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Bobby Barber

Bobby Barber

Actor · Died May 24, 1976, aged 81 · New York City, New York, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 17, 1894
Died
May 24, 1976 (aged 81)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
72 on MovieCove · 115 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 43% in 30 days

What are Bobby Barber's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
42%
Self
31%
Morality
17%
Society
10%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 4 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Romantic
5
Absurd
4
Tense
4
Warm
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bobby Barber's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 72 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bobby Barber's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

115 credits, 72 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Wheeler Dealers(1963)

    as Workman in Night Club (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • To Kill a Mockingbird(1962)

    as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Juror (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Joker Is Wild(1957)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Wagon Train Member (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Man of a Thousand Faces(1957)

    as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Story(1957)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Buster Keaton Story(1957)

    as Soda Fountain Customer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Pardners(1956)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Living It Up(1954)

    as Bellboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 2 episodes · as Angry Pedestrian · as Barfly · as Chauffeur · as Crazy Concert Pianist · as Delivery Man with Box · as Guess-Your-Weight Customer · as Hercules · as Jake · as Janitor · as John Rednose · as Man in Grandfather Clock · as Man in Pajamas · as Man Phoning Australia · as Man with Balloon · as Man with Cake · as Man with Overcoat · as Newspaper Vendor · as Nightclub Bouncer · as Painter · as Pete · as Restaurant Customer · as Second Man with Cigar · as Tout

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Adventures of Superman(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony the Masseur

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Flesh and Fury(1952)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Across the Wide Missouri(1951)

    as Gardipe (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man(1951)

    as Sneaky (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Let's Dance(1950)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion(1950)

    as Arab on Jeep's Hood (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Undertow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • Bud Abbott Lou Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff(1949)

    as Dry Cleaning Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Africa Screams(1949)

    as Chauffeur (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein(1948)

    as Waiter

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • On an Island with You(1948)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • I Walk Alone(1947)

    as Newsboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Wistful Widow of Wagon Gap(1947)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer(1947)

    as Birthday Cake Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Riffraff(1947)

    as Customs Inspector (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Vigilantes of Boomtown(1947)

    as Corbett's second

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Calcutta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

  • Two Sisters from Boston(1946)

    as Stagehand (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • From This Day Forward(1946)

    as Ice Man

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Road to Utopia(1945)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Sensation Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

  • Anchors Aweigh(1945)

    as Salad Cook (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Lady on a Train(1945)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Earl Carroll Vanities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Cab Driver

  • Practically Yours(1944)

    as Man on Subway (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • And Now Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Mill Worker

  • Laura(1944)

    as Newsboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Rainbow Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Native Banana Man

  • I Love a Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Funhouse Attendant

  • Follow the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Soldier - W.C. Fields Routine (uncredited)

  • You Can't Ration Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Barber

  • Passage to Marseille(1944)

    as Frenchman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Swing Fever(1943)

    as Soft Drink Vendor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Crazy House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bald Man / Director

  • Dizzy Pilots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Private (uncredited)

  • A Lady Takes a Chance(1943)

    as Gambler

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Hi Diddle Diddle(1943)

    as Saloon Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Here Comes Mr. Zerk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bellhop

  • The Sky's the Limit(1943)

    as Canteen Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • All by Myself (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Waiter

  • Hit the Ice(1943)

    as Candy Butcher (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Presenting Lily Mars(1943)

    as Busboy

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Reveille with Beverly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Collins (uncredited)

  • Tarzan's Desert Mystery(1943)

    as Turban Vendor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Who Done It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Test Technician in Booth (uncredited)

  • Matri-Phony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Snake Charmer (uncredited)

  • Beyond the Blue Horizon(1942)

    as Member of La'oa's Gang (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • My Favorite Spy(1942)

    as Man in Park in Front of Kay

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Powder Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

  • Roxie Hart(1942)

    as Bald Juror (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • A Date with the Falcon(1942)

    as Spectator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Gay Falcon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Angelo (uncredited)

  • King of the Texas Rangers(1941)

    as Eduardo

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Hold That Ghost(1941)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Cracked Nuts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Waiter

  • In the Navy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Sailor in Finale (uncredited)

  • Pot o' Gold(1941)

    as Prisoner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Waiter Who Gets Slapped

  • The Monster and the Girl(1941)

    as Juryman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Lady Eve(1941)

    as Ship's Waiter with Toupee (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Second Chorus(1940)

    as Room Service Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • They Knew What They Wanted(1940)

    as Tony's Pal at Table (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Villain Still Pursued Her (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

  • Spring Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Waiter Who Spills Tray (uncredited)

  • The Leather Pushers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Actor

  • Stranger on the Third Floor(1940)

    as Giuseppe, the Italian Grocer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Primrose Path(1940)

    as Benny (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Road to Singapore(1940)

    as Man Hit with Soap Suds (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Broadway Melody of 1940(1940)

    as Wedding Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Nothing But Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Snacking Bus Rider

  • Pest from the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Musician (uncredited)

  • Topper Takes a Trip(1938)

    as Hotel Staffer Moving Bed (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Cipher Bureau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Actor

  • Carefree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as (uncredited)

  • Give Me a Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sailor (uncredited)

  • Professor Beware (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Handshaker - Paint-Brush Gag

  • Having Wonderful Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

  • Vivacious Lady(1938)

    as Italian Waiter at Nightclub (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous to Know(1938)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Everybody's Doing It(1938)

    as Short Slap Happy Henchman

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Fight for Your Lady(1937)

    as Hotel Porter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Breakfast for Two(1937)

    as Window Washer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Super-Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Photographer

  • History Is Made at Night(1937)

    as Paul - Waiter at Victor's (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Great Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Grocery Clerk (Uncredited)

  • Smartest Girl in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Hotel Porter (uncredited)

  • Dodsworth(1936)

    as Italian Taxi Driver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Walking on Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Silent Waiter at Beach Club (uncredited)

  • Hollywood Boulevard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Man with Gong (uncredited)

  • The Preview Murder Mystery(1936)

    as Prop Man (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Modern Times(1936)

    as Worker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • We're Only Human(1935)

    as Counterman

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • I Don't Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dentist Patient

  • Alimony Aches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Undertaker's Assistant

  • I'm No Angel(1933)

    as Man in Crowd (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • One Sunday Afternoon(1933)

    as Man in Greased Pig Contest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Night of June 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jury Foreman (uncredited)

  • Horse Feathers(1932)

    as Speakeasy Patron (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Life of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Waiter

  • Soup to Nuts(1930)

    as Revolutionary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Doughboys(1930)

    as Doughboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Pep Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as clothing salesman on street

  • All in Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 114 titles from 1928 to 1963.

Biggest box office

Laura (1944)

$2K worldwide

Highest rated

Laura (1944)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

The Abbott and Costello Show (1952)

Film career

  • 1932Screen debut· Horse Feathers
  • 1944Career best· Laura

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting114 of 114: 114 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1920s2 · acting1930s31 · acting1940s63 · acting1950s15 · acting1960s3 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 39 roles
32424752

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Bobby Barber's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 68; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 72 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th31
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

45 of their 72 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser45
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942)

68th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Modern Times (1936)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Bobby Barber work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bobby Barber's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Sawtell shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers