Sidney Toler
ActingAbout Sidney Toler
Sidney Toler (born Hooper G. Toler Jr.; April 28, 1874 – February 12, 1947) was an American actor, playwright and theatre director. The second European-American actor to play the role of Charlie Chan on screen, he is best remembered for his portrayal of the Chinese-American detective in 22 films made between 1938 and 1946. Before becoming Chan, Toler played supporting roles in 50 motion pictures and was a highly regarded comic actor on the Broadway stage.
Sidney Toler Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Sidney Toler reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Sidney Toler's work falls within the Comedy genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 82% of Sidney Toler's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains White Shoulders, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Sidney Toler Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Sidney Toler's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Sidney Toler has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | That's Entertainment! | (archive footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Best of Laurel and Hardy | Captain of SS Periwinkle (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Trap | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Shadows Over Chinatown | Charlie Chan | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Dark Alibi | Charlie Chan | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Red Dragon | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | It's in the Bag! | Detective Sully | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Black Magic | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | A Night to Remember | Inspector Hankins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Castle in the Desert | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Charlie Chan in Rio | Lt. Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Dead Men Tell | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Murder Over New York | Charlie Chan | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum | Charlie Chan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Charlie Chan in Panama | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | City in Darkness | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Charlie Chan at Treasure Island | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Heritage of the Desert | Nosey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Charlie Chan in Reno | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Kid from Kokomo | Judge William 'Gashouse' Bronson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Disbarred | G.L. 'Mardy' Mardeen | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Charlie Chan in Honolulu | Charlie Chan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Up the River | Jeffrey Mitchell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | If I Were King | Robin Turgis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Mysterious Rider | Frosty Kilburn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | One Wild Night | Lawton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Wide Open Faces | Sheriff | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Gold Is Where You Find It | Harrison McCooey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Double Wedding | Mr. Keough, Margit's Butler | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Longest Night | Captain Holt | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Our Relations | Captain of SS Periwinkle | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Give Us This Night | First Carabiniere | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Three Godfathers | Professor Amos Snape | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | This Is the Life | Professor Lafcadio F. Breckenridge | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Daring Young Man | Warden Palmer | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Champagne for Breakfast | The Probate Judge | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Romance in Manhattan | Sergeant Duffy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Here Comes the Groom | Detective Weaver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Way to Love | Pierre | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | He Learned About Women | Wilson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Blonde Venus | Detective Wilson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Phantom President | Aikenhead | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Blondie of the Follies | Pete | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Tom Brown of Culver | Maj. Wharton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Radio Patrol | Sgt. Tom Keogh | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | White Shoulders | William Sothern | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | In the Nick of Time | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | Madame X | Dr. Merivel | Average | Similar → |
Sidney Toler - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Sidney Toler?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Sidney Toler is "White Shoulders" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Sidney Toler acted in?
Sidney Toler has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Sidney Toler?
Other notable films include "Radio Patrol", "The Daring Young Man", and "He Learned About Women".