Tyler Brooke and the Perils of Billiards

Tribute now to stage and screen actor Tyler Brooke (Victor Hugo de Bierre, 1886-1943), known especially for his association with classic comedy.

Brooke had been a bank clerk and a lawyer prior to donning the sock and buskin with a series of Broadway shows through the teens, in such things as Oh, I Say! (1913), Fads and Fancies (1915), Around the Map (1915-16), Angel Face (1919), and Raymond Hitchcock’s Hitchy-Koo(1920). A production of No, No, Nanette brought him to L.A. in 1925 and this is how he managed to switch over to the film business. From 1925 through 1927 Brooke was part of the Hal Roach company, appearing in comedies with James Finlayson, Clyde Cook, Glenn Tryon, Lucien Littlefield, Vivien Oakland, Anita Garvin, and of course Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel (prior to their teaming). He was the star of co-star of many of these comedies. He really did begin his screen career on a high note.

In 1927, Brooke left Roach to star in his own series for Orville O. Dull, in which he played a character named Cortland Van Bibber. This series lasted into 1928. At the same time, he also enjoyed several good supporting parts in features, such as Howard Hawks’Fazil (1928), Cecil B. DeMille’sDynamite (1929) and Alexander Korda’sLillies of the Field (1929).

In 1929 Brooke’s career suffered a set-back after a pool room scuffle with Hardy (ironically, for Hardy was not known for his violence IRL. He was actually sort of a pussycat). Brooke claimed that Hardy broke his arm with a pool cue, making it impossible for him to work for several weeks. He sued Hardy for damages, and as a result, future employment with Roach was out of the question. This was a particular shame for Brooke, because, as happened with so many, during the sound era, he slipped from supporting parts to brief but showy turns to simple bit parts. Still he’s in many a classic. Often he played onstage characters like singers, comedians and emcees in scenes set in saloons and night clubs, and so forth.

Brooke’s later films include include Madam Satan (1930), Million Dollar Legs (1932), Trouble in Paradise (1932), Hallelujah, I’m a Bum (1933), Belle of the Nineties (1934), Imitation of Life (1934), Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934), Times Square Lady (1935), Call of the Wild (1935), Poor Little Rich Girl (1936), In Old Chicago (1938), Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (1938), Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938), The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), One Night in the Tropics (1940) with Abbott and Costello, Tin Pan Alley (1940), Kitty Foyle (1940), Two Latins from Manhattan (1942), and The McGuerins of Brooklyn (1942). He is also said to have been a crowd extra in The Wizard of Oz (1939). All told, he had nearly a hundred screen credits.

In 1943, Brooke’s lifeless body was found by his wife in the family garage. The cause: carbon monoxide poisoning. The motivation: despondency due to unemployment. We know because he left a note.

For more on silent comedy history please check out my book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube — now also available on audiobook.