Dick Wessel
Richard M. Wessel was an American film actor who appeared in more than 270 films between 1935 and 1966. He is best remembered for his chilling portrayal of the ruthless strangler Harry "Cueball" Lake in Dick Tracy vs. Cueball.
Biography
Wessel was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,One of his first film parts was a bit in a Laurel and Hardy feature film, Bonnie Scotland, but modern viewers will remember Wessel for his appearances in the Three Stooges short subjects Punchy Cowpunchers and Fright Night, the latter in which he played Chopper Kane, and its remake Fling in the Ring.
From 1959 to 1961, Wessel co-starred as Carney Kohler in all forty-two episodes of Darren McGavin's NBC western television series, Riverboat, set along the Mississippi River prior to the American Civil War.
In 1959, he appeared as police captain Bob Rattigan in the episode "Rattigan and the Cat" of the syndicated Border Patrol series, starring Richard Webb. He also appeared in the John Bromfield syndicated crime drama, Sheriff of Cochise. He was cast as Charlie in the episode, "A Kind of a Stopwatch" of CBS's The Twilight Zone. He also guest starred in Jackie Cooper's CBS sitcom/drama Hennesey and on Stanley Holloway's ABC sitcom, Our Man Higgins.
Wessel died of a heart attack at his home in Studio City, California on his 52nd birthday. He had just finished his role as Eddie the garbage man in the Disney film The Ugly Dachshund. Voice artist Paul Frees dubbed in Wessel's voice during post-production.
Selected filmography
- In Spite of Danger - Monk Grady
- Eight Bells - Bosun
- Bonnie Scotland - Blacksmith's Helper
- The Adventures of Frank Merriwell - Joe
- Small Town Girl - College Boy in Car
- Fury - Bodyguard
- The Gay Desperado - On-Screen Gangster
- Ace Drummond - Henchman Boris
- Round-Up Time in Texas - Henchman Craig Johnson
- They Gave Him a Gun - German Machine Gunner
- San Quentin - Trusty
- Border Cafe - Jaillbird
- Slim - Ed
- White Bondage - Beans Clerk
- The Game That Kills - 'Leapfrog' Soule
- Submarine D-1 - Sailor
- Borrowing Trouble - Joe
- Prescription for Romance - Sailor
- A Slight Case of Murder - Partygoer Popping Cork
- Over the Wall - Convict in Machine Shop with Gyp
- Arson Gang Busters - Slugs
- Yellow Jack - Cavalryman
- Racket Busters - Truck Driver
- The Crowd Roars - Fighter at Gym
- Submarine Patrol - Dock Shore Patrolman
- Angels with Dirty Faces - Man in Pool Room Slugged by Father Connelly
- Hawk of the Wilderness - Dirk - Henchman
- They Made Me a Criminal - Collucci
- Blackwell's Island - Convict
- The Kid from Kokomo - Shadowboxer
- Missing Daughters - Brick McGirk
- They All Come Out - Charles Moxley
- The Cowboy Quarterback - Gyp Galbraith - Packers Player
- I Stole a Million - 2nd Cop
- Dust Be My Destiny - Customer
- Hitler – Beast of Berlin - Buchman - Prison Guard
- The Roaring Twenties - Second Mechanic
- Main Street Lawyer - Gangster
- Cafe Hostess - Henchman Willie
- Castle on the Hudson - Convict Messenger
- Framed - Al
- Sandy Is a Lady - Truck Driver
- Brother Orchid - Buffalo Burns
- They Drive by Night - Driver in Café
- Flowing Gold - Man on Dance Floor
- The Howards of Virginia - Backwoodsman
- City for Conquest - Cab Driver by Fire
- So You Won't Talk - Dopey
- The Border Legion - Oscar Red McGooney
- Flight Command - Big Sailor on Downed Seaplane
- Lucky Devils - Simmons
- The Strawberry Blonde - Barber Shop Hanger-on
- The Great Train Robbery - Gorman
- Men of Boys Town - Husky Brother of Homely Girl at Dance
- Model Wife - Laundry Man
- Penny Serenade - Joe Connor, Man Dancing with Dotty
- The People vs. Dr. Kildare - Blood Donor
- Desert Bandit - Hawk - Henchman
- Manpower - Lineman at Cafe Counter
- Dive Bomber - Mechanic Who Helps Joe with Pressure Suit
- Tanks a Million - Pvt. Monkman
- Dangerous Lady - Officer Donahue
- Navy Blues - Petty Officer
- They Died with Their Boots On - Sgt. Brown
- Red River Valley - Lumber Deliverer
- Steel Against the Sky - Mike
- Dangerously They Live - Grant, Psychopathic Ward Guard
- You're in the Army Now - Supply Man - Shoes
- Hay Foot - Mailman
- The Bugle Sounds - Jerry - Saboteur
- Brooklyn Orchid - Al, Cab Driver
- Joe Smith, American - Aircraft Plant Worker
- About Face - Bartender Charlie
- Sunday Punch - Maxie - Ken's Handler
- Romance on the Range - Jailer
- Yankee Doodle Dandy - Union Army Veteran #2 on Caisson
- Tarzan's New York Adventure - First Cab Driver
- Friendly Enemies - Delivery man
- Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen - The Big Sailor
- Sunset Serenade - Antlers Bartender
- Bells of Capistrano - Mug / Sign-Poster #2
- Highways by Night - Waiter
- You Can't Escape Forever - Moxie - Greer's Henchman
- X Marks the Spot - Henchman Dizzy
- Gentleman Jim - Referee
- Fall In - Army Barber
- The Traitor Within - Henchman Otis
- The McGuerins from Brooklyn - Al - Cab Driver
- Assignment in Brittany - German Sergeant
- King of the Cowboys - Hershel
- A Gentle Gangster - Steve Parker
- Three Hearts for Julia - Soldier-Stage Manager
- Action in the North Atlantic - Cherub Joe
- False Faces - Detective Mallory
- Yanks Ahoy - Ship Cargo Seaman
- Silver Spurs - Buck Walters
- An American Romance - Baseball Game Spectator Behind Stefan
- Dakota - Roughneck in Saloon
- What Next, Corporal Hargrove? - Military Police Officer
- Scarlet Street - Detective
- Young Widow - Cab Driver
- Blonde Alibi - Detective
- In Old Sacramento - Oscar
- In Fast Company - Pete - Cabbie
- Black Angel - Mavis' Doorman
- Little Miss Big - Private Detective
- Pardon My Terror - Luke
- No Leave, No Love - Navy Man at Union Station
- Slappily Married - Eddie--Honey's Fiancé
- Dick Tracy vs. Cueball - Cueball
- Gallant Bess - Marine
- 13 Rue Madeleine - Gestapo Officer
- Blondie's Big Moment - Charlie - the Bus Driver
- California - Blacksmith
- Fright Night - Chopper Kane
- It Happened in Brooklyn - Cop
- The Long Night - State Policeman
- The Millerson Case - Clem Ogle, Blacksmith
- Living in a Big Way - Sailor in Clothing Store
- Magic Town - Moving Man
- Merton of the Movies - Chick
- High Wall - Jim Hale
- Killer McCoy - Burns Sr.
- The Mating of Millie - Bus Driver
- Eight-Ball Andy - Claude Beasley
- The Fuller Brush Man - Police Sergeant
- River Lady - Logger
- The Babe Ruth Story - First Mate
- A Southern Yankee - Hospital Orderly
- Pitfall - Desk Sergeant
- Hollow Triumph - Bullseye's Sidekick
- Good Sam - Melvin Z. Wurtzberger, the Bus Driver
- Unknown Island - Sanderson, 1st Mate
- When My Baby Smiles at Me - Sailor
- Bad Men of Tombstone - Bartender
- Take Me Out to the Ball Game - Umpire
- The Green Promise - Mr. Clairborne
- Tulsa - Joker
- Canadian Pacific - Bailey
- Slattery's Hurricane - Taxi Driver
- Blondie Hits the Jackpot - Mailman
- Thieves' Highway - Cab Driver
- On the Town - Sailor Kovarsky
- Sands of Iwo Jima - Grenade Instructor
- Punchy Cowpunchers - Sgt. Mullins
- Key to the City - Washing Car in Hotel Basement
- The Kid from Texas - Deputy Bart, the Jailer
- Blondie's Hero - Mailman
- Wabash Avenue - John Electrician
- Beware of Blondie - Mailman
- Kill the Umpire - Catcher
- The Jackie Robinson Story - Tough Lodge Member in Stands
- Father of the Bride - Moving Man with Chandelier
- Love That Brute - Fats Leslie, Gangster
- He's a Cockeyed Wonder - Delivery Van Driver
- Frontier Outpost - Drill Sergeant
- Harvey - Mr. Cracker
- Watch the Birdie - Man Who Undresses
- The Misadventures of Buster Keaton - Harry
- Gasoline Alley - Pudge
- M - Policeman Ticketing Jaywalker
- The Scarf - Sid
- Francis Goes to the Races - Chuck
- Her First Romance - Night Watchman
- The Texas Rangers - Arkansas
- Strangers on a Train - Bill
- An American in Paris - Ben Macrow
- Flying Leathernecks - Mess Sergeant
- Corky of Gasoline Alley - Pudge McKay
- Texas Carnival - Concessionaire #1
- Reunion in Reno - Taxi Driver
- Honeychile - Bartender
- The Barefoot Mailman - Theron Henchman
- The Belle of New York - With Wedding Gift of Stolen Silver
- Love Is Better Than Ever - Smittie
- Rancho Notorious - Deputy
- Young Man with Ideas - Eddie Tasling
- Because You're Mine - Sgt. Grogan
- Just for You - Master Sergeant, Air Force Recruiter
- The WAC from Walla Walla - Sgt. Malone
- Blackbeard the Pirate - Dutchman
- The Lawless Breed - Marv
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - Chez Louis Nightclub Patron
- Let's Do It Again - Ajax Moving Man
- The Caddy - Caddy Who Rips Towel
- Champ for a Day - 'Speedtrap' Calhoun - Policeman
- Flight Nurse - Sergeant
- Untamed Heiress - Cruncher
- Them! - Railroad Detective
- Bowery to Bagdad - Gus
- Fling in the Ring - Chopper Kane
- The Eternal Sea - Mike, Rivet Tosser
- Francis in the Navy - Gas Station Attendant
- Rebel Without a Cause - Planetarium Guide
- Around the World in 80 Days - Train Engineer
- The Desperados Are in Town - Hank Green
- No Time for Sergeants - Drunk Infantryman at Purple Grotto
- The Gazebo - Louis the Louse
- All in a Night's Work - Janitor
- Pocketful of Miracles - Governor of Florida
- Wives and Lovers - Mr. Liberti
- Who's Minding the Store? - Traffic Cop
- The Ugly Dachshund - Eddie - Garbage Man