Murray Alper
Murray Alper was an American actor. He appeared in numerous television series, films, and Broadway productions.
Biography
Born in New York City in 1904, Alper worked on Broadway from 1927 to 1940 in a number of shows including The Wild Man of Borneo, This is New York, Broadway Boy, Sailor Beware!, and Every Man for Himself.
Alper appeared in more than 200 films and TV series from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. Quite often his work was uncredited and he never received a top billing in one of his movies. His first known screen credit was in The Royal Family of Broadway a part he had already played on Broadway in 1927/28.
His signature character was a chatty taxi driver, which he played at least 20 times, most notably in The Maltese Falcon as a friendly cabbie who drives Sam Spade, played by Humphrey Bogart, during a mid-film wild goose chase, as well as in such other well-known films as The Big Broadcast of 1937, Lady in the Dark and Angel on My Shoulder. His biggest role should have been the part of Gus Smith in the Alfred Hitchcock film Lifeboat in 1943. Due to his becoming ill right before the start of shooting in August, he was replaced by actor William Bendix. However, he worked for Hitchcock on three other movies: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, again as a cabbie, Saboteur, and Strangers on a Train.
Frequently seen in comedies, Alper was featured in the Three Stooges films Tricky Dicks and The Outlaws Is Coming. One of Alper's least characteristic roles was the judo instructor in Jerry Lewis' The Nutty Professor.
Selected filmography
The Royal Family of Broadway - McDermottThe Girl Habit - HoodLittle Big Shot - Doré's Henchman #22Navy Wife - Sam The Public Menace - StiglitzHands Across the Table - Cabbie Seven Keys to Baldpate - Max the MonkThe Milky Way - Cabbie with Little Agnes Two in Revolt - AndyPanic on the Air - Martin DankerMurder on a Bridle Path - Taxi Driver High Tension - ChuckLady Be Careful - MattieThe Big Broadcast of 1937 - Taxi Driver Winterset - Louie After the Thin Man - The Kid Sea Devils - Seaman BrownWhen's Your Birthday? - Dustin's Trainer 23 1/2 Hours Leave - Sergeant SchultzYou Can't Buy Luck - Chauffeur Spike ConnorsRiding on Air - Gunner in Mob Plane The Singing Marine - Marine Escape by Night - Horace 'Red' GrahamThat's My Story - BlackieBig Town Girl - MartyChange of Heart - Plumber Island in the Sky - Blackie - Doyle's Henchman Cocoanut Grove - Concessionaire Gold Diggers in Paris - Taxi Driver Passport Husband - Baggage Man Keep Smiling - Projectionist 'Shorty' The Arkansas Traveler - Hobo, FrogeyesYoung Dr. Kildare - Blue Swan Waiter Submarine Patrol - Orderly in Maitland's Office The Cowboy and the Lady - Cowboy at Ranch Next Time I Marry - JoeRoad Demon - Hap FlynnKing of the Underworld - EddieThe Great Man Votes - Tri-County Distribution Truck Driver Tail Spin - Albuquerque Mechanic Twelve Crowded Hours - Louie AllenRose of Washington Square - Eddie, Candy Butcher It's a Wonderful World - Newspaper Man at Ferry Landing Bachelor Mother - Dance Floor Gatekeeper at 'The Pink Slipper' Stop, Look and Love - Pete The Roaring Twenties - Fletcher's Mechanic Another Thin Man - Larry, a Father The Night of Nights - MugginsThe Big Guy - WilliamsThe Lone Wolf Strikes - Pete Black Friday - BellhopDouble Alibi - Joe, Counterman I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby - NailsMy Favorite Wife - Yosemite Bartender Turnabout - MasseurGambling on the High Seas - LouieSailor's Lady - Sailor Manhattan Heartbeat - MechanicBlondie Has Servant Trouble - Taxi Driver Lucky Partners - Orchestra Leader The Bride Wore Crutches - Izzy City for Conquest - Taxi Driver East of the River - Dink Rogers, Blackjack Player Street of Memories - Taxicab Driver Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Harold, Taxi Driver Affectionately Yours - BlairOut of the Fog - Drug Store Soda Jerk Caught in the Draft - Make-Up Man Sergeant York - But! Boy Bullets for O'Hara - Singing Messenger My Life with Caroline - JenkinsManpower - Lineman Navy Blues - Sailor in Storeroom The Maltese Falcon - Frank Richman, taxi driverDown Mexico Way - FloodMarried Bachelor - SleeperDangerously They Live - Miller, Psychopathic Ward Guard You're in the Army Now - Supply Man: Hats Call Out the Marines - Military Policeman Obliging Young Lady - Pickup Driver with Red The Lady Is Willing - Joe QuigSaboteur - Truck DriverMy Favorite Spy - Kay's 1st Taxi Driver Yankee Doodle Dandy - Wise Guy Powder Town - Joe, Cab Driver The Big Shot - Quinto, a ConvictEscape from Crime - Fingerprint Man's Assistant The Gay Sisters - Elevator Operator Mug Town - ShortyNo Time for Love - Moran Lady Bodyguard - Attendant The Hard Way - Joe Duglatz Air Force - Butch, Demolition Squad Corporal Good Morning, Judge - Charlie Martin Bombardier - Little Boy, Spy Hers to Hold - Smiley, the ForemanThis Is the Army - Soldier The Good Fellows - Cummings Larceny with Music - Cab DriverCorvette K-225 - JonesSwing Fever - Burly Attentant Lady in the Dark - Taxicab Driver Once Upon a Time - Soldier Leaving Theatre The Eve of St. Mark - Sergeant KrivenRoger Touhy, Gangster - Ralph Burke Wing and a Prayer - Benjamin K. 'Benny 'O'NeillMoonlight and Cactus - SluggerSomething for the Boys - Army Desk Sergeant Army Wives - MikeGod Is My Co-Pilot - Sergeant Altonen The Power of the Whistler - Joe Blainey, Elite Bakery Truck Driver The Horn Blows at Midnight - Tony, the Hotel Bell Captain Honeymoon Ahead - SpikeThey Were Expendable - 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1cUp Goes Maisie - Mitch O'HaraThe Phantom Thief - Eddie Alexander, ChauffeurAngel on My Shoulder - Jim, Taxicab Driver Gallant Bess - JohnnyThe Long Night - Mac, Bartender The Gangster - Eddie Slippy McGee - RedSleep, My Love - Drunk The Return of October - Little Max Let's Live a Little - 2nd Cabbie Blondie's Secret - LarryForce of Evil - Comptroller Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Zalinka Any Number Can Play - Taxi Driver Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff - Joe, Reporter Free for All - McGuinnessOn the Town - Cab Company Owner Blonde Dynamite - John Zero 'Dynamite' BacchussAppointment with Danger - Goddard's Taxi Driver Kill the Umpire - Fireman The Gunfighter - Townsman at Funeral David Harding, Counterspy - Customer Gasoline Alley - Giffin, Salesman / Con Man Navy Bound - Seaman 'Warthog' NovakLullaby of Broadway - Joe the Bartender Fighting Coast Guard - Medic / Interne Strangers on a Train - Boatman Let's Go Navy! - Sailor with Nuramo tattooLost Continent - Air Police SergeantThe Steel Fist - NicholasHere Come the Marines - Corporal StacyBecause You're Mine - Supply Sergeant Army Bound - Military Police SergeantNo Holds Barred - BarneyThe Jazz Singer - Taxi Driver Jalopy - Red BakerTrouble Along the Way - Bus Driver Murder Without Tears - Jim, the BartenderArena - Medic Vice Squad - Cop Devil's Canyon - Driver-Guard Three Sailors and a Girl - Marine Highway Dragnet - Ice Cream Truck DriverTanganyika - Paul Duffy Security Risk - MikeJungle Gents - Fats Lomax Alfred Hitchcock Presents - LloydWomen's Prison - Mae's Boyfriend The Big Tip Off - Dan Curry, GamblerLas Vegas Shakedown - House ManagerJail Busters - GusThe McConnell Story - Sergeant Slightly Scarlet - Hood Chain of Evidence - Charlie Hold That Hypnotist - GaleCalypso Joe - Transfer ManBaby Face Nelson - Alex, Bank GuardThe Geisha Boy - GI in Korea The Young Philadelphians - Diner Counterman Say One for Me - Otto Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Sergeant Ed CarmodyThe Leech Woman - Drunk Ocean's 11 - Deputy The Ladies Man - Butcher Walk on the Wild Side - Diner in Teresina's Cafe What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? - Projectionist It's Only Money - 2nd Cop on Pier Papa's Delicate Condition - Gambler The Nutty Professor - Gym Attendant The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze - GusThe Patsy - Bowler The Disorderly Orderly - Patient The Munsters - "Tin-Can man" The Alfred Hitchcock Hour - CabbieThe Outlaws Is Coming - Chief Crazy HorseThe Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin - Police Officer The Big Mouth - Ed, Motorcycle Officer Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? - Passenger Hook, Line & Sinker - Member, Board of Inquiry