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Andrew Tombes

Andrew Tombes

Actor · Died March 17, 1976, aged 90 · Ashtabula, Ohio, USA

You'd think with a last name like that, character player Andrew Tombes was doomed to play gravediggers in horrors or coroners in crime drama. Not usually, and when he did, it was often played for laughs. Born June 29, 1885 in Ohio, he was an athletic sort who played a lively, talented game of college baseball at Phillips-Exeter Academy but the dreams of entertaining quickly took over. As a performer he started things off in minstrels and musical revues, and appeared notably as a vaudevillian comic. Appearances in "Flo-FLo (1908), The College Girls" (1909), "Miss 1917" (1917) and "Poor Little Ritz Girl" (1920) led to the really big time for a comedian -- Ziegfeld. He slayed 'em as a star headliner in the Ziegfeld Follies in the 1920s, and played a wide range of squirrely parts in everything from Shakespeare to screwball farce. It was friend 'Will Rogers' from his old Follies days, who invited Tombes, at age 50, to settle in Hollywood as a prime featured performer in Rogers' film vehicle Doubting Thomas (1935). Thereafter at Fox he played the quintessentially bald, bemused and bug-eyed executive, professor, police captain, movie mogul or school administrator, but the parts got smaller and smaller. He went on to freelance in scores of featherweight "B" movies, often uncredited, mostly musicals and/or comedies. On the funereal side, he did play a dour undertaker's assistant in the Hope/Crosby vehicle Road to Morocco (1942) and a mortician in The Mad Ghoul (1943). True to form, his last movie role was in a comedy, the forgettable The Go-Getter (1956). He died about two decades later at the age of 90 in New York City.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
June 28, 1885
Died
March 17, 1976 (aged 90)
From
Ashtabula, Ohio, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 121 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 7% in 30 days

What are Andrew Tombes' films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
36%
Morality
28%
Self
18%
Power
10%
Society
6%
Survival
1%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 22 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 19 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

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

Steady 21 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 7

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 3
Trickster
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
16
Warm
11
Romantic
10
Thrilling
7
Hopeful
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Feel-good20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy23
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1

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 Andrew Tombes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 14 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Andrew Tombes' 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

121 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Go-Getter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Mr. Symington

  • How to Be Very, Very Popular(1955)

    as Police Sgt. Moon

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • I Dream of Jeanie(1952)

    as R.E. Howard

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Oklahoma Annie(1952)

    as Mayor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Jackpot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Pritchett (uncredited)

  • A Wonderful Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Sheriff Grogan

  • Oh, You Beautiful Doll(1949)

    as Ted Held

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Two Guys from Texas(1948)

    as The Texan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Christmas Eve(1947)

    as Auctioneer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Hoppy's Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Frank Patton

  • The Devil Thumbs a Ride(1947)

    as Joe Brayden, Night Watchman

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Beat the Band(1947)

    as 'Prof' Enrico Blanchetti / Mr. Dillingham

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sing While You Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Gorman

  • Two Sisters from Boston(1946)

    as Recording Session Director (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Badman's Territory(1946)

    as Doc Quillan

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Frontier Gal(1945)

    as Judge Prescott

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Don't Fence Me In(1945)

    as Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • You Came Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Drunk

  • Rhapsody in Blue(1945)

    as Mr. Million

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Patrick the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Sam Bassett

  • G.I. Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Reverend Horace

  • Bring on the Girls(1945)

    as Dr. Spender

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Can't Help Singing(1944)

    as Sad Sam

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Murder in the Blue Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Dr. Carroll

  • San Fernando Valley(1944)

    as Cyclone Kenyon

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Goin' to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Parker

  • The Singing Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Jonas

  • Kansas City Kitty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Judge

  • Reckless Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Mr. Cook

  • Bathing Beauty(1944)

    as Jefferson Statling (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Week-End Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Constable

  • Phantom Lady(1944)

    as Mac - Bartender

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • His Butler's Sister(1943)

    as Brophy

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Mad Ghoul(1943)

    as Mortician Eagan

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Swing Fever(1943)

    as Dr. Clyde L. Star

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

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

    as Horace L. Gregory

  • I Dood It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Mr. Alfred Spelvin

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    as Mr. McGowan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hi Diddle Diddle(1943)

    as Doorman

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Honeymoon Lodge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Judge Wilkins

  • Coney Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Horace Carter

  • A Stranger in Town(1943)

    as Roscoe Swade

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Hi'ya, Chum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Jerry MackIntosh, Cook

  • It Ain't Hay(1943)

    as Big-Hearted Charlie

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Meanest Man in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Judge (uncredited)

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

    as Mr. Smith (uncredited)

  • Road to Morocco(1942)

    as Oso Bucco (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Between Us Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Doctor

  • They All Kissed the Bride(1942)

    as Crane

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Larceny, Inc(1942)

    as Oscar Engelhart

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Obliging Young Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as First Train Conductor

  • A Close Call for Ellery Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Bates

  • Blondie Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as L.L. Snookie Wadsworth

  • Don't Get Personal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as James M. Snow

  • Louisiana Purchase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Dean Albert Manning

  • Bedtime Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Pierce

  • Hellzapoppin'(1941)

    as Max Kane (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Down Mexico Way(1941)

    as Mayor Tubbs

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Texas(1941)

    as Tennessee

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Lady Scarface (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Art Seidel, Hotel Detective

  • Last of the Duanes(1941)

    as Sheriff Frank Taylor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Dangerous Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Silas Biggsby

  • World Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Nixon

  • Melody for Three(1941)

    as Mickey Delany

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sis Hopkins(1941)

    as Mayor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Meet John Doe(1941)

    as Spencer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Wild Man of Borneo(1941)

    as 'Doc' Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Charter Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as W.J. Brady

  • Third Finger, Left Hand(1940)

    as Mr. Kelland

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Captain Caution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sad Eyes

  • Screw Drivers of 1940 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mr. Screwdriver

  • In Old Missouri (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Attorney

  • Alex in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mr. J.D. Swinnerton

  • Village Barn Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as James Rutherford Sr.

  • Wolf of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sylvester Duncan

  • Money To Burn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Brown

  • Balalaika(1939)

    as Wilbur Allison (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Nick Carter, Master Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Robinson

  • Too Busy to Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Wilbur Wentworth

  • What a Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Prof. Abernathy

  • Boy Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mr. Svively

  • Men of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as J.J. Stevens

  • Always in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as James C. Darlington

  • Five of a Kind(1938)

    as Dr. Bruno

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Vacation from Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Judge Brandon

  • A Desperate Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Cosmo Carrington

  • One Wild Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as William Nolan

  • Romance on the Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as J.W. Ridgeway

  • Battle of Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Judge Hutchins

  • Sally, Irene and Mary(1938)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Borrowing Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Uncle George

  • Checkers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Tobias Somers

  • 45 Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Judge

  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Inspector Matthews (as Andrew J. Tombes)

  • Easy Living(1937)

    as E.J. Hulgar

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Meet the Boy Friend(1937)

    as J. Ardmore Potts

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Sing and Be Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Thomas Lane

  • Riding on Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Eddie Byrd

  • Charlie Chan at the Olympics(1937)

    as Chief of Homicide E. R. Scott

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Turn Off the Moon(1937)

    as Dr. Wakefield

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fair Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as J. C. Farnham

  • Time Out for Romance(1937)

    as James Blanchard

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Holy Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Commander Otis

  • The Devil Is a Sissy(1936)

    as Muldoon - a Policeman

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Stage Struck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Burns Heywood

  • Hot Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Willie

  • Ticket to Paradise(1936)

    as Nirney

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Half Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Jury Foreman (uncredited)

  • The Country Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Sen. Rawlings

  • Here Comes Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Adams

  • It Had to Happen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Dooley

  • King of Burlesque(1936)

    as Slattery

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Thanks a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mr. Grass

  • Music Is Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ben Pomeroy

  • Here Comes Cookie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Botts

  • Doubting Thomas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Huxley Hossefrosse

  • Moulin Rouge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as McBride

  • Broadway Thru a Keyhole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Sidney - Columnist

  • The Bowery(1933)

    as Shill (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Knocking them Cold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 121 titles from 1930 to 1956.

Highest rated

Easy Living (1937)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Oh, You Beautiful Doll (1949)

Film career

  • 1937Screen debut· Charlie Chan at the Olympics
  • 1944Career best· Phantom Lady

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting121 of 121: 121 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

By decade

1930s45 · acting1940s69 · acting1950s7 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 7 roles

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.

How do Andrew Tombes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

They All Kissed the Bride (1942)

77th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Easy Living (1937)

Midcredits 93rd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 44. 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 Andrew Tombes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Andrew Tombes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mort Glickman shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers