---
name: "Sam McDaniel"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/sam-mcdaniel"
roles: []
born: "28 January 1886"
died: "24 September 1962"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-19T23:49:41.493561+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 McDaniel

Actor. Born 28 January 1886 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Died 24 September 1962.

## Details

- **Born:** 28 January 1886, Wichita, Kansas, USA
- **Died:** 24 September 1962
- **Also known as:** Samuel Rufus McDaniel, Sam 'Deacon' McDaniel, Deacon McDaniels, Sam McDaniels
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 1 acting, 3 other
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 77 (3), 1940s 92 (1)
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Adventure 1, Crime 1, Family 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3m across 1 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McDaniel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7407878, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0567434/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/213830

## Biography

Sam McDaniel (1886–1962) was an American actor who appeared in more than 210 films and television shows between 1929 and 1960. He was frequently cast in supporting roles as butlers, porters, valets and servants.

He played the ship's cook Doc in the 1937 film *Captains Courageous*. Other credits include uncredited parts in *The Public Enemy* (1931), *Grand Hotel* (1932) and *Double Indemnity* (1944), as well as the porter in the 1955 *I Love Lucy* episode 'The Great Train Robbery', his only appearance on the series. He was the older brother of actresses Hattie McDaniel and Etta McDaniel, and began his career in radio and vaudeville.

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

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (1)

- *Captains Courageous* (1937), Fi1m 84, as 'Doc' — [page](https://film.one/film/captains-courageous.md)

### Also credited (3) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Double Indemnity* (1944), Fi1m 92, as Charlie (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/double-indemnity.md)
- *Jezebel* (1938), Fi1m 78, as Driver (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *Here Comes the Navy* (1934), Fi1m 70, as Washroom Attendant (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-the-navy.md)

## Complete filmography (138)

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

- *Ice Palace* (1960), as George, the train porter
- *A Hole in the Head* (1959), as Andy
- *Party Girl* (1958), as Jesse (uncredited)
- *Johnny Trouble* (1957), as Doorman (uncredited)
- *A Man Called Peter* (1955), as Henry
- *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Porter
- *Amos 'n' Andy* (1951), series, as Customer (uncredited)
- *The File on Thelma Jordon* (1949), as Porter (uncredited)
- *Flamingo Road* (1949), as Boatright
- *Race Street* (1948), as Garage Attendant (uncredited)
- *Heavenly Daze* (1948), as Spiffingham
- *Give My Regards to Broadway* (1948), as Porter
- *Secret Service Investigator* (1948), as Porter
- *Heart of Virginia* (1948), as 'Sunflower' Jones
- *I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now* (1947), as Waiter (uncredited)
- *The Egg and I* (1947), as Waiter on Train (Uncredited)
- *High Barbaree* (1947), as Bertram (uncredited)
- *Never Say Goodbye* (1946), as Porter (uncredited)
- *Gentleman Joe Palooka* (1946), as Smoky - Second
- *Crack-Up* (1946), as Porter (Uncredited)
- *Joe Palooka, Champ* (1946), as Smoky
- *Without Reservations* (1946), as Freddy (uncredited), Train Waiter (uncredited)
- *My Reputation* (1946), as The Van Ormans' Butler Jonathan (uncredited)
- *She Wouldn't Say Yes* (1945), as Train Steward (uncredited)
- *Lady on a Train* (1945), Actor
- *The Naughty Nineties* (1945), as Matt - Cook-Waiter (uncredited)
- *Dillinger* (1945), as Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Experiment Perilous* (1944), as Porter (uncredited)
- *Tall in the Saddle* (1944), as Servant (uncredited)
- *Marriage Is a Private Affair* (1944), as Train Station Porter (uncredited)
- *When Strangers Marry* (1944), as Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Double Indemnity* (1944), as Charlie (uncredited) — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/double-indemnity.md)
- *3 Men in White* (1944), as Phone Operator (uncredited)
- *Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble* (1944), as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
- *Gangway for Tomorrow* (1943), as Hank
- *Son of Dracula* (1943), as Andy (uncredited)
- *The Ghost and the Guest* (1943), as Harmony Jones
- *After Midnight with Boston Blackie* (1943), as Train Porter
- *Dixie Dugan* (1943), as Night Porter (uncredited)
- *Johnny Doughboy* (1942), as Cook
- *The Traitor Within* (1942), as Melrose
- *Silver Queen* (1942), as Toby
- *In This Our Life* (1942), as Black Man in Jail (uncredited)
- *Grand Central Murder* (1942), as Night Watchman (uncredited)
- *I Was Framed* (1942), as Kit Carson
- *Mokey* (1942), as Uncle Ben
- *All Through the Night* (1942), as Deacon
- *Louisiana Purchase* (1941), as Sam
- *They Died with Their Boots On* (1941), as Waiter Serving Custer (uncredited)
- *New York Town* (1941), as Henry (uncredited)
- *International Lady* (1941), as Waiter
- *Bad Men of Missouri* (1941), as Wash
- *Broadway Limited* (1941), as Train Porter
- *South of Panama* (1941), as Rodriguez Lincoln 'Rod' Jones
- *The Great Lie* (1941), as Jefferson Washington
- *Sleepers West* (1941), as Porter (uncredited)
- *Golden Hoofs* (1941), as Henry
- *Virginia* (1941), as Servant
- *Calling All Husbands* (1940), as Nappy
- *Am I Guilty?* (1940), as John D. Jones
- *Brother Orchid* (1940), as Janitor Tripping Fire Alarms (uncredited)
- *Too Many Husbands* (1940), as Porter
- *Virginia City* (1940), as Sam Moore - Black Driver (uncredited)
- *Days of Jesse James* (1939), as Black Janitor (uncredited)
- *Pride of the Blue Grass* (1939), as Domino Jones
- *Chicken Wagon Family* (1939), as Sam
- *Good Girls Go to Paris* (1939), as Sam - Train Porter  (uncredited)
- *Sweepstakes Winner* (1939), as Mose (uncredited)
- *Union Pacific* (1939), as St. Louis Waiter (uncredited)
- *Let Us Live* (1939), as Hold-Up Witness - Mose (uncredited)
- *Everybody's Baby* (1939), as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
- *They Made Me a Criminal* (1939), as Splash (uncredited)
- *Gambling Ship* (1938), as Speedy
- *Stablemates* (1938), as Bookie
- *Three Loves Has Nancy* (1938), as Train Waiter (uncredited)
- *Four's a Crowd* (1938), as H. Louis Brown (uncredited)
- *Jezebel* (1938), as Driver (uncredited) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/jezebel.md)
- *Walking Down Broadway* (1938), as Claybourne's Chauffeur
- *Sergeant Murphy* (1938), as Henry H. Henry
- *Danger – Love at Work* (1937), as Train porter
- *Bargain with Bullets* (1937), as Police Capt. Holmes
- *It Happened in Hollywood* (1937), as Black Porter
- *Captains Courageous* (1937), as 'Doc' — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/captains-courageous.md)
- *Dark Manhattan* (1937), as Jack Jackson
- *Polo Joe* (1936), as Harvey the Waiter (uncredited)
- *Sing, Baby, Sing* (1936), as Train Porter
- *36 Hours to Kill* (1936), as Dining Car Waiter
- *Rhythm on the Range* (1936), as Train Porter
- *Hearts Divided* (1936), as Zachariah
- *Exclusive Story* (1936), as Man Threatened by Acello (uncredited)
- *The Adventures of Frank Merriwell* (1936), as Jeff
- *The Calling of Dan Matthews* (1935), as Sam (uncredited)
- *Stormy* (1935), as Mack's Hostler (uncredited)
- *We're in the Money* (1935), as Men's Club Attendant (uncredited)
- *Woman Wanted* (1935), as Oscar - Show Boat Washroom Attendant (uncredited)
- *Lady Tubbs* (1935), as Reckless
- *Stranded* (1935), as Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Unwelcome Stranger* (1935), as Pot Roast (as Sam McDaniels)
- *Two Hearts in Wax Time* (1935), as Deck Attendant (uncredited)
- *Gold Diggers of 1935* (1935), as Janitor (uncredited)
- *Kid Millions* (1934), as Ship's Steward (uncredited)
- *Belle of the Nineties* (1934), as Jasmine's Admirer (uncredited)
- *Wagon Wheels* (1934), as Coachman
- *The Human Side* (1934), as Porter (uncredited)
- *The Dragon Murder Case* (1934), as Steam Room Attendant (uncredited)
- *Contented Calves* (1934), as Eli - the Porter
- *Here Comes the Navy* (1934), as Washroom Attendant (uncredited) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-the-navy.md)
- *Charlie Chan's Courage* (1934), as Porter
- *Operator 13* (1934), as Rufus (uncredited)
- *Manhattan Melodrama* (1934), as Black Prisoner on Death Row (uncredited)
- *Rough Necking* (1934), as Anatole
- *Fashions of 1934* (1934), as Cleaning Man (uncredited)
- *Dark Hazard* (1934), as George, the Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Going Hollywood* (1933), as Rasputin
- *Lady Killer* (1933), as Porter (uncredited)
- *College Coach* (1933), as Lunch Wagon Proprietor (uncredited)
- *The Chief* (1933), as Bootblack
- *Broadway Thru a Keyhole* (1933), as Gus - Rocci's Valet
- *Only Yesterday* (1933), as Red Cap Porter (Uncredited)
- *Footlight Parade* (1933), as Hotel Porter in Stage Act (uncredited)
- *Hold Your Man* (1933), as Porter at Train Station (uncredited)
- *The Vanishing Frontier* (1933), as Whistlin' Zeke
- *Blondie Johnson* (1933), as Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Grand Slam* (1933), as Man Listening To Radio Broadcast
- *Employees' Entrance* (1933), as Janitor at Hotel Balken (uncredited)
- *Whistling in the Dark* (1933), as Porter (uncredited)
- *The Golden West* (1932), as Sam the Coachman
- *The All-American* (1932), as McCormick's Butler (uncredited)
- *Movie Crazy* (1932), as Men's Room Valet (Uncredited)
- *Grand Hotel* (1932), as Bartender (uncredited)
- *The Rich Are Always with Us* (1932), as Julian's Butler Max (uncredited)
- *Union Depot* (1932), as Redcap Train Porter (uncredited)
- *Guilty Hands* (1931), as Jimmy, a Black Servant (uncredited)
- *A Free Soul* (1931), as Casino Valet (uncredited)
- *The Public Enemy* (1931), as Headwaiter (uncredited)
- *Dance, Fools, Dance* (1931), as Luva’s Butler (uncredited)
- *Brown Gravy* (1929), Actor
- *Hallelujah* (1929), as Adam (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Sam McDaniel](https://film.one/media/person/418106/gallery-4a24948716b3.jpg) Sam McDaniel — film screenshot (Hal Roach Prod.), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Sam_McDaniel_in_Broadway_Limited.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Sam McDaniel](https://film.one/media/person/418106/gallery-cc04d86fbaf8.jpg) Sam McDaniel — Image via TMDB

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© 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-mcdaniel