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Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career.
Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series.
Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness.
In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges.
Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
Movies
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Prof. Potelle
The Palm Beach Story
Mr. McKeewie
King of the Wild
Peterson
Christmas in July
Davenola Salesman
The Virginian
Nebrasky
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
Newspaper Editor
The Girl of the Golden West
Lem - Stagecoach Driver
Sullivan's Travels
Cameraman
Damaged Lives
Undetermined Role
God's Country and the Woman
Turpentine
The Good-for-Nothing
Old Clerk
Big Boy Rides Again
Ranch Foreman Scarface
Three Godfathers
'Buck Tooth'
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
Kinso
One a Minute
Jingo Pitts
The Virtuous Sin
Sentry
The Squaw Man
Andy
Selling Shorts
Slim Bassil
Down to the Sea
Andy
Border Romance
Slim
The Last of the Clintons
Jed Clinton
Small Town Boy
Abner Towner
Gun Play
Brawler (uncredited)
On the Great White Trail
Lyons
Frontier Days
Deputy Tex Hatch
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
Ranch Hand
Water, Water, Everywhere
Steve Brainard
Below the Line
'Cuckoo' Niles
Thunder Over Texas
Dick
Yellow Dust
Jugger - the Bartender
The Cowboy and the Bandit
Lanky
Western Frontier
Slim
Hollywood Cavalcade
Slim
Scandal Sheet
Reporter
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Policeman (uncredited)
Face in the Sky
Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited)
Stand Up and Fight
Coach Driver
Let Freedom Ring
Ole Swensen (uncredited)
Down the Wyoming Trail
Slim
Second Fiddle
Steve - Crane Operator
Blondie Brings Up Baby
Lars (uncredited)
The Housekeeper's Daughter
Suspect
Slightly Honorable
Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)
Doughboys
Svendenburg
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
The General
Paradise Island
Swede
Fury
Jorgeson (uncredited)
Whispering Smith Speaks
Bill Prouty
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
Man in Store
Ten Cents a Dance
Smith, a Sailor
The Lady Eve
Second Steward (uncredited)
Young Tom Edison
Mr. Tompkins
The Loafer
Inside Information
Rice - Thin Detective
Chip of the Flying U
Station Agent
Moonlight on the Prairie
Tall Saloon Cowboy
Trail of the Vigilantes
Conductor
The Lady from Cheyenne
Lem
Ride on Vaquero
Ole
Two Gun Law
Cassius
Song of the Saddle
Little Casino
Man Hunt
Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)
White Bondage
Luke Stacey
Waterfront Lady
Alex
The Great McGinty
Cook (uncredited)
Li'l Abner
Fantastic Brown
Three Faces West
Postman
Captain Swagger
Jean
The Captain's Kid
Deputy Jake Hutchinson
Flame of Barbary Coast
Train Fireman
The Glass Alibi
Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)
Hearts and Saddles
Rhythm Round-Up
Slim Jensen
Versus Sledge Hammers
The Count
At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern
The Poet
His Regeneration
Pawn Shop Clerk
Ruggles of Red Gap
Curly - Cowboy
Shipmates Forever
Loafer (uncredited)
Wagon Wheels West
Posse Rider (uncredited)
Melody of Love
The Gawk
Billions
Pushkin
Uneasy Payments
Press Agent
Racing Romance
Constable
The Lodge in the Wilderness
Morganson's Finish
Ole Jensen
A Petal on the Current
She Couldn't Take It
Farmer
The Egg and I
Crowbar
The Devil Thumbs a Ride
A Medal for Benny
Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)
Girl from God's Country
Barber
Ten Days
Twisted Rails
Tom Watson
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
The Druggist
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
Outlaw
O'Malley of the Mounted
Gabby - the Cook
The Great Moment
First Dental Patient
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Broncho Billy's Adventure
Cowboy
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike's Auto
The Bad One
Sailor
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Steve
Who's Your Father?
Comedy Role
The Making of Broncho Billy
Call of the West
Trig Peters
Western Gold
Jasper
The Heart of a Child
Charley Peastone
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
The Minister
Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Home-Coming
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs
Slippery Slim
The Battle of Snakeville
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Sweetheart
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Blind Pig
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim Gets Square
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
Snakeville's Rising Sons
Slippery Slim
Sentimental Sophie
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese
Slippery Slim
Just a Few Little Things
Archie
Alkali Ike and the Wildman
Slippery Slim
Ingomar of the Hills
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
Quincy Adams Sawyer
Hiram Maxwell
Baseball Madness
The Fighting Marines
Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12]
Partners
Deputy Lem
Alkali Ike's Pants
Broncho Billy Reforms
A Thief
A Dog on Business
Hank and Lank: Joyriding
Lank
The Tout's Remembrance
Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some
Lank
Patricia of the Plains
The Bearded Bandit
Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme
Lank
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests
Lank
The Silent Message
A Westerner's Way
Hank and Lank: Lifesavers
Lank
Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men
Lank
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
A Cowboy's Vindication
The Tenderfoot Messenger
Hank and Lank: Blind Men
Lank
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
The Count and the Cowboys
The Count
The Border Ranger
The Two Reformations
Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash
Lank
The Bad Man's Downfall
Across the Plains
The Sheriff's Chum
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
The Puncher's New Love
The Infant at Snakeville
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
The Storekeeper
A Hungry Pair
Skinny
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
Broncho Billy-Guardian
The Two Fugitives
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Squareness
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
Town Hall, Tonight
The Tall Schultz Brother
The Forester's Plea
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
A Cattle Owner
A Child of the West
The Tenderfoot Foreman
Widow Jenkins' Admirers
The Oath of His Office
The Prospector's Legacy
The Biter Bitten
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
On the Cactus Trail
A Story of Montana
Broncho Billy's Pal
Alkali Ike Plays the Devil
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
An Indian Sunbeam
A Cowboy
Alkali Ike Stung!
An Indian's Friendship
Alkali Ike's Close Shave
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Broncho Billy's Promise
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
Jailer
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
Dr. Huff
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike's Homecoming
Slippery Slim
Alkali Ike's Misfortunes
Slippery Slim
Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy's Oath
The Three Gamblers
Sophie's New Foreman
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's New Doctor
Slippery Slim
The Last Laugh
Sophie's Hero
Slippery Slim
A Romance of the Hills
That Pair from Thespia
Second Actor
A Snakeville Courtship
Slippery Slim
A Night on the Road
Sheriff's Assistant
A Gamblers' Way
The Bartender
What Came to Bar Q
Bartender
Broncho Billy's Sermon
The Sheriff
Broncho Billy's Leap
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
The Hotel Clerk
Sophie Starts Something
Slippery Slim
Sophie Pulls a Good One
Slippery Slim
The Snakeville Volunteer
Slippery Slim
Pie for Sophie
Snicklefritz
The Wooing of Sophie
Slippery Slim
Sophie Finds a Hero
Slippery Slim
Sophie Gets Stung
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's New Waitress
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy Wins Out
The School Trustee
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
Slippery Slim -- Diplomat
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim Gets Cured
Slippery Slim
When Slippery Slim Met the Champion
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Peace-Maker
Slippery Slim
Broncho Billy Rewarded
The Hotel Proprietor
Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie
Slippery Slim
Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator
Slippery Slim
Slippery Slim and the Impersonator
Slippery Slim
Sophie and the Man of Her Choice
Slippery Slim
A Horse on Sophie
Slippery Slim
Sophie's Fatal Wedding
Slippery Slim
Snakeville's Reform Wave
Slippery Slim
The Revenue Agent
The Minister
The Bachelor's Burglar
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
Broncho Billy Steps In
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
A Tailor-Made Man
Peter
Lavender and Old Lace
Joe Pendleton
The Broken Coin
The Drunkard
Farmer Gates
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Step on It!
Noisy Johnson
The Loaded Door
Slim
Captain Kidd, Jr.
Constable Sam
Bob Hampton of Placer
Willie McNeil
Full of Pep
Beanpole
Reno
Detective McRae
The Man in the Trunk
Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)
Forward, March!
The Good Fellows
Branders (uncredited)
Adventure's End
Tall Sailor (uncredited)
The Tomboy on Bar Z
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
It Happened Tomorrow
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
Tom Turner
Pot o' Gold
Olaf Svenson (uncredited)
Mississippi
Guest
What Darwin Missed
Professor Alonzo Bozzle
Mary's Ankle
Johnny Stokes