Onest Conley

Born: 1906-12-25

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Born in Evanston, Illinois, his mother was the pioneering African-American film actress Madame Sul-Te-Wan (née Nellie Crawford) and his father was Robert Reed Conley. He had two brothers; Odel and Otto. His father abandoned the family shortly after Conley's birth, leaving his actress mother to raise the three boys. Like his mother, Onest Conley gravitated toward the acting profession and began taking bit parts in films. His first film appearance was a minor role in the 1926 Frank Borzage-directed The Dixie Merchant, a film adaptation of the Barry Benefield novel The Chicken-Wagon Family. The film starred Jack Mulhall and Madge Bellamy. Despite limitations for African-American actors within the film industry during the 1920s and 1930s, Onest Conley appeared in films during the era, often typecast in stereotypical roles as "natives" and "shoeshine boys". Conley appeared alongside his brother Odel as "warriors" in the 1933 box-office hit King Kong, in which their mother also appeared in an uncredited role as a "native handmaiden". Conley also appeared alongside his mother in the 1930 Richard Thorpe-directed film The Thoroughbred as the character Ham Tolliver. His most recognizable roles include George Harris in the 1933 Cecil B. DeMille-directed crime-drama This Day and Age, Neptune in the 1935 John S. Robertson-directed romantic drama Grand Old Girl and Mose in the 1935 Sam Newfield-directed adventure film Racing Luck. By the early 1940s, however, Conley's career faltered and he received fewer and fewer roles. His last appearance as an actor was on an episode of the 1950s television series Soldiers of Fortune as a "voodoo drummer".


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King Kong

as Warrior (uncredited)
Released: 1933-03-15

Adventurous filmmaker Carl Denham sets out to produce a motion picture unlike anything the world...

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Golden Boy

as Jimmy, Chocolate Drop's Brother
Released: 1939-09-05

Despite his talent as a musician, a city boy decides to become a boxer. He's successful as a...

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The Thoroughbred

as Ham Tolliver
Released: 1930-08-09

Unemployed jockey Tod Taylor gets a huge break when he is hired by Matt Riley. Within weeks,...

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The Foxes of Harrow

as Drummer in Voodoo Sequence (uncredited)
Released: 1947-09-24

An Irish rascal and inveterate gambler uses his considerable skills at the gaming tables of New...

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She Knew All the Answers

as Shoeshine Boy
Released: 1941-05-13

Chorus girl and rich playboy want to marry but he'll lose his fortune unless his trustee...

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The Thrill of Brazil

as Specialty dancer (uncredited)
Released: 1946-09-06

Steve, revue producer in Rio de Janeiro, is still in love with his ex-wife Vicki, his star Linda...

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Racing Luck

as Mose
Released: 1935-11-19

Racehorse-owner Dan Morgan is ruled off the track and out of racing when his horse is doped by a...

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Vengeance

as Chief
Released: 1930-02-22

John Meadham, in charge of a West Africa trading post, wire the home office in London that he is...

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Grand Old Girl

as Neptune
Released: 1935-01-15

An elderly schoolteacher is determined to rid her town of the local gambling den.

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Princess O'Hara

as Stable Boy (uncredited)
Released: 1935-03-31

When King's beloved horse dies, Princess tries to purchase a new nag, and that's how she...

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Diamond Handcuffs

as Native Dancer (uncredited)
Released: 1928-05-05

German actress Lena Malena starred in this lavishly budgeted and potentially intriguing...

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Jungle Goddess

as Drummer
Released: 1948-08-13

When a plane carrying the daughter of a millionaire crashes in an African jungle, two pilots set...

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This Day and Age

as George Harris
Released: 1933-08-25

A modern-day tale of gangsterism and revenge. After a notorious mobster murders a Jewish tailor...

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The Dixie Merchant

as Eph
Released: 1926-03-07

Goodnatured J. P. Fippany loses his home and takes to the road on a chicken-wagon with his wife...

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