{{short description|American actor (1904–1984)}} {{More citations needed |date=September 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Murray Alper | image = Murray Alper in Angel on My Shoulder.jpg | caption = Alper in ''[[Angel on My Shoulder (film)|Angel on My Shoulder]]'' (1946) | birth_date = {{birth date|1904|01|11|mf=y}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1984|11|16|1904|01|11|mf=y}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | resting_place = [[Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1927–1969 }}
'''Murray Alper''' (January 11, 1904 – November 16, 1984)<ref name=ibdb/> was an American actor. He appeared in numerous television series, films, and [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] productions.
==Biography== Born in New York City in 1904, Alper worked on Broadway from 1927 to 1940 in a number of shows including ''The Wild Man of Borneo'', ''This is New York'', ''Broadway Boy'', ''Sailor Beware!'', and ''Every Man for Himself''.<ref name="ibdb">{{cite web |title=Murray Alper |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/murray-alper-29740 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |accessdate=September 17, 2019 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20190917022504/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/murray-alper-29740 |archivedate=September 17, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Alper appeared in more than 200 films and TV series from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. Quite often his work was uncredited and he never received a top billing in one of his movies. His first known screen credit was in ''[[The Royal Family of Broadway]]'' (1930) a part he had already played on Broadway in 1927/28.
His signature character was a chatty taxi driver, which he played at least 20 times, most notably in ''[[The Maltese Falcon (1941 film)|The Maltese Falcon]]'' (1941) as a friendly cabbie who drives [[Sam Spade]], played by [[Humphrey Bogart]], during a mid-film wild goose chase, as well as in such other well-known films as ''[[The Big Broadcast of 1937]]'', ''[[Lady in the Dark (film)|Lady in the Dark]]'' and ''[[Angel on My Shoulder (film)|Angel on My Shoulder]]''. His biggest role should have been the part of Gus Smith in the [[Alfred Hitchcock]] film ''[[Lifeboat (1944 film)|Lifeboat]]'' in 1943. Due to his becoming ill right before the start of shooting in August, he was replaced by actor [[William Bendix]]. However, he worked for Hitchcock on three other movies: ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'' (1941), again as a cabbie, ''[[Saboteur (film)|Saboteur]]'' (1942), and ''[[Strangers on a Train (film)|Strangers on a Train]]'' (1951).
Frequently seen in comedies, Alper was featured in [[the Three Stooges]] films ''[[Tricky Dicks]]'' (1953) and ''[[The Outlaws Is Coming]]'' (1965). One of Alper's least characteristic roles was the judo instructor in [[Jerry Lewis]]' ''[[The Nutty Professor (1963 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' (1963).
==Selected filmography== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * ''[[The Royal Family of Broadway]]'' (1930) - McDermott * ''[[The Girl Habit]]'' (1931) - Hood * ''[[Little Big Shot (1935 film)|Little Big Shot]]'' (1935) - Doré's Henchman #22 * ''[[Navy Wife (1935 film)|Navy Wife]]'' (1935) - Sam (uncredited) * ''[[The Public Menace]]'' (1935) - Stiglitz * ''[[Hands Across the Table]]'' (1935) - Cabbie (uncredited) * ''[[Seven Keys to Baldpate (1935 film)|Seven Keys to Baldpate]]'' (1935) - Max the Monk * ''[[The Milky Way (1936 film)|The Milky Way]]'' (1935) - Cabbie with Little Agnes (uncredited) * ''[[Two in Revolt]]'' (1936) - Andy * ''[[Panic on the Air]]'' (1936) - Martin Danker * ''[[Murder on a Bridle Path]]'' (1936) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[High Tension (1936 film)|High Tension]]'' (1936) - Chuck * ''[[Lady Be Careful]]'' (1936) - Mattie * ''[[The Big Broadcast of 1937]]'' (1936) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Winterset (film)|Winterset]]'' (1936) - Louie (uncredited) * ''[[After the Thin Man]]'' (1936) - The Kid (uncredited) * ''[[Sea Devils (1937 film)|Sea Devils]]'' (1937) - Seaman Brown * ''[[When's Your Birthday?]]'' (1937) - Dustin's Trainer (uncredited) * ''23 1/2 Hours Leave'' (1937) - Sergeant Schultz * ''[[You Can't Buy Luck]]'' (1937) - Chauffeur Spike Connors * ''[[Riding on Air]]'' (1937) - Gunner in Mob Plane (uncredited) * ''[[The Singing Marine]]'' (1937) - Marine (uncredited) * ''[[Escape by Night (1937 film)|Escape by Night]]'' (1937) - Horace 'Red' Graham * ''[[That's My Story (film)|That's My Story]]'' (1937) - Blackie * ''[[Big Town Girl]]'' (1937) - Marty * ''[[Change of Heart (1938 film)|Change of Heart]]'' (1938) - Plumber (uncredited) * ''[[Island in the Sky (1938 film)|Island in the Sky]]'' (1938) - Blackie - Doyle's Henchman (uncredited) * ''[[Cocoanut Grove (film)|Cocoanut Grove]]'' (1938) - Concessionaire (uncredited) * ''[[Gold Diggers in Paris]]'' (1938) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Passport Husband]]'' (1938) - Baggage Man (uncredited) * ''[[Keep Smiling (1938 film)|Keep Smiling]]'' (1938) - Projectionist 'Shorty' (uncredited) * ''[[The Arkansas Traveler (film)|The Arkansas Traveler]]'' (1938) - Hobo, Frogeyes * ''[[Young Dr. Kildare]]'' (1938) - Blue Swan Waiter (uncredited) * ''[[Submarine Patrol]]'' (1938) - Orderly in Maitland's Office (uncredited) * ''[[The Cowboy and the Lady (1938 film)|The Cowboy and the Lady]]'' (1938) - Cowboy at Ranch (uncredited) * ''[[Next Time I Marry]]'' (1938) - Joe * ''[[Road Demon]]'' (1938) - Hap Flynn * ''[[King of the Underworld (1939 film)|King of the Underworld]]'' (1939) - Eddie * ''[[The Great Man Votes]]'' (1939) - Tri-County Distribution Truck Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Tail Spin]]'' (1939) - Albuquerque Mechanic (uncredited) * ''[[Twelve Crowded Hours]]'' (1939) - Louie Allen * ''[[Rose of Washington Square]]'' (1939) - Eddie, Candy Butcher (uncredited)<ref name=google>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GP7GAwAAQBAJ&dq=I%27m+always+chasing+rainbows+alice+faye+Rose+of+Washington+square+DVD&pg=PA65 ''Great Movie Musicals on DVD'' - A Classic Movie Fan's Guide] by John Howard Reid - Google search with book preview</ref> * ''[[It's a Wonderful World (1939 film)|It's a Wonderful World]]'' (1939) - Newspaper Man at Ferry Landing (uncredited) * ''[[Bachelor Mother]]'' (1939) - Dance Floor Gatekeeper at 'The Pink Slipper' (uncredited) * ''[[Stop, Look and Love]]'' (1939) - Pete (uncredited) * ''[[The Roaring Twenties]]'' (1939) - Fletcher's Mechanic (uncredited) * ''[[Another Thin Man]]'' (1939) - Larry, a Father (uncredited) * ''[[The Night of Nights]]'' (1939) - Muggins * ''[[The Big Guy]]'' (1939) - Williams * ''[[The Lone Wolf Strikes]]'' (1940) - Pete (uncredited) * ''[[Black Friday (1940 film)|Black Friday]]'' (1940) - Bellhop * ''[[Double Alibi (1940 film)|Double Alibi]]'' (1940) - Joe, Counterman (uncredited) * ''[[I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (film)|I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby]]'' (1940) - Nails * ''[[My Favorite Wife]]'' (1940) - Yosemite Bartender (uncredited) * ''[[Turnabout (film)|Turnabout]]'' (1940) - Masseur * ''[[Gambling on the High Seas]]'' (1940) - Louie * ''[[Sailor's Lady]]'' (1940) - Sailor (uncredited) * ''[[Manhattan Heartbeat]]'' (1940) - Mechanic * ''[[Blondie Has Servant Trouble]]'' (1940) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Lucky Partners]]'' (1940) - Orchestra Leader (uncredited) * ''[[The Bride Wore Crutches]]'' (1940) - Izzy (uncredited) * ''[[City for Conquest]]'' (1940) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[East of the River]]'' (1940) - Dink Rogers, Blackjack Player (uncredited) * ''[[Street of Memories]]'' (1940) - Taxicab Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941 film)|Mr. & Mrs. Smith]]'' (1941) - Harold, Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Affectionately Yours]]'' (1941) - Blair * ''[[Out of the Fog (1941 film)|Out of the Fog]]'' (1941) - Drug Store Soda Jerk (uncredited) * ''[[Caught in the Draft]]'' (1941) - Make-Up Man (uncredited) * ''[[Sergeant York (film)|Sergeant York]]'' (1941) - But! Boy (uncredited) * ''[[Bullets for O'Hara]]'' (1941) - Singing Messenger (uncredited) * ''[[My Life with Caroline]]'' (1941) - Jenkins * ''[[Manpower (1941 film)|Manpower]]'' (1941) - Lineman (uncredited) * ''[[Navy Blues (1941 film)|Navy Blues]]'' (1941) - Sailor in Storeroom (uncredited) * ''[[The Maltese Falcon (1941 film)|The Maltese Falcon]]'' (1941) - Frank Richman, taxi driver * ''[[Down Mexico Way]]'' (1941) - Flood * ''[[Married Bachelor]]'' (1941) - Sleeper * ''[[Dangerously They Live]]'' (1941) - Miller, Psychopathic Ward Guard (uncredited) * ''[[You're in the Army Now]]'' (1941) - Supply Man: Hats (uncredited) * ''[[Call Out the Marines]]'' (1942) - Military Policeman (uncredited) * ''[[Obliging Young Lady]]'' (1942) - Pickup Driver with Red (uncredited) * ''[[The Lady Is Willing (1942 film)|The Lady Is Willing]]'' (1942) - Joe Quig * ''[[Saboteur (film)|Saboteur]]'' (1942) - Truck Driver * ''[[My Favorite Spy (1942 film)|My Favorite Spy]]'' (1942) - Kay's 1st Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Yankee Doodle Dandy]]'' (1942) - Wise Guy (uncredited) * ''[[Powder Town]]'' (1942) - Joe, Cab Driver (uncredited) * ''[[The Big Shot (1942 film)|The Big Shot]]'' (1942) - Quinto, a Convict * ''[[Escape from Crime]]'' (1942) - Fingerprint Man's Assistant (uncredited) * ''[[The Gay Sisters]]'' (1942) - Elevator Operator (uncredited) * ''[[Mug Town]]'' (1942) - Shorty * ''[[No Time for Love (1943 film)|No Time for Love]]'' (1943) - Moran (uncredited) * ''[[Lady Bodyguard]]'' (1943) - Attendant (uncredited) * ''[[The Hard Way (1943 film)|The Hard Way]]'' (1943) - Joe Duglatz (uncredited) * ''[[Air Force (film)|Air Force]]'' (1943) - Butch, Demolition Squad Corporal (uncredited) * ''[[Good Morning, Judge (1943 film)|Good Morning, Judge]]'' (1943) - Charlie Martin (uncredited) * ''[[Bombardier (film)|Bombardier]]'' (1943) - Little Boy, Spy (uncredited) * ''[[Hers to Hold]]'' (1943) - Smiley, the Foreman * ''[[This Is the Army]]'' (1943) - Soldier (uncredited) * ''[[The Good Fellows]]'' (1943) - Cummings (uncredited) * ''[[Larceny with Music]]'' (1943) - Cab Driver * ''[[Corvette K-225]]'' (1943) - Jones * ''[[Swing Fever]]'' (1943) - Burly Attentant (uncredited) * ''[[Lady in the Dark (film)|Lady in the Dark]]'' (1944) - Taxicab Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Once Upon a Time (1944 film)|Once Upon a Time]]'' (1944) - Soldier Leaving Theatre (uncredited) * ''[[The Eve of St. Mark]]'' (1944) - Sergeant Kriven * ''[[Roger Touhy, Gangster]]'' (1944) - Ralph Burke (uncredited) * ''[[Wing and a Prayer]]'' (1944) - Benjamin K. 'Benny 'O'Neill * ''[[Moonlight and Cactus (1944 film)|Moonlight and Cactus]]'' (1944) - Slugger * ''[[Something for the Boys (film)|Something for the Boys]]'' (1944) - Army Desk Sergeant (uncredited) * ''[[Army Wives (1944 film)|Army Wives]]'' (1944) - Mike * ''[[God Is My Co-Pilot (film)|God Is My Co-Pilot]]'' (1945) - Sergeant Altonen (uncredited) * ''[[The Power of the Whistler]]'' (1945) - Joe Blainey, Elite Bakery Truck Driver (uncredited) * ''[[The Horn Blows at Midnight]]'' (1945) - Tony, the Hotel Bell Captain (uncredited) * ''[[Honeymoon Ahead]]'' (1945) - Spike * ''[[They Were Expendable]]'' (1945) - 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c * ''[[Up Goes Maisie]]'' (1946) - Mitch O'Hara * ''[[The Phantom Thief (film)|The Phantom Thief]]'' (1946) - Eddie Alexander, Chauffeur * ''[[Angel on My Shoulder (film)|Angel on My Shoulder]]'' (1946) - Jim, Taxicab Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Gallant Bess]]'' (1946) - Johnny * ''[[The Long Night (1947 film)|The Long Night]]'' (1947) - Mac, Bartender (uncredited) * ''[[The Gangster (1947 film)|The Gangster]]'' (1947) - Eddie (uncredited) * ''[[Slippy McGee (1948 film)|Slippy McGee]]'' (1948) - Red * ''[[Sleep, My Love]]'' (1948) - Drunk (uncredited) * ''[[The Return of October]]'' (1948) - Little Max (uncredited) * ''[[Let's Live a Little (film)|Let's Live a Little]]'' (1948) - 2nd Cabbie (uncredited) * ''[[Blondie's Secret]]'' (1948) - Larry * ''[[Force of Evil]]'' (1948) - Comptroller (uncredited) * ''[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game (film)|Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]'' (1949) - Zalinka (uncredited) * ''[[Any Number Can Play]]'' (1949) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff]]'' (1949) - Joe, Reporter (uncredited) * ''[[Free for All (film)|Free for All]]'' (1949) - McGuinness * ''[[On the Town (film)|On the Town]]'' (1949) - Cab Company Owner (uncredited) * ''[[Blonde Dynamite]]'' (1950) - John Zero 'Dynamite' Bacchuss * ''[[Appointment with Danger]]'' (1950) - Goddard's Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Kill the Umpire]]'' (1950) - Fireman (uncredited) * ''[[The Gunfighter]]'' (1950) - Townsman at Funeral (uncredited) * ''[[David Harding, Counterspy]]'' (1950) - Customer (uncredited) * ''[[Gasoline Alley (1951 film)|Gasoline Alley]]'' (1951) - Giffin, Salesman / Con Man (uncredited) * ''[[Navy Bound]]'' (1951) - Seaman 'Warthog' Novak * ''[[Lullaby of Broadway (film)|Lullaby of Broadway]]'' (1951) - Joe the Bartender (uncredited) * ''[[Fighting Coast Guard]]'' (1951) - Medic / Interne (uncredited) * ''[[Strangers on a Train (film)|Strangers on a Train]]'' (1951) - Boatman (uncredited) * ''[[Let's Go Navy!]]'' (1951) - Sailor with Nuramo tattoo * ''[[Lost Continent (1951 film)|Lost Continent]]'' (1951) - Air Police Sergeant * ''[[The Steel Fist]]'' (1952) - Nicholas * ''[[Here Come the Marines]]'' (1952) - Corporal Stacy * ''[[Because You're Mine]]'' (1952) - Supply Sergeant (uncredited) * ''[[Army Bound]]'' (1952) - Military Police Sergeant * ''[[No Holds Barred (1952 film)|No Holds Barred]]'' (1952) - Barney * ''[[The Jazz Singer (1952 film)|The Jazz Singer]]'' (1952) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Jalopy (film)|Jalopy]]'' (1953) - Red Baker * ''[[Trouble Along the Way]]'' (1953) - Bus Driver (uncredited) * ''[[Murder Without Tears]]'' (1953) - Jim, the Bartender * ''[[Arena (1953 film)|Arena]]'' (1953) - Medic (uncredited) * ''[[Vice Squad (1953 film)|Vice Squad]]'' (1953) - Cop (uncredited) * ''[[Devil's Canyon (1953 film)|Devil's Canyon]]'' (1953) - Driver-Guard (uncredited) * ''[[Three Sailors and a Girl]]'' (1953) - Marine (uncredited) * ''[[Highway Dragnet]]'' (1954) - Ice Cream Truck Driver * ''[[Tanganyika (film)|Tanganyika]]'' (1954) - Paul Duffy (uncredited) * ''[[Security Risk (film)|Security Risk]]'' (1954) - Mike * ''[[Jungle Gents]]'' (1954) - Fats Lomax (uncredited) * ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1955) (Season 1 Episode 7: "Breakdown") - Lloyd * ''[[Women's Prison (1955 film)|Women's Prison]]'' (1955) - Mae's Boyfriend (uncredited) * ''[[The Big Tip Off]]'' (1955) - Dan Curry, Gambler * ''[[Las Vegas Shakedown]]'' (1955) - House Manager * ''[[Jail Busters]]'' (1955) - Gus * ''[[The McConnell Story]]'' (1955) - Sergeant (uncredited) * ''[[Slightly Scarlet (1956 film)|Slightly Scarlet]]'' (1956) - Hood (uncredited) * ''[[Chain of Evidence (film)|Chain of Evidence]]'' (1957) - Charlie (uncredited) * ''[[Hold That Hypnotist]]'' (1957) - Gale * ''[[Calypso Joe]]'' (1957) - Transfer Man * ''[[Baby Face Nelson (film)|Baby Face Nelson]]'' (1957) - Alex, Bank Guard * ''[[The Geisha Boy]]'' (1958) - GI in Korea (uncredited) * ''[[The Young Philadelphians]]'' (1959) - Diner Counterman (uncredited) * ''[[Say One for Me]]'' (1959) - Otto (uncredited) * ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1960) (Season 5 Episode 19: "Not the Running Type") - Sergeant Ed Carmody * ''[[The Leech Woman]]'' (1960) - Drunk (uncredited) * ''[[Ocean's 11]]'' (1960) - Deputy (uncredited) * ''[[The Ladies Man]]'' (1961) - Butcher (scenes deleted) * ''[[Walk on the Wild Side (film)|Walk on the Wild Side]]'' (1962) - Diner in Teresina's Cafe (uncredited) * ''[[What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962 film)|What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?]]'' (1962) - Projectionist (uncredited) * ''[[It's Only Money]]'' (1962) - 2nd Cop on Pier (uncredited) * ''[[Papa's Delicate Condition]]'' (1963) - Gambler (uncredited) * ''[[The Nutty Professor (1963 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' (1963) - Gym Attendant (uncredited) * ''[[The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze]]'' (1963) - Gus * ''[[The Patsy (1964 film)|The Patsy]]'' (1964) - Bowler (uncredited) * ''[[The Disorderly Orderly]]'' (1964) - Patient (uncredited) * ''[[The Munsters]]'' (1964) - "Tin-Can man" * ''[[The Alfred Hitchcock Hour]]'' (1965) (Season 3 Episode 18: "The Trap") - Cabbie * ''[[The Outlaws Is Coming]]'' (1965) - Chief Crazy Horse * ''[[The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin]]'' (1967) - Police Officer (uncredited) * ''[[The Big Mouth]]'' (1967) - Ed, Motorcycle Officer (uncredited) * ''[[Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?]]'' (1968) - Passenger (uncredited) * ''[[Hook, Line & Sinker (1969 film)|Hook, Line & Sinker]]'' (1969) - Member, Board of Inquiry (uncredited) (final film role) {{div col end}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Murray Alper}} *{{IMDb name}} *{{IBDB name}} *{{Find a Grave}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alper, Murray}} [[Category:1904 births]] [[Category:1984 deaths]] [[Category:Male actors from New York City]] [[Category:American male film actors]] [[Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery]] [[Category:20th-century American male actors]]