Dick Elliott


Richard Damon Elliott was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death.

Early years

Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Career

Elliott played many different roles, typically as a somewhat blustery sort, such as a politician. A short, fat man, Elliott played Santa Claus on the Jimmy Durante, Red Skelton, and Jack Benny programs. Elliott had a couple of memorable lines in It's a Wonderful Life, notably when he scolded James Stewart's character, who was trying to say goodnight to Donna Reed, advising him: "Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?"
He also had a few memorable appearances in episodes of the Adventures of Superman television series. He appeared three times as Stanley on the CBS sitcom December Bride, as well as on two of ABC/Warner Brothers' western series, Sugarfoot and Maverick. He was cast as the prospector Peter Cooper and then as Sheriff Tiny Morris in two segments of CBS's Tales of the Texas Rangers. He appeared twice as Doc Thornton on ABC's The Real McCoys. Elliott is perhaps best known as Mayberry's Mayor Pike in early episodes of CBS's The Andy Griffith Show, one of his last screen works. In two of the eleven episodes featuring Elliot as mayor, actress Josie Lloyd portrayed his daughter.

Death

On December 22, 1961, the 75-year-old Elliott died from complications of severe cardiovascular disease.

Selected filmography

Central Airport - Man Looking for Driver Picture Snatcher - Editor The Silk Express - Garson The Last Trail - Train Passenger The Worst Woman in Paris? - Mayor Rodney Please - Johnny's FatherWoman Unafraid - Tom BradyThe Merry Frinks - 1st Reporter We're Rich Again - Mr. Green, the YachtsmanHelldorado - Mayor Times Square Lady - Stage Doorman It Happened in New York - Publicity ManPrincess O'Hara - Agent Reckless - Man Near Drums Mister Dynamite - Buck Men of the Hour - Theatre ManagerBreak of Hearts - Max Ladies Crave Excitement - Stark's Aide Welcome Home - Emanuel Bond The Public Menace - Apartment House Manager Dr. Socrates - Photographer Annie Oakley - Major Ned Buntline One Way Ticket - Matty Your Uncle Dudley - Theater Manager Her Master's Voice - Police CaptainThe Prisoner of Shark Island - Actor at Ford's Theatre Silly Billies - Mayor Culpepper Brilliant Marriage - Newspaper EditorSpecial Investigator - Gabby Citizen Neighborhood House - Perkins - Charley's BossThe Princess Comes Across - the ship's doctor Educating Father - Townley High Tension - Sundholm The Big Game - Lowell Go West, Young Man - Union News Service Reporter Wanted! Jane Turner - Arizona Sheepman You Only Live Once - City Editor Outcast - Ticket Agent China Passage - Philip BurtonThe Outcasts of Poker Flat - Stumpy CarterBehind the Headlines - 2nd Bartender Parnell - Middle Aged Man Roaring Timber - Auditor Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938 - Johnny Withers - Ticket Broker Counsel for Crime - Bundy Quick Money - Jeffrey WalkerEvery Day's a Holiday - Bar Patron The Jury's Secret - Donald Graves International Settlement - Ocean Liner Passenger Penitentiary - McNaulty Start Cheering - Station Agent Mr. Moto's Gamble - Kansas City Gambler Under Western Stars - William P. ScullyRiders of the Black Hills - Good Neighbor Spokesman Prison Farm - The Glenby Judge Little Miss Broadway - Man with Bass Fiddle The Crowd Roars - Mr. Burns The Man from Music Mountain - Mr. Harkness Tenth Avenue Kid - Gun Salesman Meet the Girls - Party Guest Campus Confessions - Member Board of Regents Down on the Farm - Slicker A Man to Remember - Hank Next Time I Marry - Henry Disbarred - Small-Town Juror Boy Trouble - Dr. BenschlagerThe Lone Wolf Spy Hunt - Patrol-Car Cop at Italian Restaurant I'm from Missouri - Mule JudgeLet Us Live - Rotarian Juror The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle - Train Conductor Sudden Money - Gambler The Story of Alexander Graham Bell - Man Laughing at Demo Undercover Agent - GarrisonFrontier Marshal - Drunk I Stole a Million - Small-Town Doctor Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase - McKeeverMr. Smith Goes to Washington - Carl CookPack Up Your Troubles - Booking Agent Another Thin Man - Detective The Amazing Mr. Williams - Druggist All Women Have Secrets - The Justice of the PeaceAbe Lincoln in Illinois - Politician Women Without Names - Roomer Two Girls on Broadway - Ice Rink Security Man Flight Angels - Mr. RutledgeFlorian - Auctioneer The Mortal Storm - Passport Official on Train One Man's Law - PrendergastScatterbrain - I Love You Again - Range Leader Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride - Airport Agent Up in the Air - HastingsI'm Still Alive - Dan Foley Young Bill Hickok - Elliott Li'l Abner - Marryin' SamMelody Ranch - Sheriff Barstow A Night at Earl Carroll's - Old Man Behind the News - FosterFour Mothers - Ed Back Street - Hotel Desk Clerk A Man Betrayed - Ward Heeler Footlight Fever - Eric Queegle Mr. District Attorney - Detective in Café The Wagons Roll at Night - Mr. Paddleford She Knew All the Answers - BrokerSunset in Wyoming - Lieutenant Governor Cornelius PeabodyManpower - Drunk Texan The Pittsburgh Kid - GarveyTwo Latins from Manhattan - Sylvester Kittelman One Foot in Heaven - Casper Cullenbaugh Top Sergeant Mulligan - Mr. LewisThree Girls About Town - Magician Boarding Bus Tuxedo Junction - 1st Rose Parade Judge The Body Disappears - Road to Happiness - the kindly pawnbroker All Through the Night - Losing Bidder's Husband Man from Headquarters - Editor Elwin A. JonasYokel Boy - Doctor The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine - Tim MillerMy Favorite Blonde - Dan So's Your Aunt Emma - EvansWe Were Dancing - Mr. Samson Platt Sweetheart of the Fleet - ChumleyMeet the Stewarts - Mr. Willoughby I Married an Angel - Oscar Scallion Wildcat - Harris You Can't Escape Forever - Meeker Criminal Investigator - Ed Brandt Scattergood Survives a Murder - Mathew QuentinSpringtime in the Rockies - Mr. Jeepers Wrecking Crew - Traveling Salesman Laugh Your Blues Away - Mr. ConklinThe Powers Girl - Beauty Pageant Announcer Silver Skates - Promoter After Midnight with Boston Blackie - Justice of Peace Potts Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour - McCluskey Three Hearts for Julia - Smith False Faces - Desk Sergeant Nobody's Darling - Gas Station Attendant So's Your Uncle - Police SergeantWintertime - Husband Here Comes Kelly - Minor Role Thank Your Lucky Stars - Customer in Bette Davis Number My Kingdom for a Cook - Man in Pullman Car Swing Out the Blues - Malcolm P. CarstairsWhispering Footsteps - Chief Joe Charters The Girl in the Case - Smith Gambler's Choice - Barber Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid - Matthews The Adventures of Mark Twain - Spectator at Frog-Jumping Contest Show Business - Man with Binoculars Meet the People - Salesman on Train Silent Partner - PopWhen Strangers Marry - Sam PrescottThe Impatient Years - Bailiff Goin' to Town - Squire SkimpAn American Romance - Fat Man The Town Went Wild - Mayor of Midvale Hi, Beautiful - PassengerMain Street After Dark - Mac McLean Adventures of Kitty O'Day - Bascom, Hotel GuestThe Man Who Walked Alone - The MayorThe Clock - Man offering directions in Station Dillinger - Man in Bar Diamond Horseshoe - Footlight Club Waiter Where Do We Go from Here? - Father Wanderer of the Wasteland - Record Clerk and Jailer Gangs of the Waterfront - Police Chief DavisChristmas in Connecticut - Judge CrowthersStar in the Night - Traveler Girls of the Big House - FeltonSaratoga Trunk - Politician Adventure - George Abilene Town - Jailbreak Messenger My Reputation - Tipsy Man Deadline at Dawn - Chap Breakfast in Hollywood - Man in Bus Depot The Kid from Brooklyn - Man in Window Talk About a Lady - Baldwin Partners in Time - Squire SkimpBlondie's Lucky Day - Mr. Hankins Rainbow Over Texas - Yacht Captain MonroeThat Texas Jamboree - Mayor Smith She Wrote the Book - Fat Man Hot Cargo - FrankieCowboy Blues - Feather-Buyer The Dark Horse - Ben Martin Till the End of Time - Bartender High School Hero - Mayor WhiteheadDecoy - Driver Dangerous Money - P.T. BurkeLady Luck - Fat Man