Walter D. "Spec" O'Donnell (April 9, 1911 – October 14, 1986) was an American film actor who appeared in more than 190 films between 1923 and 1978.
He worked frequently for producer Hal Roach, often appearing in silent comedies as the bratty son of Max Davidson or Charley Chase. His sound-era roles were mostly uncredited bits, often as bellhops, newsboys, and pages; he was playing adolescent roles well into his twenties. He has the unusual distinction of playing the same role (a newsboy) in both an original film and its remake: Princess O'Hara and It Ain't Hay.
Early life O'Donnell was born in Madera, California. His father, John O'Donnell, was a lumber mill labourer originally from Maryland. His mother and older siblings (Jack and Minnie) were born in California.
Career In February 1924, O'Donnell signed with Julius and Abe Stern's Century Film Corporation.
In 1924, O'Donnell starred in Walt Disney's Alice Comedies. The first of these was Alice's Spooky Adventure, where he features as one of several children playing baseball in a field. The film also starred Virginia Davis (as Alice) and Leon Holmes, with whom O'Donnell featured alongside in Alice the Peacemaker during the same year. He also had parts in Alice Gets in Dutch and Alice is Stage Struck, which was released the following year.
Personal life O'Donnell died in 1986 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.
Selected filmography YearTitleRoleNotes1923 Little Johnny Jones Freckle-faced Little Boy1923 The Barefoot Boy Schoolboy1923 The Country Kid Joe Applegate1923 The Darling of New York Willie1923 Main Street1924 The Foolish Virgin Little Boy1924 Don't Fall Spec Short1924 Speed Boys Spec Short1924 Paging Money Short1924 The Racing Kid Short1924 Delivering the Goods Spec Short1924 Alice's Spooky Adventure Freckled Boy uncredited; Short1924 Alice the Peacemaker Freckle-Faced Newsboy1924 Alice Gets in Dutch Short1925 Alice Is Stage Struck1925 Tomorrow's Love1925 The Devil's Cargo Jimmy1925 The Dressmaker from Paris Jim1925 Little Annie Rooney Abie1925 The Price of Success Jimmy Moran1926 Sparrows Ambrose1926 Private Izzy Murphy The Monahan Kid1926 Hard Boiled Eddie Blix1926 Old Ironsides Cabin Boy uncredited1926 Don Key Office Boy Also known as Don Key (Son of Burro)1927 Why Girls Say No Maxie Whisselberg1927 Don't Tell Everything Asher Ginsberg1927 Casey at the Bat Spec1927 Special Delivery Office Boy uncredited1927 Call of the Cuckoo Love's Greatest Mistake1928 Pass the Gravy Ignatz1928 A Pair of Tights The Kid1928 Vamping Venus Western Union Boy / Mercury1928 Hot News Spec1928 Danger Street Sammy1929 In the Headlines Johnny1929 The Sophomore Joe's Nephew1930 The Grand Parade Call Boy1930 Big Money Elevator Boy1930 Two Plus Fours Spec Short1932 The Big Broadcast Office Boy uncredited1934 Broadway Bill Higgins Flunky uncredited1934 David Harum Tim uncredited1936 Cain and Mabel Autograph Hound uncredited1937 Blonde Trouble Fred's Friend1937 Here's Flash Casey Billy uncredited1938 Angels with Dirty Faces Pool Room Youth uncredited1938 Accidents Will Happen 'Specs' Carter1943 Crazy House Bellhop uncredited1946 The Kid from Brooklyn Arena Callboy uncredited1951 Footlight Varieties Contestant uncredited1952 Pat and Mike Hick's Caddy uncredited1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Club Member (uncredited) Season 5 Episode 12: "Specialty of the House"1978 Convoy 18 Wheel Eddie
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