Hooper Atchley (April 30, 1887 – November 17, 1943) was a prolific American character actor who appeared in more than 200 films, specializing in portraying stern, sophisticated, and often unsympathetic authority figures.
With his distinguished and often severe appearance, Atchley was a go-to actor for casting directors looking for a crisply-dressed professional or a shady executive. He became a familiar face in the popular Mr. Wong mystery series starring Boris Karloff, appearing in films like Mr. Wong, Detective (1938), The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939), and The Fatal Hour (1940).
He is most famously remembered by fans of the Our Gang comedies for his role as Dickie Moore’s cruel and inconsiderate father in the classic short Birthday Blues (1932). His ability to portray imposing and unpleasant characters made him a staple of 1930s cinema until his untimely death at the age of 56.
