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Charlie Hall (19 August 1899 – 7 December 1959) was an English film actor. He is best known as the "Little Nemesis" of Laurel and Hardy and appeared in nearly 50 films with them, so that Hall was the most frequent supporting actor of their films.
Hall was born in Ward End, Birmingham, Warwickshire, and learned carpentry as a trade, but as a teenager, he became a member of the Fred Karno troupe of stage comedians. In his late teens, he visited his sister in New York and stayed there, finding employment as a stagehand. While working behind the scenes, he met the comic actor Bobby Dunn and they became friends; Dunn convinced Hall to take a stab again at acting, which he did. By the mid-1920s, Hall was working for Hal Roach. Stan Laurel, one of Roach's comedy stars, was also a graduate of the Karno troupe.
As an actor, Hall worked with such comedians as Buster Keaton and Charley Chase, but is best remembered as a comic foil for Laurel and Hardy. He appeared in nearly 50 of their films, sometimes in bit parts, but often as a mean landlord or opponent in many of their memorable tit-for-tat sequences. Unlike the usual villains in Laurel and Hardy films, who were big and burly, Charlie Hall (billed as "Charley" Hall in the Roach comedies) was of short stature, standing 5 ft 5 in tall. His height and slight English accent allowed him to be convincingly cast as a college student, despite being 40 years old, in Laurel and Hardy's A Chump at Oxford.
Hall almost never played starring roles; the exception was in 1941, when he was teamed with character comedian Frank Faylen by Monogram Pictures. Hall continued to play bits and supporting roles in short subjects and features through the 1940s and 1950s, occasionally on TV, appearing very briefly in Charlie Chaplin's final American film, Limelight (1952).
In 1956 he played a small but important part in the TV show Cheyenne, season 1, episode 11, "Quicksand", starring Clint Walker, with Dennis Hopper, John Alderson, Wright King and Peggy Webber. His last role was in a Joe McDoakes short film starring George O'Hanlon, So You Want to Play the Piano, in 1956.
Hall died in North Hollywood, California, on 7 December 1959. A J D Wetherspoon's public house in Erdington, is named The Charlie Hall as a tribute to him.
Known For
Top Hat
(1935)
(uncredited)
King Kong
(1933)
Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1939)
Mercury (uncredited)
Limelight
(1952)
Newsboy (uncredited)
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Bartender (uncredited)
Dressed to Kill
(1946)
Cab Driver (uncredited)
The Ape Man
(1943)
Barney
Saps at Sea
(1940)
Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Babes in Toyland
(1934)
Townsman (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
The Music Box
(1932)
Postman (uncredited)
Sons of the Desert
(1933)
Waiter (uncredited)
Below Zero
(1930)
The Big Street
(1942)
Caviar Waiter in New York (Uncredited)
The Lodger
(1944)
Comedian
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1932)
Janitor (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Janitor
(1921)
Do Me a Favor
(1922)
A Fireman
Mother's Joy
(1923)
The Cowboy Sheik
(1924)
Party guest
A Ten-Minute Egg
(1924)
First Bellhop (uncredited)
Zeb vs. Paprika
(1924)
Near Dublin
(1924)
Villager
Smithy
(1924)
Worker
Postage Due
(1924)
Customer
Madame Sans Jane
(1925)
Unfriendly Enemies
(1925)
First Soldier Over the Top
Isn't Life Terrible?
(1925)
Steward Who Drops Plates
Thundering Fleas
(1926)
Musician
Mighty Like a Moose
(1926)
Shoe Shine Man
Bromo and Juliet
(1926)
Stagehand (uncredited)
Fluttering Hearts
(1927)
Man under car
Sugar Daddies
(1927)
Hotel extra
The Second Hundred Years
(1927)
Convict
Call of the Cuckoo
(1927)
Asylum Inmate
Seeing the World
(1927)
English chauffeur
Duck Soup
(1927)
Moving man (uncredited)
Love 'Em and Weep
(1927)
Tillsbury's Butler
The Battle of the Century
(1927)
Pie delivery man (uncredited)
With Love and Hisses
(1927)
Soldier (uncredited)
Eve's Love Letters
(1927)
Cab driver (uncredited)
Forgotten Sweeties
(1927)
Leave 'Em Laughing
(1928)
The Landlord
Came the Dawn
(1928)
Little Moving Man (uncredited)
Should Married Men Go Home?
(1928)
Soda Jerk (uncredited)
You're Darn Tootin'
(1928)
Musician
Captain Swagger
(1928)
Messenger
Two Tars
(1928)
Shopkeeper
Double Whoopee
(1929)
Cabdriver
They Go Boom!
(1929)
Landlord
Boxing Gloves
(1929)
Sidewalk diner attendant
Little Mother
(1929)
Taxi driver
A Pair of Tights
(1929)
Man in fender bender
Skirt Shy
(1929)
Postman (uncredited)
Men O'War
(1929)
Boater (uncredited)
Berth Marks
(1929)
Train Passenger (uncredited)
The Hoose-Gow
(1929)
Treetop Lookout (uncredited)
Angora Love
(1929)
Neighbor
Bacon Grabbers
(1929)
Truck driver
That's My Wife
(1929)
Waiter (uncredited)
Wrong Again
(1929)
Neighbor
Snappy Sneezer
(1929)
Streetcar passenger (uncredited)
Leaping Love
(1929)
Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Movie Night
(1929)
Audience Member (uncredited)
Bear Shooters
(1930)
Charlie
Dollar Dizzy
(1930)
Bellhop (uncredited)
The Real McCoy
(1930)
Mountain Man (uncredited)
The Fighting Parson
(1930)
The Waiter (uncredited)
Shivering and Shaking
(1930)
Street Cleaner (uncredited)
The Night Life
(1930)
Cabdriver (uncredited)
Let's Go Native
(1930)
Mover (uncredited)
Blotto
(1930)
Cabdriver
Fifty Million Husbands
(1930)
Neighbor
Night of Goblins
(1930)
Passenger
Below Zero
(1930)
Be Big!
(1931)
Bellboy
The Pajama Party
(1931)
Inebriated Party Guest (uncredited)
War Mamas
(1931)
Doughboy (uncredited)
Let's Do Things
(1931)
Waiter (uncredited)
On the Loose
(1931)
Shooting Gallery Attendant (uncredited)
Sweepstakes
(1931)
Little Cook
The Chiselers
(1931)
Bellboy / Landlord
The Skulls
(1931)
The Landlord
Playing at Politics
(1931)
Elevator Operator
Laughing Gravy
(1931)
Landlord (uncredited)
The Pip from Pittsburg
(1931)
Kay's Dancing Partner
The Panic Is On
(1931)
Man on the Street (uncredited)
Come Clean
(1931)
Ice Cream Attendant
Mama Loves Papa
(1931)
Milkman (uncredited)
The Kick-Off!
(1931)
Man on the Street (uncredited)
Haunted at Midnight
(1931)
Man on Train
One of the Smiths
(1931)
Dancer (uncredited)
Scratch-As-Catch-Can
(1931)
A Slip at the Switch
(1932)
Second Tramp
Just a Pain in the Parlor
(1932)
Show Business
(1932)
Train Passenger (uncredited)
The Music Box
(1932)
Postman (uncredited)
Strictly Unreliable
(1932)
The Stage Manager (as Charley Hall)
The Soilers
(1932)
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Sealskins
(1932)
Sealnapper's Accomplice (uncredited)
Sneak Easily
(1932)
Page
Pack Up Your Troubles
(1932)
Janitor (uncredited)
Love Pains
(1932)
Unimpressed Party Guest (uncredited)
Any Old Port!
(1932)
Stan's Second
Too Many Women
(1932)
Man on Street (uncredited)
Wild Babies!
(1932)
Explorer's Man, Wellington (as Charley Hall)
Cynara
(1932)
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Mr. Bride
(1932)
Tipsy Ship Passenger
Million Dollar Legs
(1932)
Klopstokian Athlete (uncredited)
The Midnight Patrol
(1933)
Tire thief's partner
Maids a la Mode
(1933)
Party Guest (uncredited)
Backs to Nature
(1933)
Hunter (uncredited)
Beauty and the Bus
(1933)
Theatre Usher (uncredited)
Air Fright
(1933)
Pilot (uncredited)
One Track Minds
(1933)
Train Passenger (uncredited)
Busy Bodies
(1933)
Shop Worker (uncredited)
Twice Two
(1933)
Delivery Boy
Sons of the Desert
(1933)
Waiter (uncredited)
Me and My Pal
(1933)
Delivery Boy (uncredited)
Keg o' My Heart
(1933)
Waiter (uncredited)
Rhapsody in Brew
(1933)
Waiter (uncredited)
The Druggist's Dilemma
(1933)
Charlie Zeno
Diplomaniacs
(1933)
Shaffner the Valet (uncredited)
King Kong
(1933)
Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)
What Fur
(1933)
Hold Your Temper
(1933)
Nature in the Wrong
(1933)
Organ Grinder
Morning Glory
(1933)
Actor (uncredited)
The Live Ghost
(1934)
Sailor at Table (as Charles Hall)
Them Thar Hills
(1934)
Mr. Hall
Opened by Mistake
(1934)
Intern (uncredited)
One-Horse Farmers
(1934)
Subway Passenger (uncredited)
Soup and Fish
(1934)
Second Butler, Announcing Guests (uncredited)
Babes in the Goods
(1934)
Spectator (uncredited)
Maid in Hollywood
(1934)
Cameraman (uncredited)
Babes in Toyland
(1934)
Townsman (uncredited)
Rough Necking
(1934)
Postman
Cockeyed Cavaliers
(1934)
Coach Driver
Another Wild Idea
(1934)
Man Pushed into Fountain
The Undie-World
(1934)
T.N.T. Room Busboy
Bridal Bail
(1934)
Irate Movie Patron
Love on a Ladder
(1934)
Pool Hall Patron
Kentucky Kernels
(1934)
Cigarette Stand Owner
Ocean Swells
(1934)
Sailor
Tit for Tat
(1935)
Mr. Hall
Hot Money
(1935)
Tenant (uncredited)
Sing Sister Sing
(1935)
Porter (uncredited)
Treasure Blues
(1935)
Moving Man (uncredited)
Twin Triplets
(1935)
Ambulance Attendant (uncredited)
Thicker Than Water
(1935)
Bank Teller (uncredited)
Bonnie Scotland
(1935)
Native Henchman (uncredited)
In Love at 40
(1935)
Man Getting Shave
Top Hat
(1935)
(uncredited)
An All American Toothache
(1936)
(uncredited)
Our Relations
(1936)
Man in Pawnshop (uncredited)
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Bartender (uncredited)
Hey! Hey! USA
(1938)
Leary's pal
Bachelor Mother
(1939)
Dance Hall Official (uncredited)
Five Came Back
(1939)
Airport Worker (uncredited)
Man About Town
(1939)
Bob's Assistant (uncredited)
Captain Fury
(1939)
Gossiping Citizen
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
(1939)
Mercury (uncredited)
Curtain Call
(1940)
Second Waiter
Saps at Sea
(1940)
Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire
(1940)
Elevator Operator
Vigil in the Night
(1940)
Courtroom Spectator
A Chump at Oxford
(1940)
Student
One Night in the Tropics
(1940)
Second S.S. Atlantica Steward (uncredited)
Primrose Path
(1940)
Man in Diner
Millionaires in Prison
(1940)
Cockney Convict Heckler (uncredited)
You Can't Fool Your Wife
(1940)
Ritz Amsterdam Bellboy
Mexican Spitfire Out West
(1940)
Elevator Boy
A Trailer Tragedy
(1940)
Homeless Thief in Washroom
Top Sergeant Mulligan
(1941)
Budd Doolittle
An Apple in His Eye
(1941)
Dan - Edgar's Neighbor
I'll Fix It
(1941)
The Laundry Man
Father Steps Out
(1941)
Short Hobo 'Nap', aka Napoleon
A Quiet Fourth
(1941)
Edgar's Neighbor
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
(1941)
Nightclub Waiter
Hellzapoppin'
(1941)
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
San Antonio Rose
(1941)
Waitress
Niagara Falls
(1941)
Bellhop (uncredited)
Man From Headquarters
(1942)
Newspaper Photographer
The Falcon Takes Over
(1942)
Louie (Uncredited)
The Big Street
(1942)
Caviar Waiter in New York (Uncredited)
Framing Father
(1942)
Silver Slipper Waiter
So's Your Uncle
(1943)
Waiter
His Butler's Sister
(1943)
Porter
Honeymoon Lodge
(1943)
Hotel Handyman
The Ape Man
(1943)
Barney
Girls! Girls! Girls!
(1944)
Apartment House Waiter
Radio Rampage
(1944)
Jack - Radio Repairman
In Society
(1944)
Mugg (uncredited)
The Lodger
(1944)
Comedian
On Stage Everybody
(1945)
Painter (uncredited)
Abie's Irish Rose
(1946)
Hotel Porter (as Charles Hall)
Without Reservations
(1946)
Window-Washer (uncredited)
Sister Kenny
(1946)
Airport Attendant (uncredited)
Dressed to Kill
(1946)
Cab Driver (uncredited)
The Milkman
(1950)
Ed (uncredited)
Limelight
(1952)
Newsboy (uncredited)
Illegal
(1955)
Bellhop (uncredited)
So You Want to Play the Piano
(1956)
The Further Perils of Laurel and Hardy
(1967)
Dance of the Cookoos
(1982)
Receptionist / Postman / Delivery Man
Writing