Four photographs of actor and comedian Harry Delf, aged about twenty-three, wearing a bellhop costume for a vaudeville routine, posing outside a theatre in Detroit, Michigan, ca. 1915.
Harry Delf (28 August 28 1892, New York City – 7 February 1964, New York City), American comedian and actor who performed in vaudeville and on Broadway. He was also a playwright, theatrical producer, screen writer and director of short films, and lyricist/composer for stage musicals. He is best remembered as the author of the 1925 play The Family Upstairs which was twice staged on Broadway and adapted into a film three times.
Educated at Columbia University, he began his career as a comedian in vaudeville, specializing in Jewish humor – it is said that he taught Fanny Brice how to speak with a Yiddish accent – and he performed on all of the major vaudeville circuits during his career. He also appeared on Broadway, sometimes in plays and musicals that he had, himself, written.
In addition, he wrote sketches for prominent revues and, beginning in the late 1920s, he wrote and directed several short films. For a time dean of the New York Friars Club, in 1957 he was instrumental in helping the organization to acquire their permanent headquarters, the historic Martin Erdmann House (sold in 2024).
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