About Alfred Santell
Lived 1895 – 1981 (aged 85). Alfred Santell was an American film director, screenwriter and director.
Alfred Allen Santell (September 14, 1895 – June 19, 1981) was an American film director and film producer. Career Santell directed over 60 films, beginning in 1917, most of which were two-reel comedy short subjects for Hal Roach and other productions companies. Taking up feature films from about 1924, Santell worked for several major studios.
In 1934, he was married to actress Jane N. Keithley; they remained married until her death.
He left the business in 1947 after a contract dispute with Republic Studios.
Santell died on June 19, 1981, in Salinas, California.
Partial filmography
Beloved Rogues (1917) A Whirlwind of Whiskers (1917) It Might Happen to You (1920) Wildcat Jordan (1922) Lights Out (1923) Empty Hearts (1924) The Man Who Played Square (1924) Fools in the Dark (1924) Parisian Nights (1925) The Marriage Whirl (1925) Classified (1925) Bluebeard's Seven Wives (1926) The Dancer of Paris (1926) Just Another Blonde (1926) Sweet Daddies (1926) Subway Sadie (1926) Orchids and Ermine (1927) The Patent Leather Kid (1927) The Gorilla (1927) The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come (1928) Show Girl (1928) Wheel of Chance (1928) This Is Heaven (1929) Twin Beds (1929) Romance of the Rio Grande (1929) The Sea Wolf (1930) The Arizona Kid (1930) Body and Soul (1931) Daddy Long Legs (1931) Sob Sister (1931) Polly of the Circus (1932) Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932) Tess of the Storm Country (1932) The Right to Romance (1933) Bondage (1933) The Life of Vergie Winters (1934) People Will Talk (1935) A Feather in Her Hat (1935) Winterset (1936) Internes Can't Take Money (1937) Breakfast for Two (1937) Cocoanut Grove (1938) Having Wonderful Time (1938) The Arkansas Traveler (1938) Our Leading Citizen (1939) Aloma of the South Seas (1941) Beyond the Blue Horizon (1942) Jack London (1943) The Hairy Ape (1944) Mexicana (1945) That Brennan Girl (1946)
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Alfred Santell's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Alfred Santell's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Alfred Santell?
American film director (1895-1981)
When was Alfred Santell born?
Alfred Santell was born on 14 September 1895 in San Francisco.
When did Alfred Santell die?
Alfred Santell died on 19 June 1981 in Salinas.
What was Alfred Santell's occupation?
Alfred Santell was a film director, screenwriter and director.
What nationality was Alfred Santell?
Alfred Santell was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alfred Santell. https://biography.guide/alfred-santell/
MLA: "Alfred Santell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alfred-santell/.
Chicago: "Alfred Santell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alfred-santell/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:07 UTC