Olin Howland
Olin Ross Howland was an American film and theatre actor.
Life and career
Howland was born in Denver, Colorado, to Joby A. Howland, one of the youngest enlisted participants in the Civil War, and Mary C. Bunting. His sister was stage actress Jobyna Howland.
From 1909 to 1927, Howland appeared on Broadway in musicals, occasionally performing in silent films. The musicals include Leave It to Jane, Two Little Girls in Blue and Wildflower. He was in the film Janice Meredith with Marion Davies. With the advent of sound films, his theatre background proved an asset, and he concentrated mostly on films thereafter, appearing in nearly two hundred movies between 1918 and 1958.
Howland often played eccentric and rural roles in Hollywood. His parts were often small and uncredited, and he never got a leading role. He was a personal favorite of David O. Selznick, who cast him in his movies Nothing Sacred as a strange luggage man, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as the teacher Mr. Dobbins, Made for Each Other as the farmer, and Gone with the Wind as a carpetbagger businessman. He also played in numerous westerns from Republic Pictures, including the John Wayne films In Old California and Angel and the Badman. As a young man, Howland learned to fly at the Wright Flying School and soloed on a Wright Model B. This lent special poignancy to his scenes with James Stewart in the film The Spirit of St. Louis ; Stewart was also a pilot in real life. The Spirit of St. Louis and Them!, where he played a drunken old man, and The Blob, as the first victim, were his last films.
He also played in television shows during the 1950s. One of Olin's memorable television appearances was in an episode of "I Love Lucy." Entitled "First Stop", air date January 17, 1955 Olin played the humorous role of a cafe and motel proprietor offering dubious accommodations to the road-weary Ricardos and Mertzes as they traveled by car en-route from New York to California. In 1958 and 1959, he was cast as Charley Perkins in five episodes of ABC's sitcom The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan.
Howland was also a dancer, a dancing teacher, and a headliner in vaudeville shows. He toured Europe performing dancing exhibitions.
Howland never married and had no children. He worked until his death in Hollywood, California, at the age of 73.
Selected filmography
Danse Macabre - DeathThe Great White Way - StubbsJanice Meredith - Philemon HennionZander the Great - Elmer LovejoyOver the Hill - Isaac as an AdultCheaters at Play - SecretarySo Big - Jacob Pogadunk Blondie Johnson - EddieGolden Harvest - Wheat Farmer Little Women - Mr. Davis Private Scandal - Ed, CoronerTreasure Island - Pirate of the Spanish MainWagon Wheels - Bill O'LearyMarie Galante - Clerk French Consul Behold My Wife - Mattingly Under Pressure - Newspaper Reporter Folies Bergère de Paris - Stage ManagerNaughty Marietta - Minor Role The Case of the Curious Bride - Coroner Wilbur StrongLove Me Forever - Carlton - Interior Decorator Little Big Shot - Doc - Kells' Henchman The Case of the Lucky Legs - Dr. CrokerDr. Socrates - Bob CatlettThe Widow from Monte Carlo - EavesMan Hunt - StarrettRoad Gang - DoctorSnowed Under - Bridgeport Sheriff I Married a Doctor - Dave DyerThe Big Noise - HarrisonSatan Met a Lady - Detective DunhillEarthworm Tractors - Mr. BlairThe Case of the Velvet Claws - Wilbur StrongThe Longest Night - Smythe, FloorwalkerLove Letters of a Star Country Gentlemen - LawyerGold Diggers of 1937 - Dr. MacDuffyMen in Exile - H. Mortimer JonesA Star Is Born - Judd Baker Mountain Music - Pappy BurnsideMarry the Girl - First SouthernerStella Dallas - Stephen's Office Clerk Wife, Doctor and Nurse - Doorman JimStand-In - Hotel Manager Nothing Sacred - Vermont Baggage ManThe Bad Man of Brimstone - Jardge - Stage Driver Swing Your Lady - Hotel ProprietorThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mr. Dobbins - SchoolmasterMerrily We Live - Jed Smith The Girl of the Golden West - Trinidad JoeMr. Moto's Gamble - Deputy Sheriff Burt A Trip to Paris - Fred Kentucky Moonshine - Tom SlackWhen Were You Born - Peter Finlay Little Tough Guy - BaxterThe Mad Miss Manton - Mr. XBrother Rat - SlimSweethearts - ApplebyAmbush - Radio Actor Boy Slaves - 'Cookie' the Camp Cook Made for Each Other - Farmer Nancy Drew... Reporter - Police Sgt. EntwhistleZenobia - Attorney CulpepperThe Kid from Kokomo - Sam, the Whittler One Hour to Live - ClerkBlondie Brings Up Baby - Encyclopedia SalesmanThe Return of Doctor X - UndertakerGone with the Wind - A carpetbagger businessmanDays of Jesse James - Muncie UndersheriffFour Wives - Joe - a Policeman Young Tom Edison - Telegrapher The Doctor Takes a Wife - Hotel Clerk Comin' Round the Mountain - Pa BlowerYoung People - Station MasterChad Hanna - Cisco TriddThe Great Lie - Ed - Arizona Ranch Hand The Shepherd of the Hills - CorkyBelle Starr - Jasper TrenchOne Foot in Heaven - Train Station Master Buy Me That Town - Constable Sam SmedleyEllery Queen and the Murder Ring - Dr. WilliamsTwo-Faced Woman - Frank You're in the Army Now - Pa - The Farmer Mr. and Mrs. North - Minor Role Sappy Birthday - Mr. Plantem, Cemetery Plot SalesmanBlondie's Blessed Event - Office Worker This Gun for Hire - Blair FletcherThe Man Who Wouldn't Die - Chief of Police Jonathan MeekHome in Wyomin' - SunriseDr. Broadway - The ProfessorAlmost Married - BrightIn Old California - Salesman Ten Gentlemen from West Point - Carpenter Henry and Dizzy - Mr. StevensJoan of Ozark - Game Warden Her Cardboard Lover - Frank - Casino Manager Orchestra Wives - Dance Ticket-Taker Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch - Jacob Diezal You Can't Escape Forever - Cemetery Organist Secrets of the Underground - Oscar MayberryWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home - TrullersRidin' Down the Canyon - The JailerLady Bodyguard - Dr. SaundersYoung and Willing - Second CopThe Falcon Strikes Back - Sheriff A Stranger in Town - Homer ToddsDixie - Mr. DeverauxThe Sky's the Limit - Driver The Good Fellows - ReynoldsThe Falcon and the Co-eds - Goodwillie, Bluecliff DriverJack London - Mailman Twilight on the Prairie - JedBermuda Mystery - Gas Station OwnerThe Adventures of Mark Twain - Riverboat Southerner Man from Frisco - Eben WhelockGoodnight, Sweetheart - Slim TaylorAllergic to Love - Sam WalkerSing, Neighbor, Sing - Joe the BarberIn the Meantime, Darling - J.P. 'Hiram' Morehousse And Now Tomorrow - Customer I'll Be Seeing You - Train Vendor Nothing but Trouble - Painter's Foreman The Town Went Wild - Bit PartCan't Help Singing - BigelowShe Gets Her Man - Hank Grissly's Millions - Andrews Her Lucky Night - Prince de la MourSheriff of Cimarron - Pinky SnyderIt's in the Bag! - Dr. Greengrass's Doctor Santa Fe Saddlemates - Dead EyeCaptain Eddie - Census TakerIncendiary Blonde - Interior Decorator Senorita from the West - Justice of PeaceFallen Angel - Joe Ellis Sing Your Way Home - Zany Steward Dakota - Devlin's DriverColonel Effingham's Raid - Painter She Wrote the Book - Baggage Master The Strange Love of Martha Ivers - Newspaper Clerk Home Sweet Homicide - Luke Three Wise Fools - Witness Crime Doctor's Man Hunt - Marcus Le Blaine Easy Come, Easy Go - Gas Man Angel and the Badman - BradleyApache Rose - Alkali ElkinsFor the Love of Rusty - Frank Foley Living in a Big Way - The Morgan Gardener The Trouble with Women - Mr. Pink Keeper of the Bees - CustomerWyoming - Cowboy Wanting Herd The Fabulous Texan - McGinn - Storekeeper I Walk Alone - Ed the Watchman Relentless - Horse Doctor The Return of the Whistler - Jeff Anderson My Dog Rusty - Frank Foley The Dude Goes West - FinneganStation West - CookIsn't It Romantic? - Hotel Clerk Smoky Mountain Melody - Lum PetersThe Paleface - Jonathan Sloane, undertakerLast of the Wild Horses - Remedy WilliamsBad Men of Tombstone - Store ProprietorLittle Women - Mr. Davis - Schoolteacher A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Sam, the Postman Grand Canyon - WindyHellfire - Bartender Leave It to Henry - Milo WilliamsAnna Lucasta - Station Master Mr. Soft Touch - Skinny Santa Claus Top o' the Morning - Barfly The Nevadan - Rusty A Ticket to Tomahawk - Railway Conductor Rock Island Trail - SaloonkeeperFather Makes Good - Milo WilliamsNever a Dull Moment - Hunter He's a Cockeyed Wonder - Hotel Clerk Stage to Tucson - Chantry Charlie's Haunt - Storyteller on BenchSanta Fe - Dan DuganFighting Coast Guard - Desk ClerkThe Fabulous Senorita - Justice of the PeaceGobs and Gals - ConductorSo This Is Love - Mailman Them! - JensenA Star is Born - Charley The McConnell Story - Sam - Postman The Storm Rider - Will CollinsThe Spirit of St. Louis - Surplus Dealer Bombers B-52 - Joe The Blob - Old Man