- Warner Oland, Charlie Chan Carries On, 1930. After three 20s’ films during when the character was minimalised and played by two Japanese and a Korean, there was much interest as who would – could – play the titular sleuth. Legends insist 34 actors were tested. The few actually named were Noah Beery (who would die in the arms of his brother, Wallace), J Edward Bromberg, Leo Carillo (The Cosco Kid’s future sidekick, Pancho), Walter Connolly, Cy Kendall (his 1934 film debut was as a detective!) and Moscow-born Michael Visaroff – Dr Otto Von Brom in the 25th of 47 Chan tales, Charlie Chan at the Wax Museum, 1940). None of these guys were as small as Earl Derr Biggers’ creation. Neither, as you have readily noticed, were any of them Chinese-American! Nor was the winning Warner Oland – seen as an Austrian opposite Marlene Dietrich that same year in Dishonoured. Oland, in fact, was… Swedish. He Channed on for 13 chapters, followed by a more mirthful Missourian Sidney Toler in 11 and finally, in six late-40s’ outings, by Bostonian Roland Winters. Since when, nada. So no more philosophical nuggets like… “Only a very brave mouse will make its nest in a cat’s ear.”
Birth year: 1882Death year: 1946Other name: Casting Calls: 1