Grady Sutton

Grady Harwell Sutton (April 5, 1906 – September 17, 1995) was an American film and television character actor from the 1920s to the 1970s. He appeared in more than 180 films. Raised in Florida, he attended St. Petersburg High School, He moved on to countless character roles, where he frequently played dimwitted country boys. His best-known roles were as Frank Dowling, Katharine Hepburn's dancing partner, in Alice Adams and as a foil to W.C. Fields in four films, The Pharmacist (1933), Man on the Flying Trapeze (1935), You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939), and The Bank Dick (1940).

Film historian William J. Mann characterizes Sutton as a typical "Hollywood Sissy"; that is, a homosexual actor who ordinarily portrayed an effeminate character for comedic effect. He didn't reveal he was gay until much later in his career for fear of being blackballed back in the 1930's.

The strength of his association with Fields was such that his performance in My Fair Lady was mentioned in its DVD audio commentary track. Sutton has a non-speaking role in some of the formal-dress scenes, and subtly performs some comic shtick. The commentator refers to him as "an old W. C. Fields actor".

On television, Sutton appeared in an episode of The Odd Couple, as well as some commercials.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1925 The Mad Whirl Minor Role Uncredited 1925 The Freshman Student who goes to dean UncreditedAlternative title: College Days 1926 Skinner's Dress Suit Party Guest Uncredited 1926 Brown of Harvard One of the Dickeys Uncredited 1926 The Boy Friend Uncredited 1926 The Whole Town's Talking Party Guest Uncredited 1929 Why Be Good? Guest at Junior's First Party Uncredited 1929 The Sophomore Cupie - Freshman Fraternity Brother Uncredited 1929 Sailor's Holiday Sailor Extra in Cafe Uncredited 1929 Welcome Danger Man at Party (silent version) (scenes deleted) 1929 So This Is College Football Spectator Uncredited 1929 Hit the Deck Sailor Uncredited 1930 Wild Company Anita's Boyfriend Uncredited 1930 Let's Go Native Diner Uncredited 1932 This Reckless Age Stepladder Schultz 1932 Movie Crazy Man afraid of mice Uncredited 1932 The Age of Consent Student at Dormitory Uncredited 1932 Pack Up Your Troubles the wrong Eddie 1932 Hot Saturday Archie 1933 The Story of Temple Drake Bob Uncredited 1933 College Humor Timid freshman 1933 Ace of Aces Party Guest with Newspaper Uncredited 1933 The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi Pledge 1933 Only Yesterday Charlie Smith, Party Guest Uncredited 1934 Bachelor Bait Don Beldon 1934 Gridiron Flash Pudge Harrison 1935 Laddie Peter Dover 1935 Stone of Silver Creek Jimmy 1935 Born to Gamble College Man at Senior Prom Uncredited 1935 Man on the Flying Trapeze Claude Neselrode Alternative title: The Memory Expert 1935 Alice Adams Frank Dowling 1935 Dr. Socrates Grocery Store Clerk Uncredited 1936 The Singing Kid Young Man (scenes deleted) 1936 Palm Springs Bud 1936 The Crime of Dr. Forbes Student Doctor Uncredited 1936 My Man Godfrey Charlie Van Rumple Uncredited 1936 King of the Royal Mounted RCMP Const. Slim Callum 1936 Valiant Is the Word for Carrie Mat Burdon 1936 Pigskin Parade Mortimer Higgins 1936 Two Minutes to Play Hank Durkee 1937 She's Dangerous Drunk Uncredited 1937 Waikiki Wedding Everett Todhunter 1937 We Have Our Moments Clem Porter 1937 Turn Off the Moon Truelove Spencer 1937 Dangerous Holiday Max 1937 Behind the Mike Curly Conway 1937 Stage Door Butch 1937 Love Takes Flight Donald 1938 Joy of Living Florist Uncredited 1938 Vivacious Lady Culpepper 1938 Having Wonderful Time Gus Alternative title: Having a Wonderful Time 1938 Three Loves Has Nancy George Wilkins, Jr. 1938 The Mad Miss Manton D.A.'s Secretary 1938 A Man to Remember Raymond Uncredited 1938 Hard to Get Stanley Potter 1939 You Can't Cheat an Honest Man Chester Dalrymple Uncredited 1939 Blondie Meets the Boss Camera Store Clerk Uncredited 1939 Three Smart Girls Grow Up Clarence, a Guest Uncredited 1939 They Made Her a Spy Quiet Man on Train Uncredited 1939 The Flying Irishman Clothing Salesman Uncredited 1939 Blind Alley Holmes Uncredited 1939 It's a Wonderful World Lupton Peabody 1939 Naughty but Nice Mr. Mankton Uncredited 1939 In Name Only Paul Graham - Escort Uncredited 1939 The Angels Wash Their Faces Gildersleeve (Mayor's secretary) Alternative title: Angels Wash Their Faces 1939 Three Sons Grimson 1940 City of Chance R.O. Champion Uncredited 1940 Millionaire Playboy Jerry Uncredited 1940 Torrid Zone Sam, Steve's Secretary 1940 Anne of Windy Poplars Gibson's Secretary Uncredited 1940 Millionaires in Prison Jock, Vander's Nephew Uncredited 1940 We Who Are Young New Father Uncredited 1940 Lucky Partners Reporter Uncredited 1940 He Stayed for Breakfast Salesman 1940 Sky Murder Buster - Chris' Boyfriend Uncredited 1940 Too Many Girls Football Coach Uncredited 1940 The Bank Dick Og Oggleby, Bank Teller 1941 Mr. District Attorney Hat Salesman Uncredited 1941 She Knew All the Answers Ogleby 1941 Hurry, Charlie, Hurry Dore Dare, a Tailor Uncredited 1941 Blondie in Society Doghouse Salesman Uncredited 1941 Flying Blind Chester Gimble 1941 Father Takes a Wife Tailor 1941 Doctors Don't Tell Dr. Piper 1941 You Belong to Me Department Store Clerk Uncredited 1941 Three Girls About Town Meeting Doorman Uncredited 1941 Cadet Girl Elmer - Train Passenger Uncredited 1941 Bedtime Story Bert, Fashion Designer Uncredited 1942 Four Jacks and a Jill Nightclub Patron Uncredited 1942 The Bashful Bachelor Cedric Wiehunt 1942 Whispering Ghosts Jonathan Flack 1942 The Affairs of Martha Justin I. Peacock, Jr 1942 Somewhere I'll Find You Man in Private Dining Room Uncredited 1943 The More the Merrier Diner server Uncredited 1943 Young Ideas Minor Role 1943 A Lady Takes a Chance Malcolm Scott Alternative title: The Cowboy and the Girl 1943 What a Woman Mr. Clark Alternative title: The Beautiful Cheat 1944 Week-End Pass Pajama Man 1944 Nine Girls Photographer 1944 Since You Went Away Soldier Hunting for Susie Fleming Uncredited 1944 Johnny Doesn't Live Here Anymore George 1944 The Great Moment Homer Quimby 1944 Allergic to Love Cuthbert 1944 Casanova Brown Tod Uncredited 1944 Goin' to Town Cedric 1944 Hi, Beautiful Attendant 1945 Grissly's Millions Robert Palmor Jr. 1945 Her Lucky Night Joe 1945 Salty O'Rourke Floorwalker Uncredited 1945 A Royal Scandal Boris Uncredited 1945 Brewster's Millions Packard - Costume Designer Uncredited 1945 Pillow to Post Alex, Coast Oil Flunky Uncredited 1945 Three's a Crowd Willy Davaney 1945 Captain Eddie Lester Thomas 1945 A Bell for Adano Pfc. Edward - Algiers Mail Clerk Uncredited 1945 On Stage Everybody Cathcart Uncredited 1945 Anchors Aweigh Bertram Kraler - Susan's beau 1945 Guest Wife Joe's Admirer Uncredited 1945 Ziegfeld Follies Texan ('Number Please') Uncredited 1945 Song of the Prairie William Van Welby 1945 She Went to the Races Hotel Clerk Uncredited 1945 Sing Your Way Home Book Shop Proprietor Uncredited 1945 Hit the Hay Wilbur Whittlesey 1945 The Stork Club Peter - Salesman Uncredited 1946 Idea Girl Percy Witherspoon Uncredited 1946 Partners in Time Cedric Weehunt / Caleb Weehunt 1946 Dragonwyck Astor House clerk Uncredited 1946 Two Sisters from Boston Recital Guest Uncredited 1946 Holiday in Mexico Tom, Iturbi's Assistant Uncredited 1946 It's Great to Be Young Ambrose Kenton Uncredited 1946 No Leave, No Love Hat Salesman Uncredited 1946 Nobody Lives Forever Horace Uncredited 1946 The Magnificent Rogue George Sheffield 1946 Plainsman and the Lady Male Secretary Uncredited 1946 My Dog Shep John H. Latham 1946 Susie Steps Out Dixon 1946 The Fabulous Suzanne Marstenson 1946 The Show-Off Mr. Hotchkiss Uncredited 1947 Beat the Band Harold 1947 Philo Vance's Gamble Mr. Willetts 1947 Love and Learn Pedestrian Against Divorce Uncredited 1947 Always Together Jack, the Soda Jerk Uncredited 1947 My Wild Irish Rose Brown 1948 Romance on the High Seas Ship Radio operator UncreditedAlternative title: It's Magic 1948 My Dear Secretary Sylvan Scott 1948 Jiggs and Maggie in Court Mr. Twiddle 1948 Last of the Wild Horses Curly, the cook 1948 Daily Double Ulysses the waiter Short film 1949 Grand Canyon Halfnote 1949 Air Hostess Ned Jenkins 1954 Living It Up Gift Shop Owner Uncredited 1954 A Star Is Born Artie Carver Uncredited 1954 White Christmas Mr. Herring Uncredited 1955 The Naked Dawn Cabaret Brawler Uncredited 1961 Madison Avenue Dilbock Uncredited 1962 Billy Rose's Jumbo Driver 1962 The Chapman Report Simon Uncredited 1963 Come Blow Your Horn Clothing Store Manager Uncredited 1963 4 for Texas Bank Clerk 1964 My Fair Lady Ascot Extra / Guest at Ball Uncredited 1965 Tickle Me Mr. Dabney 1965 The Bounty Killer Minister 1966 The Chase Mr. Siftifieus Uncredited 1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Mr. Cubberson 1968 Star! First Salesman at Cartier's Uncredited 1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! Funeral Director Alternative title: Kiss My Butterfly 1970 The Great Bank Robbery Rev. Simms 1970 Myra Breckinridge Kid Barlow 1970 Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came Rev. Dinwood 1970 Dirty Dingus Magee Corporal Uncredited 1971 Support Your Local Gunfighter Storekeeper 1979 Rock 'n' Roll High School School Board President (final film role)

Television