Clarence Kolb (July 31, 1874 – November 25, 1964) was a beloved American character actor who, after a long and successful career in vaudeville, became one of Hollywood’s most memorable portrayers of blustery, hot-tempered, and comically exasperated businessmen.
Kolb began his career as one half of the hugely popular vaudeville comedy duo, Kolb and Dill, who were famous for their “Dutch act” dialect comedy. After decades on the stage, Kolb came to Hollywood in the late 1930s and quickly established his niche. He is best remembered for his classic film roles as the perpetually apoplectic father in the screwball comedy Merrily We Live (1938) and the corrupt, sputtering Mayor in His Girl Friday (1940).
In the 1950s, he found a new generation of fans on television with his most famous role, playing the overbearing and often-outsmarted boss, Mr. Honeywell, on the hit sitcom My Little Margie (1952-1955). His ability to hilariously portray pompous and flustered authority figures made him a cherished comedic actor of his time.
