Leon Errol

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Actor | Comedian Born July 3, 1881 in Sydney, Australia

Born in Australia, Leon Errol came to the United States in 1911 and in his 50-plus year entertainment career, he became known as the rubber-legged comedian.

Errol had 10 years of vaudeville, light opera and musical comedy experience in Australia and New Zealand before joining the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway. His American debut was with Ziegfeld’s first Follies at the Jardin de Paris, and he remained the Follies’ chief comedian until 1915.

The man with the collapsible knees came to Hollywood in 1930 and made six two-reel comedies every year for RKO Studios. He had a number of stellar roles in top-budget pictures as well.

“The Century Girl” was Errol’s first musical show triumph. He had prominent roles in “Hitchy Koo,” “Joy Bells” in London and “Sally,” later a motion picture in which he appeared.

His last successful Broadway shows were “Louie the 14th” and “Yours Truly.”

Outstanding among his films series were those with the late Lupe Velez, who was known as the "Mexican Spitfire.”

— Los Angeles Times Oct. 13, 1951