Fred Kelsey
Known for
Acting
Life
1884 – 1961 (aged 77)
Born in
Sandusky, Ohio, USA
Credits
View on IMDb293 acting credits
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
Strangers on a Train
27 Jun 1951
To Catch a Thief
03 Aug 1955
Mildred Pierce
20 Oct 1945
A Star Is Born
01 Oct 1954
Gold Diggers of 1933
27 May 1933
Christmas in Connecticut
27 Jul 1945
The Fountainhead
25 Jun 1949
Auntie Mame
04 Dec 1958
Photos
Filmography
1959
- Westboundas Townsman (uncredited)
1958
- Auntie Mameas Front Row Audience at Play (uncredited)
1957
- The Helen Morgan Storyas Night Club Patron (uncredited)
- Shoot-Out at Medicine Bendas Barfly (uncredited)
1956
- The Opposite Sexas Club Patron (uncredited)
- Serenadeas Opera Attendee (uncredited)
1955
- Illegalas Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- To Catch a Thiefas Party Guest (uncredited)
- Tall Man Ridingas Townsman (uncredited)
1954
- Outlaw's Son
- The Silver Chaliceas Silversmith (uncredited)
- So You Want to Know Your Relativesas Mr. Watson (uncredited)
- A Star Is Bornas Audience Member (uncredited)
- Lucky Meas Passerby on Street (uncredited)
- Riding Shotgunas Townsman (uncredited)
- Phantom of the Rue Morgueas Crowd Spectator (uncredited)
- Racing Bloodas Smithy
1953
- So You Think You Can't Sleepas Sleeping patient in waiting room
- Crime Waveas Old Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
- Murder Without Tearsas Sergeant-at-Arms
- So You Want to Be a Musicianas Restaurant diner
1952
- Hans Christian Andersenas Gendarme #1
- Strop, Look and Listenas Pierpont Alloy
- Springfield Rifleas Barfly (uncredited)
- O. Henry's Full Houseas Mr. Schultz (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Carson Cityas Townsman (uncredited)
- So You Want to Enjoy Lifeas Boat Salesman
- My Six Convictsas Store Detective
- Room for One More
1951
- Strangers on a Trainas Tennis Match Spectator
- Goodbye, My Fancyas Party Guest (Uncredited)
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickokas Doc Jones (uncredited)1 episode
- The Enforcer
- Storm Warningas Townsman (uncredited)
1950
- Revenue Agentas Sgt. Wallace
- So You Want a Raise
- The Flame and the Arrowas Guard (uncredited)
- So You Want to Hold Your Husbandas Lamb - Curry's Partner
- The Damned Don't Cryas Man on Dock (uncredited)
- So You Think You're Not Guiltyas Police Turnkey (uncredited)
- Backfireas Fight Fan (uncredited)
1949
- The Inspector Generalas Villager (uncredited)
- So You Want to Be an Actoras Counter Man
- Dancing in the Darkas Deputy
- So You Want to Be a Muscle Manas Delivery Man
- The Fountainheadas Old Watchman (uncredited)
- Colorado Territoryas Train Engineer (uncredited)
- Flamingo Roadas Train Conductor (uncredited)
- Homicideas Officer O'Brien
1948
- Silver Riveras Townsman (uncredited)
- The Noose Hangs Highas Cop (uncredited)
- So You Want an Apartmentas Apartment Manager with a Vacancy (uncredited)
1947
- The Unfaithfulas Courtroom Spectator
- Nora Prentissas Turnkey (uncredited)
1946
- So You Think You're a Nervous Wreckas Fred
- The Man I Loveas Mac the Doorman (uncredited)
- Andy Plays Hookeyas Policeman
- The People's Choice
- Never Say Goodbyeas Policeman (uncredited)
- So You Want to Play the Horsesas Detective (uncredited)
- Night and Dayas First-Nighter (uncredited)
- Monkey Businessmenas Smiling Sam McGann (uncredited)
- A Stolen Lifeas Bartender (uncredited)
- Hiss and Yellas Policeman (uncredited)
- Three Strangersas Man on the Street
- Detour to Dangeras Det. Kelsey
1945
- How DOooo You Doas Detective
- Frontier Daysas Mayor Stone (uncredited)
- Saratoga Trunkas Train Conductor (uncredited)
- Mildred Pierceas Bumped First Night Diner (uncredited)
- Come Out Fightingas Mr. McGinnis, Sr. (as Fred Kelsy)
- If a Body Meets a Bodyas Detective
- Christmas in Connecticutas Harper (uncredited)
- Snooper Service
- The Strange Mr. Gregoryas Lefert
1944
- Crime by Nightas Dad Martin (uncredited)
- Make Your Own Bedas Turnkey
- Trial by Triggeras Jerry (uncredited)
- Mr. Skeffingtonas Cop in Raid (uncredited)
- Shine on Harvest Moonas Policeman in patrol car (uncredited)
- Roaring Guns
1943
- A Gem of a Jamas Police Chief
- True to Lifeas Cop (uncredited)
- Old Acquaintanceas Train Conductor
- Food and Magic
- Northern Pursuitas Train Conductor (uncredited)
- Thank Your Lucky Starsas Pub Waiter in Errol Flynn Number (uncredited)
- Murder on the Waterfrontas Capt. Beal
- Here Comes Mr. Zerkas Policeman
- Action in the North Atlanticas Joe (uncredited)
- One Dangerous Nightas Detective Dickens
1942
- Gentleman Jimas Sutro (uncredited)
- X Marks the Spotas Police Officer Martin
- Dear! Deer!as Policeman
- Counter-Espionageas Dickens
- The Daughter of Rosie O'Gradyas Policeman (uncredited)
- Spy Shipas Night Watchman
- In This Our Lifeas Jailer (uncredited)
- Larceny, Inc.as Bronson
- Murder in the Big Houseas "Screw"
- I Was Framedas Drunk
- My Favorite Blondeas Sam - Policeman
- Lady Gangsteras Policeman (uncredited)
- Bullet Scarsas Police Chief Hansen
- Wild Bill Hickok Ridesas Jailer
1941
- Pacific Blackoutas Cop
- The Man Who Came to Dinneras Detective (uncredited)
- They Died with Their Boots Onas Ft. Lincoln Bartender (uncredited)
- At the Stroke of Twelveas Police Sergeant
- Secrets of the Lone Wolfas Wesley Dickens
- One Foot in Heavenas Train Conductor (uncredited)
- Invisible Ghostas Detective Ryan
- Mr. District Attorneyas Officer McCloskey
- The Lone Wolf Takes a Chanceas Detective Dickens
1940
- Misbehaving Husbandsas Sgt. Murphy
- The Lone Wolf Keeps a Dateas Dickens
- Mexican Spitfire Out Westas Jim - Detective
- The Green Archeras Capt. Thompson
- The Golden Fleecingas Cop (uncredited)
- Deadwood Dickas Bottles
- The Lone Wolf Meets a Ladyas Dickens
- Mutiny in the Countyas Policeman
- The Lone Wolf Strikesas Dickens
- High Schoolas Junk Man
- The Man Who Wouldn't Talkas Bailiff
1939
- Too Busy to Workas Hank Fidler
- Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fenceas Pete - Railroad Detective
- Charlie Chan at Treasure Islandas Detective - in Cab and at Theatre
- Chicken Wagon Familyas Policeman
- Charlie Chan in Renoas Reno Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- Tell No Talesas Policeman at School (uncredited)
- Moving Vanitiesas Police Officer (uncredited)
- Clock Wiseas Landlord
- Rough Riders' Round-upas Agitator
- Tiny Troublesas Judge
1938
- Down on the Farmas Bit Role
- Straight, Place and Showas Cop at Racetrack
- Many Sappy Returnsas Finnegan
- Josetteas Hotel Detective
- Safety in Numbersas Cop
- Berth Quakesas Train Conductor
- Night Spotas Police Band Leader
- Everybody's Doing Itas Police Sergeant
1937
- Love and Hissesas Officer
- Borrowing Troubleas Policeman
- That I May Liveas Abner Jenkins
- One Mile from Heavenas Smitty - Policeman
- The Lady Escapesas Man on telephone (uncredited)
- Wild and Woollyas Policeman (uncredited)
- Super-Sleuthas Jailer
- She Had to Eatas Police Officer Tracy (uncredited)
- Big Businessas Oil Man at Well
- Slave Shipas Seaman at Auction
- Angel's Holidayas Conductor
- Love Is Newsas Cop (uncredited)
- Time Out for Romanceas Policeman
1936
- High Tensionas Desk Sergeant
- Private Numberas Detective in Ellen's Apartment (Uncredited)
- The Witness Chairas Detective Costigan
- At Sea Ashoreas Cop (uncredited)
- The Little Red Schoolhouseas First Detective
- The Garden Murder Caseas Heath's Assistant (Uncredited)
1935
- The Sagebrush Troubadouras Hank Polk
- Hot Moneyas Police Officer Kelsey (as Fred A. Kelsey)
- The Public Menaceas Mike - Cop
- Diamond Jimas Horsley's Secretary
- Atlantic Adventureas Police Officer Riley
- Danger Aheadas Detective O'Brien
- One Frightened Nightas Sheriff Jenks
- Death Flies Eastas Police Lieutenant O'Brien
- Carnivalas Bit Part
- A Notorious Gentlemanas Detective
- Horses' Collarsas Detective Hyden Zeke (uncredited)
1934
- Lightning Strikes Twiceas Dugan
- Among the Missingas Police Sgt. Murphy
- I'll Be Suing Youas Insurance Adjustor
- Twentieth Centuryas Train Detective (uncredited)
- Rough Neckingas Joe Cuttlehammer Sr.
- I'll Tell the Worldas Sergeant at Border
- Strictly Fresh Yeggsas Policeman
- School for Girlsas Detective
- The Crime Doctoras Bloodgood
- Belovedas Mulvaney
- The Mothas Detective Blake
1933
- Shadows of Sing Singas Murphy
- The Boweryas Detective Kelsey (uncredited)
- Quiet Please!as Train Conductor
- Gold Diggers of 1933as Detective Jones (uncredited)
- Sailor's Luckas Cop
- King of the Jungleas Cop (uncredited)
- The Crime of the Centuryas Police Guard (uncredited)
1932
- Boys Will Be Boysas Doorman
- If I Had a Millionas Prison Jailer (uncredited)
- Red Haired Alibias Corcoran
- Yoo-Hooas Detective
- Speak Easilyas Process Server
- The Iceman's Ballas Police Sergeant
- Guilty as Hellas Detective Duffy
- Huddleas Policeman (uncredited)
- Love in High Gearas Detective Duffy
- The Trial of Vivienne Wareas Cop (uncredited)
- Shopping with Wifieas Det. Dugan
- Discarded Loversas Delaney
1931
- Side Showas Sheriff Hornsby
- Young Donovan's Kidas Collins
- Subway Expressas Detective Kearney
- Scandal Sheetas Detective Sgt. Vincent Molloy
- The Naughty Flirtas Policeman (uncredited)
1930
- Going Wildas The Conductor
- Only Saps Workas Murphy (uncredited)
- She Got What She Wanted
- Men Without Lawas Deputy Sheriff Jeff
- Scarlet Pagesas Murphy
- The Laurel-Hardy Murder Caseas Chief of Detectives (uncredited)
- Road to Paradiseas Casey
- The Girl Said Noas Policeman
- Wide Openas Detective
- Murder on the Roofas Ryan
- The Woman Racketas Police Captain
1929
- Smiling Irish Eyesas County Fair Manager
- The Donovan Affairas Carney
- Wrong Again
- The Fakeras Police Detective
1928
- The Last Warningas Inspector
- Naughty Babyas Dugan
- A Woman of Affairsas Detective (uncredited)
- On Trialas Clerk
- Plastered in Paris
- The Wright Ideaas M. T. Flatt
- A Midnight Adventureas Cassidy
- Harold Teenas Mr. Lovewell
- Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bathas Detective
- Tenderloinas Detective Simpson
- While the City Sleepsas Detective in Shadow Box
1927
- The Gorillaas Mulligan
- The 13th Juroras The Detective
- The Thirteenth Houras Det. Shaw
- Soft Cushionsas The Police
- Jewish Prudenceas Rent Collector
- Held by the Lawas Detective
- Orchids and Ermineas Police Sergeant
1926
- There Ain't No Santa Clausas Store Detective (uncredited)
- The Third Degreeas Assistant Chief of Detectives
- Atta Boyas Detective
- Bromo and Julietas The Detective (uncredited)
- Crazy Like a Foxas Man with Badge on Train (uncredited)
- Say It with Babiesas Policeman
- The Social Highwaymanas Chief of Police
- The Mystery Pilotas Skipper Larsen
- That's My Babyas Murphy
- Dog Shyas Cop
1925
- The Uneasy Three
- Seven Sinnersas Policeman
- Seven Keys to Baldpate
- Little Annie Rooneyas Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- The Lawful Cheateras Tom Horan
- Paths to Paradiseas Confederate
- Smooth as Satinas Kersey
- Friendly Enemies
- Excuse Meas George Ketchem
- Youth and Adventureas Red Mullin
1924
- Traffic in Heartsas Tim Tracy
- The Yankee Consulas Agent John J. Doyle
- The Night Hawk
1923
- Lights Outas Decker
- Bag and Baggageas Fred
- The Eleventh Houras The Submarine Commander
- Souls for Saleas Detective Quinn (uncredited)
- Loveboundas Detective Hahn
1922
- Captain Fly-by-Nightas Gomez
- Deserted at the Altaras The Other Man
- Manslaughteras Member of the Jury (uncredited)
- Don't Shootas Police Officer
- South of Suvaas Karl Swartz
- One Clear Callas Starnes
- The Song of Lifeas Police Inspector
1921
- There Are No Villainsas Dugall
- The Match-Breakeras Detective
- The Last Cardas Detective (uncredited)
- Puppets of Fateas Bobs
- The Off-Shore Pirateas Sailor
1920
- Alias Jimmy Valentineas Bit Part (uncredited)
- The Third Generationas Brody
1919
- The Fire Flingersas Sgt. Powers
- The Silk Lined Burglaras Capt. von Hoffmeier
- The Light of Victoryas Captain Eric von Prohme
1918
- The Yellow Dogas Max Kummich
- A Society Sensationas JIm Cox
- The Empty Cabas The Detective
1917
- The Honor of an Outlawas The Deputy
1914
- Arms and the Gringo
- Silent Sandyas Silent Sandy