Former vaudevillian, who acquired a solid reputation as a practical joker and master of insult, second only to the great Groucho Marx. Celebrity hosts would often hire Vince to perform gags and put-on jokes at their lavish parties, where he would insult the guests and create mayhem in his wake. He often posed as heavily-accented journalists with names like 'Timothy Glutzspiegel'. Among the many victims of his pranks were such luminaries as Winston Churchill, Charles Lindbergh, Henry Ford and the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen. Clark Gable nearly punched him out during a party given by Joan Crawford. Vince greeted Greta Garbo with "Good Morning, Miss Hepburn", and, as 'sound expert' Dr. Hoffman, instructed star Richard Barthelmess to take voice lessons from Texas Guinan or quit acting. During a trip to New York, he even cornered Mae West, posing as a member of the vice squad and threatening to close down her show ('Diamond Lil') unless she cut some of her bawdy dialogue. When the star acquiesced, the phoney inspector ordered her to burn the whole play and take the next train out of town. Not even Jack L. Warner was immune, being told by 'foreign producer' Barnett to learn the basics of film-making. Roly-poly, moustachioed, bald-pated Barnett followed in the footsteps of his father Luke, who had made a name for himself for playing similar pranks on people for thirty years in his home town of Pittsburgh. After studying at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Vince, who was an avid amateur pilot, flew mail planes for a couple of years before making his stage debut with "Earl Carroll's Vanities" in 1926. The following year, he acted on Broadway in "George White's Scandals". Movie roles soon followed. From 1930, Vince appeared, usually as comedy relief, in films and on television in a career spanning 45 years. Among his best-regarded early roles were Scarface (1932),as a dumb gangster; The Big Cage (1933), Thirty Day Princess (1934) and, in a perfectly-suited Runyonesque part, Princess O'Hara (1935). In later years, Vince often relinquished his comedy image and was seen in innumerable small roles, often as careworn little men, undertakers, janitors, bartenders and drunks in pictures ranging from films noir like The Killers (1946), to westerns such as Springfield Rifle (1952). In one of his last public appearances, Vince showcased his unique brand of humour with a monologue, delivered at Madison Square Garden in the vaudeville revue 'The Big Show of 1936'. It was to his ever-lasting regret that he never got the chance to match wits (and insults) with his illustrious Irish contemporary George Bernard Shaw.
Movie | Sixpack Annie | Bartender | 1975-12-12 |
Movie | Crazy Mama | Homer | 1975-06-01 |
Movie | Summer School Teachers | Principal Adams | 1974-08-01 |
Series | Here's Lucy | Unknown | 1968-09-23 |
Movie | The Spy in the Green Hat | 'Scissors' | 1967-02-03 |
Movie | The Big Mouth | Man at Telephone Booth (uncredited) | 1967-07-12 |
Series | Cimarron Strip | Unknown | 1967-09-07 |
Movie | Zebra in the Kitchen | Man in Manhole | 1965-06-01 |
Movie | The Family Jewels | Automobile Owner at Gas Station | 1965-07-01 |
Movie | Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine | Janitor | 1965-11-06 |
Series | Green Acres | Unknown | 1965-09-15 |
Series | Glynis | Unknown | 1963-09-25 |
Movie | The Sound of Laughter | Vince (Small Duck Hunter) | 1963-12-17 |
Series | The Andy Griffith Show | 1960-10-03 | |
Movie | The Rookie | Pentagon janitor | 1959-12-01 |
Movie | Girl on the Run | Janitor | 1958-10-10 |
Movie | Outlaw Queen | Gamler | 1957-04-27 |
Series | Perry Mason | Unknown | 1957-09-21 |
Movie | The Crooked Web | Ed - Stan's Partner in Drive-In (uncredited) | 1955-11-30 |
Movie | The Jazz Singer | Bartender | 1953-02-14 |
Series | Letter to Loretta | Unknown | 1953-09-20 |
Movie | Charade | Berg | 1953-09-16 |
Movie | Carson City | Henry | 1952-06-13 |
Movie | Springfield Rifle | Cook (uncredited) | 1952-10-22 |
Movie | Kentucky Jubilee | Mugsy | 1951-05-18 |
Movie | On Dangerous Ground | George (uncredited) | 1951-12-13 |
Movie | I'll See You in My Dreams | Burlesk Comedian (uncredited) | 1951-12-06 |
Movie | Mule Train | Joe - Barber | 1950-02-22 |
Movie | The Grass Is Always Greener | Cooky | 1950-01-07 |
Movie | Hunt the Man Down | Joe (uncredited) | 1950-12-26 |
Movie | Knock on Any Door | Carl Swanson - Bartender (uncredited) | 1949-02-22 |
Movie | Deputy Marshal | Hotel Clerk | 1949-10-28 |
Movie | Big Town Scandal | Louie Snead | 1948-05-27 |
Movie | Thunder in the Pines | Bernard, the Bartender | 1948-11-11 |
Movie | Loaded Pistols | Sam Gardner | 1948-12-15 |
Movie | Shoot to Kill | Charlie Gill | 1947-03-15 |
Movie | I Cover Big Town | Louis Murkil | 1947-02-27 |
Movie | My Brother Talks to Horses | Schuyler (uncredited) | 1947-02-04 |
Movie | Gas House Kids Go West | Steve | 1947-06-12 |
Movie | High Wall | Henry Cronner | 1947-12-17 |
Movie | Little Miss Broadway | Mack Truck | 1947-06-19 |
Movie | Big Town After Dark | Louie Snead | 1947-12-12 |
Movie | Brute Force | Muggsy | 1947-07-16 |
Movie | The Trespasser | Bartender | 1947-07-03 |
Movie | No Leave, No Love | Ben | 1946-03-10 |
Movie | The Virginian | Baldy | 1946-05-05 |
Movie | The Falcon's Alibi | Goldie Locke | 1946-04-12 |
Movie | Two Sisters from Boston | Singing Waiter (uncredited) | 1946-06-06 |
Movie | Bowery Bombshell | Street Cleaner | 1946-07-20 |
Movie | The Killers | Charleston | 1946-08-30 |
Movie | The Big Show-Off | Voice Student | 1945-01-22 |
Movie | High Powered | Short Bald Man at Dance | 1945-02-27 |
Movie | River Gang | Organ Grinder | 1945-09-21 |
Movie | Thrill of a Romance | Oscar | 1945-05-23 |
Movie | Sensation Hunters | Agent | 1945-10-12 |
Movie | Sweethearts of the U.S.A. | Clipper - 3rd Robber | 1944-03-07 |
Movie | Jungle Woman | Curley (archive footage / uncredited) | 1944-06-01 |
Movie | Leave It to the Irish | Barney Baker | 1944-08-26 |
Movie | The Mask of Dimitrios | Card Game Kibitzer (uncredited) | 1944-06-23 |
Movie | Kid Dynamite | Klinkhammer | 1943-02-05 |
Movie | Captive Wild Woman | Curly | 1943-06-04 |
Movie | Cosmo Jones, Crime Smasher | Henchman 'Gimp' | 1943-01-29 |
Movie | Petticoat Larceny | Stogie | 1943-07-17 |
Movie | Danger! Women at Work | Benny | 1943-08-23 |
Movie | Tornado | Alvin | 1943-08-09 |
Movie | Stardust on the Sage | Haskins | 1942-05-25 |
Movie | Gallant Lady | Baldy | 1942-05-29 |
Movie | My Favorite Spy | Kay's 2nd Taxi Driver | 1942-06-12 |
Movie | Klondike Fury | Alaska | 1942-03-20 |
Movie | Girls' Town | Dimitri | 1942-03-06 |
Movie | The Lady or the Tiger? | The King | 1942-03-28 |
Movie | The Corpse Vanishes | Sandy, photographer | 1942-05-08 |
Movie | Queen of Broadway | Schultz | 1942-11-24 |
Movie | The Phantom Plainsmen | 1942-06-16 | |
Movie | Bowery at Midnight | Charley | 1942-10-30 |
Movie | X Marks the Spot | Waiter at Diner | 1942-11-04 |
Movie | Foreign Agent | Silly Drunk at Bar | 1942-10-09 |
Movie | Baby Face Morgan | Lefty Lewis | 1942-09-15 |
Movie | Gangs Inc. | Scribbler, a Petty Forger | 1941-06-13 |
Movie | Mr. District Attorney | Coroner's Messenger | 1941-03-27 |
Movie | Puddin' Head | Broken Teapot Man | 1941-06-25 |
Movie | Jungle Man | Buckthorn 'Buck' the Guide | 1941-09-19 |
Movie | A Dangerous Game | Ephriam | 1941-08-21 |
Movie | I Killed That Man | Drunk | 1941-11-28 |
Movie | Blonde Comet | Curly | 1941-12-26 |
Movie | East Side Kids | Whisper | 1940-02-10 |
Movie | Boys of the City | Simp | 1940-07-15 |
Movie | Heroes of the Saddle | Night Watchman | 1940-12-01 |
Movie | Seven Sinners | Bartender | 1940-10-25 |
Movie | Water Rustlers | Mike - the cook | 1939-01-06 |
Movie | Ride 'em, Cowgirl | Dan Haggerty | 1939-01-20 |
Movie | Overland Mail | Porchy | 1939-11-16 |
Movie | Exile Express | Deputy Constable | 1939-05-27 |
Movie | The Singing Cowgirl | Kewpie | 1938-06-02 |
Movie | Sunset Murder Case | Barney | 1938-11-11 |
Movie | The Headleys at Home | Vince Bergson | 1938-11-01 |
Movie | The Woman I Love | Mathieu | 1937-04-15 |
Movie | Boots of Destiny | Acey Ducey- Sidekick | 1937-07-16 |
Movie | Bank Alarm | Clarence "Bulb" Callahan | 1937-06-07 |
Movie | Dancing Feet | Willoughby | 1936-01-20 |
Movie | The Brain Busters | Vince | 1936-01-09 |
Movie | Riffraff | Lew | 1936-01-03 |
Movie | Down to the Sea | Hector | 1936-05-30 |
Movie | Captain Calamity | Burp | 1936-11-28 |
Movie | We're in the Legion Now | Spike Conover | 1936-12-13 |
Movie | Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs | 1936-08-05 | |
Movie | Yellow Cargo | Speedy 'Bulbs' Callahan | 1936-11-07 |
Movie | I Cover Chinatown | Puss McGaffey, the Bus Driver | 1936-10-01 |
Movie | Black Fury | Kubanda | 1935-05-18 |
Movie | Don't Bet on Blondes | Chuck aka 'Brains' | 1935-07-13 |
Movie | Princess O'Hara | Fingers | 1935-03-31 |
Movie | Just Another Murder | Vincent Smart | 1935-10-03 |
Movie | Streamline Express | Mr. Jones | 1935-09-15 |
Movie | Pirate Party on Catalina Isle | Performer | 1935-11-20 |
Movie | I Live My Life | Clerk | 1935-10-04 |
Movie | Thirty Day Princess | Count Nicholeus | 1934-05-18 |
Movie | Now I'll Tell | Peppo | 1934-06-07 |
Movie | Registered Nurse | Jerry | 1934-04-06 |
Movie | The 9th Guest | William Jones | 1934-01-31 |
Movie | Take the Stand | Tony | 1934-08-07 |
Movie | Madame Spy | Peter | 1934-02-10 |
Movie | The Affairs of Cellini | Ascanio | 1934-08-24 |
Movie | Crimson Romance | The Courier | 1934-10-12 |
Movie | The Secret Bride | Drunk in Diner | 1934-12-22 |
Movie | Young and Beautiful | Sammy | 1934-09-16 |
Movie | No Ransom | Bullet | 1934-10-07 |
Movie | She Loves Me Not | Baldy Schultz | 1934-08-31 |
Movie | Kansas City Princess | Quincy - Dynamite's Henchman | 1934-09-14 |
Movie | Super Stupid | 1934-09-14 | |
Movie | The Big Cage | Soupmeat | 1933-05-01 |
Movie | Fast Workers | Spike | 1933-03-10 |
Movie | Hallelujah, I'm a Bum | Undetermined Secondary Role | 1933-02-03 |
Movie | The Girl in 419 | Otto Hoffer | 1933-05-26 |
Movie | The Prizefighter and the Lady | Bugsie | 1933-11-10 |
Movie | Sunset Pass | Windy | 1933-05-26 |
Movie | Air Maniacs | Comic Photographer | 1933-12-15 |
Movie | Man of the Forest | Little | 1933-08-24 |
Movie | Horse Feathers | Speakeasy Patron (uncredited) | 1932-08-19 |
Movie | Scarface | Angelo | 1932-04-09 |
Movie | The Night Mayor | Louis Mossbaum, Tailor | 1932-08-18 |
Movie | Tiger Shark | Fishbone | 1932-09-24 |
Movie | Heritage of the Desert | Windy | 1932-09-30 |
Movie | Flesh | Waiter | 1932-12-08 |
Movie | The Death Kiss | Officer Gulliver | 1932-12-05 |
Movie | Rackety Rax | 'Dutch' | 1932-10-23 |
Movie | Scandal Sheet | Barrett, Convict Reporter | 1931-01-31 |
Movie | Side Show | The Great Santini | 1931-09-19 |
Movie | Wide Open | Dvorak | 1930-02-01 |
Movie | All Quiet on the Western Front | Assistant Cook (uncredited) | 1930-04-29 |
Movie | Her Man | Waiter (uncredited) | 1930-09-21 |