Quick Facts
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Donald MacBride (June 23, 1893 – June 21, 1957) was an American character actor on stage, in films, and on television who launched his career as a teenage singer (making several recordings in 1907) in vaudeville and went on to be an actor on Broadway, where he appeared in Room Service.
He appeared in nearly 140 films between 1914 and 1955. His year of birth is given variously as 1889 or 1893 in the standard reference books, but the latter seems to be the correct one as his New York Times obituary records his age as 63.
MacBride was best known for his portrayal of detectives in crime films. One such role was as Sgt. Roberts in the 1941 comedy Topper Returns, starring Roland Young. He also did several slapstick roles in films with comedians such as the Marx Brothers.
He had the role of Milton J. Clyde on the television version of My Friend Irma.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and died in Los Angeles, California. Survivors included his wife and a stepson.
Partial filmography
- Misleading Lady (1932)
- Get That Venus (1933)
- Buzzin' Around (1933) (uncredited)
- The Chemist (1936) (short)
- Room Service (1938)
- Annabel Takes a Tour (1938)
- The Gracie Allen Murder Case (1939)
- Twelve Crowded Hours (1939)
- Blondie Takes a Vacation (1939)
- The Great Man Votes (1939)
- The Flying Irishman (1939)
- The Girl from Mexico (1939)
- The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
- Charlie Chan at Treasure Island (1939)
- The Amazing Mr. Williams (1939)
- Curtain Call (1940)
- The Saint's Double Trouble (1940)
- The Hit Parade of 1940 (1940)
- Murder Over New York (1940)
- Northwest Passage (1940)
- My Favorite Wife (1940)
- High Sierra (1941)
- Topper Returns (1941)
- Rise and Shine (1941)
- You're in the Army Now (1941)
- The Invisible Woman (1941)
- Love Crazy (1941)
- Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
- You'll Never Get Rich (1941)
- Louisiana Purchase (1941)
- The Glass Key (1942)
- Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942)
- Juke Girl (1942)
- Mexical Spitfire Sees a Ghost (1942)
- My Sister Eileen (1942)
- A Night to Remember (1942)
- They Got Me Covered (1943)
- Lady Bodyguard (1943)
- A Stranger in Town (1943)
- Best Foot Forward (1943)
- The Thin Man Goes Home (1944)
- Practically Yours (1944)
- The Doughgirls (1944)
- Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945)
- Out of This World (1945)
- The Killers (1946)
- The Dark Horse (1946)
- The Brute Man (1946)
- Buck Privates Come Home (1947)
- Beat the Band (1947)
- Good News (1947)
- The Egg and I (1947)
- Jinx Money (1948)
- Challenge to Lassie (1949)
- The Story of Seabiscuit (1949)
- Bowery Battalion (1951)
- Sailor Beware (1951)
- Holiday Rhythm (1951)
- Texas Carnival (1951)
- Cuban Fireball (1951)
- Meet Danny Wilson (1952)
- The Stooge (1953)
- The Seven Year Itch (1955)