Snub Pollard (9 November 1889 – 19 January 1962) was an Australian-born vaudevillian, who became a silent film comedian in Hollywood, popular in the 1920s.
Born Harold Fraser, in Melbourne, Australia on 9 November 1889, he began performing with Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company at a young age. Like many of the actors in the popular juvenile company, he adopted Pollard as his stage name. The company ran several highly successful professional children's troupes that traveled Australia and New Zealand in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
In 1908, Harry Pollard joined the company tour to North America. After the completion of the tour, he returned to the US. By 1915 he was regularly appearing in uncredited roles in movies, for example Charles Epting notes that Pollard can clearly be seen in Chaplin's 1915 short By the Sea. In later years, Pollard claimed Hal Roach had discovered him while he was performing on stage in Los Angeles.
Pollard played supporting roles in the early films of Harold Lloyd and Bebe Daniels. The long-faced Pollard sported a Kaiser Wilhelm mustache turned upside-down; this became his trademark. Lloyd's producer, Hal Roach, gave Pollard his own starring series of one- and two-reel shorts. The most famous is 1923's It's a Gift, in which he plays an inventor of many Rube Goldberg-like contraptions, including a car that runs by magnet power.
In early 1923, shortly after his second marriage, Pollard returned with his wife Elizabeth to see his relations in Australia. His visit attracted considerable attention, and he appeared again in several theatres to speak about the motion picture business. On his return to the US, he left Roach and joined the low-budget Weiss Brothers studio in 1926. There he co-starred with Marvin Loback as a poor man's version of Laurel and Hardy, copying that team's plots and gags.
In later years, Pollard claimed the Great Depression wiped out his investments, and he had been unable to "adjust to the talkies." However, in the 1930s, he played small parts in talking comedies, and was featured as comic relief in "B" westerns. Pollard's silent-comedy credentials guaranteed him work in slapstick revivals. He appeared with other film veterans in Hollywood Cavalcade (1939), The Perils of Pauline (1947), and Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). He also appeared regularly as a supporting player in Columbia Pictures' two-reel comedies of the mid-1940s.
Forsaking his familiar mustache in his later years, he landed much steadier work in films as a mostly uncredited bit player. He played incidental roles in scores of Hollywood features and shorts, almost always as a mousy, nondescript fellow, usually with no dialogue.
Snub Pollard died of cancer on 19 January 1962, aged 72, after nearly 50 years in the movie business. His interment was at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).
For his contributions to motion pictures, Pollard has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6415½ Hollywood Boulevard.
Movies
The Fast and the Furious
Park Caretaker
Arizona Days
Cookie
From Hand to Mouth
The Kidnapper
Bowery at Midnight
Knocked-out Motorist (uncredited)
Police
First Flophouse Customer
Luke Rides Roughshod
Luke, Crystal Gazer
Luke's Lost Lamb
Luke, Patient Provider
Luke Locates the Loot
Birds of a Feather
From Laramie to London
Rainbow Island
Love, Laughs and Lather
The Flirt
His Royal Slyness
Prince of Rochquefort
Luke and the Mermaids
Luke's Speedy Club Life
Bellhop
Luke and the Bang-Tails
Luke's Trolley Troubles
Move On
We Never Sleep
All Aboard
Passenger with trunk
Clubs Are Trump
The City Slicker
Snub
Two-Gun Gussie
Snub
The Non-Stop Kid
Snub, the Butler
Pay Your Dues
Just Neighbors
The Neighbor
Spring Fever
The Unwelcome Suitor
Kicking the Germ Out of Germany
Are Crooks Dishonest?
Snub
Somewhere in Turkey
His Assistant
Bashful
Snub the Butler
Pipe the Whiskers
Sic 'Em, Towser
Lonesome Luke's Lively Life
Lonesome Luke on Tin Can Alley
Cafe Waiter
Over the Fence
Snitch, Another
Lonesome Luke Loses Patients
By the Sad Sea Waves
Spectator at Beach
Lonesome Luke, Messenger
Snub
Si, Senor
Ring Up the Curtain
The Leading Man
Ask Father
The Corn-Fed Secretary
That's Him
Two Scrambled
Swing Your Partners
Captain Kidd's Kids
The Valet
Bumping Into Broadway
The Musical Comedy's Director
Bliss
Snub
Billy Blazes, Esq.
Sheriff 'Gun Shy' Gallagher
Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts
Pee Wee
Thick and Thin
The Big Shot
All Wet
Riders of the Rockies
Pee Wee McDougal
It's a Gift
Inventor
The Yokel
The Doughboy
Mitt The Prince
Double Trouble
The Big Idea
Inventor Ignatius Pollard
The Crime Patrol
Gyp
White Legion
Baker
Bars of Hate
Danny, the Pickpocket
Just My Luck
Frank Smith
Chop Suey & Co.
Call for Mr. Caveman
Hatchet Face
The Laramie Kid
Cinvvict Shorty
Hittin' the Trail
Bartender
Sing Cowboy Sing
Prisoner
The Black Coin
Vic Moran
Hear 'Em Rave
The Marathon
Snub
The Rawhide Terror
Renegade
Stingaree
Victor
Rollin' Plains
Pee Wee
Utah Trail
Pee Wee
Where the Buffalo Roam
Pee Wee
Casanova Brown
Father at Baby Window (uncredited)
Till the Clouds Roll By
Show Boat Orchestra Drummer (uncredited)
Singin' in the Rain
Old Man Getting Umbrella in "Singin' in the Rain" Number (uncredited)
All Dressed Up
The Floor Below
Luke Joins the Navy
Fireman Save My Child
A Jazzed Honeymoon
Never Touched Me
Jelous Admirer
Next Aisle Over
The Henpecked Husband (as Harry Pollard)
On the Fire
The Assistant Chef
An Ozark Romance
California or Bust
The Old Settler
What a Whopper!
At the Ringside
Money to Burn
A Sammy in Siberia
Count Pop-up-skyvitch - the Bolshevik Officer (as Harry Pollard)
I'm on My Way
The Neighbor
Going! Going! Gone!
Sold at Auction
The Auctioneer's Helper
Jungle Menace
Campbell
Why Pick on Me?
Pinched
Young Mr. Jazz
Snub
Take a Chance
Simplex Joe
Waltz Me Around
The Dumb-Bell
The New Director
Here Comes a Sailor
The Road to Singapore
Photographer at Birthday Party
Fresh Paint
Bicycle Messenger
Dear Ol' Pal
Abner Maize
Courtship of Miles Sandwich
Papa
Andy Plays Hookey
Ticket Seller
Run 'Em Ragged
The Night Is Young
Drummer (uncredited)
Limelight
Street Musician
The Purchase Price
Harmonica Player Joe Atterbury (uncredited)
Back to the Woods
His Valet
Count Your Change
Billy Bullion
Park Your Car
Frontier Town
Peewee
Hollywood Cavalcade
Keystone Cop
Monkey Businessmen
Mr. Grimble (uncredited)
Hit Him Again
The Gentleman from Louisiana
Hadley
Springtime Saps
Whirl o' the West
The Tenderfoot
Luke Does the Midway
Luke, Rank Impersonator
Luke's Fireworks Fizzle
The Dippy Dentist
The Dandy
Hey There
The New Director
Looking for Trouble
The Dandy
Big Game
Hunter
Follow the Crowd
One Good Turn
A Community Player (uncredited)
Headin' for the Rio Grande
Cookie (Hart hand)
The Old Sea Dog
Snub the Ferryboat Pilot
Johnny Belinda
Man on Jury (uncredited)
Runaway Daughters
Mr. Fields, Little Drunk at Dance Club
Luke's Shattered Sleep
How Dry I Am
Name the Day
Society Mugs
Party Guest (uncredited)
Murder on the Yukon
Archie
Sky Bandits
Pa, Man in Nightshirt
Luke's Movie Muddle
Projectionist
On the Jump
Snoopy Sam - The House Detective
Giving Them Fits
Luke's Co-Worker
Be My Wife
Rollin' Westward
Poker Player
Inherit the Wind
Townsman (uncredited)
Days of Thrills and Laughter
Self (archive footage)
Miracle on 34th Street
Final Mail-Bearing Court Officer (uncredited)
The Earl of Chicago
Townsman (uncredited)
Look Out Below
Snub
Lonesome Luke's Wild Women
Luke and the Rural Roughnecks
Luke, the Candy Cut-Up
Peculiar Patients' Pranks
Step Lively
A Gasoline Wedding
Snub
The Big Idea
Snub
It Happened in Flatbush
Baseball Game Spectator (uncredited)
The Barefoot Mailman
Townsman at Dance (uncredited)
Years to Come
The Bridegroom
'Neath Brooklyn Bridge
Soup Customer (uncredited)
Nation Aflame
Edgar Wolfe (as Snub Pollard)
Mesquite Buckaroo
Janitor Suds
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Pool Hall Patron (uncredited)
Fully Insured
Our Hero
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Statehood Audience Member (uncredited)
Rockin' in the Rockies
Drunk (uncredited)
Lure of the Wasteland
Cookie
Master of the World
Man at Balloon Society Meeting (uncredited)
The Tip
Beat It
Here Come the Girls
Let's Go
It's a Wild Life
Kicked Out
Nothing But Trouble
She Loves Me Not
The Dutiful Dub
Just Dropped In
Crack Your Heels
Pistols for Breakfast
Swat the Crook
Off the Trolley
Trolley conductor
At the Old Stage Door
Heap Big Chief
Cockeyed Cavaliers
King's Physician's Aide
A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob
Wedding Chapel Attendant (uncredited)
Look Pleasant, Please
Snub - the Janitor (as Harry Pollard)
Adam's Rib
Man in Courtroom (uncredited)
Booby Dupes
Ice Cream Vendor (uncredited)
Jeanne Eagels
Quartermaster Bates in 'Rain' (uncredited)
The Hoodlum Saint
Parade Spectator (uncredited)
The Paradine Case
Cabby (uncredited)
Friendly Persuasion
Carnival Patron (uncredited)
Rush Orders
Marquis de Marmalade
Fifteen Minutes
The Husband
365 Days
The Good Grandson
Pocketful of Miracles
Knuckles (uncredited)
The Perils of Pauline
Western Saloon Set Propman
Ridin' the Cherokee Trail
Saloon Drunk
Loaded Pistols
Second Small Man at Dance (uncredited)
Back Trail
Goofy (as Snub Pollard)
Starlight Over Texas
Pee Wee
Boot Hill Bandits
2nd Bartender
Square Dance Jubilee
Show Spectator
Sally Scrags, Housemaid
Butler
The Kid Rides Again
Saloon Swamper
Confirm or Deny
Air Raid Refugee in Basement Crowd
Meet Me After the Show
Stage Door Johnnie in Opening Number (uncredited)
Walk Softly, Stranger
Custodian on Stairway (uncredited)
His Regeneration
Extra
Girls Will Be Boys
Plumber's assistant
Foreign Agent
Supper Club Patron
Bride and Gloom
All at Sea
The Rajah
All Lit Up
The Dandy
Any Old Port
Call a Taxi
Cash Customers
The Chap
Cracked Wedding Bells
Grab the Ghost
Husband
High Rollers
On Location
The Caretaker of the Estate
Hot Off the Press
Snub - the Newspaper Plant Janitor
Punch the Clock
Snub
Hale and Hearty
It's a Joy!
The Papa
Join the Circus
Before the Public
Get Busy
Shorter pal
Once Over
Snub Pollard
Sock and Run
Alphonse
A Woman's Secret
Stagehand (Uncredited)
Main Street Today
Pop Denton (uncredited)
Ghosts on the Loose
Flower Delivery Man (uncredited)
Edge of Darkness
Townsman in Church (uncredited)
Kid Dynamite
Dance Official
Hannah Lee: An American Primitive
Man Pacing in Jail Cell
Strange Impersonation
Taxi driver (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces
Comedy Waiter #2
Road to Utopia
Amateur Contest Violinist (uncredited)
Badman's Territory
Town Barber (uncredited)
The Gunfighter
Townsman at Funeral (uncredited)
One More River
George
Do Me a Favor
A Hobo
One-Eyed Jacks
Townsman (uncredited)
Live and Learn
Kitty
Hugh's Rental Coachman (uncredited)
Start Something
Giving the Bride Away
Order in the Court
It's a Hard Life
Tough Luck
Red Hot Hottentotts
Why Go Home?
Getting His Goat
Luke's Society Mixup
Park Row
Barfly
Bughouse Bellhops
Moke Morpheus
Bees in His Bonnet
The Lamb
Hello Teacher
Love's Young Scream
Lonesome Luke Leans to the Literary
Tinkering with Trouble
Sourball Joe
Great While It Lasted
Hugo Snubb
Ragtime Snap Shots
Snub Larkin
A Foozle at the Tee Party
Ruses, Rhymes and Roughnecks
Lonesome Luke, Social Gangster
Tin-Horn Tommy
Luke Lugs Luggage
Lonesome Luke Lolls in Luxury
Luke Pipes the Pippins
Lonesome Luke, Circus King
Luke's Double
Them Was the Happy Days!
Snub
Luke's Late Lunchers
Luke Laughs Last
Luke's Fatal Flivver
Luke's Washful Waiting
Luke, the Chauffeur
Luke's Preparedness Preparations
Luke, the Gladiator
Luke's Newsie Knockout
Lonesome Luke's Lovely Rifle
Luke's Lost Liberty
Luke's Busy Day
Lonesome Luke, Lawyer
Luke Wins Ye Ladye Faire
Lonesome Luke's Honeymoon
Lonesome Luke, Plumber
Stop! Luke! Listen!
Lonesome Luke, Mechanic
Before Breakfast
He Leads, Others Follow
Soft Money
Count the Votes
His Only Father
Unknown Island
Extra in Dive, Pointing Out Tarnowski
Fire!!
The Boy
Pete Kelly's Blues
Waiter (uncredited)
Slippery Slickers
Charlie's Triple Trouble
Flop House Tramp (archive footage)
A Tough Winter
Pal Joey
Waiter (uncredited)
Homicidal
Eddie, Bellhop (Uncredited)
The Midnight Patrol
Stars in My Crown
Bartender (uncredited)
Mr. Celebrity
Racetrack Spectator (uncredited)
His Wedding Scare
Fireman
Song of the Buckaroo
'Perky'
Santa Fe Rides
Stubby
Raise the Rent
A Countless Count
Count
House of Strangers
Don't Rock the Boat
His Best Girl
Blue Sunday
The Hustler
Snub
In the Movies
Snub - the Scenario Writer
The Stone Age
Jack Frost
Hired Hand
Newly Rich
The Chauffeur
Goofs and Saddles
Bad guy caught by sash window in shed (uncredited)
The Man with the Golden Arm
Street Vagrant (uncredited)
The Drunkard
Property Man
Phony Express
Sheriff Hogwaller (uncredited)
Luke and the Bomb Throwers
Luke Foils the Villain
Fresh from the Farm
Vitamin 'U' for Me
Wanted - $5,000
Desperate
Villager (uncredited)
Teacher's Pet
Reporter (uncredited)
Red Skins and Red Heads
Party Guest (uncredited)
Three Pests in a Mess
Cemetery Guard (uncredited)
The Lady Gambles
Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Carrie
Lunch Wagon Counterman (uncredited)
No Kidding
The Bum's Rush
Sister Kenny
Man at Barn Dance (uncredited)
The Girl in the Case
Witness (uncredited)
Partners in Time
Townsman (uncredited)
Jungle Terror
Campbell
Ex-Flame
Boggins
Belle Starr's Daughter
Party Guest (uncredited)
State Fair
Hog Calling Contest Spectator (uncredited)
The Sound of Laughter
Plumber's Assistant
Framed
(uncredited)
Valley of Fire
Townsman
Gents in a Jam
Telegram Deliverer (uncredited)
Conquest of Cochise
Barfly (uncredited)
The Amazing Exploits of the Clutching Hand
Snub - Waiter (uncredited)
The Oregon Trail
Townsman (uncredited)
The Old West
Townsman (uncredited)
Stand by for Action
Sailor (uncredited)
Clancy Street Boys
Irate Father (uncredited)
Scaramouche
Man at Assembly Meeting
The Crooked Way
It Happened Tomorrow
Who Was That Lady?
Tattoo Artist (uncredited)
Drink Hearty
Snub
A London Bobby
Full o' Pep
Snub
Blow 'Em Up
The Governor
The Mystery Man
Detective Snub Pollard
Strictly Modern
Chambermaid Man
The Payoff
Stubby - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Strange As It Seems: The Herald of the Skies
Bartender
Defective Detectives
Janitor
The Tin Star
Townsman(uncredited)
Shows
Racket Squad
Public Defender
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Bar Patron (uncredited)