Steve Murphy (actor)


Steve Murphy, also known as Broken Nose Murphy, was an American character actor of the silent-film era. Known for his tough-guy appearance and flattened nose, he often portrayed aggressive or villainous characters.

Biography

Very little is known about Murphy's early life before entering the film industry. There are some references to a previous boxing career,
but no records can be found, and it may have been a fabrication by the publicity department to fit his appearance.
He started his career around 1915 – at the age of 39 – as a property man been doing general work about the California studios and lots and he soon transitioned into acting.
Nicknamed "Broken Nose Murphy" due to his distinctive facial features, he frequently played henchmen, conmen, and roughneck characters.
Murphy's biggest role was in Charlie Chaplin's The Circus in which he has a long scene trying to recover a stolen wallet he placed in the Tramp's trousers.
He is the only actor of the era to appear with all four comedy legends: Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel and Hardy.
Murphy's film career ended with the arrival of the talkies.

Selected filmography