Billy West
Also Known As: Billie West, Roy B. Weissburg
Biography: Billy West (September 22, 1892 – July 21, 1975) was a film actor, producer, and director. Active during the silent film era, he is best known as a semi-successful Charlie Chaplin impersonator. Beyond acting, he also directed shorts in the 1910s and 20s, as well as produced films. West ultimately retired in 1935.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Russia
Adult: No
Birthday: September 22, 1892
Age: 132 years old
Gender: Male
Deathday: July 21, 1975
Popularity:
Known For:
Playmates
Overview: A comedy inspired by Charles Chaplin's "Easy Street" (1917).
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-07-01
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Ship Ahoy
Overview: Charlie stays at a seaside lodging house frequented by sailors. He gets involved with a gang of crooks when a sea captain attempts to kidnap his landlady's daughter.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1919-02-15
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He Was Her Man
Overview: A safecracker goes straight after doing a stretch for a bum rap. He agrees to do one last job for his "pals".
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-06-16
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The Hero
Overview: The Hero is a 1917 silent comedy film featuring Billy West & Oliver Hardy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-04-01
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The Hobo
Overview: Billy is a hobo who hangs around the train station. He creates disruption in the ticket office, at the lunch counter, and in the lives of some of the customers.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-11-01
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The Candy Kid
Overview: A Fake Chaplin movie with Billy West as the tramp.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-10-14
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Bright and Early
Overview: Billy West as does fairly random series of gags as a bellboy in a rather poor hotel run by Oliver Hardy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-05-14
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The Rogue
Overview: 'The Rogue' casts West as the slavey in a boarding-house (not a very Chaplinesque role) overseen by a landlady who seems to be a cross between Alice Davenport and Marie Dressler, with a dash of Hattie Jacques. He crosses paths with a counterfeit count (White) and a stolen violin worth $20,000.
Genres: Crime Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-02-14
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The Villain
Overview: In The Villain, Billy attempted something a little different. He's still imitating Chaplin, but this time he's playing the wicked, top-hatted Charlie found in some of his earliest Keystone appearances (e.g. Mabel at the Wheel), the ones where Charlie himself seemed to be imitating the studio's recently departed Ford Sterling. Throughout this short there is much spoofing of old-time melodramas, a frequent motif of Sterling's comedies.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-07-14
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His Day Out
Overview: In this film, West escapes a couple of cops and fights for the hand of Leatrice Joy with Oliver Hardy (doing his best Eric Campell). A barber by trade, our tramp serves his boorish clientele with similarly bad manners before the whole crowd attends a swanky Barbers' Ball.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-01-14
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Hard Boiled Yeggs
Overview: A recent college graduate (Billy West) inherits a large sum of money, as well as a dive on the rough side of town. The will states that, in the event of Billy's death, two thugs get the money and the 'Cafe', and the thugs try, through various means, to see that Billy meets his demise. But Billy manages to thwart their efforts, with the help of a pretty young girl.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-03-07
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Italian Love
Overview: Ethelyn Gibson has run away from daddy Ted Lorch because he wants to sell her to Leo White, King of Little Italy, for his music hall. So she dresses as a man and runs into Billy West in this scattershot burlesque.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1920-03-08
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Not Wanted
Overview: After five years as the best of the Chaplin imitators, Billy West struck out with his own comedy character, a middle-class man in a nice suit and a fedora -- but with the mustache. These movies involved him in cartoonish situations in which he executed some extended gags very nicely -- in this one he does the one in which the water pump only works when he's not ready for it and another in which he can't catch a fish with some expensive gear, while the boy next to him catches whoppers with a stick and a bent pin -- and gradually moved behind the camera.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-04-01
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He's In Again
Overview: A tramp enters a cabaret and orders a drink, but then is thrown out when he cannot pay for it. After trying again, he is told by the manager that if he wants to avoid being charged and sent to jail, he will have to work.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-12-15
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Rolling Stone
Overview: A Chaplin-like tramp is mistaken for a Bolshevik
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1919-01-20
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Cupid's Rival
Overview: A bumbling janitor in a fleabag hotel drives the residents crazy, and a poor artist believes that his girlfriend is having an affair with a wealthy artist living across the hall, and takes unorthodox measures to find out what's going on.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-07-01
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A Very Honorable Guy
Overview: Well respected local good guy, "Feet" Samuels finds himself heavily in debt due to an uncharacteristic gambling binge. Feet decides the only way to settle the bill is by selling his body to an ambitious doctor who agrees to allow him one last month to live life to the fullest, then kill himself.
Genres: Comedy Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-04-18
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The Personality Kid
Overview: An arrogant boxer (Pat O'Brien) discovers his wife (Glenda Farrell) had a hand in his success.
Genres: Comedy Crime Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-06-06
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The Defense Rests
Overview: A sleazy lawyer's female assistant sets out to end his cheating ways.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-07-15
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Picture Snatcher
Overview: An ex-con uses his street smarts to become a successful photojournalist.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-05-06
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Fiddlin' Around
Overview: FIDDLIN AROUND' (1925) (Starring Babe Hardy).
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-06-14
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The Joke's on You
Overview: Billy West comedy produced by Cumberland and distributed by Arrow.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-06-14
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Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
Overview: A New York tramp falls in love with the mayor's amnesiac girlfriend after rescuing her from a suicide attempt.
Genres: Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-02-03
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The Chief Cook
Overview: The film opens in the lobby of a small hotel, where the desk clerk/owner (Budd Ross) is addressing three members of staff: the cook, the waiter and the bellboy. It is obvious from their reactions, particularly the cook (Leo White) that whatever was said did not go down too well. His animated arms knock down the man standing behind him repeatedly until all three servants simultaneously quit. They storm off into the adjoining kitchen where a slavery maid (Blanche White) is on the floor scrubbing the floor. The men all trip over her, moan briefly and then leave.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-09-30
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Don't Be Foolish
Overview: Billy gets into trouble with a couple of cops by littering in the park, and must use all his ingenuity to elude them.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1922-06-11
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Line's Busy
Overview: Billy meets a charity worker named Ethelyn, who raises contributions by flirting with men. Just as she's about to deposit her money in a bank a thief grabs it and runs, and Billy comes to the rescue, although a cop assumes he's the culprit.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-09-11
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Jimmy the Gent
Overview: An unpolished racketeer, whose racket is finding heirs for unclaimed fortunes, affects ethics and tea-drinking manners to win back the sweetheart who now works for his seemingly upright competitor.
Genres: Drama Comedy Romance Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-03-09
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It Happened One Night
Overview: A runaway heiress makes a deal with the rogue reporter trailing her but the mismatched pair end up stuck with each other when their bus leaves them behind.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-02-22
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The Pest
Overview: The Pest (aka The Freeloader) is a 1917 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy and starring Billy West in one of his "Charlie Chaplin" rip-off roles.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-11-15
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The Stranger
Overview: After a luckless prospecting trip, Billy starts homeward across the desert, mounted on his little burro with his pick, shovel and pack strapped up behind him. Finally he comes in sight of Red Dog Gulch and, hungry and thirsty, he pushes on toward the city. Susie is the daughter of the town drunkard. She starts out on her horse for a little ride, and a little way from town is attacked by Pedro and Little Casino, two Mexicans, who try to steal her horse. Billy happens along, runs the Mexicans off and takes Susie back to town.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-01-01
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Cleaning Up
Overview: Film starring Chaplin impersonator Billy West
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1920-01-01
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Bone Dry
Overview: Paul plays at being a detective until dad, who is a revenue officer, sends him out to prove his worth by rounding up some desperate moonshiners.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1922-09-17
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The Shadow of the Eagle
Overview: The Eagle uses sky writing to make threats against a corporation. Nathan Gregory owns a travelling fairground and is thought to be the Eagle. Craig McCoy is a pilot who goes looking for the Eagle when Gregory turns up missing.
Genres: Action
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1932-02-01
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Motive for Revenge
Overview: Bank teller Barry Webster is driven to stealing bank funds by his mother-in-law who continually nags him about forcing her daughter Muriel to live in poverty...
Genres: Drama Thriller Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-05-15
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Little Nell
Overview: Billy West tries to court/swindle Little Nell (big Oliver Hardy in drags). but her father is in the way.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-01-09
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Fiddlin' Around
Overview: A clumsy fiddler plays at an audition with a grouchy teathrical impresario, played by Oliver Hardy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-06-14
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Perfectly Mismated
Overview: Leon's ex-wife moves into the apartment next to him.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-11-12
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The Scholar
Overview: Short King Bee Studios slapstick comedy featuring Billy West and Oliver Hardy
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1918-03-15
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Hello Bill
Overview: Billy West comes home and is greeted in so many ways.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1923-12-01
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Lucky Fool
Overview: Scion of a distinguished family J. Anthony Bowden is considered unworthy by his father, a feeling he discovers is shared by his fiancée Elma. His father sets up an elaborate ruse involving Anthony’s arrest and Elma’s kidnapping to make him prove his worth which he eventually does.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1927-01-01
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Thrilling Youth
Overview: Billy Davis discovers that his father's bakery business is in serious financial trouble and leaves college in order to help his family.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-08-03
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She Couldn't Take It
Overview: The wealthy Van Dyke family are constantly in the media for outrageous behavior, much to the frustration of the patriarch, Dan Van Dyke. His self-centered wife has a fondness for foreign imports, including "pet projects" like dancers and such and his spoiled children Tony and Carol have constant run-ins with the law. When Dan himself ends up in the clink for five years for tax evasion, he becomes bunk-mates with ex-bootlegger Joe "Spots" Ricardi. Ricardi lectures him on being such a push-over for an out-of-control family, so a dying Dan makes Ricardi his estate trustee once he is released from prison. Ricardi is then thrust into high society and must do everything he once nagged Dan to do.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-10-08
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Ex-Lady
Overview: Although free spirit Helen Bauer does not believe in marriage, she consents to marry Don, but his infidelities cause her to also take on a lover.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-05-15
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Meet Father
Overview: The daughter of a local store fancies a man, but her father wants her to end up with a boxing champion.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1924-11-15
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Newly Rich
Overview: Two small town widows bring their children to Hollywood, where their children become competing film stars. The girl is sweet, the boy is a killjoy sissy. For publicity, the rival families go to London to meet a middle European boy King. The three kids decide they need to escape their stifling lives and run away to the docks and join a gang.
Genres: Comedy Family Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1931-07-02
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Diamond Trail
Overview: Reporter Speed Morgan helps Flash Barrett escape from the police and this gets him into Flash's gang where he poses as a gangster. Flash and his gang head west guning for Bill Miller who failed to send some diamonds on to Flash. Speed hopes to bring Flash to justice but is in trouble when his true identity is revealed.
Genres: Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1933-04-22
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Rivals
Overview: A 1925 silent comedy.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1925-05-15
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The Trouble Shooter
Overview: Billy West wanders into town and is made sheriff because the older ones got killed or ran away.
Genres: Comedy Western
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1921-12-11
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Back Stage
Overview: Props, the stage man, and his assistant at the Orpheum Theater, Plunkville divide their time equally between drinking and attention to duty. Trouble starts when the new acts arrive. The Wiggle sisters, a Hawaiian act, demand the star dressing room but Props turns them down, but relents when Babe, the strong man, and his beautiful wife, Ethel Burton because he is smitten. Once the show begins Props is forever getting in the way of the performers and his bibulous assistant has an unfortunate propensity for dropping the curtain at the wrong moments. Things only get crazier from there.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1917-01-01
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The Trouble Chaser
Overview: Hector, who was reared by a maiden aunt, decides to leave his sheltered life and become a reporter. At the newspaper where he has works, Hector becomes friendly with a young female reporter, who uses the byline "Firefly" for a series of articles intended to expose a notorious café. At the same time, Hector's aunt, head of the local Purity League, gives a stirring speech to the membership about ridding their community of the café. The young woman enlists Hector's aid and together they gain enough evidence to close the café.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1926-12-16
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