Murray Alper (January 11, 1904 â€" November 16, 1984) was an American
actor. He appeared in numerous television series, films, and Broadway
productions.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.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) 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 and Angel on My Shoulder. His biggest role
should have been the part of Gus Smith in the Alfred Hitchcock 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), again as a cabbie, Saboteur (1942), and Strangers on a Train
(1951).
actor. He appeared in numerous television series, films, and Broadway
productions.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.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) 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 and Angel on My Shoulder. His biggest role
should have been the part of Gus Smith in the Alfred Hitchcock 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), again as a cabbie, Saboteur (1942), and Strangers on a Train
(1951).
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