Biography
Ralph Dumke was an American actor and comedian. Born in South Bend, Indiana, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he played varsity football. He began his career in vaudeville in the 1920s as part of a comedy duo with Ed East, later appearing on the NBC radio programme Sisters of the Skillet.
In the 1940s he performed on Broadway in musicals, including the role of Cap'n Andy in the 1946 revival of Show Boat. From 1949 he worked extensively in film and television as a character actor. His screen credits include Tiny Duffy in All the King's Men (1949), Police Chief Nick Grivett in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), and appearances in The War of the Worlds (1953), The Desperate Hours (1955) and Elmer Gantry (1960). He also guest-starred in series such as Perry Mason, The Untouchables and The Andy Griffith Show.
