Harry Semels
Harry Semels (November 20, 1887 – March 2, 1946) was an American film actor. He appeared in over 315 films between 1917 and 1946.
Harry Semels

George B. Seitz Productions / Pathé Exchange · Exhibitors Herald (Oct. - Dec. 1920) on the Internet Archive · Public domain
- Name
- Harry Semels
- Born
- 20 November 1887
- Birthplace
- New York City, U.S.
- Died
- 2 March 1946
- Place of death
- Hollywood, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Jean Semels
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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Harry Semels (November 20, 1887 – March 2, 1946) was an American film actor. He appeared in over 315 films between 1917 and 1946.
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- Identity
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wikidata · Q5672277 · wikipedia · Harry Semels
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Harry Semels • Born — 20 November 1887 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 2 March 1946 • Place of death — Hollywood, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1917–1946 • Spouse — Jean Semels • Children — 2 Harry Semels (November 20, 1887 – March 2, 1946) was an American film actor. He appeared in over 315 films between 1917 and 1946.
Career
Career
Semels made his film debut in 1917. He appeared in several Three Stooges shorts for Columbia Pictures including Disorder in the Court, Wee Wee Monsieur and Three Little Sew and Sews. He also appeared in feature films like Road to Morocco, The Princess and the Pirate and The Kid from Brooklyn. A versatile character actor, Semels was often cast as villains, waiters, lawyers and soldiers.
Personal life
Personal life
Semels was Jewish and had two children, Ruth and David, who was killed in action during World War II.
Death
Death
Semels died of a heart attack on March 2, 1946, in Hollywood, California. He was 58 years old.
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Here Comes the Bride (1919) • A Fallen Idol (1919) • Bound and Gagged (1919) • The Black Secret (1919) • Pirate Gold (1920) • Rogues and Romance (1920) • The Phantom Foe (1920) • Velvet Fingers (1920) • The Sky Ranger (1921) • Hurricane Hutch (1921) • Speed (1922) • Plunder (1923) • Into the Net (1924) • The Heart of a Siren (1925) • Play Ball (1925) • Moran of the Mounted (1926) • Stick to Your Story (1926) • The Demon (1926) • For Alimony Only (1926) • The House Without a Key (1926) • Corporal Kate (1926) • The Isle of Forgotten Women (1927) • On Guard (1927) • Hawk of the Hills (1927) • The Noose (1928) • The Yellow Cameo (1928) • Beware of Blondes (1928) • The Battle of the Sexes (1928) • Riley the Cop (1928) • The Tiger's Shadow (1928) • Out with the Tide (1928) • Virgin Lips (1928) • The Charge of the Gauchos (1928) • The Royal Rider (1929) • The Delightful Rogue (1929) • Those Who Dance (1930) • Women Everywhere (1930) • The Lion and the Lamb (1931) • Dishonored (1931) • Night Beat (1931) • Sally of the Subway (1932) • Sin's Pay Day (1932) • Vanity Street (1932) • South of the Rio Grande (1932) • Young Blood (1932) • The Wyoming Whirlwind (1932) • Texas Buddies (1932) • Drum Taps (1933) • The Thrill Hunter (1933) • Damaged Lives (1933) • The Meanest Gal in Town (1934) • The Revenge Rider (1935) • Three Little Beers (1935) • I'll Name the Murderer (1936) • Movie Maniacs (1936) • Under Two Flags (1936) • Half Shot Shooters (1936) • Disorder in the Court (1936) – District Attorney (uncredited) • The Gladiator (1938) • Wee Wee Monsieur (1938) • The Marines Are Here (1938) • Three Little Sew and Sews (1939) • Ninotchka (1939) Gurganov (uncredited) • Overland Mail (1939) • Dutiful But Dumb (1941) • A Yank on the Burma Road (1942) • Back from the Front (1943) • Dizzy Pilots (1943) • Sailor's Holiday (1944) • The Unseen (1945) Hurdy Gurdy Man (uncredited)

This is a poster for the 7th episode of The Sky Ranger.
Pathé Exchange

Advertisement for the American film serial Plunder (1923) with Pearl White, from the insert after page 60 of the December 30, 1922 Exhibitor's Trade Review.
George B. Seitz Productions / Pathé Exchange · Exhibitor's Trade Review (Dec. 1922 - Feb. 1923) on the Internet Archive
Places
Named by the record
Places
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New York City.
Birth place
Hollywood.
Death place
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 24 August 2026.
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