Herbert Thomas Mundin (21 August 1898 – 5 March 1939) was an English character actor. He was frequently typecast in 1930s Hollywood films like The Adventures of Robin Hood as an older cheeky eccentric, a type helped by his jowled features and cheerful disposition.
Early life Mundin was born in St Helens, then in Lancashire (now part of Merseyside). His father was a nomadic, Primitive Methodist home missionary. His family moved within a short time of his birth to St Albans in Hertfordshire (the 1901 census data reveal that the family lived at St Helens Villa, Paxton Road, St Albans; his parents William and Jane apparently naming their house after the town where they first met and where Herbert was born). Mundin was educated at St Albans School. During World War I he served with the Royal Navy.Wearing, The London Stage 1920-1929, p. 355
Career He began his acting career on the London stage during the 1920s. Mundin first travelled to America on 18 December 1923 for a series of theatrical engagements in New York. He sailed from Southampton on the RMS Aquitania and described himself in ship’s passenger manifest as 5'7" tall with a fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes and a scar over his left eye. His big break as an actor was arguably with Gertrude Lawrence and Beatrice Lillie in Charlot's Revue when it appeared on Broadway in 1925.
In 1931, after working in Australia and London, he permanently moved to the United States, where he received a contract with the Fox Film Corporation, where he had a successful career as a character actor in over fifty films. Perhaps his most celebrated role was as Much, the miller's son in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) alongside Errol Flynn. Other film appearances included Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) with Charles Laughton and Clark Gable, and MGM's David Copperfield (1935) as Barkis.
Death Mundin was killed in an auto crash on March 5, 1939. He was a passenger in a car which was hit in an intersection, and died of a fractured skull.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 1931 East Lynne on the Western Front Bob Cox / Lady Isobel1932 The Silent Witness Henry Hammer Devil's Lottery Trowbridge The Trial of Vivienne Ware William Boggs Bachelor's Affairs Jepson Almost Married Jenkins, the butler Uncredited Chandu the Magician Albert Miggles Love Me Tonight Groom Uncredited The Painted Woman Georgie, mess boy Uncredited Life Begins Mr. MacGilvairy Uncredited One Way Passage S.S. Maloa steward Uncredited Sherlock Holmes George1933 Cavalcade Alfred Bridges Dangerously Yours Grove Pleasure Cruise Henry Adorable Pipac, the detective It's Great to Be Alive Brooks The Devil's in Love Bimby Arizona to Broadway Kingfish Miller Shanghai Madness Larsen Hoop-La Hap Spissel1934 Orient Express Herbert Thomas Peters Ever Since Eve Horace Saunders Bottoms Up Limey Brook / Lord Brocklehurst All Men Are Enemies Noggins Orient Express Horatio Hollingsworth Wilson Call It Luck Herbert Biggelwade Springtime for Henry Trivers Love Time Caesar Hell in the Heavens Granny Biggs1935 David Copperfield Barkis Black Sheep Oscar Spring Tonic Thompson, the butler Ladies Love Danger Giffins Mutiny on the Bounty Smith The Imperfect Lady Frederick Hitch The Widow from Monte Carlo John Torrent1936 King of Burlesque English Impresario Charlie Chan's Secret Baxter, the butler A Message to Garcia Henry Piper Under Two Flags Rake Champagne Charlie Mr. Fipps Tarzan Escapes Herbert Henry Rawlins1937 Another Dawn Wilkins You Can't Beat Love Jasper 'Meadows' Hives Angel Mr Greenwood That's My Story Hiram1938 Invisible Enemy Sergeant Alfred M. Higgs The Adventures of Robin Hood Much Lord Jeff Bosun 'Crusty' Jelks Exposed Skippy 1939 Society Lawyer Layton (final film role)
Theatre
Year Title Theatre Notes 1921-1922 A to Z Prince of Wales's Theatre His London debut 1921-1922 Pot Luck Vaudeville Theatre, London 1922-1923 Snap Vaudeville Theatre, London 1923 Rats Vaudeville Theatre, London Yes! Vaudeville Theatre, London 1925 Charlot's Revue Prince of Wales Theatre
References
Bibliography
Wearing, J. P. (2014). The London Stage 1920-1929: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman and Littlefield Hischak, Thomas S. (2009). Broadway Plays and Musicals: Descriptions and Essential Facts of More Than 14,000 Shows through 2007. McFarland
External links
Herbert Mundin the Hollywood Scene Stealer - Herbert Mundin Website