbon monoxide poisoning.

67years old at death

Born March 25, 1875Perry County
Died January 25, 1943Hollywood
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 31
Career span: 14 years1930 to 1944

Genres

Romance61%, 19 films
Comedy58%, 18 films
Drama48%, 15 films
Crime29%, 9 films
Action10%, 3 films

First and latest

Spencer Charters movies on Netflix

Arsenic and Old Lace1944IMDb rating 7.9as Marriage License Clerk
High Sierra1941IMDb rating 7.5as Ed
Hold That Ghost1941IMDb rating 7.2as Storekeeper
Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3as County Clerk
Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0as Innkeeper
Exile Express1939IMDb rating 5.2as Justice of the Peace Henry P. Smith
In Name Only1939IMDb rating 7.0as Gardener
Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0as Minister
Remember the Night1939IMDb rating 7.5as Judge at Rummage Sale
Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5as Judge Herbert A. Bell
Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3as Charlie
In Old Chicago1938IMDb rating 6.7as Commissioner W.J. Beavers
Three Comrades1938IMDb rating 7.1as Herr Schultz
Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4as Judge
Vivacious Lady1938IMDb rating 7.1as Husband Shaving on Train
Pick a Star1937IMDb rating 5.4as Judge
The Hurricane1937IMDb rating 7.1as Judge
Wife, Doctor and Nurse1937IMDb rating 6.0as Uncle
Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8as Magistrate
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8as Mal
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford1936IMDb rating 6.9as Dr. Bunting
Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7as Hotel Doorman
The Raven1935IMDb rating 6.8as Col. Bertram Grant
It's a Gift1934IMDb rating 7.0as Gate Guard
Female1933IMDb rating 6.7as Tom
20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8as Officer Daniels
Jewel Robbery1932IMDb rating 7.2as Johann Christian Lenz
Movie Crazy1932IMDb rating 7.1as J.L. O'Brien
Three on a Match1932IMDb rating 7.1as Street Cleaner
The Front Page1931IMDb rating 6.7as Woodenshoes
The Bat Whispers1930IMDb rating 6.3as The Caretaker

Best known for

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

Top

The Raven1935 Crime, Horroras Col. Bertram Grant
IMDb rating 6.87.4K votes
Young Mr. Lincoln1939 Drama, Historyas Judge Herbert A. Bell
IMDb rating 7.510K votes
Jewel Robbery1932as Johann Christian Lenz
IMDb rating 7.23.1K votes
Movie Crazy1932as J.L. O'Brien
IMDb rating 7.11.8K votes
Libeled Lady1936as Magistrate
IMDb rating 7.89.8K votes
Arsenic and Old Lace1944as Marriage License Clerk
IMDb rating 7.978K votes
High Sierra1941as Ed
IMDb rating 7.521K votes
It's a Gift1934as Gate Guard
IMDb rating 7.06.1K votes

Most often with

John Ford directed four of these films, Michael Curtiz three and Frank Capra two. George Chandler appears in five 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.

Top

George Chandler

William Powell

John Carradine

Ward Bond

Cary Grant

Henry Fonda

John FordDirector, 4 films Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films

Frank CapraDirector, 2 films

Films together

George Chandler5 films together, 1935 to 1941
George Chandler's page
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Charters as County ClerkChandler as Hotel Desk Clark
- Exile Express1939IMDb rating 5.2Charters as Justice of the Peace Henry P. SmithChandler as Marvln McGee
- Three Comrades1938IMDb rating 7.1Charters as Herr SchultzChandler as First comic with singer
- Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8Charters as MagistrateChandler as Bell Hop
- Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7Charters as Hotel DoormanChandler as Witness
William Powell4 films together, 1932 to 1936
William Powell's page
- Libeled Lady1936IMDb rating 7.8Charters as MagistratePowell as Bill Chandler
- The Ex-Mrs. Bradford1936IMDb rating 6.9Charters as Dr. BuntingPowell as Dr. Lawrence 'Brad' Bradford
- Star of Midnight1935IMDb rating 6.7Charters as Hotel DoormanPowell as Clay Dalzell
- Jewel Robbery1932IMDb rating 7.2Charters as Johann Christian LenzPowell as The Robber
John Carradine3 films together, 1937 to 1939
John Carradine's page
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as InnkeeperCarradine as Caldwell
- Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as MinisterCarradine as Bob Ford
- The Hurricane1937IMDb rating 7.1Charters as JudgeCarradine as Guard Captain
Ward Bond3 films together, 1939 to 1941
Ward Bond's page
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Charters as County ClerkBond as Lov Bensey
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as InnkeeperBond as Adam Hartman
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Charters as Judge Herbert A. BellBond as John Palmer Cass
Cary Grant3 films together, 1938 to 1944
Cary Grant's page
- Arsenic and Old Lace1944IMDb rating 7.9Charters as Marriage License ClerkGrant as Mortimer Brewster
- In Name Only1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as GardenerGrant as Alec Walker
- Topper Takes a Trip1938IMDb rating 6.4Charters as JudgeGrant as George Kerby
Henry Fonda3 films together, 1939
Henry Fonda's page
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as InnkeeperFonda as Gilbert Martin
- Jesse James1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as MinisterFonda as Frank James
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Charters as Judge Herbert A. BellFonda as Abraham Lincoln
John FordDirector, 4 films, 1937 to 1941
All films by John Ford
- Tobacco Road1941IMDb rating 6.3Charters as County Clerk
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Charters as Innkeeper
- Young Mr. Lincoln1939IMDb rating 7.5Charters as Judge Herbert A. Bell
- The Hurricane1937IMDb rating 7.1Charters as Judge
Michael CurtizDirector, 3 films, 1932 to 1938
All films by Michael Curtiz
- Four's a Crowd1938IMDb rating 6.3Charters as Charlie
- Female1933IMDb rating 6.7Charters as Tom
- 20,000 Years in Sing Sing1932IMDb rating 6.8Charters as Officer Daniels
Frank CapraDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1944
All films by Frank Capra
- Arsenic and Old Lace1944IMDb rating 7.9Charters as Marriage License Clerk
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Charters as Mal
Also three films together10 more actors
- Jerome CowanHigh Sierra (1941), Exile Express (1939) and The Hurricane (1937)
- Bobby BarberHold That Ghost (1941), Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Henry HullHigh Sierra (1941), Jesse James (1939) and Three Comrades (1938)
- Grant MitchellArsenic and Old Lace (1944), Tobacco Road (1941) and The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)
- Franklin PangbornFour's a Crowd (1938), Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Vivacious Lady (1938)
- Charley GrapewinTobacco Road (1941), Three Comrades (1938) and Libeled Lady (1936)
- Ruth DonnellyMr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), Female (1933) and Jewel Robbery (1932)
- Paul HurstIn Old Chicago (1938), Topper Takes a Trip (1938) and Wife, Doctor and Nurse (1937)
- Walter CatlettExile Express (1939), Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) and The Front Page (1931)
- Slim SummervilleTobacco Road (1941), Jesse James (1939) and The Front Page (1931)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.