Irving Bacon
Biography
St. Joseph, Missouri, USA
A minor character actor who appeared in literally hundreds of films, actor Irving Bacon could always be counted on for expressing bug-eyed bewilderment or cautious frustration in small-town settings with his revolving door of friendly, servile parts - mailmen, milkmen, clerks, chauffeurs, cab drivers, bartenders, soda jerks, carnival operators, handymen and docs. Born September 6, 1893 in the heart of the Midwest (St. Joseph, Missouri), he was the son of Millar and Myrtle (Vane) Bacon. Read more... Sennett in such slapstick as A Favorite Fool (1915). His director brother also began using him in his own silent funnies starting with Good Morning, Nurse (1925), which was written by Frank Capra, Hurry, Doctor! (1925) and Wide Open Faces (1926).
Irving made an easy adjustment when sound entered the pictures and after appearing in the Karl Dane and George K. Arthur two-reel comedy shorts such as Knights Before Christmas (1930), began to show up in feature-length films. He played higher-ups on occasion, such as the Secretary of the Navy in Million Dollar Legs (1932), police inspector in House of Mystery (1934), mayor in Room for One More (1952), and judge in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958), but those were exceptions to the rule. Blending in with the town crowd was what Irving was accustomed to and, over the years, he would be glimpsed in some of Hollywood's most beloved classics such as Capra's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), San Francisco (1936), You Can't Take It With You (1938) and A Star Is Born (1954). Trivia nuts will fondly recall his beleaguered postman in the Blondie (1938) film series that ran over a decade.
Irving could also be spotted on popular '50s and '60s TV programs such as the westerns Laramie (1959) and Wagon Train (1957), and "comedies December Bride (1954) and The Real McCoys (1957). He can still be seen in a couple of old codger roles on I Love Lucy (1951). One was as a marriage license proprietor and the other as Vivian Vance's doting dad from Albuquerque, to whom she paid a visit on her way to Hollywood with the Ricardos. Irving died on February 5, 1965, having clocked in over 400 features.
Irving made an easy adjustment when sound entered the pictures and after appearing in the Karl Dane and George K. Arthur two-reel comedy shorts such as Knights Before Christmas (1930), began to show up in feature-length films. He played higher-ups on occasion, such as the Secretary of the Navy in Million Dollar Legs (1932), police inspector in House of Mystery (1934), mayor in Room for One More (1952), and judge in Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958), but those were exceptions to the rule. Blending in with the town crowd was what Irving was accustomed to and, over the years, he would be glimpsed in some of Hollywood's most beloved classics such as Capra's Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), San Francisco (1936), You Can't Take It With You (1938) and A Star Is Born (1954). Trivia nuts will fondly recall his beleaguered postman in the Blondie (1938) film series that ran over a decade.
Irving could also be spotted on popular '50s and '60s TV programs such as the westerns Laramie (1959) and Wagon Train (1957), and "comedies December Bride (1954) and The Real McCoys (1957). He can still be seen in a couple of old codger roles on I Love Lucy (1951). One was as a marriage license proprietor and the other as Vivian Vance's doting dad from Albuquerque, to whom she paid a visit on her way to Hollywood with the Ricardos. Irving died on February 5, 1965, having clocked in over 400 features.
Actor

Character:
Henchman Slim
Side Street 1929
4

Character:
Townsman
Tide of Empire 1929
3

Character:
Slim
Halfway to Heaven 1929
1

Character:
The Stranger
The Old Barn 1929
1

Character:
Expectant Father
Bad Girl 1931
3

Character:
Hotel Valet
Her Majesty, Love 1931
6

Character:
Waiter
Big Business Girl 1931
5

Character:
Bill
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang 1932
6

Character:
China Shop Salesman
If I Had a Million 1932
5

Character:
First Hotel Clerk
They Call It Sin 1932
5

Character:
Sparks
This Is the Night 1932
1

Character:
Secretary of War
Million Dollar Legs 1932
6

Character:
Depot Hotel Waiter
Union Depot 1932
3

Character:
Court Guard
Lawyer Man 1932
5

Character:
Prisoner
The Big Broadcast 1932
10

Character:
Messenger with Bracelet
The Match King 1932
3

Character:
Grocery Clerk
Week-End Marriage 1932
3

Character:
Oscar
Central Park 1932
5

Character:
Pool Hall Dupe
Lady for a Day 1933
6

Character:
Crab Counterman
Double Harness 1933
5

Character:
Gas Station Attendant
Female 1933
6

Character:
Reporter
The Mind Reader 1933
5

Character:
Waiter
Ann Vickers 1933
4

Character:
Grover - Brooks' Chauffeur
The Keyhole 1933
32

Character:
Hick
The Bowery 1933
15

Character:
Cab Driver
Private Detective 62 1933
1

Character:
Amarillo Weatherman
Central Airport 1933
4

Character:
Gas Station Attendant
It Happened One Night 1934
3

Character:
Weight-Guesser
The Gay Bride 1934
2

Character:
Hamburger Stand Owner
Broadway Bill 1934
3

Character:
Secretary
Massacre 1934
1

Character:
Gambling House Attendant
Now I'll Tell 1934
2

Character:
Hick
George White's Scandals 1934
10

Character:
Harry - Bartender
Babbitt 1934
7

Character:
Messenger
Eight Girls in a Boat 1934
2

Character:
Stage Manager
You Belong to Me 1934
4

Character:
Harry
By Your Leave 1934
1

Character:
Hat Attendent
Friends of Mr. Sweeney 1934
4

Character:
Frank
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town 1936
4

Character:
Picnicker
San Francisco 1936
25

Character:
Hysterical Trooper
The Plainsman 1936
6

Character:
Mailman
The Trail of the Lonesome Pine 1936
3

Character:
Charlie - the Janitor
China Clipper 1936
2

Character:
David's Father
The Texas Rangers 1936
4

Character:
Peg Leg Holden
Hopalong Cassidy Returns 1936
1

Character:
Hugh's Chauffeur
The Bride Walks Out 1936
1

Character:
Property Man
The Big Broadcast of 1937 1936
6

Character:
Hotel Clerk
Topper 1937
2

Character:
Station Agent
A Star Is Born 1937
6

Character:
Coroner
True Confession 1937
1

Character:
Tall Soldier
They Gave Him a Gun 1937
4

Character:
Quartet member
Every Day's a Holiday 1937
5

Character:
Henry - the Head Waiter
You Can't Take It with You 1938
8

Character:
Mr. Beazley - the Mailman
Blondie 1938
2

Character:
Robert Forbes
The Sisters 1938
14

Character:
Foreman of Jury
The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse 1938
5

Character:
Mr. Spengler - the Process Server
The Mad Miss Manton 1938
1

Character:
Prisoner Playing Harmonica
The Big Broadcast of 1938 1938
13

Character:
The Druggist
Give Me a Sailor 1938
4

Character:
Chester - Smith's Secretary
The Cowboy and the Lady 1938
7

Character:
Cannery Official
Spawn of the North 1938
5

Character:
Gas Station Attendant
Hard to Get 1938
5

Character:
Assistant Director
Sweethearts 1938
29

Character:
Pvt. Collins
The Texans 1938
3

Character:
Lecturer on Seals
Sing, You Sinners 1938
6

Character:
Mr. Dobbs
There Goes My Heart 1938
3

Character:
Corporal
Gone with the Wind 1939
84

Character:
Newark Radio Operator
Made for Each Other 1939
7

Character:
Telegraph Clerk
At the Circus 1939
20

Character:
Tad
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1939
2

Character:
Hotel Clerk
The Oklahoma Kid 1939
8

Character:
Speed - Gas Station Attendant
They Made Me a Criminal 1939
5

Character:
Tracy
Nancy Drew... Reporter 1939
6

Character:
Clerk at Exchange Window
Bachelor Mother 1939
3

Character:
Jailer
You Can't Cheat an Honest Man 1939
4

Character:
Justice of the Peace Harvey Vaughan
Second Fiddle 1939
6

Character:
Storekeeper
Tail Spin 1939
1

Character:
Clerk
Hollywood Cavalcade 1939
9

Character:
'Mushy'
Rio 1939
18

Character:
Second Stage Manager
On Your Toes 1939
10

Character:
Hotel Clerk
The Gracie Allen Murder Case 1939
1

Character:
Driver
The Grapes of Wrath 1940
4

Character:
Bystander
The Return of Frank James 1940
3

Character:
Soda Jerk
Broadway Melody of 1940 1940
11

Character:
Becker
Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet 1940
4

Character:
Sheriff
Edison, the Man 1940
4

Character:
Tom Norton
The Howards of Virginia 1940
3

Character:
Otis
Young People 1940
12

Character:
Sam Appleby - Gas Station Attendant
The Doctor Takes a Wife 1940
2

Character:
Mailman
Blondie on a Budget 1940
3

Character:
Soldier
Lillian Russell 1940
16

Character:
Jefferson Hotel Desk Clerk
Star Dust 1940
4

Character:
Taxi Driver
Flight Command 1940
3

Character:
Hospital Official
Brother Rat and a Baby 1940
5

Character:
Wes Stillman
Dreaming Out Loud 1940
1

Character:
Abner
She Couldn't Say No 1940
1

Character:
Cab Driver
Love, Honor and Oh-Baby! 1940
1
33

Character:
Beany
Meet John Doe 1941
15

Character:
Teller
Tobacco Road 1941
6

Character:
Ferryman
Skylark 1941
1

Character:
Postman
Great Guns 1941
3

Character:
Raven
It Started with Eve 1941
6

Character:
The Soda Jerk
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break 1941
7

Character:
Barber
Western Union 1941
3

Character:
Cecil
Remember the Day 1941
9

Character:
Income Tax Man
Million Dollar Baby 1941
27

Character:
Skeet
Back Street 1941
1

Character:
Cogswell
Caught in the Draft 1941
1

Character:
Wagon Driver
The Wild Man of Borneo 1941
2

Character:
Mailman
Blondie Goes Latin 1941
6

Character:
Mr. Albert Merney
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob 1941
4

Character:
Doorman
Our Wife 1941
1

Character:
Cigar Store Proprietor
Four Mothers 1941
7

Character:
Train conductor
Cadet Girl 1941
5

Character:
Mailman
Blondie in Society 1941
5

Character:
Radio Station Manager Twitchell
Too Many Blondes 1941
5

Character:
Conrad - Taxi Driver
Moon Over Her Shoulder 1941
1

Character:
Gus
Holiday Inn 1942
17

Character:
New England Farmer - 'Old Glory' Number
Star Spangled Rhythm 1942
7

Character:
Gas Station Proprietor
Pardon My Sarong 1942
7

Character:
Parson
The Great Man's Lady 1942
2

Character:
Station Master
Shadow of a Doubt 1943
1

Character:
Cpl. Henderson
A Guy Named Joe 1943
9

Character:
Bartender
Action in the North Atlantic 1943
5

Character:
Waiter
This Is the Army 1943
24

Character:
John
Girl Crazy 1943
30

Character:
Dan Walters - Bartender
The Desperadoes 1943
5

Character:
Alf Cluckus - the Jailer
King of the Cowboys 1943
9

Character:
Ticket Agent
The Amazing Mrs. Holliday 1943
5

Character:
Dr. Bacon
Hers to Hold 1943
5

Character:
First Reporter
Happy Go Lucky 1943
7

Character:
Jimmy, Malt Shop Proprietor
Mister Big 1943
11

Character:
School Principal
Top Man 1943
9

Character:
Peterson
Follow the Band 1943
10

Character:
Mr. Crum
Footlight Glamour 1943
1

Character:
Dempster
So's Your Uncle 1943
6

Character:
Window-Washer
Pin Up Girl 1944
14

Character:
Bartender at Cocktail Lounge
Since You Went Away 1944
21

Character:
Sailor Projectionist
Wing and a Prayer 1944
10

Character:
Bath House Barber
Can't Help Singing 1944
8

Character:
Man Saying 'Let's Go Pick Oranges'
Song of the Open Road 1944
7

Character:
Peter Van Stoon
Knickerbocker Holiday 1944
12

Character:
Prof. Frost
Chip Off the Old Block 1944
7

Character:
Tower, the Butler
Heavenly Days 1944
3

Character:
Sheriff Todd
Weekend Pass 1944
6

Character:
Railway Gateman
Spellbound 1945
1

Character:
Sam Skelly
Week-End at the Waldorf 1945
5

Character:
Tom
The Thin Man Goes Home 1945
2

Character:
Customer in Music Shop
Roughly Speaking 1945
21

Character:
Melvin
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer 1947
3

Character:
Gas Station Owner
High Wall 1947
2

Character:
Hollywood Realtor
Words and Music 1948
19

Character:
Telegrapher
Whispering Smith 1948
3

Character:
Judd Jenkins
Moonrise 1948
3

Character:
RR Information Clerk
It's a Great Feeling 1949
17

Character:
Real Estate Agent
Night Unto Night 1949
3

Character:
Mike Man
Dear Wife 1949
5

Character:
George Beachwood
John Loves Mary 1949
9

Character:
Jury Foreman
The House Across the Street 1949
10

Character:
Mr. Lake
Down Memory Lane 1949
7

Character:
Chris Dobbs
Sons of New Mexico 1949
4

Character:
Ebenezer Dorset
Full House 1952
14

Character:
Mayor Michael J. Kane
Room for One More 1952
3

Character:
Sheriff Doolittle
Sweethearts on Parade 1953
18

Character:
Graves
A Star Is Born 1954
14

Character:
Mr. Miller
The Glenn Miller Story 1954
23

Character:
Scotty
Run for Cover 1955
1

Character:
Postal Clerk
Leave It to Beaver 1957
0

Character:
Curson - Accountant
Vogues of 1938 1937
11

Character:
Man Customer
The Dick Van Dyke Show 1961
0

Character:
Baines, Butler
Here Comes the Groom 1951
5

Character:
McLean
Private Worlds 1935
0

Character:
Chief of Police
Johnny Come Lately 1943
0

Character:
Harlan
Wabash Avenue 1950
14
0

Character:
Ben
In Old Oklahoma 1943
0

Character:
Nosey Stationmaster
Guest Wife 1945
0

Character:
Andy
December Bride 1954
0

Character:
Mayor Webster
The Donna Reed Show 1958
0

Character:
Dad
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre 1955
0

Character:
Apt. House Manager
77 Sunset Strip 1958
0

Character:
Howard Anderson
The Real McCoys 1957
0

Character:
Carter
Four Star Playhouse 1952
0

Character:
Pop
Goodyear Theatre 1957
0

Character:
Pierre Couvais
Monsieur Verdoux 1947
0

Character:
Crackers
The Gale Storm Show: Oh! Susanna 1956
0

Character:
Harry
Street of Chance 1930
0

Character:
Hotel Manager
Casanova Brown 1944
0

Character:
Mr. Dilson
Star in the Night 1945
6

Character:
Actor 'The Grapes of Wrath'
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Henry Fonda 1978
4

Character:
Actor 'You Can't Take It with You'
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Stewart 1980
0