Personal Info
Birth date
1889-10-12 (135 Years)
Day of death
1947-03-08
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Also known as
Vic Potel
Victor Potel
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.
Filmography
The Making of Broncho Billy
5
Overview:
Broncho Billy runs into trouble in a bar when he gets into a confrontation with a bully. Since the bully has a gun and Billy doesn't, he's forced to endure the bully's humiliating tactics until he manages to get away. He determines to find himself a gun, learn how to use it and then go back and find the bully for a little payback.Hollywood Cavalcade
5.1
Overview:
Starting in 1913 movie director Connors discovers singer Molly Adair. As she becomes a star she marries an actor, so Connors fires them. She asks for him as director of her next film. Many silent stars shown making the transition to sound.Slightly Honorable
4.7
Overview:
A lawyer is framed for the murder of a young party girl and tries to clear his name.Paradise Island
3.4
Overview:
The south sea island Tonga is full of plantations and scoundrels. Ellen Bradford arrives expecting marriage to respectable and successful plantation owner only to find he is a drunk and gambler. Being the only white woman she is the desire of scoundrels and cut-throats.Three Godfathers
6.9
Overview:
In a town called New Jerusalem, three bandits hold up a bank. After a gun battle with the townspeople, the three robbers retreat into the scorching Arizona desert. There, they happen upon an ill woman stranded with her child. As the mother dies, she begs the men to take care of her infant. The fugitives want to save the baby -- but to do so, they'll have to travel back to New Jerusalem, where they are wanted men. Remade as 3 Godfathers (1949).O'Malley of the Mounted
NYR
Overview:
O'Malley pretends to be an outlaw in order to join a gang terrorizing towns along the American border.Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
NYR
Overview:
Alkali Ike eludes his wife and attends a performance at the Snakeville Opera House, where Prof. Hippy is demonstrating his wonderful hypnotic art. Alkali Ike is finally persuaded to go up on the stage. The professor hypnotizes him. The clever and eccentric situation that derive from Alkali being hypnotized, are excruciatingly funny.Water, Water, Everywhere
NYR
Overview:
Cowboy Billy Fortune is in love with Hope Beecher, who prefers Billy's friend Ben Morgan, but resists his advances because of his fondness for drink. Hope's discontent is echoed by the town wives' public outcry against drink. To divert their interest, Billy is nominated to make love to their leader, widow Fay Bittinger, who has already disposed of four husbands....Christmas in July
6.9
Overview:
An office clerk loves entering contests in the hopes of someday winning a fortune and marrying the girl he loves. His latest attempt is the Maxford House Coffee Slogan Contest. As a joke, some of his co-workers put together a fake telegram which says that he won the $25,000 grand prize.Ruggles of Red Gap
7.1
Overview:
In this comedy of an Englishman stranded in a sea of barbaric Americans, Marmaduke Ruggles, a gentleman's gentleman and butler to an Earl is lost in a poker game to an uncouth American cattle baron. Ruggles' life is turned upside down as he's taken to the USA, is gradually assimilated into American life, accidentally becomes a local celebrity, and falls in love along the way.Damaged Lives
4.3
Overview:
An extramarital affair leads to a young couple contracting venereal disease.What Darwin Missed
NYR
Overview:
Prof. Alonzo Bozzle, an eccentric zoologist, has taken up the study of evolution as promulgated by Darwin and is pondering especially on the idea that there is a "missing link." One night he dreams that he is an explorer and that he has just landed upon a foreign shore; he secures the aid of a mahout and an elephant to move his tent and belongings to the jungle, where he will take up the study of trying to find the "missing link."Western Frontier
NYR
Overview:
Ken and his sister are separated while young when the Indians attack their wagon train. Ken, now grown, is sent after the outlaw known as the Golden hair Girl only to find that she's his long lost sister.The Broken Coin
NYR
Overview:
A police chief and two security agencies work to find out who is behind a recent rash of hijackings.Flame of Barbary Coast
5.5
Overview:
Duke Fergus falls for Ann 'Flaxen' Tarry in the Barbary Coast in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. He loses money to crooked gambler Boss Tito Morell, goes home, learns to gamble, and returns. After he makes a fortune, he opens his own place with Flaxen as the entertainer; but the 1906 quake destroys his place.The Law Forbids
NYR
Overview:
Paul and Rhoda Remsen, having marital difficulties, separate; and each is awarded custody of their child Peggy for 6 months of the year. Rhoda and Peggy move to a farm town, while Paul remains in the big city to write a play for actress Inez Lamont, who is in love with him. Peggy knows that her mother still loves Paul, so she flees to the big city to explain the situation to her father.It Happened Tomorrow
6.7
Overview:
A young turn-of-the-century newspaper man finds he can get hold of the next day's paper. This brings more problems than fortune, especially as his new girlfriend is part of a phony clairvoyant act.Hail the Conquering Hero
7
Overview:
Having been discharged from the Marines for a hayfever condition before ever seeing action, Woodrow Lafayette Pershing Truesmith delays the return to his hometown, feeling that he is a failure. While in a moment of melancholy, he meets up with a group of Marines who befriend him and encourage him to return home to his mother by fabricating a story that he was wounded in battle with honorable discharge.Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
6.3
Overview:
New York store clerk joins a hobo and an illegal immigrant heading for his newly bought land in Arizona.One a Minute
6.3
Overview:
An excellent silent comedy starring unjustly forgotten star Douglas MacLean. Its indictment of pharmaceutical entrepreneurs is far sharper than Side Effects'.The Tomboy on Bar Z
4
Overview:
A romantic Western in which John saves his beloved Mary when she is about to marry a criminal.Three Faces West
5.4
Overview:
Viennese surgeon Dr. Braun and his daughter Leni come to a small town in North Dakota as refugees from Hitler. When the winds of the Dust Bowl threaten the town, John Phillips leads the townsfolk in moving to greener pastures in Oregon. He falls for Leni, but she is betrothed to the man who helped her and her father escape from the Third Reich. She must decide between the two men.Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
5
Overview:
Through a kindly act Broncho Billy earns the deep gratitute of Marion Rivers, who presents him with a Bible. Not long afterwards, she comes upon him as he is about to hold up the stage, but at sight of the girl he is overwhelmed with shame and taking out the little Bible promises her that he will live honorably. In the meantime, Marion's father holds up the stage at another point, and one of the stagecoach drivers, mounting a bareback pony, rides off for the sheriff. Broncho Billy sees Rivers get away with the money, and when he hears the sheriff and his men coming, for Marion's sake he goes to warn her father. To shield him, he takes the bags of money and rides away with the men after him. He leaves the money at the mile post with a note saying: "SAheriff, I'm through with Bear County, this stick-up was my last", and rides across the border. (Moving Picture World Synopsis)The Captain's Kid
6
Overview:
In this children's adventure, the children of a small town are enthralled by the tales of the town drunk.Young Tom Edison
5.6
Overview:
Inventor Thomas Edison's boyhood is chronicled and shows him as a lad whose early inventions and scientific experiments usually end up causing disastrous results. As a result, the towns folk all think Tom is crazy, and creating a strained relationship between Tom and his father. Tom's only solace is his understanding mother who believes he's headed to do great things.Li'l Abner
5.8
Overview:
Li'l Abner becomes convinced that he is going to die within twenty-four hours, so agrees to marry two different girls: Daisy Mae (who has chased him for years) and Wendy Wilecat (who rescued him from an angry mob). It is all settled at the Sadie Hawkins Day race.Sullivan's Travels
7.4
Overview:
Successful movie director John L. Sullivan, convinced he won't be able to film his ambitious masterpiece until he has suffered, dons a hobo disguise and sets off on a journey, aiming to "know trouble" first-hand. When all he finds is a train ride back to Hollywood and a beautiful blonde companion, he redoubles his efforts, managing to land himself in more trouble than he bargained for when he loses his memory and ends up a prisoner on a chain gang.Song of the Saddle
7
Overview:
Frank Sr. sells his supplies to Hook, but then Hook has the Bannion Boys bushwhack his wagon to get the money back. Frank is murdered, but Junior gets away. He comes back 10 years later to settle the score as the Singing Cowboy. He finds that Hook is still doing his dirty deeds on the unsuspecting people. Along the way, Frank meets the lovely Jen, who came out in the same wagon train 10 years before.Acting
1947The Egg and I as Crowbar
1947The Sin of Harold Diddlebock as Prof. Potelle
1947Yankee Fakir as Contest Chairman
1947The Devil Thumbs a Ride as Unknown
1946The Glass Alibi as Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel)
1945Rhythm Round-Up as Slim Jensen
1945Flame of Barbary Coast as Train Fireman
1945A Medal for Benny as Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited)
1944The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek as Newspaper Editor
1944Hail the Conquering Hero as Progressive Bandleader (uncredited)
1944The Great Moment as First Dental Patient
1944It Happened Tomorrow as Unknown
1943Wagon Wheels West as Posse Rider (uncredited)
1943The Good Fellows as Branders (uncredited)
1942The Man in the Trunk as Deaf Floor Man (uncredited)
1942The Palm Beach Story as Mr. McKeewie
1941Sullivan's Travels as Cameraman
1941Ride on Vaquero as Ole
1941The Lady from Cheyenne as Lem
1941Pot o' Gold as Olaf Svenson (uncredited)
1941The Lady Eve as Second Steward (uncredited)
1940Trail of the Vigilantes as Conductor
1940Li'l Abner as Fantastic Brown
1940Christmas in July as Davenola Salesman
1940The Villain Still Pursued Her as Policeman (uncredited)
1940The Great McGinty as Cook (uncredited)
1940Girl from God's Country as Barber
1940Three Faces West as Postman
1940Young Tom Edison as Mr. Tompkins
1939Slightly Honorable as Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited)
1939Chip of the Flying U as Station Agent
1939Rovin' Tumbleweeds as Man in Store
1939Blondie Brings Up Baby as Lars (uncredited)
1939Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence as Ranch Hand
1939The Housekeeper's Daughter as Suspect
1939Hollywood Cavalcade as Slim
1939Second Fiddle as Steve - Crane Operator
1939Down the Wyoming Trail as Slim
1939Let Freedom Ring as Ole Swensen (uncredited)
1939Stand Up and Fight as Coach Driver
1938The Strange Case of Dr. Meade as Steve
1938On the Great White Trail as Lyons
1938The Girl of the Golden West as Lem - Stagecoach Driver
1937Adventure's End as Tall Sailor (uncredited)
1937Small Town Boy as Abner Towner
1937Western Gold as Jasper
1937White Bondage as Luke Stacey
1937Two Gun Law as Cassius
1937God's Country and the Woman as Turpentine
1936Laughing at Trouble as Lem Parker
1936The Captain's Kid as Deputy Jake Hutchinson
1936Fury as Jorgeson (uncredited)
1936Down to the Sea as Andy
1936O'Malley of the Mounted as Gabby - the Cook
1936Yellow Dust as Jugger - the Bartender
1936Three Godfathers as 'Buck Tooth'
1936Song of the Saddle as Little Casino
1936Man Hunt as Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited)
1936The Broken Coin as Unknown
1935Gun Play as Brawler (uncredited)
1935The Fighting Marines as Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12]
1935The Last of the Clintons as Jed Clinton
1935Moonlight on the Prairie as Tall Saloon Cowboy
1935Shipmates Forever as Loafer (uncredited)
1935She Couldn't Take It as Farmer
1935Waterfront Lady as Alex
1935The Adventures of Rex and Rinty as Kinso
1935Western Frontier as Slim
1935Whispering Smith Speaks as Bill Prouty
1935The Drunkard as Farmer Gates
1935The Cowboy and the Bandit as Lanky
1935Mississippi as Guest (uncredited)
1935Ruggles of Red Gap as Curly - Cowboy
1935Big Boy Rides Again as Ranch Foreman Scarface
1934Frontier Days as Deputy Tex Hatch
1934Thunder Over Texas as Dick
1934Inside Information as Rice - Thin Detective
1934Twisted Rails as Tom Watson
1933Damaged Lives as Undetermined Role
1933Hallelujah, I'm a Bum as The General
1933Face in the Sky as Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited)
1932Partners as Deputy Lem
1931Selling Shorts as Slim Bassil
1931The Squaw Man as Andy
1931King of the Wild as Peterson
1931Scandal Sheet as Reporter
1931Ten Cents a Dance as Smith, a Sailor
1930Forward, March! as Unknown
1930The Virtuous Sin as Sentry
1930Doughboys as Svendenburg
1930Paradise Island as Swede
1930Call of the West as Trig Peters
1930The Bad One as Sailor
1929The Virginian as Nebrasky
1929Border Romance as Slim
1928Captain Swagger as Jean
1928Melody of Love as The Gawk
1928The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come as Tom Turner
1928What Price Beauty? as Unknown
1927Uneasy Payments as Press Agent
1926Racing Romance as Constable
1926The Lodge in the Wilderness as Goofus
1926Morganson's Finish as Ole Jensen
1925Below the Line as 'Cuckoo' Niles
1925Ten Days as Unknown
1924A Lost Lady as Ivy Peters
1924A Self-Made Failure as Pokey Jones
1924The Law Forbids as Joel Andrews
1923Reno as Detective McRae
1922Quincy Adams Sawyer as Hiram Maxwell
1922The Loaded Door as Slim
1922A Tailor-Made Man as Peter
1922Step on It! as Noisy Johnson
1922At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern as The Poet
1921One a Minute as Jingo Pitts
1921Lavender and Old Lace as Joe Pendleton
1921Bob Hampton of Placer as Willie McNeil
1920Billions as Pushkin
1920The Heart of a Child as Charley Peastone
1920Mary's Ankle as Johnny Stokes
1920Water, Water, Everywhere as Steve Brainard
1919A Petal on the Current as Unknown
1919The Outcasts of Poker Flat as Unknown
1919Full of Pep as Beanpole
1919Captain Kidd, Jr. as Constable Sam
1918Who's Your Father? as Comedy Role
1917Baseball Madness as Unknown
1917Hearts and Saddles as Unknown
1916What Darwin Missed as Professor Alonzo Bozzle
1916Just a Few Little Things as Archie
1915Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp as Unknown
1915Versus Sledge Hammers as The Count
1915Broncho Billy Steps In as Unknown
1915Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber as Unknown
1915The Bachelor's Burglar as Unknown
1915The Revenue Agent as The Minister
1915His Regeneration as Pawn Shop Clerk
1915Ingomar of the Hills as Unknown
1915Broncho Billy and the Vigilante as A Cattle Owner
1915Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair as Slippery Slim
1915Sophie's Home-Coming as Slippery Slim
1915When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese as Slippery Slim
1915Sentimental Sophie as Slippery Slim
1915Broncho Billy and the Sisters as The Minister
1915When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs as Slippery Slim
1915The Battle of Snakeville as Slippery Slim
1914Snakeville's Rising Sons as Slippery Slim
1914Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office as Unknown
1914Slippery Slim Gets Square as Slippery Slim
1914Snakeville's Blind Pig as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie's Sweetheart as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie's Fatal Wedding as Slippery Slim
1914Snakeville's Reform Wave as Slippery Slim
1914A Horse on Sophie as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie and the Man of Her Choice as Slippery Slim
1914Slippery Slim and the Impersonator as Slippery Slim
1914Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator as Slippery Slim
1914Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie as Slippery Slim
1914Broncho Billy Rewarded as The Hotel Proprietor
1914Snakeville's Peace-Maker as Slippery Slim
1914When Slippery Slim Met the Champion as Slippery Slim
1914Slippery Slim Gets Cured as Slippery Slim
1914Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need as Unknown
1914Broncho Billy, the Vagabond as Unknown
1914Broncho Billy's Wild Ride as Unknown
1914Broncho Billy Wins Out as The School Trustee
1914Snakeville's New Waitress as Slippery Slim
1914Slippery Slim -- Diplomat as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie Gets Stung as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie Finds a Hero as Slippery Slim
1914The Wooing of Sophie as Slippery Slim
1914Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark as The Hotel Clerk
1914The Snakeville Volunteer as Slippery Slim
1914The Good-for-Nothing as Old Clerk
1914Sophie Pulls a Good One as Slippery Slim
1914Sophie Starts Something as Slippery Slim
1914Broncho Billy's Leap as Unknown
1914Broncho Billy's Sermon as The Sheriff
1914Pie for Sophie as Snicklefritz
1914A Gamblers' Way as The Bartender
1914Broncho Billy and the Red Man as Unknown
1914What Came to Bar Q as Bartender
1914Broncho Billy and the Bad Man as The Storekeeper
1914A Night on the Road as Sheriff's Assistant
1914Broncho Billy-Guardian as Unknown
1914Snakeville's New Doctor as Slippery Slim
1913A Snakeville Courtship as Slippery Slim
1913That Pair from Thespia as Second Actor
1913Sophie's New Foreman as Slippery Slim
1913The Three Gamblers as Unknown
1913Broncho Billy's Squareness as Unknown
1913A Romance of the Hills as Unknown
1913Sophie's Hero as Slippery Slim
1913Broncho Billy's First Arrest as Unknown
1913The Last Laugh as Unknown
1913Alkali Ike and the Wildman as Slippery Slim
1913Broncho Billy's Oath as Unknown
1913Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County as The Druggist
1913Broncho Billy Reforms as A Thief
1913Broncho Billy and the Western Girls as Outlaw
1913Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist as Slippery Slim
1913Alkali Ike's Misfortunes as Slippery Slim
1913Alkali Ike's Homecoming as Slippery Slim
1913The Accusation of Broncho Billy as Unknown
1913Broncho Billy's Gratefulness as Dr. Huff
1913Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter as Unknown
1913Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid as Jailer
1913The Making of Broncho Billy as Unknown
1913Broncho Billy's Gun Play as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy's Promise as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife as Unknown
1912Alkali Ike's Close Shave as Slippery Slim
1912An Indian's Friendship as Unknown
1912The Tomboy on Bar Z as Unknown
1912Alkali Ike Stung! as Unknown
1912An Indian Sunbeam as A Cowboy
1912Alkali Ike's Pants as Unknown
1912The Tenderfoot Foreman as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy for Sheriff as Unknown
1912Alkali Ike Plays the Devil as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy's Pal as Unknown
1912A Story of Montana as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape as Unknown
1912On the Cactus Trail as Unknown
1912Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy as Unknown
1912The Ranch Girl's Mistake as Unknown
1912The Biter Bitten as Unknown
1912The Prospector's Legacy as Unknown
1912Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress as Unknown
1912The Oath of His Office as Unknown
1912Widow Jenkins' Admirers as Unknown
1912The Loafer as Unknown
1912A Child of the West as Unknown
1911Broncho Billy's Adventure as Cowboy
1911Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner as Unknown
1911The Forester's Plea as Unknown
1911Town Hall, Tonight as The Tall Schultz Brother
1911The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine as Unknown
1911Broncho Bill's Last Spree as Slippery Slim
1911The Two Fugitives as Unknown
1911The Corporation and the Ranch Girl as Unknown
1911A Hungry Pair as Skinny
1911The Infant at Snakeville as Unknown
1911Alkali Ike's Auto as Unknown
1911The Puncher's New Love as Unknown
1911The Bunco Game at Lizardhead as Unknown
1911The Indian Maiden's Lesson as Unknown
1911Across the Plains as Unknown
1911The Sheriff's Chum as Unknown
1911The Bad Man's Downfall as Unknown
1911Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash as Lank
1911The Two Reformations as Unknown
1911The Border Ranger as Unknown
1911The Count and the Cowboys as The Count
1910The Bad Man's Christmas Gift as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: Blind Men as Lank
1910The Tenderfoot Messenger as Unknown
1910A Cowboy's Vindication as Unknown
1910Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men as Lank
1910Hank and Lank: Lifesavers as Lank
1910A Westerner's Way as Unknown
1910The Silent Message as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests as Lank
1910A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme as Lank
1910The Bearded Bandit as Unknown
1910Patricia of the Plains as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some as Lank
1910The Tout's Remembrance as Unknown
1910Hank and Lank: Joyriding as Lank
1910A Dog on Business as Unknown
Writing
1936The Broken Coin ... Dialogue
1935Million Dollar Haul ... Writer
1934Inside Information ... Story