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.

Modern Times

8.3

To Kill a Mockingbird

8.0

Laura

7.6

The Lady Eve

7.2

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein

7.1

Horse Feathers

6.9

Anchors Aweigh

6.8

The Joker is Wild

8.1

Dodsworth

7.1

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

6.9

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man

6.4

Stranger on the Third Floor

6.5

I Walk Alone

6.5

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

7.8

Hold That Ghost

6.7

Carefree

6.6

Africa Screams

5.7

Adventures of Superman

6.7

Vivacious Lady

6.9

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff

6.5

I'm No Angel

6.4

Lady on a Train

6.5

History Is Made at Night

6.6

Road to Utopia

6.6

Road to Singapore

6.5

Have Gun, Will Travel

7.4

Man of a Thousand Faces

6.7

Broadway Melody of 1940

6.7

Who Done It?

6.9

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion

6.1

Second Chorus

5.8

Across the Wide Missouri

5.9

In the Navy

6.3

The Monster and the Girl

5.8

Hit the Ice

5.9

Topper Takes a Trip

6.4

The Midnight Story

5.6

Roxie Hart

6.9

Pot o' Gold

5.5

Primrose Path

6.5

The Gay Falcon

6.2

Undertow

6.1

The Wheeler Dealers

6.2

Riff-Raff

6.1

Great Guy

6.2

The Sky's the Limit

6.2

Breakfast for Two

5.9

Calcutta

6.2

A Lady Takes a Chance

5.7

The Abbott and Costello Show

7.1

The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap

6.2

A Date with the Falcon

6.5

Having Wonderful Time

4.9

From This Day Forward

5.2

Hi Diddle Diddle

6.8

Matri-Phony

4.7

Spring Parade

6.8

The Villain Still Pursued Her

5.1

They Knew What They Wanted

5.5

Presenting Lily Mars

6.1

Soup to Nuts

5.8

Dizzy Pilots

6.6

Doughboys

6.0

Let's Dance

5.5

Sensation Hunters

4.7

Walking on Air

5.8

Pest from the West

7.0

The Life of the Party

6.3

Reveille with Beverly

7.0

My Favorite Spy

5.2

Two Sisters from Boston

6.0

Super-Sleuth

5.0

Professor Beware

6.1

The Preview Murder Mystery

6.0

Nothing But Pleasure

5.8

Smartest Girl in Town

5.5

Earl Carroll Vanities

5.0

And Now Tomorrow

5.7

Fight for Your Lady

4.3

The Night of June 13

7.0

Powder Town

3.7

Cipher Bureau

5.3

Crazy House

5.0

Swing Fever

5.0

I Love a Soldier

4.0

We're Only Human

6.5

Hollywood Boulevard

2.5

Rainbow Island

6.0

I Don't Remember

2.0

Vigilantes of Boomtown

0.0

Everybody's Doing It

5.0

King of the Texas Rangers

6.0

You Can't Ration Love

0.0

Alimony Aches

0.0

The Leather Pushers

0.0

Practically Yours

0.0

Beyond the Blue Horizon

0.0

Here Comes Mr. Zerk

0.0

All by Myself

0.0

Cracked Nuts

0.0

All in Fun

0.0

Pep Up

0.0