Harry Woods (actor)

Woods was Born in Cleveland, Ohio and was a millinery salesman prior to becoming an actor. Appearing in nearly 250 films between 1923 and 1961, as well as on television, Woods is probably best-known today for his role as gangster Alky Briggs in the Marx Brothers film Monkey Business (1931). During his 35-year film career, he seldom played ordinary henchmen, usually cast as both the brains (the banker or saloon owner who secretly runs the gang terrorizing the area) and the brawn behind the local villainy. Woods was well respected by his peers.^[3] Another prime screen villain, Roy Barcroft, once said of him, "Everything I know about being a bad guy I learned from Harry Woods."^[4] He retired from acting in 1961.^[5][6]

In 1911, Woods married Helen Priscilla Hockenberry.^[7][8] They had four children: a daughter and three sons, the first of whom died at age 2.^[9] The other two, Richard Woods and Harry Lewis Woods Jr., went on to have modest careers as Hollywood bit players, the latter as Craig Woods,^[10] the former as Dick Durrell.^[11][12][13]

Woods died of uremia in Westminster, California, on December 28, 1968 at the age of 79.^[1] He was survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.^[6]