Acting · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA · Born February 8, 1902
Lyle Talbot (born Lisle Henderson) was an American actor on stage and screen, known for his career in film from 1931 to 1960 and for his appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s. He played Ozzie Nelson's friend and neighbor, Joe Randolph, for ten years in the ABC situation comedy The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He began his movie career under contract with Warner Brothers in the early days of sound film. He appeared in more than 150 films, first as a young matinee idol and later as a character actor and star of many B movies. He was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild and later served on its board. Talbot's long career as an actor is recounted in a book by his youngest daughter, The New Yorker writer Margaret Talbot, entitled The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father's Twentieth Century (Riverhead Books 2012). Most notable among Talbot's film work were his appearances in Three on a Match and 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (both 1932). He played a star running back in College Coach (1933) with Pat O'Brien and Dick Powell, romanced opera singer Grace Moore in One Night of Love in 1934, and pursued Mae West in Go West, Young Man (1936). He was a gangster in Ladies They Talk About and Heat Lightning and a doctor kicking a drinking habit in Mandalay. He co-starred with Pat O'Brien in Oil for the Lamps of China (1935). He appeared opposite Ann Dvorak, Carole Lombard, Barbara Stanwyck, Mary Astor, Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young and Shirley Temple, as well as sharing the screen with Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Tyrone Power. Overall, Talbot appeared in some 150 movies.
MovieModify
2025
as Inspector Warren (archival audio) (uncredited)
MovieThe Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.
1996
as Himself
MovieInside the Dream Factory
1995
as Self
MovieBatmania: From Comics to Screen
1989
as Self / Commissioner Gordon (archive footage)
MovieGeorge Carlin: Playin' with Your Head
1986
as Pops
TV227
1985
MovieThat's Dancing!
1985
as Self
TVWho's the Boss?
1984
TVSt. Elsewhere
1982
as Johnny Barnes
TVNewhart
1982
as Cousin Ned
The Case of Dashiell Hammett
1982
as Dashiell Hammett
TVGoldie Gold and Action Jack
1981
as Additional Voices (voice)
TVCharlie's Angels
1976
as Tom Mills
MovieSonic Boom
1974
as French Representative
TVHere's Lucy
1968
as Lawyer
TVAdam-12
1968
as Avery Dawson
TVLaredo
1965
TVMona McCluskey
1965
as Benson
TVGreen Acres
1965
as Horace Bennett
TVRun for Your Life
1965
as Steven Blakely
TVThe Legend of Jesse James
1965
as Warden
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Gibralter
TVPetticoat Junction
1963
as Mr. Cheever
TVArrest and Trial
1963
as Phil Paige
Ben Jerrod
1963
as Police Lt. Choates
TVThe Lucy Show
1962
as Mr. Stanford
TVThe Beverly Hillbillies
1962
as Second Psychiatrist
TV87th Precinct
1961
as Woody Gaynor
TVMister Ed
1961
as George Hausner
TVThe Roaring 20's
1960
TVSurfside 6
1960
as Alan Crandell
MovieSunrise at Campobello
1960
as Mr. Brimmer
MovieAround the World with Nellie Bly
1960
TVHawaiian Eye
1959
TVDennis the Menace
1959
as Mayor
TVLock-Up
1959
TVThe DuPont Show with June Allyson
1959
as Mr. Anders
TVBonanza
1959
as The Handsome Dude in Bar
MovieCity of Fear
1959
as Chief Jensen
TVRawhide
1959
as Dr. Otis Gray
The Hot Angel
1958
as Van Richards
TV77 Sunset Strip
1958
MovieHigh School Confidential!
1958
as William Remington Kane
MovieThe Notorious Mr. Monks
1958
as Leonardo, Prosecuting Attorney
TVLeave It to Beaver
1957
as Mr. Chuck Dennison
TVThe Restless Gun
1957
as Mort Askins
TVMaverick
1957
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Michael Garvin Sr.
TVM Squad
1957
as Paul Crowley
MovieGuns Don't Argue
1957
as Dr. William Guellfe, Plastic Surgeon
MovieGod Is My Partner
1957
as Dr. Warburton, Psychiatrist
TVRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Victor Long
TVMeet McGraw
1957
as Carl Maddon
MoviePlan 9 from Outer Space
1957
as General Roberts
MovieThe Great Man
1956
as Harry Connors
MovieCalling Homicide
1956
as Tony Fuller
Broken Arrow
1956
as Judge Judd Hinshaw
TVHey, Jeannie!
1956
as Adams
MovieSudden Danger
1955
as Harry Woodruff
TVNavy Log
1955
MovieJail Busters
1955
as Cy Bowman
TVCommando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe
1955
as Baylor
TVBuffalo Bill Jr.
1955
TVThe Millionaire
1955
as Joe Price
TVThe Bob Cummings Show
1955
as Paul Fonda
MovieThere's No Business Like Show Business
1954
as Stage Manager (uncredited)
MovieThe Steel Cage
1954
as Square, Convict, segment "The Hostages"
TVThe Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
1954
TVDecember Bride
1954
MovieTobor the Great
1954
as An Admiral
TVThe Whistler
1954
MovieThe Desperado
1954
as Judge
MovieCaptain Kidd and the Slave Girl
1954
as Capt. Pace
MovieThe Mad Magician
1954
as Program Hawker (uncredited)
MovieJail Bait
1954
as Inspector John
MovieGunfighters of the Northwest
1954
as Inspector Wheeler
So You Want to Be Your Own Boss
1954
as Mr. Elliot, Health Inspector (uncredited)
TVPublic Defender
1954
as Dobin
TVStories of the Century
1954
as Colonel Marsham
TVAnnie Oakley
1954
as Pa Wiggins
MovieTrader Tom of the China Seas
1954
as Barent
MovieWith This Ring
1954
as Miller Executive
MovieTumbleweed
1953
as Weber
MovieSix Gun Decision
1953
as Blackburn
MovieWings of the Hawk
1953
MovieClipped Wings
1953
as Captain Blair
MovieMesa of Lost Women
1953
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGlen or Glenda
1953
as Inspector Warren
MovieWhite Lightning
1953
as Rocky Gibraltar
MovieDown Among the Sheltering Palms
1953
as Major Gerald Curwin
TVI'm the Law
1953
MovieStar of Texas
1953
as Telegraph Operator
MovieCrossroad Avenger: The Adventures of the Tucson Kid
1952
as Bart Miller
MovieThe Pathfinder
1952
as British Ship Captain
TVThe Abbott and Costello Show
1952
as Jimmy Dill
TVTerry and the Pirates
1952
MovieWyoming Roundup
1952
as Franklin
MovieSon of Geronimo
1952
as Col. Foster [Chs.5-6]
MovieDesperadoes' Outpost
1952
as Walter Fleming
TVMr. & Mrs. North
1952
TVThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
1952
as Joe Randolph (uncredited)
TVThe Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Eddie Kling
TVCavalcade of America
1952
MovieThe Old West
1952
as Doc Lockwood
MovieFeudin' Fools
1952
as Big Jim, bank robbery leader
TVHopalong Cassidy
1952
TVCowboy G-Men
1952
MovieUntamed Women
1952
as Col. Loring
MovieMontana Incident
1952
as Mooney
MovieSea Tiger
1952
as Mr. Williams, Insurance Man
MovieAfrican Treasure
1952
as Roy DeHaven, alias Pat Gilroy
MovieOutlaw Women
1952
as Judge Roger Dixon
MovieWith a Song in My Heart
1952
as Radio Station Director (uncredited)
Gang Busters
1952
MovieFlight to the Future ...to the World of Plastics
1952
as Mr. Casey
MovieTexas City
1952
as Captain Hamilton
TVDangerous Assignment
1952
TVThe Roy Rogers Show
1951
as John Zachary
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Father Serra
MoviePurple Heart Diary
1951
as Maj. Green
TVSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Fred Carlson
MovieJungle Manhunt
1951
as Dr. Mitchell Heller
MovieGold Raiders
1951
as Taggart
TVBoston Blackie
1951
as Wildcat Cannon
TVThe Adventures of Kit Carson
1951
MovieVarieties on Parade
1951
as Himself
MovieHurricane Island
1951
as Doctor (uncredited)
TVRacket Squad
1951
TVThe Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
1951
MovieThe Scarf
1951
as City Detective
MovieMan from Sonora
1951
as Sheriff Frank Casey
MovieMask of the Dragon
1951
as Police Lt. Ralph McLaughlin
MovieFury of the Congo
1951
as Grant
MovieFingerprints Don't Lie
1951
as Police Lt. Grayson
MovieAbilene Trail
1951
as Dr. Martin
MovieBlue Blood
1951
as Teasdale
MovieColorado Ambush
1951
as Sheriff Ed Lowery
The du Pont Story
1950
as Eugene du Pont
MovieRevenue Agent
1950
as Augustus 'Gus' King
MovieOne Too Many
1950
as Mr. Boyer
MovieThe Jackpot
1950
as Fred Burns
TVThe George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
1950
as Al Simon
MovieCherokee Uprising
1950
as Chief Marshal
MovieBorder Rangers
1950
as Ranger Captain McLain
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Paul
TVDick Tracy
1950
as 88 Keyes
MovieBig Timber
1950
as Logger #1
The Cisco Kid
1950
as Judge (uncredited)
MovieTriple Trouble
1950
as Prison Yard Guard
MovieAtom Man vs. Superman
1950
as Luthor, alias The Atom Man
MovieFederal Man
1950
as Agent Johnson
MovieLucky Losers
1950
as Bruce McDermott
MovieChampagne for Caesar
1950
as Executive No. 2
MovieJohnny One-Eye
1950
as Official from District Attorney's Office
MovieEverybody's Dancin'
1950
as Contractor
MovieThe Daltons' Women
1950
as Jim Thorne
TVThe Lone Ranger
1949
as George Wilson
MovieWild Weed
1949
as Capt. Hayes
MovieRingside
1949
as Radio Announcer
MovieMississippi Rhythm
1949
as O'Neill
MovieBatman and Robin
1949
as Commissioner Jim Gordon
MovieSky Dragon
1949
as Andrew J. Barrett
MovieThe Mutineers
1949
as Capt. Jim Duncan
MovieFighting Fools
1949
as Blinky Harris
MovieJoe Palooka in the Big Fight
1949
as Lt. Muldoon
MovieHighway 13
1948
as Company Detective
MovieShep Comes Home
1948
as Dr. Wilson
MovieQuick on the Trigger
1948
as Garvey Yager
MovieAppointment with Murder
1948
as Fred Muller
MovieParole, Inc.
1948
as Police Commissioner Hughes
MovieThunder in the Pines
1948
as Nick Roulade
TVStudio One
1948
as Trent
MovieJoe Palooka in Winner Take All
1948
as Henerson
MovieThe Vicious Circle
1948
as Miller
MovieDevil's Cargo
1948
as Johnny Morello
MovieDanger Street
1947
as Charles Johnson
MovieThe Vigilante: Fighting Hero of the West
1947
as George Pierce
MovieNorth of the Border
1946
as Sgt. Jack Craig
MovieChick Carter, Detective
1946
as Chick Carter
MovieStrange Impersonation
1946
as Insp. Malloy, chief interrogator
MovieSong of Arizona
1946
as King Blaine
MovieMurder Is My Business
1946
as Buell Renslow
MovieGun Town
1946
as Lucky Dorgan
MovieOne Body Too Many
1944
as Jim Davis
MovieMystery of the Riverboat
1944
as Rudolph Toller
MovieTrail to Gunsight
1944
as U. S. Marshal Bill Hollister
MovieDixie Jamboree
1944
as Anthony 'Tony' Sardell
MovieSensations of 1945
1944
as Randall
Are These Our Parents?
1944
as George Kent
MovieGambler's Choice
1944
as Yellow Gloves Weldon
MovieThe Falcon Out West
1944
as Tex Irwin
MovieUp in Arms
1944
as Sergeant Gelsey
MovieA Night for Crime
1943
as Joe Powell
MovieThe Meanest Man in the World
1943
as Bill Potts (uncredited)
MovieMan of Courage
1943
as George Dickson
MovieMexican Spitfire's Elephant
1942
as Reddy
MovieThey Raid by Night
1942
as Capt. Robert Owen
MovieShe's in the Army
1942
as Army Capt. Steve Russell
MovieParole Fixer
1940
as Ross Waring
MovieHe Married His Wife
1940
as Paul Hunter
MovieMiracle on Main Street
1939
as Dick Porter
MovieTorture Ship
1939
as Lt. Bob Bennett
MovieSecond Fiddle
1939
as Willie Hogger
They Asked For It
1939
as Marty Collins
MovieForged Passport
1939
as Jack Scott
MovieI Stand Accused
1938
as Charles Eastman
MovieThe Arkansas Traveler
1938
as Matt Collins
MovieGateway
1938
as Henry Porter
MovieOne Wild Night
1938
as Singer Martin
MovieCall of The Yukon
1938
as Hugo Henderson
MovieChange of Heart
1938
as Phillip Reeves
MovieSecond Honeymoon
1937
as Bob Benton
MovieWest Bound Limited
1937
as Dave Tolliver aka Bob Kirk
Three Legionnaires
1937
as Pvt. Jimmy Barton
MovieWhat Price Vengeance
1937
as 'Dynamite' Hogan / Tom Connors
MovieAffairs of Cappy Ricks
1937
as Bill Peck
MovieMind Your Own Business
1936
as Crane
MovieGo West Young Man
1936
as Francis X. Harrigan
MovieTrapped by Television
1936
as Fred Dennis
MovieMurder by an Aristocrat
1936
as Allen Carick
MovieThe Law in Her Hands
1936
as Frank Gordon
MovieThe Singing Kid
1936
as Bob Carey
MovieBoulder Dam
1936
as Mr. Harry Lacy
MovieA Dream Comes True
1935
as Himself (uncredited)
MovieBroadway Hostess
1935
as Lucky Lorimer
MovieThe Case of the Lucky Legs
1935
as Dr. Robert Doray
MoviePage Miss Glory
1935
as Slattery
MovieOil for the Lamps of China
1935
as Jim
MovieChinatown Squad
1935
as Ted Lacey
MovieOur Little Girl
1935
as Rolfe Brent
MovieIt Happened in New York
1935
as Charley Barnes
MovieWhile the Patient Slept
1935
as Ross Lonergan
MovieRed Hot Tires
1935
as Wallace Storm
MovieThe Secret Bride
1934
as Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MovieMurder in the Clouds
1934
as "Three-Star" Bob Halsey
MovieA Lost Lady
1934
as Neil
MovieThe Dragon Murder Case
1934
as Gale Leland
MovieOne Night of Love
1934
as Bill Houston
MovieReturn of the Terror
1934
as Dr. Leonard Goodman
MovieFog Over Frisco
1934
as Spencer Carlton
MovieRegistered Nurse
1934
as Dr. Greg Connolly
MovieAnd She Learned About Dames
1934
as Himself
MovieHeat Lightning
1934
as Jeff
MovieMandalay
1934
as Dr. Gregory Burton
MovieHavana Widows
1933
as Bob Jones
MovieCollege Coach
1933
as Buck Weaver
MovieA Shriek in the Night
1933
as Ted Rand
MovieMary Stevens, M.D.
1933
as Don A. Andrews
MovieShe Had to Say Yes
1933
as Daniel 'Danny' Drew
MovieThe Life of Jimmy Dolan
1933
as Doc
Movie42nd Street
1933
as Geoffrey Warning (voice) (uncredited)
MovieGirl Missing
1933
as Raymond Fox
MovieThe 42nd Street Special
1933
as Self (uncredited)
MovieLadies They Talk About
1933
as Don
Movie20,000 Years in Sing Sing
1932
as Bud Saunders
MovieNo More Orchids
1932
as Tony Gage
MovieThree on a Match
1932
as Michael Loftus
MovieBig City Blues
1932
as Len 'Lenny' Sully (uncredited)
MovieKlondike
1932
as Robert Cromwell
MovieThe Thirteenth Guest
1932
as Phil Winston
MovieThe Purchase Price
1932
as Eddie Fields
MovieLove is a Racket
1932
as Edward Griswold 'Eddie' Shaw
MovieUnholy Love
1932
as Dr. Jerome Preston 'Jerry' Gregory
MovieMiss Pinkerton
1932
as Newspaper Editor (uncredited)
The Clyde Mystery
1931
as Police Capt. Dick Rugg (as Lysle Talbot)
MovieStranger in Town
1931
as Ed Brice
