Rolfe Sedan
Rolfe Sedan was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters, etc.
Early life
Born Edward Sedan in New York City, his mother was a Broadway theatre fashion designer and his father an orchestra conductor.
Career
Sedan began his career in show business as a vaudeville and nightclub performer and began acting in East Coast theatre. Sedan debuted on Broadway in 1916 and appeared in his first motion picture for Metro Pictures Corporation in 1921. In 1922 and 1923, Sedan was a featured actor with the Leith-Marsh Players in El Paso, Texas.
Sedan became a prolific character actor in films and is probably best remembered by movie buffs as the hotel manager in Ninotchka starring Greta Garbo; he made an uncredited appearance in the musical remake of Ninotchka, Silk Stockings and appeared in small, uncredited roles in several other Garbo films, including Flesh and the Devil and Two-Faced Woman. Sedan appeared in another uncredited role as the Emerald City's Balloon Ascensionist in The Wizard of Oz. He made uncredited appearances in bit parts in several films starring The Marx Brothers, with somewhat larger parts in Monkey Business and A Night at the Opera.
Sedan returned to Broadway, performing in several different shows during the first half of the 1940s and in the 1950s began a sequence of guest roles in television series such as I Love Lucy, where he played the chef at a Parisian restaurant in "Paris at Last", The Jack Benny Program, and The Tab Hunter Show. Sedan's most frequent TV work came from recurring roles as hapless mail carriers. He was also seen as the train conductor in the film Young Frankenstein, and in bit parts in two other Gene Wilder pictures. Rolfe Sedan remained active throughout a career that spanned more than six decades.
Sedan struggled to be accepted as an actor in radio, gaining his first role after six months of unsuccessful auditions, even though by then he had acted in films for 22 years. His initial broadcasting role came in an episode of Big Town when his voice best suited a specific part in the program. He went on to act in radio dramas that included The Adventures of Ellery Queen, Grand Central Station, Lux Radio Theatre, The March of Time, The Screen Guild Theater, and Silver Theater.
Death
Sedan died in 1982 in Pacific Palisades, California, from heart problems at age 86.
Selected filmography
The Conquering Power - Annette's Suitor What No Man Knows - Lawyer Merry-Go-Round - Minor Role Sporting Youth - ValetPoisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo - Onlooker at Roulette Table Excitement - Willie WinkleThe Breaking Point - Theatre Audience Spectator The Dangerous Blonde - HenryYoung Ideas - Bertie LoomisLove and Glory - Bit Role Three Women - Nightclub patron Smouldering Fires - Member of the CommitteeThe Mad Whirl - Bit Part Stop Flirting - One of Vivian's Admirers I'll Show You the Town - Masher The Merry Widow - Maxim's Waiter California Straight Ahead - Valet His People - Dinner Guest Fifth Avenue - Bit Role My Old Dutch - AlMantrap - Barber Beau Geste - Minor Role Bromo and Juliet - Stage Manager Bardelys the Magnificent - Fop Kid Boots - Physical Therapist Upstage - Actor Flesh and the Devil - Women's Hat Salesman The Whole Town's Talking - Masher in Hotel Lobby The Denver Dude - Henry BirdUncle Tom's Cabin - Adolph Compassion Her Wild Oat - Man at Photo Studio Riley of the Rainbow Division The Adorable Cheat - Card Playing GuestThe Chinatown Mystery The Battle of the Sexes - Marie's Barber Show People - Portrait Photographer Riley the Cop - French Restaurant Patron Naughty Baby - Madame Fleurette's Husband Making the Grade - ValetThe Iron Mask - Louis XIIIThunderbolt - 1st Prison Doctor Street Girl - Patron at Little Aregon The Love Trap - Drunk Sailor's Holiday - Ferris Wheel Barker One Hysterical Night - Arthur BixbyThe Last Performance - Clothing Store Clerk The Phantom in the House - The Marquis, Dorothy's Suitor It's a Great Life - Bit Role Party Girl - Maitre D' They Learned About Women - Baseball Spectator Slightly Scarlet - Gendarme Such Men Are Dangerous - Charity Bazaar Auctioneer Le joueur de golf - Show Girl in Hollywood - Headwaiter in New York Paramount on Parade - Minor Role Swing High - Trouper Sweethearts and Wives - WaiterFor the Defense - Juror Rain or Shine - Waiter at Dinner Party Sweet Kitty Bellairs - Alphonse Romance - Opera Audience Member Monte Carlo - Hairdresser Half Shot at Sunrise - French Waiter Those Three French Girls - Gendarme The Life of the Party - Man Who Wants to Hear 'Poison Ivy' A Lady's Morals - Jenny's Italian Hair Stylist Once a Sinner - Salon Extra Finn and Hattie - Paris Taxi Driver 50 Million Frenchmen - Taxi Driver Man of the World - Hotel Desk Clerk Just a Gigolo - Headwaiter Transgression - Beauty Salon Manager The Woman Between - Headwaiter Nuit d'Espagne - The Galloping Ghost - Red Raven Waiter Monkey Business - Barber #2 New Adventures of Get Rich Quick Wallingford - Barber Her Majesty, Love - Hotel Clerk Ladies of the Big House - Florist Shop Customer Devil on Deck - FrenchieThe Passionate Plumber - Tony's Second The Big Timer - French Chef Are You Listening? - Hotel Manager This Is the Night - Boulevardier Grand Hotel - Hotel Guest in Bar New Morals for Old - Art Student Unashamed - Florist Winner Take All - Stork Club Waiter Love Me Tonight - Taxi Driver Crooner - Waiter Back Street - Croupier The Girl from Calgary - Beauty Contest Judge Trouble in Paradise - Purse Salesman Evenings for Sale - Gigolo Central Park - Casino Patron The Match King - 2nd In-Room Waiter Tonight Is Ours - Nightclub Patron Luxury Liner - Ship Passenger Topaze - Restaurant Attendant What! No Beer? - Barber 42nd Street - Extra on Stage Clear All Wires! - French Radio Operator Blondie Johnson - Pierre - Tailor The Little Giant - Waiter The World Gone Mad - Man on Phone Reunion in Vienna - Valet The Devil's Brother - Tavern Patron Adorable - Orchestra Leader The Nuisance - Man Who Will Be Late to Work Cocktail Hour - Hotel Clerk Private Detective 62 - Casino Man Laughing at Life - Hotel Clerk She Had to Say Yes - Hotel Desk Clerk Notorious But Nice - French Waiter Meet the Baron - Pants Presser The Way to Love - André Walls of Gold - Ritchie's Barber Carnival Lady - Carnival Barker Design for Living - Bed Salesman Jimmy and Sally - 2nd Waiter at Club Rendezvous The Worst Woman in Paris? - Orchestra Leader The Sin of Nora Moran - Stage ManagerCross Country Cruise - Second Dodd's Salesman Palooka - Alphonse The Cat and the Fiddle - Bit Part Hollywood Party - Bit Part Wonder Bar - First Waiter Stingaree - Coutouriere The Thin Man - Waiter Many Happy Returns - Clerk Bachelor Bait - Waiter at the Ritz Paris Interlude - Waiter at Railroad Station Now and Forever - Hotel Manager Kansas City Princess - Hotel Escort Young and Beautiful - Pierre, Waiter The Merry Widow - Gabrielovitsch Kid Millions - Ship's Passenger I Am a Thief - Waiter Here Is My Heart - Artist The Man Who Reclaimed His Head - Waiter Charlie Chan in Paris - Bank Teller Lottery Lover - Barber Ruggles of Red Gap - Barber in Paris All the King's Horses - Orchestra Leader Paris in Spring - ModisteMad Love - Traffic Gendarme Broadway Gondolier - Mrs. Flaggenheim's Secretary Here Comes the Band - Violinist 1,000 Dollars a Minute - Louie A Night at the Opera - Aviator Anna Karenina - Soldier Ship Cafe - French Chauffeur Stars Over Broadway - Opera Aficionado Coronado - Maitre d' A Tale of Two Cities - Condemned Dandy Anything Goes - Bearded Man Rose Marie - Admirer Camille - Party guest Under Two Flags - Mouche The Accusing Finger - Waiter Smartest Girl in Town - Hotel Desk Clerk Bill Cracks Down - Jewelry Salesman Thin Ice - Waiter Cafe Metropole - Flower Clerk Shall We Dance - Ballet Master Rhythm in the Clouds - VictorHigh, Wide, and Handsome - Photographer Souls at Sea - Friend of Gastonet The Firefly - Hat Vendor A Day at the Races - Water Carnival Guest / Racetrack Spectator Conquest Cossack/Soldier Double or Nothing - Headwaiter One Hundred Men and a Girl - Party Guest at Mrs. Frost's The Girl Said No - Headwaiter at the Ritz Hitting a New High - Photographer Paradise for Three - Plaza Hotel Clerk Going to Fire Bluebeard's Eighth Wife - FloorwalkerA Trip to Paris - Valet Stolen Heaven - GottliebI'll Give a Million - Telegraph ClerkLetter of Introduction - Fitter A Desperate Adventure - Prefect of PoliceUnder the Big Top - PierreThat Certain Age - Party Decorator Strange Faces - Waiter Adventure in Sahara - Airline Officer Daffy Duck in Hollywood - Von Hamburger Topper Takes a Trip - Roulette Croupier The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle - Emile AubelThe Wizard of Oz - Oz Balloon Ascensionist Ninotchka - Hotel ManagerAt The Circus - Circus Spectator Charlie Chan in City in Darkness - Hotel Clerk Everything Happens at Night - WaiterThe Mad Empress - Tudos - the CookI Was an Adventuress - WaiterFlorian - Candy Shop Proprietor Private Affairs - Tailor Golden Gloves - Perfume Customer Laughing at Danger - PierreHired Wife - Maitre D' Seven Sinners - Henchman Go West - Saloon Patron/Train Passenger That Uncertain Feeling - Art Dealer The Big Store - Man in Crowd Two-Faced Woman - Nightclub Patron Angels with Broken Wings - San Antonio Rose - Henry Law of the Tropics - TailorThat Forsyte Woman - M. Braval, Gallery Official in Paris Let's Dance - Jewelry Clerk A Millionaire for Christy - Wedding Usher My Favorite Spy - Room Service Waiter Something to Live For - Frenchman April in Paris - Waiter The Mississippi Gambler - Tailor Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Waiter Phantom of the Rue Morgue - LeBonSo This Is Paris - Cab Driver The Birds and the Bees - Cabin Steward Silk Stockings - Stage Manager Bedtime Story - Waiter 36 Hours - Frenchman The Art of Love - Cab Driver Darling Lili - French Stage Manager Young Frankenstein - Train ConductorThe Hindenburg - Ambassador Luther The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington - Man at AirportThe World's Greatest Lover - ConductorLove at First Bite - Maitre d'The Frisco Kid - Rabbi #4
Selected television appearances
Combat! as Dr. BaroleThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour as Old ManThe Addams Family as PostmanThe Addams Family as Mr. BriggsPetticoat Junction as Gallery Attendee The Man From U.N.C.L.E. as Gardenia VendorThe Addams Family as MailmanPetticoat Junction as Station Master Petticoat Junction as Madame LevelleKung Fu as Stationmaster