Harold Huber

Harold Huber (born Harold Joseph Huberman, December 5, 1909 – September 29, 1959) was an American actor who appeared on film, radio and television.

Early life Huber was born in the Bronx to Jewish immigrants from Imperial Russia, who had arrived in the United States as infants. His father was the manager of an optical firm. Harold Huberman entered New York University in the fall of 1925 at age sixteen. He was a member of the university debate team, and by his third year had become editor of a school magazine called The Medley. His tenure at that post was marked by an incident, reported in the newspapers, when the administration suspended publication of The Medley in May 1928 for printing "low humor...not fit to bear the name of New York University".

After graduating from NYU in 1929, Huberman attended Columbia University for a short time, reportedly in the School of Law, but apparently dropped out after getting his first acting job in 1930.

Career

Stage On September 22, 1930, Harold Huberman became Harold Huber, for a Broadway adaption of A Farewell to Arms. This first acting job lasted a month. He also appeared in the Broadway productions The Assassin (1945), Merry-Go-Round (1932), Two Seconds (1931), and First Night (1930) before landing roles in some Warner Bros. films shot on location in New York.

Film Huber made his film debut in Central Park in late 1932, followed quickly by a bit part in 20,000 Years in Sing Sing. He appeared in nearly 100 films in the 1930s and 1940s. An early noteworthy role was as the stool-pigeon Nunnheim in The Thin Man (1934). He played many roles requiring him to assume different accents, like Ito Nakamura, a Japanese American in the 1942 film Little Tokyo, U.S.A.. Among his many roles were appearances as a police officer in various Charlie Chan films, including an American in Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937), a French officer in Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937) and Charlie Chan in City in Darkness (1939), and a Brazilian in Charlie Chan in Rio (1941). He played a supporting role as a member of the French Foreign Legion in Beau Geste (1939). He also played roles in films featuring Mr. Moto and Charlie McCarthy.

Radio Huber starred as Hercule Poirot in The Adventures of M. Hercule Poirot in a weekly half-hour program from February to October, 1945 (the program is also cited as being titled simply Hercule Poirot or Agatha Christie's Poirot). Agatha Christie introduced the initial broadcast of the series via shortwave radio. In October 1946, Huber began a year-long run on radio as Poirot in a daily fifteen-minute program on CBS, called Mystery of the Week, with scripts by Alfred Bester. Huber also portrayed Fu Manchu on radio in an eponymous program.

Television Huber's television debut came in 1950, as the star of a weekly half-hour drama, I Cover Times Square, on ABC. He played Johnny Warren, a nationally known newspaper and radio columnist. Huber also produced the New York-made show, which lasted only one season.

Final roles In September 1958, Huber co-starred with Eva Gabor in a short-lived off-Broadway revival of Frank Wedekind's play Lulu, his last stage credit. That same year he was cast in two episodes of the hit TV comedy series The Phil Silvers Show, aired in November 1958 and February 1959, respectively.

Personal life Huber died during surgery at Jewish Memorial Hospital on September 29, 1959, leaving behind his wife Ethel and daughter Margaret.

Selected filmography

The Criminal Code (1930) - Convict in Yard (uncredited) Central Park (1932) - Nick Sarno 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (1932) - Tony - Death Row Convict (uncredited) Frisco Jenny (1932) - Weaver The Match King (1932) - Scarlatti Parachute Jumper (1933) - Steve Donovan Ladies They Talk About (1933) - Lefty Simons Girl Missing (1933) - Jim Hendricks Central Airport (1933) - Swarthy Man (scenes deleted) The Life of Jimmy Dolan (1933) - Reggie Newman The Silk Express (1933) - Train Guard Craft The Mayor of Hell (1933) - Joe Midnight Mary (1933) - Puggy Mary Stevens, M.D. (1933) - Tony Police Car 17 (1933) - Johnny Davis The Bowery (1933) - Slick (uncredited) Fury of the Jungle (1933) - Gaston Labelle aka Frenchy Hi, Nellie! (1934) - Leo No More Women (1934) - Iceberg The Crosby Case (1934) - Rogers (uncredited) The Line-Up (1934) - 'Mile-a-Way' Miller A Very Honorable Guy (1934) - Joe Ponzetti He Was Her Man (1934) - J.C. Ward, Curly's Hitman The Thin Man (1934) - Nunheim The Merry Frinks (1934) - Benny Lopez The Defense Rests (1934) - Castro Beyond the Law (1934) - Gordon Hide-Out (1934) - Dr. Warner Port of Lost Dreams (1934) - Louis Constolos Cheating Cheaters (1934) - Edgar 'Legs' Finelli The World Accuses (1934) - 'Checkers' Fraley Forsaking All Others (1934) - Mr. Frankenstein - Hamburger Stand Owner (uncredited) One New York Night (1935) - Blake Naughty Marietta (1935) - Abe G Men (1935) - Venke Reckless (1935) - Nick Londos (uncredited) Mad Love (1935) - Thief (scenes deleted) Pursuit (1935) - Jake I Live My Life (1935) - Picture Hanger (uncredited) We're Only Human (1935) - Tony Ricci (uncredited) Muss 'em Up (1936) - Maratti Klondike Annie (1936) - Chan Lo San Francisco (1936) - Babe Kelly the Second (1936) - Spike Women Are Trouble (1936) - Pete the Pusher The Devil Is a Sissy (1936) - Willie The Gay Desperado (1936) - Juan Campo They Gave Him a Gun (1937) The Good Earth (1937) - Cousin Trouble in Morocco (1937) - Palmo Midnight Taxi (1937) - Walter 'Lucky' Todd Angel's Holiday (1937) - Bat Regan You Can't Beat Love (1937) - Pretty Boy Jones Outlaws of the Orient (1937) - Bandit General Ho-Fang Love Under Fire (1937) - Lieutenant Chaves Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937) - Inspector Nelson Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo (1937) - Jules Joubert International Settlement (1938) - Joseph Lang A Slight Case of Murder (1938) - Giuseppe Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938) - Lieutenant Riggs The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938) - Toctai A Trip to Paris (1938) - Willie Jones Gangs of New York (1938) - Panatella Passport Husband (1938) - Blackie Bennet Mysterious Mr. Moto (1938) - Ernst Litmar Little Tough Guys in Society (1938) - Uncle Buck While New York Sleeps (1938) - Joe Marco Going Places (1938) - Maxie Midnight Mary (1939) King of the Turf (1939) - Santelli You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939) - Tom Scappa The Lady and the Mob (1939) - Harry the Lug Chasing Danger (1939) - Carlos Demitri 6,000 Enemies (1939) - Joe Silenus Beau Geste (1939) - Voisin Main Street Lawyer (1939) - Tony Marco Charlie Chan in City in Darkness (1939) - Marcel Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939) - Tony Garcia The Ghost Comes Home (1940) - Tony Kit Carson (1940) - Lopez Dance, Girl, Dance (1940) - Hoboken Gent A Man Betrayed (1941) - Morris Slade Country Fair (1941) - Cash Nichols Charlie Chan in Rio (1941) - Chief Souto Down Mexico Way (1941) - Pancho Grande Pardon My Stripes (1942) - Big George Kilraine Sleepytime Gal (1942) - Honest Joe Kincaid A Gentleman After Dark (1942) - S. Jenkins (Stubby) Little Tokyo, U.S.A. (1942) - Ito Takimura Manila Calling (1942) - Santoro Lady from Chungking (1942) - Gen. Kaimura Ice-Capades Revue (1942) - Duke Baldwin Crime Doctor (1943) - Joe Dylan My Friend Irma Goes West (1950) - Pete Let's Dance (1950) - Marcel The Joker Is Wild (1957) - Harry Bliss (uncredited)

Radio appearances Year Program Episode/source 1952 The FBI in Peace and War The Trouble Shooter