Walter Woolf King (November 2, 1899 – October 24, 1984) was an American film, television and stage actor and singer.

Walter Woolf King
King in Today I Hang (1942)
Born
Walter Woolf King

(1899-11-02)November 2, 1899
DiedOctober 24, 1984(1984-10-24) (aged 84)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1918–1977
Spouse(s)Ernestyne Bachrach
(m. 193?; div. 19??)
ChildrenBarbara Jean Meier
Walter Woolf King Jr.[1]

Born in San Francisco, California in 1899, King started singing for a living at a young age and performed mostly in churches. He made his Broadway debut in 1919, and became a well-known baritone in operettas and musical comedies. King billed himself as Walter Woolf and Walter King early in his career, eventually settling on a combination of all three names in the mid-1930s.

In 1936, King was host of the Flying Red Horse Tavern on CBS radio.[2]

King began his film career in musicals but quickly moved into supporting roles. He is probably best remembered today for his villainous roles in two films starring the Marx Brothers: A Night at the Opera (1935) and Go West (1940). He also appeared with Laurel & Hardy in Swiss Miss (1938). King made several appearances on radio and later became an actors' agent. During the 1950s and 1960s, he was seen in several often uncredited bit parts and smaller roles in television and films.

One credited TV role was as “Major Clinton” in the 1958 S1E38 offering, “The Monty Britton Story” on Wagon Train.

In the first episode of The Munsters he is credited for his role as George Washington. His final appearance was in the 1977 TV movie One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story.

King died in Beverly Hills, California in 1984.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1930 Golden Dawn Tom Allen
1933 Girl Without a Room Arthur Copeland
1934 Embarrassing Moments Paul
1935 Lottery Lover Prince Midanoff
One More Spring Morris Rosenberg
Ginger Daniel Parker
Spring Tonic José
A Night at the Opera Rudolfo Lassparri
1937 Call It a Day Paul Francis
1938 Walking Down Broadway Jeff Hoffman
Swiss Miss Victor Albert
1939 Society Smugglers Roy Allen Massey
Big Town Czar Paul Burgess
The House of Fear Carleton
Balalaika Captain Michael Sibirsky
1940 Go West John Beecher
1941 Melody for Three Antoine Pirelle
1942 Today I Hang Jim O'Brien
A Yank in Libya Mike Malone
Smart Alecks Dr. Ormsby
Between Us Girls King - an actor
1943 Yanks Ahoy Captain Gillis
1952 Stars and Stripes Forever President's Aide Uncredited
1953 Taxi Business Man
Tonight We Sing Gritti
Call Me Madam Secretary of State Uncredited
City That Never Sleeps Hotel Manager Uncredited
Affair with a Stranger Harry Casino Uncredited
1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Doctor Pritchard Season 1 Episode 8: "Our Cook's a Treasure"
Francis in the Navy Jensen Uncredited
1956 The Bottom of the Bottle Grant
The Ten Commandments Herald Uncredited
Three Brave Men Admiral Mason Uncredited
1957 An Affair to Remember Doctor in Hospital Uncredited
The Joker Is Wild Mr. Page Uncredited
The Helen Morgan Story Florenz Ziegfeld
1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mob Boss Season 3 Episode 14: "The Percentage"
Kathy O' Donald C. Faber
Hong Kong Confidential CIA Chief Uncredited
1961 The Outsider Civilian Uncredited
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Senator Hayes Season 1 Episode 29: "The Dark Pool"
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Roberts the Executive Season 2 Episode 2: "A Nice Touch"
The Householder Professor
The Raiders Colonel DeKoenig Uncredited
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Judge Season 2 Episode 31: "Isabel"
Where Love Has Gone Bank Board Member Uncredited
Della Sam Jordon
1967 Rosie! Judge
1970 Airport Cindy's Father Uncredited

References

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  1. ^ "Walter Woolf King is Dead;Leading Actor and Singer". The New York Times. October 29, 1984.
  2. ^ Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. P. 234.
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