Spec O'Donnell
American actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter D. "Spec" O'Donnell (April 9, 1911 â October 14, 1986) was an American film actor who appeared in more than 190 films between 1923 and 1978.
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Spec O'Donnell | |
|---|---|
Lobby card for The Country Kid (1923) with O'Donnell in back | |
| Born | April 9, 1911 Fresno, California, United States |
| Died | October 14, 1986 (aged 75) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1923â1978 |
He worked frequently for producer Hal Roach, often appearing in silent comedies as the bratty son of Max Davidson or Charley Chase. His sound-era roles were mostly uncredited bits, often as bellhops, newsboys, and pages; he was playing adolescent roles well into his twenties. He has the unusual distinction of playing the same role (a newsboy) in both an original film and its remake: Princess O'Hara and It Ain't Hay.
Early life
O'Donnell was born in Madera, California.[1] His father, John O'Donnell, was a lumber mill labourer originally from Maryland.[2]:â100â101â His mother and older siblings (Jack and Minnie) were born in California.[2]:â101â
Career
In February 1924, O'Donnell signed with Julius and Abe Stern's Century Film Corporation.[3]
In 1924, O'Donnell starred in Walt Disney's Alice Comedies.[2]:â78â The first of these was Alice's Spooky Adventure, where he features as one of several children playing baseball in a field.[2]:â100â The film also starred Virginia Davis (as Alice) and Leon Holmes, with whom O'Donnell featured alongside in Alice the Peacemaker during the same year.[2]:â100,â110â He also had parts in Alice Gets in Dutch and Alice is Stage Struck, which was released the following year.[2]:â111,â124â
Personal life
O'Donnell died in 1986 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.
Selected filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | Little Johnny Jones | Freckle-faced Little Boy | ||
| 1923 | The Barefoot Boy | Schoolboy | ||
| 1923 | The Country Kid | Joe Applegate | [4] | |
| 1923 | The Darling of New York | Willie | [5] | |
| 1923 | Main Street | [6] | ||
| 1924 | The Foolish Virgin | Little Boy | [7] | |
| 1924 | Don't Fall | Spec | Short | [8] |
| 1924 | Speed Boys | Spec | Short | [9] |
| 1924 | Paging Money | Short | [10] | |
| 1924 | The Racing Kid | Short | [11] | |
| 1924 | Delivering the Goods | Spec | Short | [12] |
| 1924 | Alice's Spooky Adventure | Freckled Boy | uncredited; Short | [2]:â100â |
| 1924 | Alice the Peacemaker | Freckle-Faced Newsboy | [2]:â110â | |
| 1924 | Alice Gets in Dutch | Short | [2]:â111â | |
| 1925 | Alice Is Stage Struck | [2]:â124â | ||
| 1925 | Tomorrow's Love | [13] | ||
| 1925 | The Devil's Cargo | Jimmy | [14] | |
| 1925 | The Dressmaker from Paris | Jim | [15] | |
| 1925 | Little Annie Rooney | Abie | [16] | |
| 1925 | The Price of Success | Jimmy Moran | ||
| 1926 | Sparrows | Ambrose | [17] | |
| 1926 | Private Izzy Murphy | The Monahan Kid | [18] | |
| 1926 | Hard Boiled | Eddie Blix | ||
| 1926 | Old Ironsides | Cabin Boy | uncredited | |
| 1926 | Don Key | Office Boy | Also known as Don Key (Son of Burro) | [19] |
| 1927 | Why Girls Say No | Maxie Whisselberg | [20] | |
| 1927 | Don't Tell Everything | Asher Ginsberg | ||
| 1927 | Casey at the Bat | Spec | ||
| 1927 | Special Delivery | Office Boy | uncredited | |
| 1927 | Call of the Cuckoo | Love's Greatest Mistake | ||
| 1928 | Pass the Gravy | Ignatz | ||
| 1928 | A Pair of Tights | The Kid | ||
| 1928 | Vamping Venus | Western Union Boy / Mercury | ||
| 1928 | Hot News | Spec | ||
| 1928 | Danger Street | Sammy | ||
| 1929 | In the Headlines | Johnny | ||
| 1929 | The Sophomore | Joe's Nephew | ||
| 1930 | The Grand Parade | Call Boy | ||
| 1930 | Big Money | Elevator Boy | ||
| 1930 | Two Plus Fours | Spec | Short | |
| 1932 | The Big Broadcast | Office Boy | uncredited | |
| 1934 | Broadway Bill | Higgins Flunky | uncredited | |
| 1934 | David Harum | Tim | uncredited | [21] |
| 1936 | Cain and Mabel | Autograph Hound | uncredited | |
| 1937 | Blonde Trouble | Fred's Friend | ||
| 1937 | Here's Flash Casey | Billy | uncredited | |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Pool Room Youth | uncredited | |
| 1938 | Accidents Will Happen | 'Specs' Carter | [22] | |
| 1943 | Crazy House | Bellhop | uncredited | |
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn | Arena Callboy | uncredited | |
| 1951 | Footlight Varieties | Contestant | uncredited | |
| 1952 | Pat and Mike | Hick's Caddy | uncredited | |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Club Member (uncredited) | Season 5 Episode 12: "Specialty of the House" | |
| 1978 | Convoy | 18 Wheel Eddie | [23] |
