Barnett Parker

Biography

Barnett Parker, born on September 11, 1886, in Batley, Yorkshire, England, was a quintessential figure among the British expatriate actors who made their mark in Hollywood during the 1930s. Educated at Harrowgate College, Parker embodied the traditional image of a British gentleman, characterized by his upright posture, receding hairline, and polished diction. He specialized in portraying a variety of fussy, stiff-upper-lip characters such as butlers, manservants, and waiters, often to the point of campiness. His characters were known to express frustration through rapid, nonsensical chatter or exaggerated gestures.

Parker honed his craft under the guidance of Marie Tempest and George Alexander in England. He made his Broadway debut at the Lyceum Theatre in 1912 as Wilfred Tavish in Arthur Wing Pinero's "The Mind the Paint Girl." He subsequently appeared in notable productions like "Hobson's Choice" (1915), "Artists and Models" (1924), and "The Red Robe" (1928). Initially hesitant to accept film roles, preferring the stage, he eventually succumbed to the allure of cinema and joined the Thanhouser studio in 1915. Balancing film work with theater, he scored a notable role as a feeble socialite in "Prudence, the Pirate" (1916). Throughout the 1930s, he became a sought-after actor for minor roles as eccentric British characters in films like "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936) and "Broadway Melody of 1938" (1937). Tragically, Barnett Parker passed away at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles on August 5, 1941, following several heart attacks.