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Karl Dane

Karl Dane

Actor · Died April 14, 1934, aged 47 · Copenhagen, Denmark

Born Rasmus Karl Therkelsen Gottlieb in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 12, 1886 the future Karl Dane had a rough childhood. His father was an alcoholic and spendthrift. At a young age his parents divorced. To escape his unhappy home he took a great interest in the arts, particularly puppeteering (something popular in Denmark at the time). Dane apprenticed as a machinist during his teenage years. In 1910 he met and fell in love with Carla Dagmar Hagen. They had two children together: Ejlert Carl and Ingeborg Helene. Dane was restless all his life. War broke out, and Denmark was hit with major unemployment. Hoping to support his family (and find new adventures) Dane immigrated to America in 1916 with the intent to send for his family once he could afford to. Dane was miserable and lonely, compounded by the fact his wife soon asked for a divorce. He worked various odd jobs (mostly as a mechanic and carpenter) and lived in various states. Hearing of the good money in flickers Dane tried his luck. By 1917 he was given a small extra role at Vitagraph. Though his scene ended up on the cutting room floor Dane continued to seek a film career. With the outbreak of War in the US Dane found luck, being cast as the evil Hun in many Anti Kaiser films including To Hell with the Kaiser! (1918), Wolves of Kultur (1918), and My Four Years in Germany (1918). Dane was very successful in such roles. Possibly to avoid anti German sentiment it was at this time he changed his name to the less provocative sounding 'Dane' (after well...being a Dane). By 1918 Dane had grown disillusioned with Hollywood and had fallen in love with a Swedish woman named Helen Benson. Benson strongly disapproved of his acting so Dane quit and took up chicken farming. The pair married and Benson became pregnant in 1923. However she died in childbirth as did the child, a baby girl. Dane was devastated. Terribly lonely Dane quickly married telephone operator Emma Sawyer. The marriage only lasted 6 months. During this unfortunate time Dane ran into old friend Charles Hutchison who convinced him to try acting again. This proved very lucky as Dane was chosen by King Vidor for the role of Slim in The Big Parade (1925). The film would be a major success and go on to be one of the best selling silents of all time (ironic considering Dane's previous Hun roles, it was an anti war film). Dane was signed by MGM for a salary of $150 per week, which would eventually rise to $1,500 weekly. His family back in Denmark spotted him and they reconnected, though Dane would never see his children again. Dane so had many key roles in major movies including many Lillian Gish and John Gilbert films (such as La Bohème (1926) and The Scarlet Letter (1926)). Dane's career continued to rise with a role as Ramadan in The Son of the Sheik (1926) with Rudolph Valentino and Bardelys the Magnificent (1926). with John Gilbert. In 1927 Dane paired with British actor George K. Arthur to form the comedic duo Dane & Arthur. The pair were quite successful with Dane usually playing the slow witted Scandinavian. Contrary to popular and hugely inaccurate Hollywood Babylon lore Dane did decently in talkies. His English was a bit shaky but his accent was understandable and suited his type and look perfectly. He would go on to have roles in many films between 1928 and 1930. By 1928 Dane began to burn too brightly. He worked too hard and became ill and severely fatigued (almost dying of pneumonia at one point). He began a relationship with crazed Russian Thais Valdemar (contrary to what she claimed they never married). In 1930 Dane's roles had grown smaller and he soon lost his contract. Dane suffered a nervous break down the same year. After recovering in 1931 Dane and Arthur reunited for an 8 month vaudeville tour which did very well and led to another film contract. However by 1932 this too had ended as writers couldn't think up enough clever scenarios for Dane. He made one final film, the 3 hour serial The Whispering Shadow (1933) which starred a new actor named Bela Lugosi (incredibly it took only 12 days to shoot). Dane had a small yet key role in the serial, ending his film career with a wonderful yet underrated performance. Dane made major investments in mining in 1931 and 1933. However his business partner was crooked and Dane soon lost all the money he had made in films. Now impoverished Dane went from one menial job to another, always losing them in some cruel and unfair way. One such job was as a waiter at a café. The owner fired Dane soon after when he discovered a former movie star turned waiter did not draw in customers. MGM also refused to rehire Dane as even a carpenter or an extra despite his skills. Yes he did own a hot dog stand, no he didn't operate it in front of the MGM gates. That was a Kenneth Anger invention. Days before his death Dane was returning to his apartment when he was pick-pocketed of all the money he had in the world: $18. On the eve of April 14th, 1934 Dane's friend (and possible girlfriend though the evidence is sketchy) Frances Leake arrived at his apartment to take him to a movie, hoping to lift his spirits. Unable to enter she had the landlady open the door. The duo discovered Dane slumped in his chair, a revolver at his side. He had left a note by a scrapbook of his publicity clippings, "To Frances and all my friends---Goodbye." He was 47. Dane's body was held hoping his relatives could be found in Denmark. The Danish community of Hollywood was livid and insisted he be given a proper and dignified burial. At their urging MGM paid for a funeral. Dane was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
October 10, 1886
Died
April 14, 1934 (aged 47)
From
Copenhagen, Denmark
Works as
Actor
Titles
11 on MovieCove · 49 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 16% in 30 days

What are Karl Dane's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Action 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
Morality
31%
Bonds
29%
Survival
16%
Self
12%
Power
6%
Society
2%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 6 · Intense 2

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

Steady 2 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

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 0

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 4
Trickster
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Romantic
7
Melancholic
3
Thrilling
2
Joyful
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Karl Dane's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 11 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Karl Dane'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

49 credits, 11 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Big Parade of Comedy(1964)

    as Sharkey Nye in 'China Bound' (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Whispering Shadow(1933)

    as Sparks

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Fast Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Olaf (uncredited)

  • Summer Daze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Karl

  • A Put Up Job (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Karl

  • Lime Juice Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Karl

  • Dumbbells in Derbies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Karl

  • New Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Kirghiz Soldier at Fort Darvaz

  • Knights Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Karl

  • Crazy House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Karl Dane

  • Billy the Kid(1930)

    as Swenson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Big House(1930)

    as Olsen

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Free and Easy(1930)

    as Cave Scene

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Montana Moon(1930)

    as Hank

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Navy Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Sven Swanson

  • Speedway(1929)

    as Dugan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as (uncredited)

  • China Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Sharkey Nye

  • The Duke Steps Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Barney, Duke's chauffeur

  • All at Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

  • The Voice of the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Spike

  • Brotherly Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Oscar

  • Alias Jimmy Valentine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Swede

  • Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as The House Detective

  • Circus Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Oscar Thrust

  • The Trail of '98(1928)

    as Lars Petersen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Baby Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Oswald Hardy

  • The Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Jan

  • Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Sgt. Diggs

  • Slide, Kelly, Slide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Swede Hansen

  • The Red Mill(1927)

    as Jacop Van Goop

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Giles

  • War Paint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Petersen

  • Bardelys the Magnificent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Rodenard

  • The Son of the Sheik(1926)

    as Ramadan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • La Bohème (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Benoit - Janitor

  • Monte Carlo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as The Doorman

  • The Devil's Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • His Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Janitor

  • The Everlasting Whisper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Jarrold

  • The Big Parade(1925)

    as 'Slim' Jensen

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Lights of Old Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Roosevelt's Father

  • The Whirlwind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as The Wolf

  • Daring Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Lieutenant Von Bergheim

  • The Great Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as The sea captain

  • The Great Victory, Wilson or the Kaiser? The Fall of the Hohenzollerns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Von Bethmann Hollweg

  • Wolves of Kultur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Carter (uncredited)

  • To Hell with the Kaiser! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Von Hollweg

  • My Four Years in Germany (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Chancellor von Bethmana-Hollweg

Career shape

Star power in the 75th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1918 to 1964.

Biggest box office

The Son of the Sheik (1926)

$4.4M worldwide

Highest rated

The Big Parade (1925)

Midcredits 95th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1910s6 · acting1920s29 · acting1930s13 · acting1960s1 · acting

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.

How do Karl Dane's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 11; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 11 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 11 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Montana Moon (1930)

74th percentile spread · 45% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Big Parade (1925)

Midcredits 95th · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 46. 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 Karl Dane work with?

People who share at least 2 of Karl Dane's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Joseph Farnham shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers