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Clinton Sundberg

Clinton Sundberg

Actor · Died December 14, 1987, aged 84 · Appleton, Minnesota, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Clinton Charles Sundberg (December 7, 1903 – December 14, 1987) was an American character actor in film and stage. Sundberg left teaching English literature for acting, appearing in plays in stock theater in New England. He appeared in a number of Broadway plays, debuting in Nine Pine Street (1933). His most notable roles were Mr. Kraler in the original 1957 production of The Diary of Anne Frank and Mortimer Brewster (as a replacement) in the 1944 Arsenic and Old Lace. He became a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer where he appeared in numerous supporting roles in films of the late 1940s and early 1950s. He played Mike, the bartender who listens to Judy Garland's character's troubles in Easter Parade. One of Sundberg's most memorable roles was in the 1949 film In the Good Old Summertime (which also starred Garland and Van Johnson) as Rudy Hansen, a friendly co-worker and confidante of Johnson's character. He also played the hotel owner who hired Annie Oakley to enter the shooting contest against Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun. He later made several television appearances, including two episodes of Perry Mason: "The Case of the Drowsy Mosquito" in 1963 and "The Case of the Scarlet Scandal" in 1966. He also appeared in several television commercials. In 1962, Sundberg was cast in the lead guest-starring role of Luther Boardman, a naive but troublesome newspaper publisher who comes to Laramie, Wyoming, to capture the story of "real West" gunfighters in "The Man Behind the News", one of the last episodes of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series, Lawman, which starred John Russell as Marshal Dan Troop. Hal Baylor appears in the episode as gunfighter Mort Peters, whom Boardman (Sundberg) goads into a shootout with Troop. Sundberg died of heart failure in Santa Monica, California, aged 84.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 7, 1903
Died
December 14, 1987 (aged 84)
From
Appleton, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on Motif · 52 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 11% in 30 days

What are Clinton Sundberg's films like?

Across their 22 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy16 titlesTypical Motif score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Musical2 titlesTypical Motif score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Musical movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif 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
41%
Self
38%
Morality
10%
Society
6%
Survival
2%
Power
2%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 20 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 16 · Charged 6 · Intense 0

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

Steady 19 · 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 16 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 21 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Trickster
1 of 3
Shapeshifter
1 of 3
Ally
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
18
Warm
10
Romantic
12
Thrilling
3
Tense
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet5

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 Clinton Sundberg's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 38 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Clinton Sundberg's titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif 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

52 credits, 38 with a Motif page.

  • That's Entertainment! III(1994)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Motif score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Thief and the Cobbler(1993)

    as Dying Soldier (voice)

    Motif score: 86th percentile of all films

  • A Snow White Christmas(1980)

    as Thinker (voice)

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mayberry R.F.D.(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Salesman

    Motif score: 12th percentile of all shows

  • Shadow Over Elveron (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1968)

    as Gordon Yeager

  • Hotel(1967)

    as Lawrence Morgan

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    as Hylan Seabury (uncredited)

    Motif score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm(1962)

    as The Prime Minister / Hans (singing voice)

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Bachelor in Paradise(1961)

    as Rodney Jones

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Andy Griffith Show(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Farley Upchurch

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Barbara Stanwyck Show (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Billy Devers

  • Startime (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Berry

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Aaron Chambers

    Motif score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Birds and the Bees (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Purser

  • MGM Parade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Main Street to Broadway(1953)

    as Mr. Harry Craig

    Motif score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Caddy(1953)

    as Charles the Butler

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Sweethearts on Parade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    as Dr. Harold Wayne

  • The Girl Next Door(1953)

    as Samuels the butler

    Motif score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Belle of New York(1952)

    as Gilford Spivak

    Motif score: 45th percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Director

    Motif score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • As Young as You Feel(1951)

    as Frank Erickson

    Motif score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Fat Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Bill Norton

  • On the Riviera (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1951)

    as Antoine

  • Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone(1950)

    as Donald

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Two Weeks with Love(1950)

    as Mr. Finlay

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Toast of New Orleans(1950)

    as Oscar

    Motif score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Duchess of Idaho (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Matson

  • Annie Get Your Gun(1950)

    as Foster Wilson

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Father Is a Bachelor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1950)

    as Plato Cassin

  • Key to the City(1950)

    as Mark Mont Desk Clerk

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • In the Good Old Summertime(1949)

    as Rudy Hansen

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Barkleys of Broadway(1949)

    as Bert Felsher

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Big Jack (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1949)

    as C. Petronius Smith

  • Words and Music(1948)

    as Shoe Clerk

    Motif score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Command Decision(1948)

    as Maj. Homer V. Prescott

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Kissing Bandit(1948)

    as Colonel Gomez

    Motif score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Good Sam(1948)

    as Mr. Nelson

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid(1948)

    as Mike Fitzgerald

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • A Date with Judy(1948)

    as Jameson

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Easter Parade(1948)

    as Mike

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Bride Goes Wild(1948)

    as Dentist (uncredited)

    Motif score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Good News(1947)

    as Professor Kennyon

    Motif score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Mr. Nordill (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Operative 10

  • Song of the Thin Man(1947)

    as Mr. Purdy (uncredited)

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Hucksters(1947)

    as Michael Michaelson

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Living in a Big Way(1947)

    as Everett Hanover Smythe

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Undercover Maisie(1947)

    as Guy Canford

    Motif score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Mighty McGurk (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    as Flexter

  • Love Laughs at Andy Hardy(1946)

    as Haberdashery Clerk

    Motif score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Undercurrent(1946)

    as Mr. Warmsley

    Motif score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Come to Dinner (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    as Larry Revolt - Press Agent (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 52 titles from 1934 to 1994; peak year 1961.

Biggest box office

In the Good Old Summertime (1949)

$7.7M worldwide

Highest rated

Easter Parade (1948)

Motif 89th

Film career

19341994

Peak 1961 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting52 of 52: 52 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score60th

By decade

1930s1 · acting1940s20 · acting1950s20 · acting1960s8 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s2 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
4651

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 Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, 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 Clinton Sundberg's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 34; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Motif score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

A Snow White Christmas (1980)

77th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

That's Entertainment! III (1994)

Motif 90th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif 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 Clinton Sundberg work with?

People who share at least 2 of Clinton Sundberg's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Arthur Freed shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles