
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rolfe Sedan (January 20, 1896 โ September 15, 1982) was an American character actor, best known for appearing in bit parts, often uncredited, usually portraying clerks, train conductors, postmen, cooks, waiters etc. He began his career in show business as a nightclub and vaudeville performer and began acting in East Coast theatre. Sedan debuted on Broadway in 1916 and appeared in his first motion picture for Metro Pictures Corporation in 1921. He became a prolific character actor and is probably best remembered by movie buffs as the hotel manager in Ninotchka (1939) starring Greta Garbo. Around the same time, he appeared in an uncredited role as the Emerald City's Balloon Ascensionist in The Wizard of Oz (1939). He returned to Broadway, performing in several different shows during the first half of the 1940s and in the 1950s began a sequence of guest roles in television series such as The Jack Benny Show. His most frequent TV work came from recurring roles as put-upon mail carriers (25 episodes as Mr. Beasley on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show; 4 episodes as Mr. Briggs on The Addams Family). He was also seen as the train conductor in the film Young Frankenstein (1974). Rolfe Sedan remained active throughout a career that spanned more than six decades.
Mike Jones's Video Boneyard archive currently preserves 33 physical recordings spanning 13 productions featuring Rolfe Sedan.
The following 13 canonical motion pictures and broadcast master recordings featuring Rolfe Sedan are preserved in the studio archives:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Director / Studio | The Video Boneyard | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | The Iron Mask | Louis XIII of France | Allan Dwan / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1931 | Monkey Business | Leading Role | Norman Z. McLeod / Paramount Pictures | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1932 | Grand Hotel 5 Copies | Co-Star | Edmund Goulding / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1933 | The Devil's Brother 3 Copies | Co-Star | Charley Rogers / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1934 | The Thin Man | Leading Role | Lesley Selander / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1935 | A Night at the Opera 3 Copies | Leading Role | Sam Wood / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1935 | Charlie Chan in Paris 2 Copies | Co-Star | Lewis Seiler / Fox Film Corporation | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1935 | Ruggles of Red Gap 2 Copies | Co-Star | Leo McCarey / Paramount Pictures | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1938 | Topper Takes a Trip 2 Copies | Co-Star | Norman Z. McLeod / Hal Roach Studios | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1939 | The Wizard of Oz | Co-Star | Victor Fleming / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1950 | The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show 7 Copies | Co-Star | Unknown / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1956 | Paris at Last | Chef | Unknown / Archive | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein 4 Copies | Leading Role | Mel Brooks / 20th Century Studios | Vault Archive Master | Archival Master |
Major theatrical features, landmark television appearances, and key credited roles across Rolfe Sedan's historic screen career:
| Year | Production Title | Character / Role | Department / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | The Conquering Power | Annette's Suitor (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1921 | What No Man Knows | Lawyer (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1923 | Merry-Go-Round | Minor Role (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1924 | Love and Glory | Bit Role | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1924 | Sporting Youth | Valet | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1924 | The Dangerous Blonde | Henry | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1924 | Three Women | Reveler at Monkey Bar | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1924 | Young Ideas | Bertie Loomis | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1925 | California Straight Ahead | Valet | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1925 | Is Marriage the Bunk? | Jimmy's brother-in-law | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1925 | Smouldering Fires | Member of the Committee | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1925 | The Mad Whirl | Bit Part Rolfe Sedan | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Bardelys the Magnificent | Fop (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Bromo and Juliet | Stage Manager (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Kid Boots | Physical Therapist (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Mama Behave | A Friend of the Family (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Mantrap | Barber (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Mighty Like a Moose | Nose Doctor | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | My Old Dutch | Al | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | On the Front Page | Beauty Expert (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1926 | Thundering Fleas | Musician | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1927 | The Denver Dude | Henry Bird | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1927 | Uncle Tom's Cabin | Adolph (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1928 | Compassion | Actor | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1928 | Riley of the Rainbow Division | Actor | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1928 | Riley the Cop | French Restaurant Patron | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1928 | Show People | Portrait Photographer (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1928 | The Adorable Cheat | Card Playing Guest | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Double Whoopee | Desk clerk | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | It's a Great Life | Bit Role | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Leaping Love | The Crying Wife's Husband (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Making the Grade | Valet | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Movie Night | Actor on the Screen (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Sailor's Holiday | Ferris Wheel Barker (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | The Iron Mask | Louis XIII | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | The Last Performance | Actor | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | The Love Trap | Drunk | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1929 | Toot Sweet! | Nightclub Announcer | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1930 | Monte Carlo | Hairdresser (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |
| 1930 | Paramount on Parade | Little Man ('Park in Paris') (uncredited) | Actor (Feature Film) |