Fred Kelsey

Actor

Fred Kelsey

Born August 20, 1884 in Sandusky, Ohio, USADied September 2, 1961290 films

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.

Start here

The best way into Fred Kelsey's work
Strangers on a Train posterFirst watchStrangers on a Train19517.7as Tennis Match Spectator / Carnival Attendee (uncredited)A supporting role in one of the best-rated films of their career.A charming psychopath tries to coerce a tennis star into his theory that two strangers can commit the perfect crime by exchanging murders—each killing the other’s most-hated person.View film

Essential films

Ranked by role, acclaim and reach
To Catch a Thief poster7.3To Catch a Thief1955Mildred Pierce poster7.6Mildred Pierce1945The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case poster6.9The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case1930A Star Is Born poster7.1A Star Is Born1954Gold Diggers of 1933 poster7.2Gold Diggers of 19331933Christmas in Connecticut poster7.0Christmas in Connecticut1945The Fountainhead poster6.9The Fountainhead1949Auntie Mame poster7.0Auntie Mame1958

Filmography

290 films as actor
  1. 1959WestboundTownsman (uncredited)
  2. 1958Auntie MameFront Row Audience at Play (uncredited)
  3. 1957The Helen Morgan StoryNight Club Patron (uncredited)
  4. 1957Shoot-Out at Medicine BendBarfly (uncredited)
  5. 1956The Opposite SexClub Patron (uncredited)
  6. 1956SerenadeOpera Attendee (uncredited)
  7. 1955IllegalCourtroom Spectator (uncredited)
  8. 1955To Catch a ThiefParty Guest (uncredited)
  9. 1955Tall Man RidingTownsman (uncredited)
  10. 1954Outlaw's Son
  11. 1954The Silver ChaliceSilversmith (uncredited)
  12. 1954So You Want to Know Your RelativesMr. Watson (uncredited)
  13. 1954A Star Is BornAudience Member (uncredited)
  14. 1954Lucky MePasserby on Street (uncredited)
  15. 1954Riding ShotgunTownsman (uncredited)
  16. 1954Phantom of the Rue MorgueCrowd Spectator (uncredited)
  17. 1954Racing BloodSmithy
  18. 1953So You Think You Can't SleepSleeping patient in waiting room
  19. 1953Crime WaveOld Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
  20. 1953Murder Without TearsSergeant-at-Arms
  21. 1953So You Want to Be a MusicianRestaurant diner
  22. 1952Hans Christian AndersenGendarme #1
  23. 1952Strop, Look and ListenPierpont Alloy
  24. 1952Springfield RifleBarfly (uncredited)
  25. 1952O. Henry's Full HouseMr. Schultz (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
  26. 1952Carson CityTownsman (uncredited)
  27. 1952So You Want to Enjoy LifeBoat Salesman / Flugleman's Assistant (uncredited)
  28. 1952My Six ConvictsStore Detective
  29. 1952Room for One More
  30. 1951Strangers on a TrainTennis Match Spectator / Carnival Attendee (uncredited)
  31. 1951Goodbye, My FancyParty Guest (Uncredited)
  32. 1951The Enforcer
  33. 1951Storm WarningTownsman (uncredited)
  34. 1950Revenue AgentSgt. Wallace
  35. 1950So You Want a Raise
  36. 1950The Flame and the ArrowGuard (uncredited)
  37. 1950The Damned Don't CryMan on Dock (uncredited)
  38. 1950So You Think You're Not GuiltyPolice Turnkey (uncredited)
  39. 1950BackfireFight Fan (uncredited)
  40. 1949The Inspector GeneralVillager (uncredited)
  41. 1949So You Want to Be an ActorCounter Man
  42. 1949Dancing in the DarkDeputy
  43. 1949So You Want to Be a Muscle ManDelivery Man
  44. 1949The FountainheadOld Watchman (uncredited)
  45. 1949Colorado TerritoryTrain Engineer (uncredited)
  46. 1949Flamingo RoadTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  47. 1949HomicideOfficer O'Brien
  48. 1948Silver RiverTownsman (uncredited)
  49. 1948The Noose Hangs HighCop (uncredited)
  50. 1948So You Want an ApartmentApartment Manager with a Vacancy (uncredited)
  51. 1947The UnfaithfulCourtroom Spectator
  52. 1947Nora PrentissTurnkey (uncredited)
  53. 1946So You Think You're a Nervous WreckFred
  54. 1946The Man I LoveMac the Doorman (uncredited)
  55. 1946Andy Plays HookeyPoliceman
  56. 1946The People's Choice
  57. 1946Never Say GoodbyePoliceman (uncredited)
  58. 1946So You Want to Play the HorsesDetective (uncredited)
  59. 1946Night and DayFirst-Nighter (uncredited)
  60. 1946Monkey BusinessmenSmiling Sam McGann (uncredited)
  61. 1946A Stolen LifeBartender (uncredited)
  62. 1946Hiss and YellPoliceman (uncredited)
  63. 1946Three StrangersMan on the Street / Man in Pub (uncredited)
  64. 1946Detour to DangerDet. Kelsey
  65. 1945How DOooo You DoDetective
  66. 1945Frontier DaysMayor Stone (uncredited)
  67. 1945Saratoga TrunkTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  68. 1945Mildred PierceBumped First Night Diner (uncredited)
  69. 1945Come Out FightingMr. McGinnis, Sr. (as Fred Kelsy)
  70. 1945If a Body Meets a BodyDetective
  71. 1945Christmas in ConnecticutHarper (uncredited)
  72. 1945Snooper Service
  73. 1945The Strange Mr. GregoryLefert
  74. 1944Crime by NightDad Martin (uncredited)
  75. 1944Make Your Own BedTurnkey
  76. 1944Trial by TriggerJerry (uncredited)
  77. 1944Mr. SkeffingtonCop in Raid (uncredited)
  78. 1944Shine on Harvest MoonPoliceman in patrol car (uncredited)
  79. 1944Roaring Guns
  80. 1943A Gem of a JamPolice Chief
  81. 1943True to LifeCop (uncredited)
  82. 1943Old AcquaintanceTrain Conductor / Man at Radio Broadcast (uncredited)
  83. 1943Northern PursuitTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  84. 1943Thank Your Lucky StarsPub Waiter in Errol Flynn Number (uncredited)
  85. 1943Murder on the WaterfrontCapt. Beal
  86. 1943Here Comes Mr. ZerkPoliceman
  87. 1943Action in the North AtlanticJoe (uncredited)
  88. 1943One Dangerous NightDetective Dickens
  89. 1942Gentleman JimSutro (uncredited)
  90. 1942X Marks the SpotPolice Officer Martin
  91. 1942Dear! Deer!Policeman
  92. 1942Counter-EspionageDickens
  93. 1942The Daughter of Rosie O'GradyPoliceman (uncredited)
  94. 1942Spy ShipNight Watchman
  95. 1942In This Our LifeJailer (uncredited)
  96. 1942Larceny, Inc.Bronson
  97. 1942Murder in the Big House"Screw"
  98. 1942I Was FramedDrunk
  99. 1942My Favorite BlondeSam - Policeman
  100. 1942Lady GangsterPoliceman (uncredited)
  101. 1942Bullet ScarsPolice Chief Hansen
  102. 1942Wild Bill Hickok RidesJailer
  103. 1941Pacific BlackoutCop
  104. 1941The Man Who Came to DinnerDetective (uncredited)
  105. 1941They Died with Their Boots OnFt. Lincoln Bartender (uncredited)
  106. 1941At the Stroke of TwelvePolice Sergeant
  107. 1941Secrets of the Lone WolfWesley Dickens
  108. 1941One Foot in HeavenTrain Conductor (uncredited)
  109. 1941Invisible GhostDetective Ryan
  110. 1941Mr. District AttorneyOfficer McCloskey
  111. 1941The Lone Wolf Takes a ChanceDetective Dickens
  112. 1940Misbehaving HusbandsSgt. Murphy
  113. 1940The Lone Wolf Keeps a DateDickens
  114. 1940Mexican Spitfire Out WestJim - Detective
  115. 1940The Green ArcherCapt. Thompson
  116. 1940The Golden FleecingCop (uncredited)
  117. 1940Deadwood DickBottles
  118. 1940The Lone Wolf Meets a LadyDickens
  119. 1940Mutiny in the CountyPoliceman
  120. 1940The Lone Wolf StrikesDickens