Walter Woolf King (2 November 1899 – 24 October 1984) was an American film, television and stage actor and singer.
Born in San Francisco, California, King started singing for a living at a young age and performed mostly in churches. He made his Broadway debut in 1919, and became a well-known baritone in operettas and musical comedies. King billed himself as Walter Woolf and Walter King early in his career, eventually settling on a combination of all three names, Walter Woolf King, in the mid 1930s.
King began his film career in musicals but quickly moved into supporting roles. He is probably best known today for his villainous roles in two films starring the Marx Brothers, A Night At The Opera and Go West. He also appeared on radio and later became an actors agent. He made numerous appearances in bit parts and supporting roles in television and films throughout the 1950s and '60s. His final appearance was in the 1977 TV movie One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story.
King died in Beverly Hills, California in 1984.
Famous quotes containing the words walter, woolf and/or king:
“And they be these: the wood, the weed, the wag.
The wood is that which makes the gallow tree;
The weed is that which strings the hangman’s bag;”
—Sir Walter Raleigh (1552?–1618)
“Who shall measure the heat and violence of the poet’s heart when caught and tangled in a woman’s body?”
—Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)
“What says the Clock in the Great Clock Tower?
And all alone comes riding there
The King that could make his people stare,
Because he had feathers instead of hair.
A slow low note and an iron bell.”
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)