Fred Kelsey

Biography

Frederick Alvin Kelsey (August 20, 1884 – September 2, 1961) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. Kelsey directed one- and two-reel films for Universal Film Manufacturing Company. He appeared in more than 400 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives. He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920. Kelsey was caricatured as the detective in the 1943 MGM cartoon Who Killed Who? directed by Tex Avery. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio and died at the Motion Picture Country Home in Hollywood, California, aged 77.

Known For

The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok

Road to Paradise

To Catch a Thief

Strangers on a Train

The Man I Love

Mildred Pierce

Night and Day

A Star Is Born

All Movies (293)

• Westbound1959 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• Auntie Mame1958 · as Front Row Audience at Play (uncredited)
• The Helen Morgan Story1957 · as Night Club Patron (uncredited)
• Shoot-Out At Medicine Bend1957 · as Barfly (uncredited)
• The Opposite Sex1956 · as Club Patron (uncredited)
• Serenade1956 · as Opera Attendee (uncredited)
• Illegal1955 · as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
• To Catch a Thief1955 · as Party Guest (uncredited)
• Tall Man Riding1955 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• Outlaw's Son1954
• The Silver Chalice1954 · as Silversmith (uncredited)
• So You Want to Know Your Relatives1954 · as Mr. Watson (uncredited)
• A Star Is Born1954 · as Audience Member (uncredited)
• Lucky Me1954 · as Passerby on Street (uncredited)
• Riding Shotgun1954 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• Phantom of the Rue Morgue1954 · as Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
• Racing Blood1954 · as Smithy
• So You Think You Can't Sleep1953 · as Sleeping patient in waiting room
• Crime Wave1953 · as Old Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
• Murder Without Tears1953 · as Sergeant-at-Arms
• So You Want to Be a Musician1953 · as Restaurant diner
• Hans Christian Andersen1952 · as First Gendarme
• Strop, Look and Listen1952 · as Pierpont Alloy
• Springfield Rifle1952 · as Barfly (uncredited)
• O. Henry's Full House1952 · as Mr. Schultz (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
• Carson City1952 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• So You Want to Enjoy Life1952 · as Boat Salesman / Flugleman's Assistant (uncredited)
• My Six Convicts1952 · as Store Detective
• Room for One More1952
• Strangers on a Train1951 · as Tennis Match Spectator / Carnival Attendee (uncredited)
• Goodbye, My Fancy1951 · as Party Guest (Uncredited)
• The Enforcer1951
• Storm Warning1951 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• Revenue Agent1950 · as Sgt. Wallace
• So You Want a Raise1950
• The Flame and the Arrow1950 · as Guard (uncredited)
• So You Want to Hold Your Husband1950 · as Lamb - Curry's Partner
• The Damned Don't Cry1950 · as Man on Dock (uncredited)
• So You Think You're Not Guilty1950 · as Police Turnkey (uncredited)
• Backfire1950 · as Fight Fan (uncredited)
• The Inspector General1949 · as Villager (uncredited)
• So You Want to Be an Actor1949 · as Counter Man
• Dancing in the Dark1949 · as Deputy
• So You Want to Be a Muscle Man1949 · as Delivery Man
• The Fountainhead1949 · as Old Watchman (uncredited)
• Colorado Territory1949 · as Train Engineer (uncredited)
• Flamingo Road1949 · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
• Homicide1949 · as Officer O'Brien
• Silver River1948 · as Townsman (uncredited)
• The Noose Hangs High1948 · as Cop (uncredited)
• So You Want an Apartment1948 · as Apartment Manager with a Vacancy (uncredited)
• The Unfaithful1947 · as Courtroom Spectator
• Nora Prentiss1947 · as Turnkey (uncredited)
• So You Think You're a Nervous Wreck1946 · as Fred
• The Man I Love1946 · as Mac the Doorman (uncredited)
• Andy Plays Hookey1946 · as Policeman
• The People's Choice1946
• Never Say Goodbye1946 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• So You Want to Play the Horses1946 · as Detective (uncredited)
• Night and Day1946 · as First-Nighter (uncredited)
• Monkey Businessmen1946 · as Smiling Sam McGann (uncredited)
• A Stolen Life1946 · as Bartender (uncredited)
• Hiss and Yell1946 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Three Strangers1946 · as Man on the Street / Man in Pub (uncredited)
• Detour to Danger1946 · as Det. Kelsey
• How DOooo You Do1945 · as Detective
• Frontier Days1945 · as Mayor Stone (uncredited)
• Saratoga Trunk1945 · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
• Mildred Pierce1945 · as Bumped First Night Diner (uncredited)
• Come Out Fighting1945 · as Mr. McGinnis, Sr. (as Fred Kelsy)
• If a Body Meets a Body1945 · as Detective
• Christmas in Connecticut1945 · as Harper (uncredited)
• Snooper Service1945
• The Strange Mr. Gregory1945 · as Lefert
• Crime by Night1944 · as Dad Martin (uncredited)
• Make Your Own Bed1944 · as Turnkey
• Trial by Trigger1944 · as Jerry (uncredited)
• Mr. Skeffington1944 · as Cop in Raid (uncredited)
• Shine on Harvest Moon1944 · as Policeman in patrol car (uncredited)
• Roaring Guns1944
• A Gem of a Jam1943 · as Police Chief
• True to Life1943 · as Cop (uncredited)
• Old Acquaintance1943 · as Train Conductor / Man at Radio Broadcast (uncredited)
• Food and Magic1943
• Northern Pursuit1943 · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
• Thank Your Lucky Stars1943 · as Pub Waiter in Errol Flynn Number (uncredited)
• Murder on the Waterfront1943 · as Capt. Beal
• Here Comes Mr. Zerk1943 · as Policeman
• Action in the North Atlantic1943 · as Joe (uncredited)
• One Dangerous Night1943 · as Detective Dickens
• Gentleman Jim1942 · as Sutro (uncredited)
• X Marks the Spot1942 · as Police Officer Martin
• Dear! Deer!1942 · as Policeman
• Counter-Espionage1942 · as Dickens
• The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady1942 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Spy Ship1942 · as Night Watchman
• In This Our Life1942 · as Jailer (uncredited)
• Larceny, Inc.1942 · as Bronson
• Murder in the Big House1942 · as "Screw"
• I Was Framed1942 · as Drunk
• My Favorite Blonde1942 · as Sam - Policeman
• Lady Gangster1942 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Bullet Scars1942 · as Police Chief Hansen
• Wild Bill Hickok Rides1942 · as Jailer
• Pacific Blackout1941 · as Cop
• The Man Who Came to Dinner1941 · as Detective (uncredited)
• They Died with Their Boots On1941 · as Ft. Lincoln Bartender (uncredited)
• At the Stroke of Twelve1941 · as Police Sergeant
• Secrets of the Lone Wolf1941 · as Wesley Dickens
• One Foot in Heaven1941 · as Train Conductor (uncredited)
• Invisible Ghost1941 · as Detective Ryan
• Mr. District Attorney1941 · as Officer McCloskey
• The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance1941 · as Detective Dickens
• Misbehaving Husbands1940 · as Sgt. Murphy
• The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date1940 · as Dickens
• Mexican Spitfire Out West1940 · as Jim - Detective
• The Green Archer1940 · as Capt. Thompson
• The Golden Fleecing1940 · as Cop (uncredited)
• Deadwood Dick1940 · as Bottles
• The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady1940 · as Dickens
• Mutiny in the County1940 · as Policeman
• The Lone Wolf Strikes1940 · as Dickens
• High School1940 · as Junk Man
• The Man Who Wouldn't Talk1940 · as Bailiff
• Too Busy to Work1939 · as Hank Fidler
• Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence1939 · as Pete - Railroad Detective
• Charlie Chan at Treasure Island1939 · as Detective - in Cab and at Theatre
• Chicken Wagon Family1939 · as Policeman
• Charlie Chan in Reno1939 · as Reno Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
• Tell No Tales1939 · as Policeman at School (uncredited)
• Moving Vanities1939 · as Police Officer (uncredited)
• Clock Wise1939 · as Landlord
• Rough Riders' Round-up1939 · as Agitator
• Tiny Troubles1939 · as Judge
• Down on the Farm1938 · as Bit Role
• Straight, Place and Show1938 · as Cop at Racetrack
• Many Sappy Returns1938 · as Finnegan
• Josette1938 · as Hotel Detective
• Safety in Numbers1938 · as Cop
• Berth Quakes1938 · as Train Conductor
• Night Spot1938 · as Police Band Leader
• Everybody's Doing It1938 · as Police Sergeant
• Love and Hisses1937 · as Officer
• Borrowing Trouble1937 · as Policeman
• That I May Live1937 · as Abner Jenkins
• One Mile from Heaven1937 · as Smitty - Policeman
• The Lady Escapes1937 · as Man on telephone (uncredited)
• Wild and Woolly1937 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Super-Sleuth1937 · as Jailer
• She Had to Eat1937 · as Police Officer Tracy (uncredited)
• Big Business1937 · as Oil Man at Well
• Slave Ship1937 · as Seaman at Auction
• Angel's Holiday1937 · as Conductor
• Love Is News1937 · as Cop (uncredited)
• Time Out for Romance1937 · as Policeman
• High Tension1936 · as Desk Sergeant
• Private Number1936 · as Detective in Ellen's Apartment (Uncredited)
• The Witness Chair1936 · as Detective Costigan
• At Sea Ashore1936 · as Cop (uncredited)
• The Little Red Schoolhouse1936 · as First Detective
• The Garden Murder Case1936 · as Heath's Assistant (Uncredited)
• The Sagebrush Troubadour1935 · as Hank Polk
• Hot Money1935 · as Police Officer Kelsey (as Fred A. Kelsey)
• The Public Menace1935 · as Mike - Cop
• Diamond Jim1935 · as Horsley's Secretary
• Atlantic Adventure1935 · as Police Officer Riley
• Danger Ahead1935 · as Detective O'Brien
• One Frightened Night1935 · as Sheriff Jenks
• Death Flies East1935 · as Police Lieutenant O'Brien
• Carnival1935 · as Bit Part
• A Notorious Gentleman1935 · as Detective
• Horses' Collars1935 · as Detective Hyden Zeke (uncredited)
• Lightning Strikes Twice1934 · as Dugan
• Among the Missing1934 · as Police Sgt. Murphy
• I'll Be Suing You1934 · as Insurance Adjustor
• Twentieth Century1934 · as Train Detective (uncredited)
• Rough Necking1934 · as Joe Cuttlehammer Sr.
• I'll Tell the World1934 · as Sergeant at Border
• Strictly Fresh Yeggs1934 · as Policeman
• School for Girls1934 · as Detective
• The Crime Doctor1934 · as Bloodgood
• Beloved1934 · as Mulvaney
• The Moth1934 · as Detective Blake
• Shadows of Sing Sing1933 · as Murphy
• The Bowery1933 · as Detective Kelsey (uncredited)
• Quiet Please!1933 · as Train Conductor
• Gold Diggers of 19331933 · as Detective Jones (uncredited)
• Sailor's Luck1933 · as Cop
• King of the Jungle1933 · as Cop (uncredited)
• The Crime of the Century1933 · as Police Guard (uncredited)
• Boys Will Be Boys1932 · as Doorman
• If I Had a Million1932 · as Prison Jailer (uncredited)
• Red Haired Alibi1932 · as Corcoran
• Yoo-Hoo1932 · as Detective
• Speak Easily1932 · as Process Server
• The Iceman's Ball1932 · as Police Sergeant
• Guilty as Hell1932 · as Detective Duffy
• Huddle1932 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Love in High Gear1932 · as Detective Duffy
• The Trial of Vivienne Ware1932 · as Cop (uncredited)
• Shopping with Wifie1932 · as Det. Dugan
• Discarded Lovers1932 · as Delaney
• Side Show1931 · as Sheriff Hornsby
• Young Donovan's Kid1931 · as Collins
• Subway Express1931 · as Detective Kearney
• Scandal Sheet1931 · as Detective Sgt. Vincent Molloy
• The Naughty Flirt1931 · as Policeman (uncredited)
• Going Wild1930 · as The Conductor
• Only Saps Work1930 · as Murphy (uncredited)
• She Got What She Wanted1930
• Men Without Law1930 · as Deputy Sheriff Jeff
• Scarlet Pages1930 · as Murphy
• Screen Snapshots Series 10, No. 11930 · as Self - Tour Guide
• The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case1930 · as Chief of Detectives (uncredited)
• Road to Paradise1930 · as Casey
• The Girl Said No1930 · as Policeman
• Wide Open1930 · as Detective
• Murder on the Roof1930 · as Ryan
• The Woman Racket1930 · as Police Captain
• Smiling Irish Eyes1929 · as County Fair Manager
• The Donovan Affair1929 · as Carney
• Wrong Again1929
• The Faker1929 · as Police Detective
• The Last Warning1928 · as Inspector
• Naughty Baby1928 · as Dugan
• A Woman of Affairs1928 · as Detective (uncredited)
• On Trial1928 · as Clerk
• Plastered in Paris1928
• The Wright Idea1928 · as M. T. Flatt
• A Midnight Adventure1928 · as Cassidy
• Harold Teen1928 · as Mr. Lovewell
• Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath1928 · as Detective
• Tenderloin1928 · as Detective Simpson
• While the City Sleeps1928 · as Detective in Shadow Box
• The Gorilla1927 · as Mulligan
• The 13th Juror1927 · as The Detective
• The Thirteenth Hour1927 · as Det. Shaw
• Soft Cushions1927 · as The Police
• Jewish Prudence1927 · as Rent Collector
• Held by the Law1927 · as Detective
• Orchids and Ermine1927 · as Police Sergeant
• There Ain't No Santa Claus1926 · as Store Detective (uncredited)
• The Third Degree1926 · as Assistant Chief of Detectives
• Atta Boy1926 · as Detective
• Bromo and Juliet1926 · as The Detective (uncredited)
• Crazy Like a Fox1926 · as Man with Badge on Train (uncredited)
• Say It with Babies1926 · as Policeman
• The Social Highwayman1926 · as Chief of Police
• The Mystery Pilot1926 · as Skipper Larsen
• That's My Baby1926 · as Murphy
• Dog Shy1926 · as Cop
• The Uneasy Three1925
• Seven Sinners1925 · as Policeman
• Seven Keys to Baldpate1925
• Little Annie Rooney1925 · as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
• The Lawful Cheater1925 · as Tom Horan
• Paths to Paradise1925 · as Confederate
• Smooth as Satin1925 · as Kersey
• Friendly Enemies1925
• Excuse Me1925 · as George Ketchem
• Youth and Adventure1925 · as Red Mullin
• Traffic in Hearts1924 · as Tim Tracy
• The Yankee Consul1924 · as Agent John J. Doyle
• The Night Hawk1924
• Lights Out1923 · as Decker
• Bag and Baggage1923 · as Fred
• The Eleventh Hour1923 · as The Submarine Commander
• Souls for Sale1923 · as Detective Quinn (uncredited)
• Lovebound1923 · as Detective Hahn
• Captain Fly-by-Night1922 · as Gomez
• Deserted at the Altar1922 · as The Other Man
• Manslaughter1922 · as Member of the Jury (uncredited)
• Don't Shoot1922 · as Police Officer
• South of Suva1922 · as Karl Swartz
• One Clear Call1922 · as Starnes
• The Song of Life1922 · as Police Inspector
• There Are No Villains1921 · as Dugall
• The Match-Breaker1921 · as Detective
• The Last Card1921 · as Detective (uncredited)
• Puppets of Fate1921 · as Bobs
• The Off-Shore Pirate1921 · as Sailor
• Alias Jimmy Valentine1920 · as Bit Part (uncredited)
• The Third Generation1920 · as Brody
• The Fire Flingers1919 · as Sgt. Powers
• The Silk Lined Burglar1919 · as Capt. von Hoffmeier
• The Light of Victory1919 · as Captain Eric von Prohme
• The Yellow Dog1918 · as Max Kummich
• A Society Sensation1918 · as JIm Cox
• The Empty Cab1918 · as The Detective
• The Honor of an Outlaw1917 · as The Deputy
• Arms and the Gringo1914
• Silent Sandy1914 · as Silent Sandy
• A Left Hook1911

All TV Shows (1)

• The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok1951 · as Doc Jones (uncredited)