Harvey Lembeck
ActingAbout Harvey Lembeck
Harvey Lembeck (April 15, 1923 – January 5, 1982) was an American comedic actor best remembered for his role as Cpl. Rocco Barbella on The Phil Silvers Show (a.k.a. Sgt. Bilko) in the late 1950s, and as the stumbling, overconfident outlaw biker Eric Von Zipper in the beach party movie series during the 1960s. He also turned in noteworthy performances in both the stage and screen versions of Stalag 17. He was the father of actor/director Michael Lembeck and actress Helaine Lembeck. Description above from the Wikipedia article Harvey Lembeck, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Harvey Lembeck reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 37 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Harvey Lembeck's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 14% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Harvey Lembeck remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Kiss Me, Kate, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Harvey Lembeck Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Harvey Lembeck's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Harvey Lembeck.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Lily: Sold Out | Mickey Gold | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Gong Show Movie | Man in Steam Room | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Raid on Entebbe | Mr. Harvey | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! | Gangster | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | There Is No 13 | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1973 | Horowitz in Dublin | Dan Horowitz | Flop | Similar → |
| 1969 | Hello Down There | Sonarman | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Spirit Is Willing | Capt. Pederson (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | Fireball 500 | Charlie Bigg | Flop | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini | Eric Von Zipper | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Wild Weird World of Dr. Goldfoot | Hugo | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine | Motorcycle Thug in Dungeon | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Sergeant Deadhead | Airman McEvoy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | How to Stuff a Wild Bikini | Eric Von Zipper | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | Beach Blanket Bingo | Eric Von Zipper | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | Pajama Party | Eric Von Zipper | Flop | Similar → |
| 1964 | Bikini Beach | Eric Von Zipper | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Unsinkable Molly Brown | Polak | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Love with the Proper Stranger | Julio Rossini | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Beach Party | Eric Von Zipper | Average | Similar → |
| 1962 | A View from the Bridge | Mike | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Sail a Crooked Ship | Nickels | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Last Time I Saw Archie | Duty Sgt. Malcolm Greenbriar | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Million Dollar Incident | Bullets Durgom | Flop | Similar → |
| 1959 | Keep in Step | Cpl. Rocco Barbella | Flop | Similar → |
| 1958 | Kiss Me, Kate | Gunman | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Between Heaven and Hell | .Pvt. Bernard 'Bernie' Meleski - Co. G | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Command | Pvt. Gottschalk | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Mission Over Korea | Sgt. Maxie Steiner | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | Stalag 17 | Sgt. Harry Shapiro | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Girls in the Night | Chuck Haynes | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Back at the Front | Joe | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | Just Across the Street | Al | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | Finders Keepers | o.A. | Flop | Similar → |
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours | Cab Driver (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | You're in the Navy Now | Norelli | Flop | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Frogmen | Marvin W. 'Canarsie' Mikowsky | Average | Similar → |
Harvey Lembeck - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Harvey Lembeck?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Harvey Lembeck is "Kiss Me, Kate" with a rating of 8.7/10.
How many movies has Harvey Lembeck acted in?
Harvey Lembeck has been featured in at least 37 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Harvey Lembeck?
Other notable films include "Stalag 17", "Fourteen Hours", and "Love with the Proper Stranger".