Bobby Barber
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bobby Barber (December 18, 1894 – May 24, 1976) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films. Barber is notable for his work as a foil for Abbott and Costello on and off screen. Barber was often used by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as a form of "court jester" on the set of their films. It was his job to keep the energy level up with pranks and practical jokes. Sometimes, he even suddenly appeared on camera during a take to break up the cast and crew. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Costello answers a knock at the door expecting to see large actor Lon Chaney Jr. Instead, the very short Barber walks in wearing a funny hat with a feather. In another outtake from that film, Bela Lugosi, in full Dracula regalia, is solemnly descending a staircase to meet Abbott and Costello when all of a sudden the actors and crew burst out laughing. Lugosi, annoyed, turns around to see Barber following right behind him, mimicking his steps. Barber also appeared in bit parts, such as a delivery boy, waiter, bellhop, or man on the street, often uncredited in movies, and in many of Abbott and Costello's films and about half their television shows. Sometimes his likeness was in a picture on a wall or a "wanted" poster in a post office. His final film appearance was in Lou Costello's last movie, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). His film career included bit parts in over 100 (known) feature films.
Filmography
The Wheeler Dealers
as Workman in Night Club (uncredited)
The Wheeler Dealers
as Workman in Night Club (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
To Kill a Mockingbird
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
The Joker is Wild
as Waiter (uncredited)
The Joker is Wild
as Waiter (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
The Midnight Story
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Midnight Story
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Buster Keaton Story
as Soda Fountain Customer (uncredited)
The Buster Keaton Story
as Soda Fountain Customer (uncredited)
Pardners
as Townsman (uncredited)
Pardners
as Townsman (uncredited)
Living It Up
as Bellboy (uncredited)
Living It Up
as Bellboy (uncredited)
Flesh and Fury
Flesh and Fury
Across the Wide Missouri
as Gardipe (uncredited)
Across the Wide Missouri
as Gardipe (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Sneaky (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
as Sneaky (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
as Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
as Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)
Undertow
Undertow
Africa Screams
as Chauffeur (uncredited)
Africa Screams
as Chauffeur (uncredited)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
as Waiter
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
as Waiter
On an Island with You
as (uncredited)
On an Island with You
as (uncredited)
I Walk Alone
as Newsboy (uncredited)
I Walk Alone
as Newsboy (uncredited)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
as Waiter (uncredited)
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
as Waiter (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
as Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
as Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)
Riff-Raff
as Customs Inspector (uncredited)
Riff-Raff
as Customs Inspector (uncredited)
Vigilantes of Boomtown
as Corbett's second
Vigilantes of Boomtown
as Corbett's second
Calcutta
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Calcutta
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
as Stagehand (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
as Stagehand (uncredited)
From This Day Forward
as Ice Man
From This Day Forward
as Ice Man
Road to Utopia
as Bartender (uncredited)
Road to Utopia
as Bartender (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
as Salad Cook (uncredited)
Anchors Aweigh
as Salad Cook (uncredited)
Lady on a Train
Lady on a Train
Earl Carroll Vanities
as Cab Driver
Earl Carroll Vanities
as Cab Driver
And Now Tomorrow
as Mill Worker
And Now Tomorrow
as Mill Worker
Laura
as Newsboy (uncredited)
Laura
as Newsboy (uncredited)
I Love a Soldier
as Funhouse Attendant
I Love a Soldier
as Funhouse Attendant
Follow the Boys
as Soldier - W.C. Fields Routine (uncredited)
Follow the Boys
as Soldier - W.C. Fields Routine (uncredited)
Swing Fever
as Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited)
Swing Fever
as Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited)
Crazy House
as Bald Man / Director
Crazy House
as Bald Man / Director
Hi Diddle Diddle
as Saloon Waiter (uncredited)
Hi Diddle Diddle
as Saloon Waiter (uncredited)
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
as Bellhop
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
as Bellhop
The Sky's the Limit
as Canteen Waiter (uncredited)
The Sky's the Limit
as Canteen Waiter (uncredited)
All by Myself
as Waiter
All by Myself
as Waiter
Presenting Lily Mars
as Busboy
Presenting Lily Mars
as Busboy
Reveille with Beverly
as Collins (uncredited)
Reveille with Beverly
as Collins (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
as Man in Park in Front of Kay
My Favorite Spy
as Man in Park in Front of Kay
A Date with the Falcon
as Spectator (uncredited)
A Date with the Falcon
as Spectator (uncredited)
Hold That Ghost
as Waiter (uncredited)
Hold That Ghost
as Waiter (uncredited)
Cracked Nuts
as Waiter
Cracked Nuts
as Waiter
In the Navy
as Sailor in Finale (uncredited)
In the Navy
as Sailor in Finale (uncredited)
The Monster and the Girl
as Juryman (uncredited)
The Monster and the Girl
as Juryman (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
as Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)
The Lady Eve
as Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)
Second Chorus
as Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
Second Chorus
as Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
They Knew What They Wanted
as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)
They Knew What They Wanted
as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)
Spring Parade
as Waiter Who Spills Tray (uncredited)
Spring Parade
as Waiter Who Spills Tray (uncredited)
The Leather Pushers
The Leather Pushers
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)
Stranger on the Third Floor
as Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)
Primrose Path
as Benny (uncredited)
Primrose Path
as Benny (uncredited)
Road to Singapore
as Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)
Road to Singapore
as Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Broadway Melody of 1940
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Pest from the West
as Musician (uncredited)
Pest from the West
as Musician (uncredited)
Professor Beware
as Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag
Professor Beware
as Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag
Having Wonderful Time
as Bartender (uncredited)
Having Wonderful Time
as Bartender (uncredited)
Vivacious Lady
as Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Vivacious Lady
as Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)
Everybody's Doing It
as Short Slap Happy Henchman
Everybody's Doing It
as Short Slap Happy Henchman
Fight for Your Lady
as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Fight for Your Lady
as Hotel Porter (uncredited)
Breakfast for Two
as Window Washer (uncredited)
Breakfast for Two
as Window Washer (uncredited)
Super-Sleuth
as Photographer
Super-Sleuth
as Photographer
History Is Made at Night
as Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)
History Is Made at Night
as Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)
Great Guy
as Grocery Clerk (Uncredited)
Great Guy
as Grocery Clerk (Uncredited)
Dodsworth
as Italian Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Dodsworth
as Italian Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Walking on Air
as Silent Waiter at Beach Club (uncredited)
Walking on Air
as Silent Waiter at Beach Club (uncredited)
I Don't Remember
as Dentist Patient
I Don't Remember
as Dentist Patient
Alimony Aches
as Undertaker's Assistant
Alimony Aches
as Undertaker's Assistant
I'm No Angel
as Man in Crowd (uncredited)
I'm No Angel
as Man in Crowd (uncredited)
One Sunday Afternoon
as Man in Greased Pig Contest (uncredited)
One Sunday Afternoon
as Man in Greased Pig Contest (uncredited)
Horse Feathers
as Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
Horse Feathers
as Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)
The Life of the Party
as Waiter
The Life of the Party
as Waiter
Doughboys
as Doughboy (uncredited)
Doughboys
as Doughboy (uncredited)
Pep Up
as clothing salesman on street
Pep Up
as clothing salesman on street