THE FILM EXAMINER
Rolfe Sedan
Hollywood Faces Dossier 33 Archival Vault Holdings ๐Ÿ“ New York City, New York, USA

Rolfe Sedan

1896 โ€“ 1982

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.

Archival Holdings in The Video Boneyard

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

Complete Career & Landmark Filmography

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)