Steve Murphy

Biography

Very little is known about Murphy's early life before entering the film industry. There are some references to a previous boxing career,

but no records can be found, and it may have been a fabrication by the publicity department to fit his appearance.

He started his career around 1915 – at the age of 39 – as a property man been doing general work about the California studios and lots and he soon transitioned into acting.

Nicknamed "Broken Nose Murphy" due to his distinctive facial features, he frequently played henchmen, conmen, and roughneck characters.

Murphy's biggest role was in Charlie Chaplin's The Circus (1928) in which he has a long scene trying to recover a stolen wallet he placed in the Tramp's trousers.

He is the only actor of the era to appear with all four comedy legends: Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel and Hardy.

Murphy's film career ended with the arrival of the talkies.

Selected filmography

1914: Leading Lizzie Astray as Sailor Café Patron (uncredited)

1916: The Girl from Frisco as Siwash

1916: A Law Unto Himself as Pascal, a Mexican

1918: M'Liss as Man at Trial (uncredited)

1918: Johanna Enlists as Mortimer

1919: Rolling Stone as Convict

1919: Broken Blossoms as Fight Spectator

1920: Outside the Law as Member of Black Mike's Gang (uncredited)

1921: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse as Drunkard in Saloon

1922: Cops as Conman Selling Furniture (uncredited)

1922: They Like 'Em Rough as Grogan

1922: The Electric House as Real Electrical Engineer

1923: The Love Nest as Member of Ship's Crew (uncredited)

1923: The Fighting Skipper as Slippery Goldstein

1923: The Extra Girl as Party Guest

1923: The Shock as Man Eating at Mandarin Café

1924: Fools Highway as Chuck Connors

1924: Sherlock Jr. as Conspirator (uncredited)