Fred Kelsey

Born: 1884-08-20 in Sandusky, Ohio, USA

Died: 1961-09-02

Known For: Acting

Biography

Frederick Alvin Kelsey (August 20, 1884 – September 2, 1961) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. Kelsey directed one- and two-reel films for Universal Film Manufacturing Company. He appeared in more than 400 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives. He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920. Kelsey was caricatured as the detective in the 1943 MGM cartoon Who Killed Who? directed by Tex Avery. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio and died at the Motion Picture Country Home in Hollywood, California, aged 77.

Filmography

1959

Westbound as Townsman (uncredited)

1958

Auntie Mame as Front Row Audience at Play (uncredited)

1957

The Helen Morgan Story as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
Shoot-Out At Medicine Bend as Barfly (uncredited)

1956

The Opposite Sex as Club Patron (uncredited)
Serenade as Opera Attendee (uncredited)

1955

To Catch a Thief as Party Guest (uncredited)
Illegal as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Tall Man Riding as Townsman (uncredited)

1954

A Star Is Born as Audience Member (uncredited)
Racing Blood as Smithy
Riding Shotgun as Townsman (uncredited)
The Silver Chalice as Silversmith (uncredited)
Lucky Me as Passerby on Street (uncredited)
Phantom of the Rue Morgue as Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
So You Want to Know Your Relatives as Mr. Watson (uncredited)
Outlaw's Son

1953

Crime Wave as Old Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
Murder Without Tears as Sergeant-at-Arms
So You Think You Can't Sleep as Sleeping patient in waiting room
So You Want to Be a Musician as Restaurant diner

1952

O. Henry's Full House as Mr. Schultz (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
Springfield Rifle as Barfly (uncredited)
My Six Convicts as Store Detective
Room for One More
Hans Christian Andersen as First Gendarme
Carson City as Townsman (uncredited)
Strop, Look and Listen as Pierpont Alloy
So You Want to Enjoy Life as Boat Salesman / Flugleman's Assistant (uncredited)

1951

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok as Doc Jones (uncredited)
Strangers on a Train as Tennis Match Spectator / Carnival Attendee (uncredited)
The Enforcer
Storm Warning as Townsman (uncredited)
Goodbye, My Fancy as Party Guest (Uncredited)

1950

The Flame and the Arrow as Guard (uncredited)
Backfire as Fight Fan (uncredited)
The Damned Don't Cry as Man on Dock (uncredited)
Revenue Agent as Sgt. Wallace
So You Think You're Not Guilty as Police Turnkey (uncredited)
So You Want a Raise
So You Want to Hold Your Husband as Lamb - Curry's Partner

1949

Flamingo Road as Train Conductor (uncredited)
The Fountainhead as Old Watchman (uncredited)
The Inspector General as Villager (uncredited)
Colorado Territory as Train Engineer (uncredited)
Dancing in the Dark as Deputy
Homicide as Officer O'Brien
So You Want to Be an Actor as Counter Man
So You Want to Be a Muscle Man as Delivery Man

1948

Silver River as Townsman (uncredited)
The Noose Hangs High as Cop (uncredited)
So You Want an Apartment as Apartment Manager with a Vacancy (uncredited)

1947

The Unfaithful as Courtroom Spectator
Nora Prentiss as Turnkey (uncredited)

1946

Night and Day as First-Nighter (uncredited)
Monkey Businessmen as Smiling Sam McGann (uncredited)
Three Strangers as Man on the Street / Man in Pub (uncredited)
A Stolen Life as Bartender (uncredited)
The People's Choice
Never Say Goodbye as Policeman (uncredited)
So You Want to Play the Horses as Detective (uncredited)
The Man I Love as Mac the Doorman (uncredited)
Detour to Danger as Det. Kelsey
So You Think You're a Nervous Wreck as Fred
Hiss and Yell as Policeman (uncredited)
Andy Plays Hookey as Policeman

1945

Mildred Pierce as Bumped First Night Diner (uncredited)
Saratoga Trunk as Train Conductor (uncredited)
Christmas in Connecticut as Harper (uncredited)
Frontier Days as Mayor Stone (uncredited)
How DOooo You Do as Detective
Come Out Fighting as Mr. McGinnis, Sr. (as Fred Kelsy)
If a Body Meets a Body as Detective
The Strange Mr. Gregory as Lefert
Snooper Service

1944

Mr. Skeffington as Cop in Raid (uncredited)
Make Your Own Bed as Turnkey
Shine on Harvest Moon as Policeman in patrol car (uncredited)
Roaring Guns
Crime by Night as Dad Martin (uncredited)
Trial by Trigger as Jerry (uncredited)

1943

True to Life as Cop (uncredited)
Northern Pursuit as Train Conductor (uncredited)
Action in the North Atlantic as Joe (uncredited)
Old Acquaintance as Train Conductor / Man at Radio Broadcast (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars as Pub Waiter in Errol Flynn Number (uncredited)
One Dangerous Night as Detective Dickens
A Gem of a Jam as Police Chief
Murder on the Waterfront as Capt. Beal
Here Comes Mr. Zerk as Policeman
Food and Magic

1942

Dear! Deer! as Policeman
In This Our Life as Jailer (uncredited)
Gentleman Jim as Sutro (uncredited)
My Favorite Blonde as Sam - Policeman
Bullet Scars as Police Chief Hansen
Larceny, Inc. as Bronson
Wild Bill Hickok Rides as Jailer
Lady Gangster as Policeman (uncredited)
Spy Ship as Night Watchman
I Was Framed as Drunk
X Marks the Spot as Police Officer Martin
Counter-Espionage as Dickens
Murder in the Big House as "Screw"
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady as Policeman (uncredited)

1941

They Died with Their Boots On as Ft. Lincoln Bartender (uncredited)
Mr. District Attorney as Officer McCloskey
The Man Who Came to Dinner as Detective (uncredited)
Pacific Blackout as Cop
One Foot in Heaven as Train Conductor (uncredited)
Invisible Ghost as Detective Ryan
The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance as Detective Dickens
At the Stroke of Twelve as Police Sergeant
Secrets of the Lone Wolf as Wesley Dickens

1940

The Green Archer as Capt. Thompson
The Lone Wolf Strikes as Dickens
Deadwood Dick as Bottles
High School as Junk Man
The Man Who Wouldn't Talk as Bailiff
Mexican Spitfire Out West as Jim - Detective
The Golden Fleecing as Cop (uncredited)
Misbehaving Husbands as Sgt. Murphy
The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady as Dickens
The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date as Dickens
Mutiny in the County as Policeman

1939

Charlie Chan at Treasure Island as Detective - in Cab and at Theatre
Clock Wise as Landlord
Tell No Tales as Policeman at School (uncredited)
Charlie Chan in Reno as Reno Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence as Pete - Railroad Detective
Rough Riders' Round-up as Agitator
Chicken Wagon Family as Policeman
Tiny Troubles as Judge
Too Busy to Work as Hank Fidler
Moving Vanities as Police Officer (uncredited)

1938

Down on the Farm as Bit Role
Everybody's Doing It as Police Sergeant
Safety in Numbers as Cop
Night Spot as Police Band Leader
Straight, Place and Show as Cop at Racetrack
Josette as Hotel Detective
Many Sappy Returns as Finnegan
Berth Quakes as Train Conductor

1937

Super-Sleuth as Jailer
Love and Hisses as Officer
Wild and Woolly as Policeman (uncredited)
Time Out for Romance as Policeman
Love Is News as Cop (uncredited)
Slave Ship as Seaman at Auction
She Had to Eat as Police Officer Tracy (uncredited)
One Mile from Heaven as Smitty - Policeman
The Lady Escapes as Man on telephone (uncredited)
Angel's Holiday as Conductor
Borrowing Trouble as Policeman
That I May Live as Abner Jenkins
Big Business as Oil Man at Well

1936

Private Number as Detective in Ellen's Apartment (Uncredited)
The Witness Chair as Detective Costigan
The Garden Murder Case as Heath's Assistant (Uncredited)
High Tension as Desk Sergeant
The Little Red Schoolhouse as First Detective
At Sea Ashore as Cop (uncredited)

1935

Diamond Jim as Horsley's Secretary
Death Flies East as Police Lieutenant O'Brien
The Public Menace as Mike - Cop
Atlantic Adventure as Police Officer Riley
Carnival as Bit Part
Horses' Collars as Detective Hyden Zeke (uncredited)
The Sagebrush Troubadour as Hank Polk
A Notorious Gentleman as Detective
One Frightened Night as Sheriff Jenks
Danger Ahead as Detective O'Brien
Hot Money as Police Officer Kelsey (as Fred A. Kelsey)

1934

School for Girls as Detective
Twentieth Century as Train Detective (uncredited)
The Crime Doctor as Bloodgood
I'll Tell the World as Sergeant at Border
Beloved as Mulvaney
Among the Missing as Police Sgt. Murphy
Lightning Strikes Twice as Dugan
The Moth as Detective Blake
Rough Necking as Joe Cuttlehammer Sr.
Strictly Fresh Yeggs as Policeman
I'll Be Suing You as Insurance Adjustor

1933

Gold Diggers of 1933 as Detective Jones (uncredited)
Shadows of Sing Sing as Murphy
The Bowery as Detective Kelsey (uncredited)
The Crime of the Century as Police Guard (uncredited)
Sailor's Luck as Cop
King of the Jungle as Cop (uncredited)
Quiet Please! as Train Conductor

1932

Huddle as Policeman (uncredited)
If I Had a Million as Prison Jailer (uncredited)
Speak Easily as Process Server
The Trial of Vivienne Ware as Cop (uncredited)
Boys Will Be Boys as Doorman
Love in High Gear as Detective Duffy
The Iceman's Ball as Police Sergeant
Discarded Lovers as Delaney
Red Haired Alibi as Corcoran
Guilty as Hell as Detective Duffy
Yoo-Hoo as Detective
Shopping with Wifie as Det. Dugan

1931

The Naughty Flirt as Policeman (uncredited)
Scandal Sheet as Detective Sgt. Vincent Molloy
Young Donovan's Kid as Collins
Side Show as Sheriff Hornsby
Subway Express as Detective Kearney

1930

The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case as Chief of Detectives (uncredited)
Only Saps Work as Murphy (uncredited)
Murder on the Roof as Ryan
The Girl Said No as Policeman
Scarlet Pages as Murphy
Road to Paradise as Casey
Going Wild as The Conductor
The Woman Racket as Police Captain
Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 1 as Self - Tour Guide
Wide Open as Detective
She Got What She Wanted
Men Without Law as Deputy Sheriff Jeff

1929

Wrong Again
The Donovan Affair as Carney
The Faker as Police Detective
Smiling Irish Eyes as County Fair Manager

1928

Harold Teen as Mr. Lovewell
A Woman of Affairs as Detective (uncredited)
While the City Sleeps as Detective in Shadow Box
The Last Warning as Inspector
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath as Detective
A Midnight Adventure as Cassidy
Naughty Baby as Dugan
Tenderloin as Detective Simpson
On Trial as Clerk
The Wright Idea as M. T. Flatt
Plastered in Paris

1927

Soft Cushions as The Police
The Gorilla as Mulligan
Jewish Prudence as Rent Collector
Orchids and Ermine as Police Sergeant
The 13th Juror as The Detective
The Thirteenth Hour as Det. Shaw
Held by the Law as Detective

1926

Crazy Like a Fox as Man with Badge on Train (uncredited)
Dog Shy as Cop
Bromo and Juliet as The Detective (uncredited)
The Social Highwayman as Chief of Police
The Third Degree as Assistant Chief of Detectives
That's My Baby as Murphy
Say It with Babies as Policeman
There Ain't No Santa Claus as Store Detective (uncredited)
Atta Boy as Detective
The Mystery Pilot as Skipper Larsen

1925

Paths to Paradise as Confederate
Smooth as Satin as Kersey
Seven Sinners as Policeman
Little Annie Rooney as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
The Uneasy Three
The Lawful Cheater as Tom Horan
Excuse Me as George Ketchem
Seven Keys to Baldpate
Youth and Adventure as Red Mullin
Friendly Enemies

1924

Traffic in Hearts as Tim Tracy
The Night Hawk
The Yankee Consul as Agent John J. Doyle

1923

Souls for Sale as Detective Quinn (uncredited)
Lovebound as Detective Hahn
The Eleventh Hour as The Submarine Commander
Lights Out as Decker
Bag and Baggage as Fred

1922

One Clear Call as Starnes
Manslaughter as Member of the Jury (uncredited)
Captain Fly-by-Night as Gomez
Don't Shoot as Police Officer
The Song of Life as Police Inspector
Deserted at the Altar as The Other Man
South of Suva as Karl Swartz

1921

The Off-Shore Pirate as Sailor
The Match-Breaker as Detective
There Are No Villains as Dugall
The Last Card as Detective (uncredited)
Puppets of Fate as Bobs

1920

Alias Jimmy Valentine as Bit Part (uncredited)
The Third Generation as Brody

1919

The Silk Lined Burglar as Capt. von Hoffmeier
The Fire Flingers as Sgt. Powers
The Light of Victory as Captain Eric von Prohme

1918

A Society Sensation as JIm Cox
The Purple Lily ... (Director)
The Yellow Dog as Max Kummich
The Empty Cab as The Detective

1917

Six-Shooter Justice ... (Director)
The Bad Man of Cheyenne ... (Director)
The Fighting Gringo ... (Director)
The Mysterious Outlaw ... (Director)
The Wrong Man ... (Director)
Blood Money ... (Director)
Goin' Straight ... (Director)
The Outlaw and the Lady ... (Director)
The Golden Bullet ... (Director)
The Honor of an Outlaw as The Deputy
A 44-Calibre Mystery ... (Director)
The Drifter ... (Director)
Hair-Trigger Burke ... (Scenario Writer)
The Almost Good Man ... (Director)
The Fugitive ... (Director)

1916

The Nymph ... (Director)
The Black Terror ... (Director)
Brothers Equal ... (Director)

1915

Her Buried Past ... (Director)
The Pretender ... (Director)
Station Content ... (Director)

1914

Over the Ledge ... (Director)
The Exposure ... (Director)
Arms and the Gringo
Silent Sandy as Silent Sandy

1911

A Left Hook