Steve Murphy (born Stephen M. Clancey; December 25, 1876 – January 31, 1953), also known as Broken Nose Murphy, was an American character actor of the silent-film era. Known for his tough-guy appearance and flattened nose, he often portrayed aggressive or villainous characters.
Biography Very little is known about Murphy's early life before entering the film industry. There are some references to a previous boxing career, but no records can be found, and it may have been a fabrication by the publicity department to fit his appearance.
He started his career around 1915 – at the age of 39 – as a property man been doing general work about the California studios and lots and he soon transitioned into acting. Nicknamed "Broken Nose Murphy" due to his distinctive facial features, he frequently played henchmen, conmen, and roughneck characters.
Murphy's biggest role was in Charlie Chaplin's The Circus (1928) in which he has a long scene trying to recover a stolen wallet he placed in the Tramp's trousers.
He is the only actor of the era to appear with all four comedy legends: Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel and Hardy.
Murphy's film career ended with the arrival of the talkies.
Selected filmography 1914: Leading Lizzie Astray as Sailor Café Patron (uncredited) 1916: The Girl from Frisco as Siwash 1916: A Law Unto Himself as Pascal, a Mexican 1918: M'Liss as Man at Trial (uncredited) 1918: Johanna Enlists as Mortimer 1919: Rolling Stone as Convict 1919: Broken Blossoms as Fight Spectator 1920: Outside the Law as Member of Black Mike's Gang (uncredited) 1921: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as Drunkard in Saloon 1922: Cops as Conman Selling Furniture (uncredited) 1922: They Like 'Em Rough as Grogan 1922: The Electric House as Real Electrical Engineer 1923: The Love Nest as Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited) 1923: The Fighting Skipper as Slippery Goldstein 1923: The Extra Girl as Party Guest 1923: The Shock as Man Eating at Mandarin Café 1924: Fools Highway as Chuck Connors 1924: Sherlock Jr. as Conspirator (uncredited) 1925: The Flame Fighter as Bandit 1925: White Fang as 'Beauty' Smith 1925: Sally of the Sawdust as Bandit 1925: The Gold Rush as Man in Dance Hall (uncredited) 1926: Justice of the Far North as Broken Nose McGee 1926: For Heaven's Sake as Tough Guy in Pool Hall 1927: The Battle of the Century as Noah Young's Assistant 1927: For the Term of His Natural Life as Jeremy Vetch 1928: The Circus as The Pickpocket 1928: Speedy as Gangster (uncredited)
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