What's After the Movie
Billy Gilbert
Billy Gilbert, born William Gilbert Barron on September 12, 1894, in a dressing‑room of the Hopkins Opera House in Louisville, Kentucky, was a prolific American character actor and comedian whose career spanned over three decades. He grew up in San Francisco, left school early to join a troupe of singing children, and by age twelve was performing in vaudeville, later honing his craft in burlesque circuits. His signature routine—an escalating nervousness that ended in a thunderous sneeze—became a cultural touchstone that even Walt Disney cited when casting Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Gilbert’s burly frame and gruff voice made him a natural villain, yet his mastery of dialects allowed him to slip effortlessly into fey couturiers, pompous announcers, and drunkards alike. After being spotted by Stan Laurel in 1929, he entered the Hal Roach studio system, appearing alongside Laurel and Hardy, Charley Chase, Thelma Todd, and the Our Gang kids, and eventually headlining his own short‑comedy series such as The Taxi Boys and the “Schmaltz Brothers” musical shorts. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s he became a familiar face in feature films, from a parody of Hermann Göring in Charlie Chaplin’s The Great Dictator to a memorable process server in His Girl Friday (1940). His versatility extended to voice work, delivering the sneeze‑filled performance of Sneezy and later voicing Willie the Giant in Disney’s Fun and Fancy Free (1947). In addition to his screen work, Gilbert appeared on Broadway as actor, writer, and director in productions such as Fanny and The Red Mill, and transitioned to television in the 1950s with appearances on Andy’s Gang and the Producers’ Showcase episode of Jack and the Beanstalk. He married actress Ella McKenzie in 1938; the couple adopted a son, Barry, who tragically died in 1943. Gilbert retired after his final role in Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) and passed away on September 23 1971 in North Hollywood after a stroke. He is commemorated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Billy Gilbert, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Billy Gilbert rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: William Gilbert Barron
Born: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: September 12, 1894
Occupations: Actor, Comedian, Director, Writer
Years Active: 1929-1962
Children: 1
Spouses: Ella McKenzie
External Links and Streaming Options
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Movies Featuring Billy Gilbert
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Anchors Aweigh
Mabel’s Dramatic Career
Fatty Joins the Force
A Film Johnnie
Tango Tangles
His Favorite Pastime
Cruel, Cruel Love
Caught in a Cabaret
A Busy Day
The Masquerader
The Rounders
Those Country Kids
Gentlemen of Nerve
Leading Lizzie Astray
Fatty and Minnie He-Haw
Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life
Love, Speed and Thrills
Miss Fatty’s Seaside Lovers
A Submarine Pirate
His Bitter Pill
Rainbow Island
The Flirt
Move On
The Speed Kings
The Star Boarder
The Knockout
His Musical Career
His Trysting Places
Ambrose’s First Falsehood
Fatty’s New Role
Mabel’s Wilful Way
A Hash House Fraud
Making a Living
His Prehistoric Past
Wished on Mabel
Mabel’s Strange Predicament
Tillie’s Punctured Romance
That Little Band Of Gold
Fatty’s New Role
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Making a Living
Wished on Mabel
Maid in Hollywood
Valley of the Sun
Pack Up Your Troubles
The Kissing Bandit
Apples to You!
Cockeyed Cavaliers
Men in Black
Seven Sinners
The Great Dictator
Maids a la Mode
Another Wild Idea
Asleep in the Feet
Spanky
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Forgotten Babies
The Girl in 419
Crazy House
Catch-As Catch-Can
Made on Broadway
Dogs Is Dogs
Arabian Nights
Fiddlesticks
Cross-Country Romance
Queen of the Mob
One Track Minds
One Good Turn
Lucky Partners
Reaching for the Sun
Crazy to Act
Towed in a Hole
The Happy Hottentots
Down Among the Sheltering Palms
Pardon My Scotch
Love on the Run
Shiver My Timbers
Tin Pan Alley
Paradise Alley
The Girl Downstairs
The Man Who Found Himself
The Bargain of the Century
Fight for Your Lady
Mickey and the Beanstalk
The Campus Carmen
The Story Behind Walt Disney’s ‘Fun and Fancy Free’
The Devil-Doll
Peck’s Bad Boy with the Circus
When You’re in Love
Block-Heads
Army Girl
My Lucky Star
Espionage
Ten Dollars or Ten Days
Live, Love and Learn
Sneak Easily
The Music Box
On the Loose
Women in War
Joy of Living
Ice Cold Cocos
Once Over Lightly
Three of a Kind
Mr. Wise Guy
Hollywood Goes to Town
She’s Got Everything
Broadway Melody of 1938
No, No, Nanette
Chinatown After Dark
Free Eats
A Night at the Opera
Sea Devils
One Rainy Afternoon
The Toast of New York
Sealskins
Maid’s Night Out
Mad Love
Million Dollar Legs
Breaking the Ice
Love on a Bet
The Pride of Pikeville
His Girl Friday
Skyscraper Souls
Disney’s Greatest Villains
Blondie of the Follies
Sutter’s Gold
The Keyhole
Sons of the Desert
Their First Mistake
The Firefly
Music for Madame
Strictly Unreliable
County Hospital
Five Weeks in a Balloon
Crazy Knights
Happy Landing
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Soup and Fish
This Day and Age
Rosalie
Fallen Arches
Them Thar Hills
Song of the Islands
Wing and a Prayer
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Billy Gilbert, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1942
Valley of the Sun
Homer Burnaby - Justice of the Peace
Arabian Nights
Ahmad
Mr. Wise Guy
Knobby
Song of the Islands
Palola's Father
1940
Seven Sinners
Tony
The Great Dictator
Field Marshal Herring
The Villain Still Pursued Her
Master of Ceremonies
Cross-Country Romance
Orestes
Queen of the Mob
Mr. Reier
Lucky Partners
Charles (uncredited)
Tin Pan Alley
Sheik
Women in War
Pierre, the Cobbler
No, No, Nanette
Styles
His Girl Friday
Joe Pettibone
1938
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
The Girl Downstairs
Garage Mechanic
Peck’s Bad Boy with the Circus
Bud Boggs
Block-Heads
Mr. Gilbert
Army Girl
Canteen waiter
My Lucky Star
Nick
Joy of Living
Cafe Owner
Once Over Lightly
Professor Dimitrius Kapouris
Hollywood Goes to Town
Self (uncredited)
Maid’s Night Out
Mr. Papalapoulas
Breaking the Ice
Mr. Small
Happy Landing
Counter Man
Mr. Doodle Kicks Off
Prof. Minorous
1937
The Man Who Found Himself
Fat hobo
Fight for Your Lady
Boris
When You’re in Love
Jose
Espionage
Turk
Live, Love and Learn
Newsboy (uncredited)
She’s Got Everything
Chaffee - a Creditor
Broadway Melody of 1938
George Papaloopas
Sea Devils
Billy
The Toast of New York
Photographer
The Firefly
Innkeeper
Music for Madame
Krause
Rosalie
Oloff
1936
Love on the Run
Cafe Manager
The Devil-Doll
Matin's Butler (uncredited)
Three of a Kind
The Tailor
One Rainy Afternoon
Court Doorman (Uncredited)
Love on a Bet
New York Policeman
Sutter’s Gold
Gen. Ramos
1935
Pardon My Scotch
Senor Luis Balero Cantino (uncredited)
A Night at the Opera
Orchestra Member Asking Fiorello Not to Play Piano (uncredited)
Mad Love
Autograph Seeker on Train (Uncredited)
1934
Maid in Hollywood
Sneezing Man
Apples to You!
Pinsky
Cockeyed Cavaliers
Innkeeper
Men in Black
Dangerous Patient (uncredited)
Another Wild Idea
Uncle Percy (voice)
Soup and Fish
Count Gustav
Them Thar Hills
The Doctor
1933
Maids a la Mode
Von Smaltz
Asleep in the Feet
Mr. Gilbert, Dance Hall Proprietor
Forgotten Babies
Radio Voice
The Girl in 419
Sneezing Patient
Made on Broadway
Commissioner Jerry Allesandro (uncredited)
One Track Minds
Train Conductor
The Bargain of the Century
Captain Schmaltz
The Keyhole
Cuban Carriage Driver (uncredited)
Sons of the Desert
Mr. Ruttledge (voice) (uncredited)
This Day and Age
Nightclub Manager
Fallen Arches
Mr. Gilbert
1932
Pack Up Your Troubles
Mr. Hathaway
Spanky
Spanky's Father
Towed in a Hole
Joe - Junkyard Owner
Sneak Easily
Attorney for the Prosecution
The Music Box
Professor von Schwarzenhoffen (uncredited)
Free Eats
Head of the Family of Thieves
Sealskins
Mr. Morton (uncredited)
Million Dollar Legs
Secretary of the Interior
Skyscraper Souls
Second Ticket Agent (uncredited)
Blondie of the Follies
Kinskey's Friend (uncredited)
Their First Mistake
Process server
Strictly Unreliable
The Actor
County Hospital
The Doctor
1931
Catch-As Catch-Can
Ring Announcer (uncredited)
Dogs Is Dogs
Mr. Brown (uncredited)
One Good Turn
Drunk
Shiver My Timbers
The Sea Captain
On the Loose
Pierre, the Dressmaker (as William Gilbert)
Chinatown After Dark
Dooley
1915
Fatty and Mabel’s Simple Life
The Groom
Love, Speed and Thrills
Cop
Miss Fatty’s Seaside Lovers
Bellhop
A Submarine Pirate
Torpedo Loader (uncredited)
Fatty’s New Role
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Blackface Man in Sideshow Game / Man Going Down Slide
A Hash House Fraud
Freeloading Customer
Wished on Mabel
Police Chief
That Little Band Of Gold
Audience Member
Fatty’s New Role
Mabel’s Wilful Way
Blackface Man in Sideshow Game / Man Going Down Slide
Wished on Mabel
Police Chief
1914
A Film Johnnie
Theater Usher (uncredited)
Tango Tangles
Guest in Cowboy Hat (uncredited)
His Favorite Pastime
Shoeshine Boy
Cruel, Cruel Love
Short Ambulance Attendant
Caught in a Cabaret
Cabaret Patron (uncredited)
A Busy Day
Policeman
The Masquerader
Cameraman
The Rounders
Doorman in Blackface
Those Country Kids
Man whose Carriage is Stolen
Gentlemen of Nerve
Spectator
Leading Lizzie Astray
Cafe Waiter
Fatty and Minnie He-Haw
Short Man
The Star Boarder
Boarder (uncredited)
The Knockout
Society Singer
His Musical Career
Piano Store Salesman
His Trysting Places
Diner in Overalls
Ambrose’s First Falsehood
Café Patron
Making a Living
Jealous Husband (uncredited)
His Prehistoric Past
Caveman Masher (uncredited)
Mabel’s Strange Predicament
Bellboy (uncredited)
Tillie’s Punctured Romance
Policeman (uncredited)
Making a Living
Jealous Husband (uncredited)
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