Billy Dooley
(02/08/1893 - 08/04/1938)

Gangly American comic Billy Dooley was discovered on the vaudeville circuit by producer Al Christie, who brought Dooley and his stage partner Frances Lee) to Hollywood in 1925. Somewhat reminiscent of whiteface comic Larry Semon, Dooley played dumb sailors and other service men in a series of two-reel comedies with explanatory titles such as A Goofy Gob (1925), A Briny Boob (1926), the inevitable Sailor Beware (1927), and A Dizzy Diver (1928).

Never able to stand out in a crowded field of two-reel comedy performers, Dooley left Christie and played minor roles in talkies appearing in a total of 84 films from 1925 until 1938.

Available Films

Billy Dooley Comedies #1 (1925-1929)

Billy Dooley Comedies #2 (1927-1929) on DVD and Blu-ray

Dumb Bells (1927) short subject

Easy Curves (1927) short subject