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