With his slicked back hair and thin moustache Erik Rhodes arrived in Hollywood to recreate his stage role of Rudolfo Tonetti (which he had performed first on Broadway and then in London, 1932-1933) for the filming of The Gay Divorcee (1934), starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Contrary to his screen image, Erik was born in Oklahoma and ...
El Reno, Indian Territory, USA [now Oklahoma, USA]
Height
5' 10" (1.78 m)
Weight
137.4 kg
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack
Awards
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Star Sign
Aquarius
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Quote
1
[In a 1987 interview in retirement in Oklahoma City) I am completely alone, but very comfortably so.
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Fact
1
Rhodes' screen debut was in the British low-budgeter "Give Her a Ring" in 1933 although it did not receive a U.S. release until three years later.
2
Rhodes idolized Douglas Fairbanks.
3
Majored in Modern Languages at Oklahoma University and was fluent in Italian, German, Spanish, and French.
4
During World War II he served as a captain in U.S. Air Force Intelligence, but despite his proficiency in European languages he was assigned to the Pacific Theater.
5
Died of pneumonia in Oklahoma City at age 84.
6
Appeared in the Broadway version of The Gay Divorce in 1932 prior to the movie version.
7
Stage actor best remembered in films as the mustachioed, feather- brained, continental type in two Astaire-Rogers mistaken-identity romps: The Gay Divorcee (1934) and Top Hat (1935).
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Adams Chronicles
1976
TV Mini-Series
Duke of Exeter
Car 54, Where Are You?
1962
TV Series
Producer
Naked City
1961
TV Series
Gardell
Perry Mason
1961
TV Series
Herman Albright
The Phil Silvers Show
1958
TV Series
Smithers
Appointment with Adventure
1955
TV Series
Lux Video Theatre
1950-1954
TV Series
Mr. Purdy / Dr. Gardiner
Suspense
1952
TV Series
Drexel Courtney
Musical Comedy Time
1950-1951
TV Series
Joseph Pulitzer
The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre
1948
TV Series
Great Catherine
1948
TV Movie
Naryshkin
On Your Toes
1939
Konstantin Morrisine
Dramatic School
1938
Georges Mounier
Say It in French
1938
Irving
Mysterious Mr. Moto
1938
David Scott-Frensham
Meet the Girls
1938
Maurice Leon
The Canary Comes Across
1938
Short
Dillon, the Canary
Beg, Borrow or Steal
1937
Lefevre
Fight for Your Lady
1937
Anton Spadissimo
Music for Madame
1937
Spaghetti Nadzio
Woman Chases Man
1937
Henri Saffron
Criminal Lawyer
1937
Bandini
Smartest Girl in Town
1936
Baron Enrico Torene
Second Wife
1936
Dave Bennet
One Rainy Afternoon
1936
Count Alfredo Donstelli
Special Investigator
1936
Benny Gray
Chatterbox
1936
Mr. Archie Fisher
Two in the Dark
1936
Carlo Gheet
Another Face
1935
Grimm - Assistant Director
Top Hat
1935
Alberto Beddini
Old Man Rhythm
1935
Frank Rochet
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1935
Short
Erik Rhodes
The Nitwits
1935
George Clark
A Night at the Ritz
1935
Leopold Jaynos
Charlie Chan in Paris
1935
Max Corday
The Gay Divorcee
1934
Rodolfo Tonetti
Give Her a Ring
1934
Otto Brune
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Music for Madame
1937
"Vesti la giubba"
Criminal Lawyer
1937
performer: "Tonight, Lover, Tonight" 1937
The Gay Divorcee
1934
performer: "The Continental" 1934
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story
1987
TV Series documentary
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
Documentary
Himself
Hollywood Bound
1947
Edited from: A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Known for movies
Top Hat (1935) as Alberto Beddini
The Gay Divorcee (1934) as Rodolfo Tonetti
Charlie Chan in Paris (1935) as Max Corday
The Canary Comes Across (1938) as Dillon, the Canary
$3 Million
