# Timothy Farrell > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Timothy_Farrell > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Timothy_Farrell.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Farrell > Source revision: 1348698623 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American actor}} {{One source|date=June 2012}} {{Infobox person |occupation = Actor, activist, businessman |birth_name=Timothy Sperl |birth_date= June 26, 1922 |birth_place=[Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|1989|5|9|1922|6|26|mf=yes}} |death_place= [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California), U.S. |image=Timothy Farrell in Jail Bait (1954).png |image_caption=In the 1954 film ''Jail Bait'' }} '''Timothy Farrell''' (birth name: Timothy Sperl)(June 26, 1922 – May 9, 1989) was an American film actor, best known for his roles in [Ed Wood](/source/Ed_Wood) films such as ''[Jail Bait](/source/Jail_Bait_(1954_film))'', ''[The Violent Years](/source/The_Violent_Years)'' and ''[Glen or Glenda](/source/Glen_or_Glenda)''. He also worked for the County Marshal of Los Angeles, California. ==Early life== Born as '''Timothy Sperl''', he was a native of Los Angeles and graduate of [Alexander Hamilton High School](/source/Alexander_Hamilton_High_School_(Los_Angeles)). During World War II Farrell served in the [Army Air Corps](/source/United_States_Army_Air_Forces).Obituary ''Los Angeles Times'' Farrell worked as a [Bailiff](/source/Bailiff) for the [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) Marshal's Department while also working in low-budget exploitation movies. In 1948 he portrayed a doctor in the film ''Test Tube Babies'', explaining to a young couple that there is no shame in test-tube fertilization (a similar role to that in the subsequent ''[Glen or Glenda](/source/Glen_or_Glenda)''). Both films were produced by [George Weiss](/source/George_Weiss_(producer)), who used Farrell in a string of [exploitation films](/source/exploitation_films) in the 1950s. In 1951, Farrell, along with everyone else on the film set of ''Paris After Midnight'', was swept up in a police [vice](/source/vice) raid, which caused him professional embarrassment with his courtroom career. {{Citation needed|date=June 2012}} ==Characters == Farrell's career was notable for its recurring roles: * He made three low-budget exploitation movies for [George Weiss](/source/George_Weiss_(producer)) in which he played the part of sleazy gymnasium owner Umberto Scalli. These films, largely a vehicle for female-wrestling footage, include ''Devil's Sleep'', ''Racket Girls'', and ''Dance Hall Racket''. Scalli is gunned down at the end of ''Racket Girls'' but alive and well in ''Dance Hall Racket''. * His character of "Joe the Pimp" appeared in ''Girl Gang'' and ''Gun Girls''. * His character of "Dr. Wright" appeared in ''Hometown Girls'' and the aforementioned ''Test Tube Babies''. * In 1954, his legal and theatrical careers dovetailed in the [George Cukor](/source/George_Cukor) movie ''[A Star Is Born](/source/A_Star_Is_Born_(1954_film))'', in which he played a bailiff. It happened again in 1958, when he appeared as a bailiff in the short-lived television series ''Accused''. ==L.A. County Marshal's Office== He went on to work 26 years for the [Los Angeles County Marshal's Office](/source/Los_Angeles_County_Sheriff's_Department), rising through the ranks and eventually was appointed the County Marshal in 1971. However, in 1975 he was fired after his conviction on [felony](/source/felony) charges for "illegal use of deputy marshals in political activities". He was given a six-month sentence, but received [probation](/source/probation) due to poor health.{{cite web | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-05-11-mn-3223-story.html | title = Obituary: Ex-County Marshal Timothy Sperl, 66 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 11 May 1989 | access-date = March 25, 2013}} ==Personal life== His later years were spent in business, such as operating a lumber mill in [South Dakota](/source/South_Dakota) and rental properties in Los Angeles, California. He was extremely active in the "Animal Rights and Welfare Movement", begun by his wife, Shirley. He donated some of his estate to "The Sperl Family Foundation", a no-cost spay and neuter organization for animals.{{cite web | url = http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/20-8398660/sperl-family-foundation.aspx | title = The Sperl Family Foundation | publisher = Guidestar | accessdate = March 25, 2013}} His daughter, Timmie, was a bit part actress on the soap opera ''[General Hospital](/source/General_Hospital)'', and died from a drug overdose. His son, Anthony Kelly Sperl, runs the Sperl Family Foundation from his residence in [Sun Valley, California](/source/Sun_Valley%2C_California).{{cite web | url = http://www.manta.com/c/mtgpd55/the-sperl-family-foundation | title = The Sperl Family Foundation | publisher = Manta | accessdate = March 25, 2013}} Anthony had briefly been a police officer in [Stanton, California](/source/Stanton%2C_California), until March 1983 when he fatally shot 5-year-old Patrick Andrew Mason in his home, mistaking the boy's toy gun for a real weapon.{{cite web | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-05-10-me-4952-story.html | title = For Mother, Former Police Officer, Life Can Begin Again | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 10 May 1986 | access-date = March 25, 2013}} Sperl quit the force, claiming [post-traumatic stress disorder](/source/post-traumatic_stress_disorder) and was awarded a disability pension soon {{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s6kRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0ukDAAAAIBAJ&dq=anthony%20sperl%20police%20timothy&pg=6750%2C1116244 | title = Policeman Quits Over the Killing of Child | agency = UPI |work=The Gainesville Sun | accessdate = March 25, 2013}} after being cleared of wrongdoing.{{cite web | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Boc1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=PqUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5871%2C503345 | title = Rookie policeman cleared in youngster's shooting | agency = UPI |work=The Montreal Gazette | accessdate = March 25, 2013}} ==Death== Farrell died on May 9, 1989, aged 66, at St. John's Hospital in [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California) of a heart attack. He was preceded in death by his wife who also was an actress. She died of natural causes. ==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Director ! Notes |- |rowspan=2|1948 |''[Test Tube Babies](/source/Test_Tube_Babies_(film))'' |rowspan=2|Dr. Wright |rowspan=3|W. Merle Connell | |- |''Hometown Girl'' | |- |1949 |''[The Devil's Sleep](/source/The_Devil's_Sleep)'' |rowspan=2|Umberto Scalli | |- |rowspan=2|1951 |''[Racket Girls](/source/Racket_Girls)'' |rowspan=2|Robert C. Dertano | |- |''Paris After Midnight'' |Sargent Eddie | |- |rowspan=2|1953 |''[Dance Hall Racket](/source/Dance_Hall_Racket)'' |Umberto Scalli |[Phil Tucker](/source/Phil_Tucker) | |- |''[Glen or Glenda](/source/Glen_or_Glenda)'' |Dr. Alton / Narrator |rowspan=2|[Ed Wood](/source/Ed_Wood) | |- |rowspan=3|1954 |''[Jail Bait](/source/Jail_Bait_(1954_film))'' |Vic Brady | |- |''[A Star Is Born](/source/A_Star_Is_Born_(1954_film))'' |Bailiff |George Cukor |Uncredited |- |''[Girl Gang](/source/Girl_Gang_(film))'' |Joe, a degenerate drug dealer |Robert C. Dertano | |- |1956 |''[The Violent Years](/source/The_Violent_Years)'' |Lt. Holmes |William Morgan | |- |1957 |''[Gun Girls](/source/Gun_Girls)'' |Joe |Robert C. Dertano | |} ==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0268350|name=Timothy Farrell}} {{Authority control}} ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Farrell, Timothy}} Category:American male film actors Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:Businesspeople from California Category:Male actors from Greater Los Angeles Category:1922 births Category:1989 deaths Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery Category:20th-century American male actors Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Timothy Farrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Farrell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Farrell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.