Bobby Barber
Bobby Barber (December 18, 1894 – May 24, 1976) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films. Barber is notable for his work as a foil for Abbott and Costello on and off screen.
Barber was often used by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as a form of "court jester" on the set of their films. It was his job to keep the energy level up with pranks and practical jokes. Sometimes, he even suddenly appeared on camera during a take to break up the cast and crew. In Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Costello answers a knock at the door expecting to see large actor Lon Chaney Jr. Instead, the very short Barber walks in wearing a funny hat with a feather. In another outtake from that film, Bela Lugosi, in full Dracula regalia, is solemnly descending a staircase to meet Abbott and Costello when all of a sudden the actors and crew burst out laughing. Lugosi, annoyed, turns around to see Barber following right behind him, mimicking his steps.
Barber also appeared in bit parts, such as a delivery boy, waiter, bellhop, or man on the street, often uncredited in movies, and in many of Abbott and Costello's films and about half their television shows. Sometimes his likeness was in a picture on a wall or a "wanted" poster in a post office. His final film appearance was in Lou Costello's last movie, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). His film career included bit parts in over 100 (known) feature films.
Filmography (112 Appearances)
The Wheeler Dealers
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
The Joker is Wild
Wagon Train
Have Gun, Will Travel
Man of a Thousand Faces
The Midnight Story
The Buster Keaton Story
Pardners
Living It Up
The Abbott and Costello Show
Adventures of Superman
Flesh and Fury
Across the Wide Missouri
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Let's Dance
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in the Foreign Legion
Undertow
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Africa Screams
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein
I Walk Alone
The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Riff-Raff
Vigilantes of Boomtown
Calcutta
Two Sisters from Boston
From This Day Forward
Road to Utopia
Sensation Hunters
Anchors Aweigh
Lady on a Train
Earl Carroll Vanities
Practically Yours
And Now Tomorrow
Laura
Rainbow Island
I Love a Soldier
Follow the Boys
You Can't Ration Love
Swing Fever
Crazy House
Dizzy Pilots
A Lady Takes a Chance
Hi Diddle Diddle
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
The Sky's the Limit
All by Myself
Hit the Ice
Presenting Lily Mars
Reveille with Beverly
Who Done It?
Matri-Phony
Beyond the Blue Horizon
My Favorite Spy
Powder Town
Roxie Hart
A Date with the Falcon
The Gay Falcon
King of the Texas Rangers
Hold That Ghost
Cracked Nuts
In the Navy
Pot o' Gold
Las Vegas Nights
The Monster and the Girl
The Lady Eve
Second Chorus
They Knew What They Wanted
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Spring Parade
The Leather Pushers
Stranger on the Third Floor
Road to Singapore
Primrose Path
Broadway Melody of 1940
Nothing But Pleasure
Pest from the West
Topper Takes a Trip
Cipher Bureau
Carefree
Give Me a Sailor
Professor Beware
Having Wonderful Time
Vivacious Lady
Dangerous to Know
Everybody's Doing It
Fight for Your Lady
Breakfast for Two
Super-Sleuth
History Is Made at Night
Great Guy
Smartest Girl in Town
Dodsworth
Walking on Air
Hollywood Boulevard
The Preview Murder Mystery
Modern Times
We're Only Human
I Don't Remember
Alimony Aches
I'm No Angel
One Sunday Afternoon
The Night of June 13
Horse Feathers
The Life of the Party
Soup to Nuts
Doughboys
Pep Up
All in Fun