Herbert Mundin


Herbert Thomas Mundin was an English character actor. He was frequently typecast in 1930s Hollywood films like The Adventures of Robin Hood as an older cheeky eccentric, a type helped by his jowled features and cheerful disposition.

Early Life

Mundin was born in St Helens, then in Lancashire. His father was a nomadic, Primitive Methodist home missionary. His family moved within a short time of his birth to St Albans in Hertfordshire. Mundin was educated at St Albans School. During World War I he served with the Royal Navy.

Career

He began his acting career on the London stage during the 1920s. Mundin first travelled to America on 18 December 1923 for a series of theatrical engagements in New York. He sailed from Southampton on the RMS Aquitania and described himself in ship’s passenger manifest as 5'7" tall with a fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes and a scar over his left eye. His big break as an actor was arguably with Gertrude Lawrence and Beatrice Lillie in Charlot's Revue when it appeared on Broadway in 1925.
In 1931, after working in Australia and London, he permanently moved to the United States, where he received a contract with the Fox Film Corporation, where he had a successful career as a character actor in over fifty films. Perhaps his most celebrated role was as Much, the miller's son in The Adventures of Robin Hood alongside Errol Flynn. Other film appearances included Mutiny on the Bounty with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable, and MGM's David Copperfield as Barkis.

Death

Mundin died at Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California in a car crash. He was killed instantly when the car in which he was a passenger collided with another car at a street intersection. The force of the impact threw open the door and threw him out of the vehicle onto the street, Mundin sustaining a fractured skull and crushed chest. He was 40 years old. The other occupants of the car were not injured. His body was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Los Angeles, his gravestone has the initials 'R.N.' upon it, referencing his war service with the British Royal Navy.

Personal life

According to his nephew in 2012, "he was the only man who could drink Errol Flynn under the table".

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1931East Lynne on the Western FrontBob Cox / Lady Isobel
1932The Silent WitnessHenry Hammer
1932Devil's LotteryTrowbridge
1932The Trial of Vivienne WareWilliam Boggs
1932Bachelor's AffairsJepson
1932Almost MarriedJenkins, the butlerUncredited
1932Chandu the MagicianAlbert Miggles
1932Love Me TonightGroomUncredited
1932The Painted WomanGeorgie, mess boyUncredited
1932Life BeginsMr. MacGilvairyUncredited
1932One Way PassageS.S. Maloa stewardUncredited
1932Sherlock HolmesGeorge
1933CavalcadeAlfred Bridges
1933Dangerously YoursGrove
1933Pleasure CruiseHenry
1933AdorablePipac, the detective
1933It's Great to Be AliveBrooks
1933The Devil's in LoveBimby
1933Arizona to BroadwayKingfish Miller
1933Shanghai MadnessLarsen
1933Hoop-LaHap Spissel
1934Orient ExpressHerbert Thomas Peters
1934Ever Since EveHorace Saunders
1934Bottoms UpLimey Brook / Lord Brocklehurst
1934All Men Are EnemiesNoggins
1934Orient ExpressHoratio Hollingsworth Wilson
1934Call It LuckHerbert Biggelwade
1934Springtime for HenryTrivers
1934Love TimeCaesar
1934Hell in the HeavensGranny Biggs
1935David CopperfieldBarkis
1935Black SheepOscar
1935Spring TonicThompson, the butler
1935Ladies Love DangerGiffins
1935Mutiny on the BountySmith
1935The Imperfect LadyFrederick Hitch
1935The Widow from Monte CarloJohn Torrent
1936King of BurlesqueEnglish Impresario
1936Charlie Chan's SecretBaxter, the butler
1936A Message to GarciaHenry Piper
1936Under Two FlagsRake
1936Champagne CharlieMr. Fipps
1936Tarzan EscapesHerbert Henry Rawlins
1937Another DawnWilkins
1937You Can't Beat LoveJasper 'Meadows' Hives
1937AngelMr Greenwood
1937That's My StoryHiram
1938Invisible EnemySergeant Alfred M. Higgs
1938The Adventures of Robin HoodMuch
1938Lord JeffBosun 'Crusty' Jelks
1938ExposedSkippy
1939Society LawyerLayton

Theatre

YearTitleTheatreNotes
1921-1922A to ZPrince of Wales's TheatreHis London debut
1921-1922Pot LuckVaudeville Theatre, London
1922-1923SnapVaudeville Theatre, London
1923RatsVaudeville Theatre, London
1923Yes!Vaudeville Theatre, London
1925Charlot's RevuePrince of Wales Theatre