---
name: "Sam Ash"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/sam-ash"
roles: []
born: "28 August 1884"
died: "20 October 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 88
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-20T01:04:18.499413+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sam Ash

Actor. Born 28 August 1884 in Campbell County, Kentucky, USA. Died 20 October 1951.

## Details

- **Born:** 28 August 1884, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA
- **Died:** 20 October 1951
- **Also known as:** Samuel Howard Ash
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 84 (1), 1940s 89 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 88 to 85 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Romance 2, Family 1, Fantasy 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $42m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ash, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15998045, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038663/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/590519

## Streaming the US now

- **The Roku Channel:** [*The More the Merrier*](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Sam Ash (born Samuel Howard Ash) was an American actor and singer. He appeared in more than 200 films between 1929 and 1953, usually in uncredited minor roles such as waiters, officials and reporters.

Born on 28 August 1884 in Campbell County, Kentucky, Ash began his career in vaudeville and musical theatre, with Broadway credits including *Katinka* (1915) and *The Singing Rabbi* (1931). He moved to Hollywood in 1929 and featured in films including *The More the Merrier* (1943) as a committee member, *Citizen Kane* (1941), *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946) and *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939). He died on 20 October 1951 in Hollywood, California.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), Fi1m 91, as Nervous Banker (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *The More the Merrier* (1943), Fi1m 82, as Committee Member (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md)
- *Citizen Kane* (1941), Fi1m 93, as Man at Boat Dock (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)
- *The Lady Eve* (1941), Fi1m 90, as Husband on Ship (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-eve.md)
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Senator Lancaster (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)

## Complete filmography (98)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Along the Great Divide* (1951), as Defense Counsel (uncredited)
- *The Mating Season* (1951), as Board Member (uncredited)
- *The Great Gatsby* (1949), as Waiter (uncredited)
- *Canadian Pacific* (1949), as Speaker from Ontario (uncredited)
- *Street Corner* (1948), as District Attorney
- *Hazard* (1948), as Poker Player (uncredited)
- *Desire Me* (1947), as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
- *The Romance of Rosy Ridge* (1947), as Southerner (uncredited)
- *I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now* (1947), as Quartet Member (uncredited)
- *The Hucksters* (1947), as Man at Inn (uncredited)
- *Fun on a Weekend* (1947), as Party Guest (uncredited)
- *Sarge Goes to College* (1947), as Professor
- *It's a Wonderful Life* (1946), as Nervous Banker (uncredited) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/its-a-wonderful-life.md)
- *Angel on My Shoulder* (1946), as Citizen (uncredited)
- *The Killers* (1946), as (uncredited)
- *Gilda* (1946), as Gambler (uncredited)
- *The Stork Club* (1945), as Ringsider
- *Dick Tracy* (1945), as Policeman (uncredited)
- *Voice of the Whistler* (1945), as Gibson Motor Car Co. Executive (uncredited)
- *Sunset in El Dorado* (1945), as Waiter
- *Hitchhike to Happiness* (1945), as Stage Manager (uncredited)
- *Faces in the Fog* (1944), as Juror
- *Mr. Skeffington* (1944), as (uncredited)
- *The Heat's On* (1943), as Frank
- *Mr. Lucky* (1943), as Gambler (uncredited)
- *The More the Merrier* (1943), as Committee Member (uncredited) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md)
- *Mission to Moscow* (1943), as American Senator (uncredited)
- *The Incredible Stranger* (1942), as Storekeeper (uncredited)
- *Fingers at the Window* (1942), as Theater Stage Manager (uncredited)
- *Kid Glove Killer* (1942), as Card Player in Montage (uncredited)
- *The Male Animal* (1942), as Trustee (uncredited)
- *Pacific Blackout* (1941), as Official Announcer
- *Devil Pays Off* (1941), as Policeman
- *Manpower* (1941), as Midnight Club Patron (uncredited)
- *West Point Widow* (1941), as Pedestrian
- *Citizen Kane* (1941), as Man at Boat Dock (uncredited) — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/citizen-kane.md)
- *The Lady Eve* (1941), as Husband on Ship (uncredited) — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-eve.md)
- *Flight from Destiny* (1941), as Desk Clerk at Club
- *The Face Behind the Mask* (1941), as Mike Cary - Pilot (uncredited)
- *Victory* (1940), as Dutchman (uncredited)
- *Christmas in July* (1940), as Minor Role (uncredited)
- *North West Mounted Police* (1940), as Villager (uncredited)
- *The Secret Seven* (1940), as Walter A. Adams · gang accountant
- *Those Were the Days!* (1940), as Clerk
- *The Way of All Flesh* (1940), as Cigar Clerk
- *Island of Doomed Men* (1940), as Ames - Parolee (uncredited)
- *Men Without Souls* (1940), as Prison Guard (uncredited)
- *The Farmer's Daughter* (1940), as Slicker (uncredited)
- *Women Without Names* (1940), as Man on Phone
- *The House Across the Bay* (1940), as Broker
- *Five Little Peppers at Home* (1940), as Hartley
- *Emergency Squad* (1940), as Fireman
- *Mandrake the Magician* (1940), as George Regan, hypnotist [Chs. 3-5]
- *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), as Senator Lancaster (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/mr-smith-goes-to-washington.md)
- *Hollywood Cavalcade* (1939), as Actor
- *Honeymoon in Bali* (1939), as Toy Seller (uncredited)
- *The Man They Could Not Hang* (1939), as Druggist (uncredited)
- *Young Mr. Lincoln* (1939), as Townsman Dancing at Party (uncredited)
- *Mandrake the Magician* (1939), as George Regan
- *Union Pacific* (1939), as Railwayman (uncredited)
- *King of Chinatown* (1939), as Barber (uncredited)
- *Persons in Hiding* (1939), as FBI Driver (uncredited)
- *Stand Up and Fight* (1939), as Second Teamster
- *Smashing the Spy Ring* (1938), as Doctor (uncredited)
- *Juvenile Court* (1938), as Reporter (uncredited)
- *Marie Antoinette* (1938), as Rabblerouser (uncredited)
- *The Chaser* (1938), as Man at Calhoun's Auto
- *Gold Diggers in Paris* (1938), as French Clerk
- *You and Me* (1938), as Second Floorwalker (uncredited)
- *A Slight Case of Murder* (1938), as Cocktail Lounge Manager (uncredited)
- *Love Is a Headache* (1938), as Headwaiter (uncredited)
- *Wells Fargo* (1937), as Man with Beaver Hat
- *Expensive Husbands* (1937), as Reporter
- *Madame X* (1937), as Silent Gendarme at Villa
- *Confession* (1937), as Waiter (uncredited)
- *Exclusive* (1937), as Elevator-Starter
- *You Can't Have Everything* (1937), as Publicity Agent (uncredited)
- *I Met Him in Paris* (1937), as Shipboard Passenger
- *Love Is News* (1937), as Tailor (uncredited)
- *They Met in a Taxi* (1936), as Elevator Man
- *And Sudden Death* (1936), as Cook
- *Everybody's Old Man* (1936), as Salesman
- *Robin Hood of El Dorado* (1936), as Arriga
- *Broadway Hostess* (1935), as Cascade Nightclub Emcee (uncredited)
- *Stars Over Broadway* (1935), as Mustached Man at Champ's Table
- *Rendezvous* (1935), as Mexican (uncredited)
- *She Married Her Boss* (1935), as Salesman
- *Broadway Gondolier* (1935), as Singer
- *Mad Love* (1935), as Detective Arresting Stephen (Uncredited)
- *Paris in Spring* (1935), as Clerk
- *Circus Shadows* (1935), Actor
- *Kiss and Make-Up* (1934), as Plumber
- *We're Not Dressing* (1934), as Caption of the Trona (uncredited)
- *I Believed in You* (1934), as Singer
- *Girl Without a Room* (1933), as Street Singer
- *Stage Mother* (1933), as Mr. Mark Thorne (uncredited)
- *Adorable* (1933), as Minor Role (uncredited)
- *Unmasked* (1929), as Billy Mathews

## Gallery

- ![Vaudeville actor Samuel Ash. Subjects: vaudeville (1914)](https://film.one/media/person/346412/gallery-3f1fa1311917.jpg) Vaudeville actor Samuel Ash. Subjects: vaudeville (1914) — Apeda (Photography Studio), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Vaudeville_actor_Samuel_Ash_%28SAYRE_2139%29.jpg/1280px-Vaudeville_actor_Samuel_Ash_%28SAYRE_2139%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Title: Ash Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. (1900)](https://film.one/media/person/346412/gallery-6860fbd3fed8.jpg) Title: Ash Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. (1900) — Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Ash_LCCN2014711370.jpg/1280px-Ash_LCCN2014711370.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Sam Ash](https://film.one/media/person/346412/gallery-a73dfcfb3c0c.jpg) Sam Ash — Bain News Service, pubilsher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Sam_Ash_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Title: Ash Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. (1900)](https://film.one/media/person/346412/gallery-a62d8804c792.jpg) Title: Ash Abstract/medium: 1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller. (1900) — Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Ash_LCCN2014711365.jpg/1280px-Ash_LCCN2014711365.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/sam-ash