From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career. Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series. Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness. In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges. Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
Forward, March!
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
(Prof. Potelle)
The Good Fellows
(Branders (uncredited))
Adventure's End
(Tall Sailor (uncredited))
The Palm Beach Story
(Mr. McKeewie)
The Tomboy on Bar Z
Alkali Ike's Auto
The Bad One
(Sailor)
Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
(Steve)
King of the Wild
(Peterson)
Christmas in July
(Davenola Salesman)
Who's Your Father?
(Comedy Role)
The Making of Broncho Billy
Call of the West
(Trig Peters)
The Virginian
(Nebrasky)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
(Newspaper Editor)
Western Gold
(Jasper)
The Heart of a Child
(Charley Peastone)
The Girl of the Golden West
(Lem - Stagecoach Driver)
Broncho Billy and the Sisters
(The Minister)
Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie's Home-Coming
(Slippery Slim)
When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs
(Slippery Slim)
The Battle of Snakeville
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie's Sweetheart
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville's Blind Pig
(Slippery Slim)
Slippery Slim Gets Square
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office
Snakeville's Rising Sons
(Slippery Slim)
Sentimental Sophie
(Slippery Slim)
When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese
(Slippery Slim)
Just a Few Little Things
(Archie)
Alkali Ike and the Wildman
(Slippery Slim)
Ingomar of the Hills
Sullivan's Travels
(Cameraman)
Broncho Billy's First Arrest
Quincy Adams Sawyer
(Hiram Maxwell)
Baseball Madness
The Fighting Marines
(Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12])
Partners
(Deputy Lem)
Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme
(Lank)
A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law
Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests
(Lank)
The Silent Message
A Westerner's Way
Hank and Lank: Lifesavers
(Lank)
Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men
(Lank)
Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present
A Cowboy's Vindication
The Tenderfoot Messenger
Hank and Lank: Blind Men
(Lank)
The Bad Man's Christmas Gift
The Count and the Cowboys
(The Count)
The Border Ranger
A Child of the West
The Tenderfoot Foreman
Widow Jenkins' Admirers
The Oath of His Office
The Prospector's Legacy
The Biter Bitten
The Ranch Girl's Mistake
The Two Reformations
Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash
(Lank)
The Bad Man's Downfall
Across the Plains
The Sheriff's Chum
Broncho Billy and the Red Man
The Indian Maiden's Lesson
The Bunco Game at Lizardhead
The Puncher's New Love
The Infant at Snakeville
Broncho Billy and the Bad Man
(The Storekeeper)
A Hungry Pair
(Skinny)
The Corporation and the Ranch Girl
Broncho Billy-Guardian
Alkali Ike's Pants
Broncho Billy Reforms
(A Thief)
The Two Fugitives
Broncho Bill's Last Spree
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy's Squareness
The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine
Town Hall, Tonight
(The Tall Schultz Brother)
The Forester's Plea
A Dog on Business
Hank and Lank: Joyriding
(Lank)
The Tout's Remembrance
Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some
(Lank)
Patricia of the Plains
The Bearded Bandit
Broncho Billy and the Vigilante
(A Cattle Owner)
On the Cactus Trail
A Story of Montana
Broncho Billy's Pal
Alkali Ike Plays the Devil
Broncho Billy for Sheriff
An Indian Sunbeam
(A Cowboy)
Alkali Ike Stung!
An Indian's Friendship
Alkali Ike's Close Shave
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife
Broncho Billy's Promise
Broncho Billy's Gun Play
Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid
(Jailer)
Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter
Broncho Billy's Gratefulness
(Dr. Huff)
The Accusation of Broncho Billy
Alkali Ike's Homecoming
(Slippery Slim)
Alkali Ike's Misfortunes
(Slippery Slim)
Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville's New Doctor
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy's Oath
The Last Laugh
The Three Gamblers
Sophie's Hero
(Slippery Slim)
A Romance of the Hills
That Pair from Thespia
(Second Actor)
A Snakeville Courtship
(Slippery Slim)
A Night on the Road
(Sheriff's Assistant)
Sophie's New Foreman
(Slippery Slim)
Slippery Slim Gets Cured
(Slippery Slim)
When Slippery Slim Met the Champion
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville's Peace-Maker
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy Rewarded
(The Hotel Proprietor)
A Gamblers' Way
(The Bartender)
Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator
(Slippery Slim)
What Came to Bar Q
(Bartender)
Slippery Slim and the Impersonator
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie and the Man of Her Choice
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy's Sermon
(The Sheriff)
Broncho Billy's Leap
Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark
(The Hotel Clerk)
The Revenue Agent
(The Minister)
The Bachelor's Burglar
Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber
Sophie Starts Something
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie Pulls a Good One
(Slippery Slim)
The Snakeville Volunteer
(Slippery Slim)
Pie for Sophie
(Snicklefritz)
The Wooing of Sophie
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie Finds a Hero
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie Gets Stung
(Slippery Slim)
A Horse on Sophie
(Slippery Slim)
Sophie's Fatal Wedding
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville's Reform Wave
(Slippery Slim)
Snakeville's New Waitress
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy Wins Out
(The School Trustee)
Broncho Billy's Wild Ride
Broncho Billy, the Vagabond
Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need
Slippery Slim -- Diplomat
(Slippery Slim)
Broncho Billy Steps In
Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp
A Tailor-Made Man
(Peter)
Lavender and Old Lace
(Joe Pendleton)
Damaged Lives
(Undetermined Role)
The Broken Coin
God's Country and the Woman
(Turpentine)
The Good-for-Nothing
(Old Clerk)
The Drunkard
(Farmer Gates)
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Big Boy Rides Again
(Ranch Foreman Scarface)
Step on It!
(Noisy Johnson)
The Loaded Door
(Slim)
Three Godfathers
('Buck Tooth')
One a Minute
(Jingo Pitts)
The Squaw Man
(Andy)
The Adventures of Rex and Rinty
(Kinso)
The Virtuous Sin
(Sentry)
Down to the Sea
(Andy)
Selling Shorts
(Slim Bassil)
Captain Kidd, Jr.
(Constable Sam)
Border Romance
(Slim)
The Last of the Clintons
(Jed Clinton)
It Happened Tomorrow
Small Town Boy
(Abner Towner)
Gun Play
(Brawler (uncredited))
On the Great White Trail
(Lyons)
Frontier Days
(Deputy Tex Hatch)
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
(Tom Turner)
Bob Hampton of Placer
(Willie McNeil)
Full of Pep
(Beanpole)
Water, Water, Everywhere
(Steve Brainard)
Below the Line
('Cuckoo' Niles)
Thunder Over Texas
(Dick)
Reno
(Detective McRae)
Pot o' Gold
(Olaf Svenson (uncredited))
The Cowboy and the Bandit
(Lanky)
Western Frontier
(Slim)
Hollywood Cavalcade
(Slim)
Yellow Dust
(Jugger - the Bartender)
Scandal Sheet
(Reporter)
The Villain Still Pursued Her
(Policeman (uncredited))
Face in the Sky
(Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited))
Stand Up and Fight
(Coach Driver)
Mississippi
(Guest (uncredited))
Let Freedom Ring
(Ole Swensen (uncredited))
Down the Wyoming Trail
(Slim)
Second Fiddle
(Steve - Crane Operator)
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence
(Ranch Hand)
Slightly Honorable
(Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited))
Doughboys
(Svendenburg)
The Housekeeper's Daughter
(Suspect)
Blondie Brings Up Baby
(Lars (uncredited))
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum
(The General)
Paradise Island
(Swede)
Fury
(Jorgeson (uncredited))
Whispering Smith Speaks
(Bill Prouty)
Rovin' Tumbleweeds
(Man in Store)
The Man in the Trunk
(Deaf Floor Man (uncredited))
Ten Cents a Dance
(Smith, a Sailor)
Young Tom Edison
(Mr. Tompkins)
The Lady Eve
(Second Steward (uncredited))
What Darwin Missed
(Professor Alonzo Bozzle)
The Loafer
Inside Information
(Rice - Thin Detective)
Mary's Ankle
(Johnny Stokes)
Chip of the Flying U
(Station Agent)
Moonlight on the Prairie
(Tall Saloon Cowboy)
Trail of the Vigilantes
(Conductor)
The Lady from Cheyenne
(Lem)
Ride on Vaquero
(Ole)
Two Gun Law
(Cassius)
Song of the Saddle
(Little Casino)
Man Hunt
(Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited))
White Bondage
(Luke Stacey)
Waterfront Lady
(Alex)
The Great McGinty
(Cook (uncredited))
Li'l Abner
(Fantastic Brown)
Three Faces West
(Postman)
Captain Swagger
(Jean)
The Captain's Kid
(Deputy Jake Hutchinson)
Flame of Barbary Coast
(Train Fireman)
The Glass Alibi
(Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel))
Rhythm Round-Up
(Slim Jensen)
Hearts and Saddles
Versus Sledge Hammers
(The Count)
At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern
(The Poet)
His Regeneration
(Pawn Shop Clerk)
Ruggles of Red Gap
(Curly - Cowboy)
Shipmates Forever
(Loafer (uncredited))
Wagon Wheels West
(Posse Rider (uncredited))
Melody of Love
(The Gawk)
Uneasy Payments
(Press Agent)
Billions
(Pushkin)
A Petal on the Current
The Lodge in the Wilderness
(Goofus)
Racing Romance
(Constable)
Morganson's Finish
(Ole Jensen)
She Couldn't Take It
(Farmer)
The Egg and I
(Crowbar)
The Devil Thumbs a Ride
A Medal for Benny
(Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited))
Girl from God's Country
(Barber)
Ten Days
Twisted Rails
(Tom Watson)
Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County
(The Druggist)
Broncho Billy and the Western Girls
(Outlaw)
O'Malley of the Mounted
(Gabby - the Cook)
The Great Moment
(First Dental Patient)
Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape
Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner
Broncho Billy's Adventure
(Cowboy)
Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy
Hail the Conquering Hero
(Progressive Bandleader (uncredited))
What Price Beauty?
Yankee Fakir
(Contest Chairman)
Laughing at Trouble
(Lem Parker)
A Lost Lady
(Ivy Peters)