# Spec O'Donnell

Walter D. "Spec" O'Donnell (April 9, 1911 – October 14, 1986) was an American film actor who appeared in more than 190 films between 1923 and 1978.
He worked frequently for producer Hal Roach, often appearing in silent comedies as the bratty son of Max Davidson or Charley Chase. His sound-era roles were mostly uncredited bits, often as bellhops, newsboys, and pages; he was playing adolescent roles well into his twenties. He has the unusual distinction of playing the same role (a newsboy) in both an original film and its remake: Princess O'Hara and It Ain't Hay.

## Early life

O'Donnell was born in Madera, California. His father, John O'Donnell, was a lumber mill labourer originally from Maryland.$^{:100–101}$ His mother and older siblings (Jack and Minnie) were born in California.$^{:101}$

## Career

In February 1924, O'Donnell signed with Julius and Abe Stern's Century Film Corporation.
In 1924, O'Donnell starred in Walt Disney's Alice Comedies.$^{:78}$ The first of these was Alice's Spooky Adventure, where he features as one of several children playing baseball in a field.$^{:100}$ The film also starred Virginia Davis (as Alice) and Leon Holmes, with whom O'Donnell featured alongside in Alice the Peacemaker during the same year.$^{:100,110}$ He also had parts in Alice Gets in Dutch and Alice is Stage Struck, which was released the following year.$^{:111,124}$
O'Donnell appeared as Max Davidson's son in a series of short films made by producer Hal Roach in the late 1920s. He also appeared in the Pathe comedy short Traffic Tangle, this time as Nat Carr's son, in 1930.

## Personal life

O'Donnell died in 1986 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.

## Selected filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 1923 | Little Johnny Jones | Freckle-faced Little Boy | | |
| 1923 | The Barefoot Boy | Schoolboy | | |
| 1923 | The Country Kid | Joe Applegate | | |
| 1923 | The Darling of New York | Willie | | |
| 1923 | Main Street | | | |
| 1924 | The Foolish Virgin | Little Boy | | |
| 1924 | Don't Fall | Spec | Short | |
| 1924 | Speed Boys | Spec | Short | |
| 1924 | Paging Money | | Short | |
| 1924 | The Racing Kid | | Short | |
| 1924 | Delivering the Goods | Spec | Short | |
| 1924 | Alice's Spooky Adventure | Freckled Boy | uncredited; Short | $^{:100}$ |
| 1924 | Alice the Peacemaker | Freckle-Faced Newsboy | | $^{:110}$ |
| 1924 | Alice Gets in Dutch | | Short | $^{:111}$ |
| 1925 | Alice Is Stage Struck | | | $^{:124}$ |
| 1925 | Tomorrow's Love | | | |
| 1925 | The Devil's Cargo | Jimmy | | |
| 1925 | The Dressmaker from Paris | Jim | | |
| 1925 | Little Annie Rooney | Abie | | |
| 1925 | The Price of Success | Jimmy Moran | | |
| 1926 | Sparrows | Ambrose | | |
| 1926 | Private Izzy Murphy | The Monahan Kid | | |
| 1926 | Hard Boiled | Eddie Blix | | |
| 1926 | Old Ironsides | Cabin Boy | uncredited | |
| 1926 | Don Key | Office Boy | Also known as Don Key (Son of Burro) | |
| 1927 | Why Girls Say No | Maxie Whisselberg | | |
| 1927 | Don't Tell Everything | Asher Ginsberg | | |
| 1927 | Casey at the Bat | Spec | | |
| 1927 | Special Delivery | Office Boy | uncredited | |
| 1927 | Call of the Cuckoo | Love's Greatest Mistake | | |
| 1928 | Pass the Gravy | Ignatz | | |
| 1928 | A Pair of Tights | The Kid | | |
| 1928 | Vamping Venus | Western Union Boy / Mercury | | |
| 1928 | Hot News | Spec | | |
| 1928 | Danger Street | Sammy | | |
| 1929 | In the Headlines | Johnny | | |
| 1929 | The Sophomore | Joe's Nephew | | |
| 1930 | The Grand Parade | Call Boy | | |
| 1930 | Big Money | Elevator Boy | | |
| 1930 | Two Plus Fours | Spec | Short | |
| 1932 | The Big Broadcast | Office Boy | uncredited | |
| 1934 | Broadway Bill | Higgins Flunky | uncredited | |
| 1934 | David Harum | Tim | uncredited | |
| 1936 | Cain and Mabel | Autograph Hound | uncredited | |
| 1937 | Blonde Trouble | Fred's Friend | | |
| 1937 | Here's Flash Casey | Billy | uncredited | |
| 1938 | Angels with Dirty Faces | Pool Room Youth | uncredited | |
| 1938 | Accidents Will Happen | 'Specs' Carter | | |
| 1943 | Crazy House | Bellhop | uncredited | |
| 1946 | The Kid from Brooklyn | Arena Callboy | uncredited | |
| 1951 | Footlight Varieties | Contestant | uncredited | |
| 1952 | Pat and Mike | Hick's Caddy | uncredited | |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Club Member (uncredited) | Season 5 Episode 12: "Specialty of the House" |
| 1978 | Convoy | 18 Wheel Eddie | | |