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Rolfe Sedan (January 20, 1896 – September 15, 1982) was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters etc. He began his career in show business as a nightclub and vaudeville performer and began acting in East Coast theatre. Sedan debuted on Broadway in 1916 and appeared in his first motion picture for Metro Pictures Corporation in 1921.
He became a prolific character actor and is probably best remembered by movie buffs as the hotel manager in Ninotchka (1939) starring Greta Garbo. Around the same time, he appeared in an uncredited role as the Emerald City's Balloon Ascensionist in The Wizard of Oz (1939). He returned to Broadway, performing in several different shows during the first half of the 1940s and in the 1950s began a sequence of guest roles in television series such as The Jack Benny Show. His most frequent TV work came from recurring roles as put-upon mail carriers (25 episodes as Mr. Beasley on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; 4 episodes as Mr. Briggs on The Addams Family). He was also seen as the train conductor in the film Young Frankenstein (1974). Rolfe Sedan remained active throughout a career that spanned more than six decades.
Known For
Young Frankenstein
(1974)
Train Conductor
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
(1953)
Waiter (uncredited)
The Thin Man
(1934)
Waiter (uncredited)
The Frisco Kid
(1979)
Rabbi
Love Me Tonight
(1932)
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Mad Love
(1935)
Gendarme (Uncredited)
Design for Living
(1933)
Bed Salesman (uncredited)
Trouble in Paradise
(1932)
Purse Salesman (uncredited)
Ninotchka
(1939)
Hotel Manager
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
(1938)
Floorwalker
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
Aviator (uncredited)
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Ballet Master (uncredited)
That Uncertain Feeling
(1941)
Art Dealer (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Conquering Power
(1921)
Annette's Suitor (uncredited)
Merry-Go-Round
(1923)
Minor Role (uncredited)
Young Ideas
(1924)
Bertie Loomis
Sporting Youth
(1924)
Valet
Three Women
(1924)
Reveler at Monkey Bar
The Mad Whirl
(1925)
Bit Part Rolfe Sedan
Is Marriage the Bunk?
(1925)
Jimmy's brother-in-law
Smouldering Fires
(1925)
Member of the Committee
Mighty Like a Moose
(1926)
Nose Doctor
Thundering Fleas
(1926)
Musician
My Old Dutch
(1926)
Al
Mantrap
(1926)
Barber (uncredited)
Mama Behave
(1926)
A Friend of the Family (uncredited)
On the Front Page
(1926)
Beauty Expert (uncredited)
Bromo and Juliet
(1926)
Stage Manager (uncredited)
Bardelys the Magnificent
(1926)
Fop (uncredited)
The Denver Dude
(1927)
Henry Bird
Uncle Tom's Cabin
(1927)
Adolph (uncredited)
The Adorable Cheat
(1928)
Card Playing Guest
Riley the Cop
(1928)
French Restaurant Patron
Riley of the Rainbow Division
(1928)
Show People
(1928)
Portrait Photographer (uncredited)
Double Whoopee
(1929)
Desk clerk
The Iron Mask
(1929)
Louis XIII
Sailor's Holiday
(1929)
Ferris Wheel Barker (uncredited)
It's a Great Life
(1929)
Bit Role
The Love Trap
(1929)
Drunk
The Last Performance
(1929)
Leaping Love
(1929)
The Crying Wife's Husband (uncredited)
Toot Sweet!
(1929)
Nightclub Announcer
Movie Night
(1929)
Actor on the Screen (uncredited)
Show Girl in Hollywood
(1930)
Headwaiter in New York
Those Three French Girls
(1930)
Gendarme (uncredited)
Swing High
(1930)
Trouper
The Life of the Party
(1930)
Man Who Wants to Hear 'Poison Ivy'
Sweethearts and Wives
(1930)
Waiter
Slightly Scarlet
(1930)
Gendarme
Party Girl
(1930)
Maitre D'
Romance
(1930)
Opera Audience Member (uncredited)
Such Men Are Dangerous
(1930)
Charity Bazaar Auctioneer (uncredited)
Surprise
(1930)
Party guest
Rain or Shine
(1930)
Waiter at Dinner Party
Transgression
(1931)
Beauty Salon Manager
Finn and Hattie
(1931)
Paris Taxi Driver
Man of the World
(1931)
Hotel Desk Clerk
The Match King
(1932)
In-Room Waiter (uncredited)
Devil on Deck
(1932)
Frenchie
Sneak Easily
(1932)
Juryman
This Is the Night
(1932)
Boulevardier (uncredited)
New Morals for Old
(1932)
Art Student (uncredited)
Central Park
(1932)
Casino Patron (uncredited)
Love Me Tonight
(1932)
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Jimmy's New Yacht
(1932)
Count Tobini
Trouble in Paradise
(1932)
Purse Salesman (uncredited)
Red-Headed Woman
(1932)
Back Street
(1932)
Croupier (uncredited)
Blondie Johnson
(1933)
Pierre - Tailor (uncredited)
The Nuisance
(1933)
Man Who Will Be Late to Work (uncredited)
Mush and Milk
(1933)
Waiter
Carnival Lady
(1933)
Carnival Barker
Design for Living
(1933)
Bed Salesman (uncredited)
Arabian Tights
(1933)
French Waiter (uncredited)
Meet the Baron
(1933)
Pants Presser (uncredited)
The Sin of Nora Moran
(1933)
Stage Manager
Private Detective 62
(1933)
Casino Man (Uncredited)
Clear All Wires!
(1933)
French Radio Operator (uncredited)
Done in Oil
(1934)
3rd French Art Expert (uncredited)
The Thin Man
(1934)
Waiter (uncredited)
Here Is My Heart
(1934)
Artist (uncredited)
Bachelor Bait
(1934)
Waiter #1 (uncredited)
Many Happy Returns
(1934)
Clerk (uncredited)
Cross Country Cruise
(1934)
Second Dodd's Salesman (Uncredited)
Now and Forever
(1934)
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Stingaree
(1934)
Coutouriere (uncredited)
Paris in Spring
(1935)
Modiste
Broadway Gondolier
(1935)
Mrs. Flaggenheim's Secretary
Stars Over Broadway
(1935)
Opera Aficionado
Ship Cafe
(1935)
French Chauffeur (uncredited)
Mad Love
(1935)
Gendarme (Uncredited)
A Night at the Opera
(1935)
Aviator (uncredited)
Smartest Girl in Town
(1936)
Hotel Desk Clerk
The Accusing Finger
(1936)
First Waiter
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Ballet Master (uncredited)
The Firefly
(1937)
Hat Vendor (uncredited)
Café Metropole
(1937)
Flower Clerk (uncredited)
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife
(1938)
Floorwalker
Under the Big Top
(1938)
Pierre
I'll Give a Million
(1938)
Telegraph Clerk
Adventure in Sahara
(1938)
Airline Officer
Letter of Introduction
(1938)
Fitter (uncredited)
Ninotchka
(1939)
Hotel Manager
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
(1939)
Emile Aubel
City in Darkness
(1939)
Hotel Clerk
Everything Happens at Night
(1939)
Waiter
I Was an Adventuress
(1940)
Waiter
Laughing at Danger
(1940)
Pierre
Seven Sinners
(1940)
Henchman (uncredited)
Hired Wife
(1940)
Maitre D'
Florian
(1940)
Candy Shop Proprietor
Private Affairs
(1940)
Tailor (uncredited)
That Uncertain Feeling
(1941)
Art Dealer (uncredited)
Law of the Tropics
(1941)
Tailor (as Rolf Sedan)
Something to Live For
(1952)
French Man (uncredited)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
(1953)
Waiter (uncredited)
Phantom of the Rue Morgue
(1954)
LeBon (as Rolphe Sedan)
Jack Benny Christmas Shopping Show
(1957)
Salesman Who Helps Rochester
Bedtime Story
(1964)
Waiter (uncredited)
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
(1967)
Waiter
A Bell for Adano
(1967)
D'Arpa
Wake Me When the War Is Over
(1969)
Young Frankenstein
(1974)
Train Conductor
The World's Greatest Lover
(1977)
Conductor
The Frisco Kid
(1979)
Rabbi