Ernie Alexander
Actor
About Ernie Alexander
Ernie Alexander was a minor actor in early American cinema whose brief career appears to have been confined to the year 1933. His only known film credit is in the W.C. Fields comedy short 'The Fatal Glass of Beer,' where he played a small supporting role. Like many actors of the early sound era, Alexander was likely part of the studio system that relied on numerous uncredited or bit players to populate their productions. The film itself was a parody of melodramatic Yukon tales, typical of Fields' absurdist comedy style. Alexander's extremely limited filmography suggests he may have been a day player, extra, or someone who briefly attempted an acting career without achieving sustained success. The lack of additional credits or biographical information indicates he did not establish a lasting career in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in W.C. Fields' comedy short 'The Fatal Glass of Beer' (1933)
Best Known For
Iconic Roles
Must-See Films
Working Relationships
Worked Often With
Studios
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Ernie Alexander's cultural impact is minimal due to his extremely limited filmography, consisting of only one known appearance in a W.C. Fields short. As a minor supporting player in early cinema, he represents the thousands of anonymous actors who populated Hollywood films during the transition from silent to sound pictures. His contribution to 'The Fatal Glass of Beer,' while small, was part of the ensemble that helped create one of Fields' more surreal comedy pieces that has survived as a cult classic among film historians and comedy enthusiasts.
Lasting Legacy
Ernie Alexander's legacy is essentially that of a footnote in film history, representing the countless supporting players and bit actors who appeared in early Hollywood productions but never achieved lasting fame or recognition. His single known credit in 'The Fatal Glass of Beer' places him within the context of W.C. Fields' filmography, though his specific contribution to the film is largely forgotten. For film historians and completists, Alexander serves as an example of the transient nature of early Hollywood careers and the difficulty of tracking comprehensive biographical information for minor players from this era.
Who They Inspired
Given his extremely limited career and single known film credit, Ernie Alexander had no discernible influence on other actors or directors. His brief appearance in early cinema does not appear to have inspired or influenced subsequent performers, and he remains an obscure figure even among specialists in classic film history.
Off Screen
Very little is known about Ernie Alexander's personal life due to his extremely brief and minor career in cinema. Like many bit players and supporting actors of the early 1930s, detailed biographical information was not preserved in studio records or entertainment publications of the era.
Did You Know?
- Ernie Alexander's entire known film career consists of a single film credit in 1933
- 'The Fatal Glass of Beer' was directed by Clyde Bruckman and starred W.C. Fields
- The film was a parody of melodramatic Yukon adventure stories
- Alexander was likely a contract player or day player for Mack Sennett Studios
- The film runs approximately 21 minutes and is considered one of Fields' more absurdist works
- Like many minor actors of the era, Alexander may have been uncredited in some of his work
- The film has survived and is available through various classic film archives
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ernie Alexander?
Ernie Alexander was a minor American actor who appeared in only one known film during his career, the W.C. Fields comedy short 'The Fatal Glass of Beer' in 1933. He represents the many supporting players and bit actors who populated early Hollywood films but never achieved lasting recognition.
What films is Ernie Alexander best known for?
Ernie Alexander is known exclusively for his appearance in 'The Fatal Glass of Beer' (1933), a W.C. Fields comedy short that parodies melodramatic Yukon tales. This appears to be his only film credit.
When was Ernie Alexander born and when did he die?
Ernie Alexander's birth and death dates are not recorded in available film archives or historical records, which is common for minor supporting actors from early cinema who did not achieve lasting fame.
What awards did Ernie Alexander win?
Ernie Alexander did not receive any known awards or nominations for his brief film work, which was limited to a single supporting role in a comedy short.
What was Ernie Alexander's acting style?
Due to the extremely limited documentation of his work, Ernie Alexander's specific acting style cannot be determined. He appeared in a W.C. Fields comedy, which typically required actors to support Fields' unique brand of absurdist humor.
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Films
1 film
