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Olin Howland

Olin Howland

Known For Acting
Birthday Feb 09, 1886
Died Sep 20, 1959 (73)
Birthplace Denver, Colorado, USA
Popularity 0.6 (history)
Updated Aug 07, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Olin Ross Howland (February 10, 1886 – September 20, 1959) was an American film and theatre actor. Howland was born in Denver, Colorado, to Joby A. Howland, one of the youngest enlisted participants in the Civil War, and Mary C. Bunting. His older sister was t ... he famous stage actress Jobyna Howland. From 1909 to 1927, Howland appeared on Broadway in musicals, occasionally performing in silent films. The musicals include Leave It to Jane (1917), Two Little Girls in Blue (1921) and Wildflower (1923). He was in the film Janice Meredith (1924) with Marion Davies. With the advent of sound films, his theatre background proved an asset, and he concentrated mostly on films thereafter, appearing in nearly two hundred movies between 1918 and 1958. Howland often played eccentric and rural roles in Hollywood. His parts were often small and uncredited, and he never got a leading role. He was a personal favorite of David O. Selznick, who cast him in his movies Nothing Sacred (1937) as a strange luggage man, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938, as the teacher Mr. Dobbins) and Gone with the Wind (1939) as a carpetbagger businessman. He also played in numerous westerns from Republic Pictures, including the John Wayne films In Old California (1942) and Angel and the Badman (1947). As a young man, Howland learned to fly at the Wright Flying School and soloed on a Wright Model B. This lent special sentiment in his scenes with James Stewart in the film The Spirit of St. Louis (1957), as Stewart was also a pilot in real life. The Spirit of St. Louis and Them (1954),where he played a drunken old man, and The Blob (1958) were his last films. He also played in telelevision shows during the 1950s. In 1958 and 1959, he was cast as Charley Perkins in five episodes of ABC's sitcom The Real McCoys, starring Walter Brennan. Howland never married and had no children. He worked until his death in Hollywood, California, at the age of 73.

Known For

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Filmography

Creepy Classics

Creepy Classics

1987

as Old Man - (archive footage)

Horrible Horror

Horrible Horror

1986

as Old Man in 'The Blob'

The Blob

The Blob

1958

as The Old Man

The Storm Rider

The Storm Rider

1957

as Will Collins

Bombers B-52

Bombers B-52

1957

as Joe (uncredited)

The Spirit of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis

1957

as Surplus Dealer (uncredited)

The McConnell Story

The McConnell Story

1955

as Sam

Them!

Them!

1954

as Jensen

A Star Is Born

A Star Is Born

1954

as Charley (uncredited)

So This Is Love

So This Is Love

1953

as Mailman

The Fabulous Senorita

The Fabulous Senorita

1952

as Justice of the Peace (as Olin Howlin)

Santa Fe

Santa Fe

1951

as Dan Dugan

Fighting Coast Guard

Fighting Coast Guard

1951

as Desk Clerk (as Olin Howlin)

Charlie's Haunt

Charlie's Haunt

1950

as Storyteller on Bench

Father Makes Good

Father Makes Good

1950

as Milo Williams

Rock Island Trail

Rock Island Trail

1950

as Saloonkeeper

The Nevadan

The Nevadan

1950

as Rusty (uncredited)

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

1949

as Windy

Leave It to Henry

Leave It to Henry

1949

as Milo Williams

Bad Men of Tombstone

Bad Men of Tombstone

1949

as Store Proprietor (as Olin Howlin)

Mr. Soft Touch

Mr. Soft Touch

1949

as Skinny Santa Claus (Uncredited)

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

1949

as Sam - Connecticut Postman (uncredited)

Last of the Wild Horses

Last of the Wild Horses

1948

as Remedy Williams

The Return of the Whistler

The Return of the Whistler

1948

as Jeff Anderson

Station West

Station West

1948

as Cook

The Dude Goes West

The Dude Goes West

1948

as Finnegan

Relentless

Relentless

1948

as Veterinarian (uncredited)

The Paleface

The Paleface

1948

as Jonathan Sloane, undertaker

Apache Rose

Apache Rose

1947

as Alkali

Angel and the Badman

Angel and the Badman

1947

as Bradley

Easy Come, Easy Go

Easy Come, Easy Go

1947

as Gas Man

Living in a Big Way

Living in a Big Way

1947

as Gardener

I Walk Alone

I Walk Alone

1947

as Ed the Watchman (uncredited)

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

1946

as Marcus Le Blaine

Home Sweet Homicide

Home Sweet Homicide

1946

as Luke

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers

1946

as Newspaper Clerk (uncredited)

Santa Fe Saddlemates

Santa Fe Saddlemates

1945

as Dead Eye

Sheriff of Cimarron

Sheriff of Cimarron

1945

as Pinky Snyder

Senorita from the West

Senorita from the West

1945

as Justice of Peace

Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel

1945

as Joe Ellis (uncredited)

Her Lucky Night

Her Lucky Night

1945

as Prince de la Mour

Dakota

Dakota

1945

as Devlin's Driver (as Olin Howlin)

Sing Your Way Home

Sing Your Way Home

1945

as Steward

Grissly's Millions

Grissly's Millions

1945

as Andrews

Captain Eddie

Captain Eddie

1945

as Census Taker

Twilight on the Prairie

Twilight on the Prairie

1944

as Jed (as Olin Howlin)

Man from Frisco

Man from Frisco

1944

as Eben Whelock

Sing, Neighbor, Sing

Sing, Neighbor, Sing

1944

as Joe the Barber

Can't Help Singing

Can't Help Singing

1944

as Bigelow (as Olin Howlin)

I'll Be Seeing You

I'll Be Seeing You

1944

as Train Vendor (uncredited)

Nothing But Trouble

Nothing But Trouble

1944

as Room painter

Bermuda Mystery

Bermuda Mystery

1944

as Gas Station Owner

The Town Went Wild

The Town Went Wild

1944

as Bit Part

In the Meantime, Darling

In the Meantime, Darling

1944

as Moorehousse

A Stranger in Town

A Stranger in Town

1943

as Homer Todds

The Good Fellows

The Good Fellows

1943

as Reynolds

Dixie

Dixie

1943

as Mr. Deveraux (as Olin Howlin)

The Sky's the Limit

The Sky's the Limit

1943

as Driver (uncredited)

The Falcon Strikes Back

The Falcon Strikes Back

1943

as Sheriff (uncredited)

The Falcon and the Co-Eds

The Falcon and the Co-Eds

1943

as Goodwillie, Bluecliff Driver

Home in Wyomin'

Home in Wyomin'

1942

as Sunrise (as Olin Howlin)

Henry and Dizzy

Henry and Dizzy

1942

as Frank Stevens

Secrets of the Underground

Secrets of the Underground

1942

as Oscar Mayberry

This Gun for Hire

This Gun for Hire

1942

as Blair Fletcher

Almost Married

Almost Married

1942

as Bright

The Man Who Wouldn't Die

The Man Who Wouldn't Die

1942

as Jonathan Meek

Dr. Broadway

Dr. Broadway

1942

as The Professor

Blondie's Blessed Event

Blondie's Blessed Event

1942

as Office Worker (uncredited)

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

1942

as Jacob Diezel

You Can't Escape Forever

You Can't Escape Forever

1942

as Cemetery Organist (uncredited)

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

Ten Gentlemen from West Point

1942

as Carpenter (uncredited)

In Old California

In Old California

1942

as Undetermined Minor Role

Belle Starr

Belle Starr

1941

as Jasper Trench

Buy Me That Town

Buy Me That Town

1941

as Constable Sam Smedley (as Olin Howlin)

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring

1941

as Dr. Williams

You're in the Army Now

You're in the Army Now

1941

as Farmer

Two-Faced Woman

Two-Faced Woman

1941

as Frank (uncredited)

One Foot in Heaven

One Foot in Heaven

1941

as Train Station Master (uncredited)

Just a Cute Kid

Just a Cute Kid

1940

as Dr. Clump

Chad Hanna

Chad Hanna

1940

as Cisco Tridd

Young People

Young People

1940

as Station Master

Young Tom Edison

Young Tom Edison

1940

as Telegrapher (Indian Attack)

The Doctor Takes a Wife

The Doctor Takes a Wife

1940

as Clerk at Lakewood Lodge (uncredited)

Zenobia

Zenobia

1939

as Attorney Culpepper

Blondie Brings Up Baby

Blondie Brings Up Baby

1939

as Encyclopedia Salesman

Nancy Drew... Reporter

Nancy Drew... Reporter

1939

as Police Sergeant Entwhistle

One Hour To Live

One Hour To Live

1939

as Clerk

The Return of Doctor X

The Return of Doctor X

1939

as Undertaker

Days of Jesse James

Days of Jesse James

1939

as Muncie Undersheriff

Four Wives

Four Wives

1939

as Joe - a Policeman (uncredited)

Made for Each Other

Made for Each Other

1939

as Farmer (uncredited)

Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind

1939

as A Carpetbagger Businessman

Little Tough Guy

Little Tough Guy

1938

as Baxter

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

1938

as Mr. Dobbins - Schoolmaster

The Girl of the Golden West

The Girl of the Golden West

1938

as Trinidad Joe

When Were You Born

When Were You Born

1938

as Peter Finlay

Brother Rat

Brother Rat

1938

as Slim

Kentucky Moonshine

Kentucky Moonshine

1938

as Tom Slack

Sweethearts

Sweethearts

1938

as Appleby

Merrily We Live

Merrily We Live

1938

as Jed Smith

The Mad Miss Manton

The Mad Miss Manton

1938

as Mr. X, the Safecracker

Mr. Moto's Gamble

Mr. Moto's Gamble

1938

as Deputy Sheriff Burt (Uncredited)

Men in Exile

Men in Exile

1937

as Jones

Mountain Music

Mountain Music

1937

as Pappy Burnside

Nothing Sacred

Nothing Sacred

1937

as Baggage Man

Stand-In

Stand-In

1937

as Hotel manager

The Bad Man of Brimstone

The Bad Man of Brimstone

1937

as Stagecoach Driver

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

Wife, Doctor and Nurse

1937

as Doorman

Marry the Girl

Marry the Girl

1937

as Southern sales manager

I Married a Doctor

I Married a Doctor

1936

as Dave Dyer

Man Hunt

Man Hunt

1936

as Court Starrett

The Big Noise

The Big Noise

1936

as Harrison

Earthworm Tractors

Earthworm Tractors

1936

as Mr. Blair

Satan Met a Lady

Satan Met a Lady

1936

as Detective Dunhill

The Case of the Velvet Claws

The Case of the Velvet Claws

1936

as Wilbur Strong

Road Gang

Road Gang

1936

as Prison Farm Doctor

Gold Diggers of 1937

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936

as Dr. MacDuffy

Country Gentlemen

Country Gentlemen

1936

as Lawyer

Snowed Under

Snowed Under

1936

as Bridgeport Sheriff (uncredited)

The Longest Night

The Longest Night

1936

as Smythe, Floorwalker

The Case of the Curious Bride

The Case of the Curious Bride

1935

as Wilbur Strong

Little Big Shot

Little Big Shot

1935

as Doc (uncredited)

Dr. Socrates

Dr. Socrates

1935

as Bob Catlett

Love Me Forever

Love Me Forever

1935

as Carlton

The Case of the Lucky Legs

The Case of the Lucky Legs

1935

as Dr. Croker

Naughty Marietta

Naughty Marietta

1935

as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)

Wagon Wheels

Wagon Wheels

1934

as Bill O'Leary

Treasure Island

Treasure Island

1934

as Pirate of the Spanish Main

Blondie Johnson

Blondie Johnson

1933

as Eddie

Little Women

Little Women

1933

as Mr. Davis (uncredited)

Golden Harvest

Golden Harvest

1933

as Wheat Farmer (uncredited)

Cheaters at Play

Cheaters at Play

1932

as Secretary

So Big!

So Big!

1932

as Jacob Dogadunk (uncredited)

Over the Hill

Over the Hill

1931

as Isaac as an Adult

Zander the Great

Zander the Great

1925

as Elmer Lovejoy

Janice Meredith

Janice Meredith

1924

as Philemon

Danse macabre

Danse macabre

1922

as Death

Independence, B'Gosh

Independence, B'Gosh

1918

as Horation Whiffle

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

I Love Lucy

as Mr. Skinner

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 15, 1951

Lux Video Theatre

as Sheriff

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

Lux Video Theatre

as Pete Walters

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

Lux Video Theatre

as Bartender

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 1950

The Real McCoys

Episodes: 5

First Aired: Oct 03, 1957

Mr. & Mrs. North

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 03, 1952

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 07, 1956

Hopalong Cassidy

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 19, 1952

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 6 9 4
2024 7 12 20 5
2024 8 9 19 3
2024 9 6 11 2
2024 10 2 4 1
2024 11 2 5 1
2024 12 3 6 2
2025 1 6 13 2
2025 2 4 8 1
2025 3 2 3 1
2025 5 1 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 2 10 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

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