Former vaudevillian, who acquired a solid reputation as a practical joker and master of insult, second only to the great Groucho Marx. Celebrity hosts would often hire Vince to perform gags and put-on jokes at their lavish parties, where he would insult the guests and create mayhem in his wake. He often posed as heavily-accented journalists with names like 'Timothy Glutzspiegel'. Among the many victims of his pranks were such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford and the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen. Clark Gable nearly punched him out during a party given by Joan Crawford. Vince greeted Greta Garbo with "Good Morning, Miss Hepburn", and, as 'sound expert' Dr. Hoffman, instructed star Richard Barthelmess to take voice lessons from Texas Guinan or quit acting. During a trip to New York, he even cornered Mae West, posing as a member of the vice squad and threatening to close down her show ('Diamond Lil') unless she cut some of her bawdy dialogue. When the star acquiesced, the phoney inspector ordered her to burn the whole play and take the next train out of town. Not even Jack L. Warner was immune, being told by 'foreign producer' Barnett to learn the basics of film-making. Roly-poly, moustachioed, bald-pated Barnett followed in the footsteps of his father Luke, who had made a name for himself for playing similar pranks on people for thirty years in his home town of Pittsburgh. After studying at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Vince, who was an avid amateur pilot, flew mail planes for a couple of years before making his stage debut with "Earl Carroll's Vanities" in 1926. The following year, he acted on Broadway in "George White's Scandals". Movie roles soon followed. From 1930, Vince appeared, usually as comedy relief, in films and on television in a career spanning 45 years. Among his best-regarded early roles were Scarface (1932),as a dumb gangster; The Big Cage (1933), Thirty Day Princess (1934) and, in a perfectly-suited Runyonesque part, Princess O'Hara (1935). In later years, Vince often relinquished his comedy image and was seen in innumerable small roles, often as careworn little men, undertakers, janitors, bartenders and drunks in pictures ranging from films noir like The Killers (1946), to westerns such as Springfield Rifle (1952). In one of his last public appearances, Vince showcased his unique brand of humour with a monologue, delivered at Madison Square Garden in the vaudeville revue 'The Big Show of 1936'. It was to his ever-lasting regret that he never got the chance to match wits (and insults) with his illustrious Irish contemporary George Bernard Shaw.
Movie | Crazy Mama | Homer | 1975-06-01 |
Movie | Summer School Teachers | Principal Adams | 1974-08-01 |
Movie | The Spy in the Green Hat | 'Scissors' | 1967-02-03 |
Movie | The Big Mouth | Man at Telephone Booth (uncredited) | 1967-07-12 |
Series | Cimarron Strip | Unknown | 1967-09-07 |
Movie | Zebra in the Kitchen | Man in Manhole | 1965-06-01 |
Movie | Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine | Janitor | 1965-11-06 |
Movie | The Family Jewels | Automobile Owner at Gas Station | 1965-07-01 |
Movie | The Rookie | Pentagon janitor | 1959-12-01 |
Movie | Girl on the Run | Janitor | 1958-10-10 |
Movie | Outlaw Queen | Gamler | 1957-04-27 |
Series | Perry Mason | Unknown | 1957-09-21 |
Movie | The Crooked Web | Ed - Stan's Partner in Drive-In (uncredited) | 1955-11-30 |
Movie | The Jazz Singer | Bartender | 1953-02-14 |
Movie | Carson City | Henry | 1952-06-13 |
Movie | Springfield Rifle | Cook (uncredited) | 1952-10-22 |
Movie | I'll See You in My Dreams | Burlesk Comedian (uncredited) | 1951-12-06 |
Movie | Kentucky Jubilee | Mugsy | 1951-05-18 |
Movie | On Dangerous Ground | George (uncredited) | 1951-12-13 |
Movie | The Grass Is Always Greener | Cooky | 1950-01-07 |
Movie | Mule Train | Joe - Barber | 1950-02-22 |
Movie | Hunt the Man Down | Joe (uncredited) | 1950-12-26 |
Movie | Border Treasure | Pokey | 1950-08-05 |
Movie | Deputy Marshal | Hotel Clerk | 1949-10-28 |
Movie | Big Town Scandal | Louie Snead | 1948-05-27 |
Movie | Loaded Pistols | Sam Gardner | 1948-12-15 |
Movie | Thunder in the Pines | Bernard, the Bartender | 1948-11-11 |
Movie | Shoot to Kill | Charlie Gill | 1947-03-15 |
Movie | I Cover Big Town | Louis Murkil | 1947-02-27 |
Movie | My Brother Talks to Horses | Schuyler (uncredited) | 1947-02-04 |
Movie | Gas House Kids Go West | Steve | 1947-06-12 |
Movie | High Wall | Henry Cronner | 1947-12-17 |
Movie | The Trespasser | Bartender | 1947-07-03 |
Movie | Big Town After Dark | Louie Snead | 1947-12-12 |
Movie | Brute Force | Muggsy | 1947-07-16 |
Movie | The Falcon's Alibi | Goldie Locke | 1946-04-12 |
Movie | The Virginian | Baldy | 1946-05-05 |
Movie | No Leave, No Love | Ben | 1946-03-10 |
Movie | The Killers | Charleston | 1946-08-30 |
Movie | Two Sisters from Boston | Singing Waiter (uncredited) | 1946-06-06 |
Movie | Bowery Bombshell | Street Cleaner | 1946-07-20 |
Movie | High Powered | Short Bald Man at Dance | 1945-02-27 |
Movie | The Big Show-Off | Voice Student | 1945-01-22 |
Movie | Thrill of a Romance | Oscar | 1945-05-23 |
Movie | Sensation Hunters | Agent | 1945-10-12 |
Movie | Jungle Woman | Curley (archive footage / uncredited) | 1944-06-01 |
Movie | Sweethearts of the U.S.A. | Clipper - 3rd Robber | 1944-03-07 |
Movie | The Mask of Dimitrios | Card Game Kibitzer (uncredited) | 1944-06-23 |
Movie | Leave It to the Irish | Barney Baker | 1944-08-26 |
Movie | Kid Dynamite | Klinkhammer | 1943-02-05 |
Movie | Captive Wild Woman | Curly | 1943-06-04 |
Movie | Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher | Henchman 'Gimp' | 1943-01-29 |
Movie | Petticoat Larceny | Stogie | 1943-07-17 |
Movie | Danger! Women at Work | Benny | 1943-08-23 |
Movie | Tornado | Alvin | 1943-08-09 |
Movie | Stardust on the Sage | Haskins | 1942-05-25 |
Movie | The Corpse Vanishes | Sandy, photographer | 1942-05-08 |
Movie | Girls' Town | Dimitri | 1942-03-06 |
Movie | Klondike Fury | Alaska | 1942-03-20 |
Movie | The Lady or the Tiger? | The King | 1942-03-28 |
Movie | My Favorite Spy | Kay's 2nd Taxi Driver | 1942-06-12 |
Movie | The Phantom Plainsmen | 1942-06-16 | |
Movie | Queen of Broadway | Schultz | 1942-11-24 |
Movie | Bowery at Midnight | Charley | 1942-10-30 |
Movie | X Marks the Spot | Waiter at Diner | 1942-11-04 |
Movie | Foreign Agent | Silly Drunk at Bar | 1942-10-09 |
Movie | Baby Face Morgan | Lefty Lewis | 1942-09-15 |
Movie | Gangs Inc. | Scribbler, a Petty Forger | 1941-06-13 |
Movie | Mr. District Attorney | Coroner's Messenger | 1941-03-27 |
Movie | What the Country Needs | Political Speaker / Singer | 1941-02-20 |
Movie | Puddin' Head | Broken Teapot Man | 1941-06-25 |
Movie | I Killed That Man | Drunk | 1941-11-28 |
Movie | A Dangerous Game | Ephriam | 1941-08-21 |
Movie | Blonde Comet | Curly | 1941-12-26 |
Movie | Jungle Man | Buckthorn 'Buck' the Guide | 1941-09-19 |
Movie | East Side Kids | Whisper | 1940-02-10 |
Movie | Boys of the City | Simp | 1940-07-15 |
Movie | Heroes of the Saddle | Night Watchman | 1940-12-01 |
Movie | Seven Sinners | Bartender | 1940-10-25 |
Movie | Water Rustlers | Mike - the cook | 1939-01-06 |
Movie | Ride 'em, Cowgirl | Dan Haggerty | 1939-01-20 |
Movie | Overland Mail | Porchy | 1939-11-16 |
Movie | Exile Express | Deputy Constable | 1939-05-27 |
Movie | The Singing Cowgirl | Kewpie | 1938-06-02 |
Movie | Sunset Murder Case | Barney | 1938-11-11 |
Movie | The Woman I Love | Mathieu | 1937-04-15 |
Movie | Bank Alarm | Clarence "Bulb" Callahan | 1937-06-07 |
Movie | Boots of Destiny | Acey Ducey- Sidekick | 1937-07-16 |
Movie | Dancing Feet | Willoughby | 1936-01-20 |
Movie | The Brain Busters | Vince | 1936-01-09 |
Movie | Riffraff | Lew | 1936-01-03 |
Movie | Down to the Sea | Hector | 1936-05-30 |
Movie | I Cover Chinatown | Puss McGaffey, the Bus Driver | 1936-10-01 |
Movie | Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs | 1936-08-05 | |
Movie | Yellow Cargo | Speedy 'Bulbs' Callahan | 1936-11-07 |
Movie | Captain Calamity | Burp | 1936-11-28 |
Movie | We're in the Legion Now | Spike Conover | 1936-12-13 |
Movie | Black Fury | Kubanda | 1935-05-18 |
Movie | Princess O'Hara | Fingers | 1935-03-31 |
Movie | Streamline Express | Mr. Jones | 1935-09-15 |
Movie | Don't Bet on Blondes | Chuck aka 'Brains' | 1935-07-13 |
Movie | Just Another Murder | Vincent Smart | 1935-10-03 |
Movie | Pirate Party on Catalina Isle | Performer | 1935-11-20 |
Movie | I Live My Life | Clerk | 1935-10-04 |
Movie | Now I'll Tell | Peppo | 1934-06-07 |
Movie | Take the Stand | Tony | 1934-08-07 |
Movie | Thirty Day Princess | Count Nicholeus | 1934-05-18 |
Movie | The 9th Guest | William Jones | 1934-01-31 |
Movie | The Affairs of Cellini | Ascanio | 1934-08-24 |
Movie | Madame Spy | Peter | 1934-02-10 |
Movie | Registered Nurse | Jerry | 1934-04-06 |
Movie | The Secret Bride | Drunk in Diner | 1934-12-22 |
Movie | Crimson Romance | The Courier | 1934-10-12 |
Movie | She Loves Me Not | Baldy Schultz | 1934-08-31 |
Movie | Young and Beautiful | Sammy | 1934-09-16 |
Movie | No Ransom | Bullet | 1934-10-07 |
Movie | Super Stupid | 1934-09-14 | |
Movie | Kansas City Princess | Quincy - Dynamite's Henchman | 1934-09-14 |
Movie | The Big Cage | Soupmeat | 1933-05-01 |
Movie | Hallelujah, I'm a Bum | Undetermined Secondary Role | 1933-02-03 |
Movie | The Girl in 419 | Otto Hoffer | 1933-05-26 |
Movie | Fast Workers | Spike | 1933-03-10 |
Movie | Air Maniacs | Comic Photographer | 1933-12-15 |
Movie | Sunset Pass | Windy | 1933-05-26 |
Movie | The Prizefighter and the Lady | Bugsie | 1933-11-10 |
Movie | Man of the Forest | Little | 1933-08-24 |
Movie | The Night Mayor | Louis Mossbaum, Tailor | 1932-08-18 |
Movie | Scarface | Angelo | 1932-04-09 |
Movie | Tiger Shark | Fishbone | 1932-09-24 |
Movie | Heritage of the Desert | Windy | 1932-09-30 |
Movie | Flesh | Waiter | 1932-12-08 |
Movie | The Death Kiss | Officer Gulliver | 1932-12-05 |
Movie | Scandal Sheet | Barrett, Convict Reporter | 1931-01-31 |
Movie | Side Show | The Great Santini | 1931-09-19 |
Movie | Wide Open | Dvorak | 1930-02-01 |
Movie | All Quiet on the Western Front | Assistant Cook (uncredited) | 1930-04-29 |
Movie | Her Man | Waiter (uncredited) | 1930-09-21 |
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