El Brendel
Biography
El Brendel was born Elmer Goodfellow Brendel on March 24, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, though one source notes his birth date as March 25, 1890. He was an American stage, film, and television actor, as well as a vaudeville comedian turned movie star. Nicknamed The Synthetic Swede, he was of German and Irish parentage and adopted a comedic persona featuring a dialect routine as a Swedish immigrant who speaks fractured English. Known for acting with seventy-nine known credits, his biggest role was as Single-0. He passed away on April 9, 1964, at the age of seventy-four.
Career overview
Elmer Goodfellow El Brendel was an American stage, film, and television actor born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 24, 1890, or March 25, 1890. He was an American vaudeville comedian turned movie star, nicknamed The Synthetic Swede. Although he was of German and Irish parentage, he adopted the comedic persona of a Swede who spoke fractured English, becoming notable for his dialect routine as a Swedish immigrant.
During his career, Brendel accumulated seventy-nine known acting credits across film and television. His biggest role was as Single-0. Throughout his life and career, he worked extensively in entertainment before his death on April 9, 1964, at the age of seventy-four.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
79 titles- Perry Mason (1957) as Court Manager
- The She-Creature (1956) as Olaf, the butler
- The George Gobel Show (1954) as Self
- Paris Model (1953) as Papa Jensen
- My Little Margie (1952)
- Racket Squad (1951)
- The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend (1949) as Mr. Jorgensen
- Pistol Packin' Nitwits (1945) as Professor Brendel
- Snooper Service (1945)
- Defective Detectives (1944) as El
- Pick a Peck of Plumbers (1944) as Axel Swenson
- I'm from Arkansas (1944) as Oly
- Machine Gun Mama (1944) as Ollie Swenson
- Boobs in the Night (1943)
- His Wedding Scare (1943) as Oley
- I Spied for You (1943) as Ole Olesen
- A Rookie's Cookie (1943) as Ole - Rookie Policeman
- Ham and Yeggs (1942) as El Brendel
- Phoney Cronies (1942) as Oley
- Olaf Laughs Last (1942) as Olaf Hansen
- Ready, Willing but Unable (1941) as Olley Olsen
- Sweet Spirits of the Nighter (1941) as Oley Brendel
- Yumpin' Yiminy! (1941) as Oley Brendel
- The Blitz Kiss (1941) as Oley Olsen
- Love at First Fright (1941) as Zeb
- Captain Caution (1940) as Slushy
- Gallant Sons (1940) as Olaf Larsen
- If I Had My Way (1940) as Axel Swensen
- Code of the Streets (1939) as Mickhail 'Micky' Bjorgulfsen
- Risky Business (1939) as Axel
- The House of Fear (1939) as Jeff
- Call a Messenger (1939) as 'Baldy'
- Valley of the Giants (1938) as 'Fats'
- Little Miss Broadway (1938) as Ole
- Happy Landing (1938) as Yonnie
- Blonde Trouble (1937) as Window Washer
- God's Country and the Woman (1937) as Ole Olson
- The Holy Terror (1937) as 'Bugs' Svenson
- The Super Snooper (1937)
- Career Woman (1936) as Chris Erleson
- Ay Tank Ay Go (1936) as Ollie
- Okay, José (1935) as Knute Knudsen
- What, No Men? (1935) as Gus Olsen - Gas Company Representative
- Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove (1934) as Self
- The Meanest Gal in Town (1934) as Chris Peterson
- Hollywood on Parade No. B-4 (1934) as Self
- Radio Scout (1934) as Sven Svenson
- Hot Pepper (1933) as Olsen
- Olsen’s Big Moment (1933) as Knute Olsen
- Mother's Helper (1933)
- My Lips Betray (1933) as Oswald Stigmat, Chauffeur
- The Last Trail (1933) as Newt Olsen
- Handle with Care (1932) as Carl Lundstrom
- Disorderly Conduct (1932) as Olsen
- Six Cylinder Love (1931) as Janitor
- The Stolen Jools (1931) as Swedish Waiter
- Women of All Nations (1931) as Olsen
- Mr. Lemon Of Orange (1931) as Mr. Lemon / Silent McGee
- The Spider (1931) as Ole
- West of Broadway (1931) as Axel
- Delicious (1931) as Chris Jansen
- The Big Trail (1930) as Gus
- Just Imagine (1930) as Single O
- The Golden Calf (1930) as Knute Olson
- New Movietone Follies of 1930 (1930) as Alex Svenson
- Happy Days (1929) as Minstrel Show Performer
- Hot for Paris (1929) as Axel Olson
- The Cock-Eyed World (1929) as 'Yump' Olsen
- Frozen Justice (1929) as Swede
- Sunny Side Up (1929) as Eric Swenson
- Wings (1927) as Herman Schwimpf
- Help Yourself (1927)
- Rolled Stockings (1927) as Rudolph
- Ten Modern Commandments (1927) as 'Speeding' Shapiro
- Too Many Crooks (1927) as Botts
- Arizona Bound (1927) as 'Oley Smoke' Oleson
- Man of the Forest (1926) as Horace Pipp
- You Never Know Women (1926) as Toberchik
- The Campus Flirt (1926) as Knute Knudson
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is El Brendel best known for?
El Brendel is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Perry Mason (1957), The George Gobel Show (1954), Paris Model (1953), Racket Squad (1951).
When and where was El Brendel born?
El Brendel was born on March 24, 1890 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. They passed away on April 9, 1964.
How many credits does El Brendel have?
El Brendel has accumulated over 79 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1926 to 1957.
What is El Brendel's background in cinema and television?
El Brendel was born Elmer Goodfellow Brendel on March 24, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, though one source notes his birth date as March 25, 1890. He was an American stage, film, and television actor, as well as a vaudeville comedian turned movie star. Nicknamed The Synthetic Swede, he was of German and Iris...
El Brendel by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The George Gobel Show (1954) as Self — aged about 64
- Perry Mason (1957) as Court Manager — aged about 67
- Wings (1927) as Herman Schwimpf — aged about 37
- The Big Trail (1930) as Gus — aged about 40
- Racket Squad (1951) — aged about 61
- Paris Model (1953) as Papa Jensen — aged about 63
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