
Lyle Talbot
ActingAbout Lyle Talbot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lyle Talbot (born Lisle Henderson, February 8, 1902 – March 2, 1996) was an American actor on stage and screen, known for his career in film from 1931 to 1960 and for his appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s. He played Ozzie Nelson's friend and neighbor, Joe Randolph, for ten years in the ABC situation comedy The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He began his movie career under contract with Warner Brothers in the early days of sound film. He appeared in more than 150 films, first as a young matinee idol and later as a character actor and star of many B movies. He was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild and later served on its board. Talbot's long career as an actor is recounted in a book by his youngest daughter, The New Yorker writer Margaret Talbot, entitled The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father's Twentieth Century (Riverhead Books 2012). Most notable among Talbot's film work were his appearances in Three on a Match and 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (both 1932). He played a star running back in College Coach (1933) with Pat O'Brien and Dick Powell, romanced opera singer Grace Moore in One Night of Love in 1934, and pursued Mae West in Go West, Young Man (1936). He was a gangster in Ladies They Talk About and Heat Lightning and a doctor kicking a drinking habit in Mandalay. He co-starred with Pat O'Brien in Oil for the Lamps of China (1935). He appeared opposite Ann Dvorak, Carole Lombard, Barbara Stanwyck, Mary Astor, Ginger Rogers, Loretta Young and Shirley Temple, as well as sharing the screen with Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and Tyrone Power. Overall, Talbot appeared in some 150 movies.
Best Lyle Talbot Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Lyle Talbot's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Lyle Talbot.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr. | Himself | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Batmania: From Comics to Screen | Self / Commissioner Gordon (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | George Carlin: Playin' with Your Head | Pops | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | That's Dancing! | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | The Case of Dashiell Hammett | Dashiell Hammett | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | City of Fear | Chief Jensen | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Jail Busters | Cy Bowman | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | There's No Business Like Show Business | Stage Manager (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Desperado | Judge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Mad Magician | Program Hawker (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | With This Ring | Miller Executive | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Tumbleweed | Weber | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | White Lightning | Rocky Gibraltar | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Wyoming Roundup | Franklin | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | African Treasure | Roy DeHaven, alias Pat Gilroy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Texas City | Captain Hamilton | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Jackpot | Fred Burns | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Triple Trouble | Prison Yard Guard | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Lucky Losers | Bruce McDermott | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Champagne for Caesar | Executive No. 2 | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Sky Dragon | Andrew J. Barrett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Joe Palooka in the Big Fight | Lt. Muldoon | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Quick on the Trigger | Garvey Yager | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Joe Palooka in Winner Take All | Henerson | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Vigilante: Fighting Hero of the West | George Pierce | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Strange Impersonation | Insp. Malloy, chief interrogator | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Murder Is My Business | Buell Renslow | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Mystery of the Riverboat | Rudolph Toller | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Sensations of 1945 | Randall | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Meanest Man in the World | Bill Potts (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Parole Fixer | Ross Waring | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Arkansas Traveler | Matt Collins | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Gateway | Henry Porter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | West Bound Limited | Dave Tolliver aka Bob Kirk | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Trapped by Television | Fred Dennis | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Page Miss Glory | Slattery | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Oil for the Lamps of China | Jim | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Chinatown Squad | Ted Lacey | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | While the Patient Slept | Ross Lonergan | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Return of the Terror | Dr. Leonard Goodman | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Fog Over Frisco | Spencer Carlton | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | And She Learned About Dames | Himself | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Heat Lightning | Jeff | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Life of Jimmy Dolan | Doc | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | 42nd Street | Geoffrey Warning (voice) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk About | Don | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | 20,000 Years in Sing Sing | Bud Saunders | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | No More Orchids | Tony Gage | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Three on a Match | Michael Loftus | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Purchase Price | Eddie Fields | Hit | Similar → |
Lyle Talbot - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Lyle Talbot?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Lyle Talbot is "Batmania: From Comics to Screen" with a rating of 7.8/10.
How many movies has Lyle Talbot acted in?
Lyle Talbot has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Lyle Talbot?
Other notable films include "Sky Dragon", "The Haunted World of Edward D. Wood, Jr.", and "Oil for the Lamps of China".




