Ralf Harolde

Brown-haired American character actor, a former bank clerk. Harolde first appeared on stage with a Pittsburgh stock company at the age of 16, though with little formal training. His first paychecks amounted to $15 a week. After a year's absence serving in the Marine Corps near the end of World War I, he returned to the theatre with another troupe of Pennsylvania players and in due course portrayed just about any type of personage, from youngsters to old timers. Having eventually worked his way up to leading man, Harolde seized an offer by noted impresario David Belasco to act in a Pacific Coast touring production of 'The Front Page'. The success of the play led to interest from various film studios, including Warner Brothers. Throughout the 30s and 40's, Harolde was to be much in demand as a small part supporting actor with an uncanny penchant for playing assorted sleazebags, odious lounge lizards, convicts, junkies, stool pigeons and henchmen -- all with notable conviction. Needless