Henry Roquemore

Who was Henry Roquemore?

Henry Roquemore or Henry Rocquemore was an American character actor who primarily played bit parts. He appeared in 229 silent and sound films from 1927 until 1943. Many of his roles were uncredited parts in Western movies, but he also appeared in major films including Meet John Doe, The Little Foxes, The Magnificent Ambersons, and the Marx Brothers film Yours for the Asking.

Roquemore began his career in entertainment by staging local talent shows, for clubs in his hometown of Marshall, Texas. His first role in Hollywood was the Beast in the 1927 silent film Is Your Daughter Safe? and his last was in 1943's Girl Crazy. After the making of first sound film in 1927, he specialized in his fat man roles and was widely sought out by directors, such as Frank Capra and Orson Welles for bit parts; exemplified by the Match King one of Mae West's suitors in 1935's Goin' to Town. His more famous roles include; Jouett Goforth in 1931's Cimarron and in 1941's Woman of the Year as the Justice of the Peace who married Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. He was married to fellow character actress Fern Emmett, and they may have met while making Texas Terror in 1935.