Vernon Dent


Vernon Bruce Dent was an American comic actor, who appeared in over 400 films. He co-starred in many short films for Columbia Pictures, frequently as the foil, main antagonist, and an ally to The Three Stooges.

Early career

In the early 1920s, Dent was a fixture at the Mack Sennett studio, working with comedians Billy Bevan, Andy Clyde, and especially Harry Langdon. Dent alternately played breezy pals and blustery authority figures opposite Langdon's timid character.
Sennett voided all contracts when it came time to retool his studio for sound, and Dent moved to Educational Pictures in 1929. Dent's supporting performances were frequently funnier than the sometimes uninspired antics of the nominal stars. When Educational hired Harry Langdon for a series of two-reelers in 1932, Vernon Dent resumed his place as Langdon's co-star.

Columbia Pictures

Dent joined Columbia Pictures' short-subject department in 1935, and achieved his greatest success there. He went on to work with practically every star on the payroll, including Andy Clyde, Charley Chase, and Eddie Quillan, as well as Buster Keaton, El Brendel, Vera Vague, Hugh Herbert, Gus Schilling and Richard Lane, Harry von Zell, and Bert Wheeler. Dent appeared very occasionally in feature films, including Million Dollar Legs, Chip Off the Old Block, The Harvey Girls, Rockin' in the Rockies, and Kill the Umpire. In feature films he sometimes played character roles with a German dialect, which served him well during World War II with war-themed films in production.
Dent was most often featured in the Three Stooges comedies; in fact, he made more appearances in their films than any other supporting actor. Dent also appeared with The Three Stooges on a live CBS Television broadcast of The Frank Sinatra Show on January 1, 1952. Through his association with the Stooges, Dent became a close friend of Shemp Howard.

Illness and death

Away from motion pictures, in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Vernon Dent owned and operated a soda fountain and refreshments concession at Westlake Park in Los Angeles. Mrs. Dent recalled:

It wasn't our livelihood so we didn't depend upon it. He did this as a lark. We had jukeboxes and ice cream. It was very lucrative and a lot of fun. Vernon loved that. He drank far too much Coca-Cola. When we had the concession he'd drink the syrup and add his own seltzer.

This ultimately resulted in a diagnosis of diabetes later in life, and Vernon Dent eventually lost his vision. Even this affliction didn't stop his career; producer-director Jules White, filming low-budget remakes of earlier comedies, hired Vernon Dent for a few new scenes to match his older ones. Dent, now legally blind, delivered enthusiastic performances while in static or seated positions accommodating his impaired vision. He retired from performing in 1954 but he continued to appear in previously-filmed footage from his earlier shorts; as such, his last "appearance" was in the Stooge short Guns a Poppin. Dent had appeared in over 400 films by the time he retired.
Dent attended Shemp Howard's funeral in 1955. By that time, he was completely blind and had to be led to Shemp's casket. Character actor Emil Sitka was one of many at the event who did not know Dent had lost his sight:

Vernon came into the parlor, wearing a yarmulke like everyone else since this was a Jewish ceremony. He was led in by his arm, and brought up to Shemp's casket. The man accompanying Vernon told him, "this is Shemp." Vernon was staring straight ahead at the wall – it was then that I realized he was blind. Vernon felt Shemp's hand, then his face very gently. Everyone else had been filing past the casket quickly, but Vernon took his time, giving a last goodbye to his friend. It was one of the most moving things I ever saw.

Dent's diabetes worsened after his retirement, limiting his activities. He died of a heart attack on November 5, 1963. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Hillside plot, grave L-3796.

Selected filmography

An Auto Nut as The Lawyer's Clerk, alias The Doctor Hail the Woman as Joe HurdThe Shriek of Araby - minor role Soul of the Beast as The BoobThe Extra Girl as Aaron ApplejohnPicking Peaches as Store ManagerThe Hollywood Kid as Claude Climax - DirectorFeet of Mud as the Football CoachFlirty Four-Flushers - Bill BrownHis First Flame - Amos McCarthyThe Girl from Everywhere - minor role Golf Widows as Ernest WardThe Cameraman as Man in Tight Bathing Suit Midnight Daddies as Baron von Twiddlebaum - Designer