Hobart Cavanaugh
Hobart Cavanaugh was an American character actor in films and on stage.
Biography
Cavanaugh was born in Virginia City, Nevada, on September 22, 1886. He attended the University of California, then worked in vaudeville, teaming with Walter Catlett at some point. He appeared in numerous Broadway productions, including the original 1919 musical Irene and the long-running 1948 musical As the Girls Go.
He made his film debut in San Francisco Nights. Over the next few years he established himself as a supporting actor, and although many of his roles were small and received no film credit, he played more substantial roles in films such as I Cover the Waterfront and Mary Stevens, M.D.. By the mid-1930s, he was appearing in more prestigious productions, such as A [Midsummer Night's Dream (1935 film)|A Midsummer Night's Dream], Captain Blood, Wife vs. Secretary and A Letter to Three Wives. He continued playing small, often comical roles until the end of his life, mostly as downtrodden or henpecked men. By the end of his life, he had appeared in more than 180 films.
Death
Cavanaugh suffered from late-stage stomach cancer while filming Stella. He could not eat and collapsed twice on the set but was determined to see his final performance through. He died following an operation at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Partial filmography
San Francisco Nights as TommieState Fair as Professor Fred Coin – Hog Judge Lilly Turner as Earle A [Study in Scarlet (1933 film)|A Study in Scarlet] as Thompson – Innkeeper I Cover the Waterfront as One Punch McCoyGold Diggers of 1933 as Dog Salesman Private Detective 62 as Harcourt S. BurnsThe Mayor of Hell as Mr. GormanMary Stevens, M.D. as Alf SimmonsHeadline Shooter as HappyNo Marriage Ties as SmithThe Devil's Mate as ParkhurstGoodbye Again as Mr. ClaytonBureau of Missing Persons as Mr. Harris Too Much Harmony as Piano Tuner Footlight Parade as Title-Thinker-Upper My Woman as Mr. MillerBroadway Through a Keyhole as Peanuts DinwiddieFrom Headquarters as Muggs MantonHavana Widows as Mr. OtisConvention City as Wendell OrchardDeath Watch Moulin Rouge as DrunkEasy to Love as Hotel Desk ClerkHi, Nellie! as FullertonDark Hazard as George MayhewI've [Got Your Number (film)|I've Got Your Number] as Happy DooleyMandalay as Purser Fashion Follies of 1934 as Inventor on Ship Wonder Bar as Drunk Jimmy the Gent as Fake WorthinghamA Modern Hero as Henry MuellerHarold Teen as PopA Very Honorable Guy as BennyMerry Wives of Reno as DerwentThe Key as Homer, Tennant's AideNow I'll Tell as Freddie StantonMadame du Barry as Professor de la VauguyonHousewife as GeorgeKansas City Princess as Alderman Sam WarrenA Lost Lady as RobertI Sell Anything as StoogeThe St. Louis Kid as RichardsonThe Firebird as Emile – Brandt's ValetI Am a Thief as DaudetBordertown as HarryWings in the Dark as MacWhile the Patient Slept as EustaceHusband's Holiday as Meek HusbandDon't Bet on Blondes as Philbert O. SlempBroadway Gondolier as Music Critic GilmoreWe're [in the Money (film)|We're in the Money] as MaxPage Miss Glory as Joe BonnerI Live for Love as TownsendA Midsummer Night's Dream as Philostrate – Master of Revels to TheseusDr. Socrates as StevensCaptain Blood as Dr. BronsonSteamboat Round the Bend Two [Against the World (1936 film)|Two Against the World] as Tippy MantusThe Lady Consents as Mr. YardleyWife vs. Secretary as JoeColleen as NogginThe Golden Arrow as DeWolfeLove Begins at Twenty as Jacob 'Jake' BuckleyStage Struck as WayneCain and Mabel as MiloHere Comes Carter as Mel WinterLove Letters of a Star as Chester BlodgettThree Smart Girls as Wilbur LambSing Me a Love Song as Mr. Barton Mysterious Crossing as Ned J. StebbinsHearts Divided The Mighty Treve as Mr. DavisGirl Overboard as Joseph L. 'Joe' GrayThe Great O'Malley as Pinky HoldenNight Key as Petty LouieLove in a Bungalow as Mr. KesterReported Missing as 'Ab' SteeleCarnival Queen as Profesor SilvaThat's My Story as Sheriff OtisA Girl with Ideas Cowboy from Brooklyn as Mr. 'Pops' JordanStrange Faces as Expectant Father of 'Six' Orphans of the Street as William GrantIdiot's Delight as Frueheim The Adventures of Jane Arden as Suspect 'Killer'Broadway Serenade as Mr. Ingalls Never Say Die as Druggist Zenobia as Mr. DoverRose of Washington Square as Whitey BooneTell No Tales as Charlie DaggettNaughty but Nice as Clark's Piano Tuner Daughters Courageous as Tourist The [House of Fear (1939 film)|The House of Fear] as Minor Role Career as Jim BronsonI Stole a Million as Jenkins' Bespectacled Asst. Chicken Wagon Family as Henri FippanyThe Covered Trailer as E. L. BeamishThat's Right – You're Wrong as Dwight Cook – a ScreenwriterReno as Abe CompassA Child is Born as Mr. WestThe Honeymoon's Over as Avery ButterfieldFour Wives as Mr. Jenkins The Ghost Comes Home as Ambrose BundyShooting High as Clem PerkleAn Angel from Texas as Mr. RobelinkYou Can't Fool Your Wife as Potts, GBG & P Vice PresidentI [Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (film)|I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby] as Justice of the Peace Love, Honor and Oh-Baby! as 'Gimpy' DarnellStage to Chino as J. Horatio BoggsHired Wife as WilliamPublic Deb No. 1 as Mr. SchlitzStreet of Memories as Mr. FosterCharter Pilot as Horace CavanaughThe Great Plane Robbery as Homer PringleSanta Fe Trail as Barber DoyleMeet the Chump as JuniperI Wanted Wings as MickeyHorror Island as Professor Jasper QuinleyReaching for the Sun as Front Office ManThieves Fall Out as David TiptonThe Hard-Boiled Canary as Announcer Our Wife as Shipboard Passenger Down in San Diego as Telegraph Clerk Skylark as Small Man in Subway CarPlaymates as Philip Tremble A Close Call for Ellery Queen as Mr. Crandall A Tragedy at Midnight as Charles MillerThe Remarkable Andrew as Teller / Witness Land of the Open Range as Pinky GardnerMy Favorite Spy as JulesTarzan's New York Adventure as Hotel Desk Clerk Lady in a Jam as Reporter in Glasses Jackass Mail as Gospel JonesThe Magnificent Dope as Albert GowdyHer Cardboard Lover as Arresting Plainclothesman Pittsburgh as Derelict Whistling in Dixie as Mr. PankyStand By for Action as Carpenter's Mate 'Chips'The Meanest Man in the World as Mr. Throckmorton The Human Comedy as Drunk at Bar Taxi, Mister as Police Fingerprint Man Pilot No. 5 as Boat Owner The Man from Down Under as BootsThe Kansan as Josh HudkinsDangerous Blondes as Edward E. 'Pop' PhilpotSweet Rosie O'Grady as ClarkA Scream in the Dark as Leo StarkGildersleeve on Broadway as HomerJack London as Mike, SaloonkeeperWhat a Woman! as Mailman Louisiana Hayride as Malcolm CartwrightKismet as MoolahSan Diego I Love You as Mr. McGregor Guest in the House as Mr. Blossom Together Again as Perc Mather The Captain from Köpenick as Rosenkrantz, the TreasurerRoughly Speaking as The Teacher The House of Fear as Bit Part I'll Remember April as Joe BillingsDon Juan Quilligan as Mr. RostigaffCinderella Jones as GeorgeThe Spider Woman Strikes Back as Bill StapletonThe Hoodlum Saint as Antique Clock Dealer Our Hearts Were Growing Up as Mr. Dudley Night and Day as Man in Hospital Hall Black Angel as JakeFaithful in My Fashion as Mr. WilsonNo Leave, No Love as Arthur Keenan Kalabush Margie as Mr. Angus MacDuffLittle Iodine as Mr. TrembleEasy Come, Easy Go as Higgins – Repair Shop Manager Driftwood as Judge BeckettDoctor Jim as MayorMy Girl Tisa as Sigmund The Inside Story as Mason – bank customerBest Man Wins as AmosUp in Central Park as Mayor OakleyA Letter to Three Wives as Mr. ManleighStella as Tim Gross