Rolfe Sedan had an extremely distiguished career as a character actor playing more than 250 different roles from the early 1920’s to the late 1970’s in both film and telelvision. Among his most notable roles was his role as Mr. Beasley the postman on The George Burns – Gracie Allen Show, but what really piqued my interest was his role as a hotel desk clerk in the Laurel and Hardy classic Double Whoopee in 1929.
Even by 1980, it was relatively rare to come by someone who had actually worked with Laurel and Hardy in the silent pictures. There was Hal Roach of course, the silent Our Gang kids who had made some breif appearances with the boys, Anita Garvin, Thomas Benton Roberts, and Rolfe Sedan. So even then it didn’t escape me that in meeting Mr. Sedan, I was meeting someone who played a unique role in Laurel and Hardy – and motion picture – history.
Rolfe Sedan at Hollywood ’80
My Dad was more intrigued about his Burns and Allen connection, having been a fan of the show since he was a boy. I remember that he was interested in Rolfe Sedan’s comment that George Burns had fired him from the show one day and never explained why.
He signed my book on August 1, 1980
Rolfe Sedan passed away in 1982, so he was one of a small handful of celebrities that I met only once – and that was at the legendary Hollywood ’80 Sons of the Desert convention.
More celebs from Hollywood ’80 to come…
On behalf of my mother Sharon Sedan Wahl, she is pleased to see your comments about her father. Many times she was on the set when many of the films were produced. Having been born in 1928 she never met Laurel and Hardy.She did have the opportunity to act with her father in a theatre production of the King and I.
wendy wahl
June 28th, 2011