Loyal Underwood (August 6, 1893 – September 30, 1966) was an American stock actor for Charlie Chaplin's film studio.
Biography Born in 1893 in Rockford, Illinois, Underwood's movie debut was in The Count, a 1916 Chaplin short film created for the Mutual Film Corporation. Underwood is uncredited as he was for the four other Mutual shorts in which he appeared.
In 1918, Chaplin started work for First National and Loyal Underwood was on hand. He was credited and appeared in all seven First National Shorts which Chaplin directed.
Underwood was a short man. Next to the short Chaplin at , he appeared puny and weak. Hence, the comedy of a situation in which such a man is the antagonist; Chaplin's character routinely shrugged him off.
Between 1921 and 1927, Underwood appeared in several other lesser known films. In the next twenty years, he was again appearing uncredited in films, such as Arizona Bad Man, Let's Dance and The Paleface.
In 1928, Underwood worked as a writer and director at radio station KNX in Los Angeles.
Underwood's final film was a credited role, albeit a small one, as a street musician in Chaplin's final American film Limelight in 1952.
Underwood died in Los Angeles on September 30, 1966, in Southern California, and is buried in the Sheltering Hills section at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. He was 73. Decades after his death, he lies in a still-unmarked curbside grave.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1916 The Count Small Guest Short, Uncredited1918 A Dog's Life Man in Dance Hall Short, Uncredited1918 Shoulder Arms Short German Officer 1919 Sunnyside Fat Boy's Father Short, Uncredited1919 A Day's Pleasure Angry Little Man in Street Short, Uncredited1919 The Professor Flophouse Proprietor Short, Uncredited1921 The Man Who Woke Up Writer1921 Lucky Carson 'Runt' Sloan 1922 Pay Day Workman #3 Short1922 My American Wife Danny O'Hare 1923 The Pilgrim Small Deacon 1924 The Dixie Handicap Losing Jones 1927 Shootin' Irons Blinky 1935 Arizona Bad Man Square Dance Caller Uncredited1935 Fighting Caballero Musician Uncredited1948 Isn't It Romantic? Townsman Uncredited1948 The Paleface Bearded Character Uncredited1950 Let's Dance Cowboy Uncredited1951 My Favorite Spy Beggar Uncredited1952 Limelight Street Musician (final film role)
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