Victor Potel (October 12, 1889 – March 8, 1947) was an American film character actor who began in the silent era and appeared in over 430 films in his 38-year career.
Victor Potel was born in Lafayette, Indiana in 1889, and his acting career goes back almost to the beginning of the commercial film industry in the United States. He made his first silent film in 1910, a comedy short filmed in Chicago by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company called A Dog on Business. Potel continued to make films for Essanay, appearing in dozens of films every year, including most of the Broncho Billy series, and played a character called "Slippery Slim" in 80 movies. He also appeared in Universal Pictures' "Snakeville" series.
Potel's first talking picture was Melody of Love, starring Walter Pidgeon, made for Universal in 1928. and in the sound era he continued to work continuously and constantly, playing small parts and sometimes uncredited bit parts, all primarily comic roles due to his height (6 ft 1 in or 1.85 m) and gawkiness.
In addition to acting, on several occasions Potel also wrote and directed. In the 1920s he directed two silent shorts, The Rubber-Neck in 1924 and Action Craver in 1927, and contributed the story for Saxophobia in 1927. In the following decade, in the sound era, he was the dialogue director for The Big Chance (1933), and wrote the story for Inside Information in 1934). In 1935 he provided continuity and dialogue for Million Dollar Haul and the screenplay for Hot Off the Press. In the 1940s, Potel was part of Preston Sturges' unofficial "stock company" of character actors, appearing in nine films written and directed by Sturges.
Potel continued to work right up until his death on 8 March 1947. The final film he worked on, Relentless finished filming on 28 February of that year.
| 1947 | The Egg and I as Crowbar |
| 1947 | The Sin of Harold Diddlebock as Prof. Potelle |
| 1947 | The Devil Thumbs a Ride |
| 1946 | The Glass Alibi as Gas Attendant (as Vic Potel) |
| 1945 | Rhythm Round-Up as Slim Jensen |
| 1945 | Flame of Barbary Coast as Train Fireman |
| 1945 | A Medal for Benny as Pantera Pepster Club Member (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Great Moment as First Dental Patient |
| 1944 | It Happened Tomorrow |
| 1943 | The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek as Newspaper Editor |
| 1943 | Wagon Wheels West as Posse Rider (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Good Fellows as Branders (uncredited) |
| 1942 | The Man in the Trunk as Deaf Floor Man (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Palmiye Kumsalı Öyküsü as Mr. McKeewie |
| 1941 | Sullivan'ın Öyküsü as Cameraman |
| 1941 | Ride on Vaquero as Ole |
| 1941 | The Lady from Cheyenne as Lem |
| 1941 | Pot o' Gold as Olaf Svenson (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Bayan Eve as Second Steward (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Trail of the Vigilantes as Conductor |
| 1940 | Li'l Abner as Fantastic Brown |
| 1940 | Christmas in July as Davenola Salesman |
| 1940 | The Villain Still Pursued Her as Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Great McGinty as Cook (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Girl from God's Country as Barber |
| 1940 | Three Faces West as Postman |
| 1940 | Young Tom Edison as Mr. Tompkins |
| 1939 | Slightly Honorable as Gasoline Station Proprietor (Uncredited) |
| 1939 | Chip of the Flying U as Station Agent |
| 1939 | Rovin' Tumbleweeds as Man in Store |
| 1939 | Blondie Brings Up Baby as Lars (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence as Ranch Hand |
| 1939 | The Housekeeper's Daughter as Suspect |
| 1939 | Hollywood Cavalcade as Slim |
| 1939 | Second Fiddle as Steve - Crane Operator |
| 1939 | Down the Wyoming Trail as Slim |
| 1939 | Let Freedom Ring as Ole Swensen (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Stand Up and Fight as Coach Driver |
| 1938 | The Strange Case of Dr. Meade as Steve |
| 1938 | On the Great White Trail as Lyons |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden West as Lem - Stagecoach Driver |
| 1937 | Adventure's End as Tall Sailor (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Small Town Boy as Abner Towner |
| 1937 | Western Gold as Jasper |
| 1937 | White Bondage as Luke Stacey |
| 1937 | Two Gun Law as Cassius |
| 1937 | God's Country and the Woman as Turpentine |
| 1936 | The Captain's Kid as Deputy Jake Hutchinson |
| 1936 | Öfke as Jorgeson (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Down to the Sea as Andy |
| 1936 | O'Malley of the Mounted as Gabby - the Cook |
| 1936 | Yellow Dust as Jugger - the Bartender |
| 1936 | Three Godfathers as 'Buck Tooth' |
| 1936 | Song of the Saddle as Little Casino |
| 1936 | Man Hunt as Townsman Pointing Out Shefiff's Office (uncredited) |
| 1936 | The Broken Coin |
| 1935 | Gun Play as Brawler (uncredited) |
| 1935 | The Fighting Marines as Fake Native Chief [Ch. 12] |
| 1935 | The Last of the Clintons as Jed Clinton |
| 1935 | Moonlight on the Prairie as Tall Saloon Cowboy |
| 1935 | Shipmates Forever as Loafer (uncredited) |
| 1935 | She Couldn't Take It as Farmer |
| 1935 | Waterfront Lady as Alex |
| 1935 | The Adventures of Rex and Rinty as Kinso |
| 1935 | Western Frontier as Slim |
| 1935 | Whispering Smith Speaks as Bill Prouty |
| 1935 | The Drunkard as Farmer Gates |
| 1935 | The Cowboy and the Bandit as Lanky |
| 1935 | Mississippi as Guest |
| 1935 | Ruggles of Red Gap as Curly - Cowboy |
| 1935 | Big Boy Rides Again as Ranch Foreman Scarface |
| 1934 | Frontier Days as Deputy Tex Hatch |
| 1934 | Thunder Over Texas as Dick |
| 1934 | Inside Information as Rice - Thin Detective |
| 1934 | Twisted Rails as Tom Watson |
| 1933 | Damaged Lives as Undetermined Role |
| 1933 | Hallelujah, I'm a Bum as The General |
| 1933 | Face in the Sky as Ed Burns, Carnival Patron (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Partners as Deputy Lem |
| 1931 | Selling Shorts as Slim Bassil |
| 1931 | The Squaw Man as Andy |
| 1931 | King of the Wild as Peterson |
| 1931 | Scandal Sheet as Reporter |
| 1931 | Ten Cents a Dance as Smith, a Sailor |
| 1930 | De frente, marchen |
| 1930 | The Virtuous Sin as Sentry |
| 1930 | Doughboys as Svendenburg |
| 1930 | Paradise Island as Swede |
| 1930 | Call of the West as Trig Peters |
| 1930 | The Bad One as Sailor |
| 1929 | The Virginian as Nebrasky |
| 1929 | Border Romance as Slim |
| 1928 | Captain Swagger as Jean |
| 1928 | Melody of Love as The Gawk |
| 1928 | The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come as Tom Turner |
| 1927 | Uneasy Payments as Press Agent |
| 1926 | Racing Romance as Constable |
| 1926 | The Lodge in the Wilderness as Goofus |
| 1926 | Morganson's Finish as Ole Jensen |
| 1925 | Below the Line as 'Cuckoo' Niles |
| 1925 | Ten Days |
| 1923 | Reno as Detective McRae |
| 1922 | Quincy Adams Sawyer as Hiram Maxwell |
| 1922 | The Loaded Door as Slim |
| 1922 | A Tailor-Made Man as Peter |
| 1922 | Step on It! as Noisy Johnson |
| 1922 | At the Sign of the Jack'O Lantern as The Poet |
| 1921 | One a Minute as Jingo Pitts |
| 1921 | Lavender and Old Lace as Joe Pendleton |
| 1921 | Bob Hampton of Placer as Willie McNeil |
| 1920 | Billions as Pushkin |
| 1920 | The Heart of a Child as Charley Peastone |
| 1920 | Mary's Ankle as Johnny Stokes |
| 1920 | Water, Water, Everywhere as Steve Brainard |
| 1919 | A Petal on the Current |
| 1919 | The Outcasts of Poker Flat |
| 1919 | Full of Pep as Beanpole |
| 1919 | Captain Kidd, Jr. as Constable Sam |
| 1918 | Who's Your Father? as Comedy Role |
| 1917 | Baseball Madness |
| 1917 | Hearts and Saddles |
| 1916 | What Darwin Missed as Professor Alonzo Bozzle |
| 1916 | Just a Few Little Things as Archie |
| 1915 | Broncho Billy and the Card Sharp |
| 1915 | Versus Sledge Hammers as The Count |
| 1915 | Broncho Billy Steps In |
| 1915 | Broncho Billy and the Land Grabber |
| 1915 | The Bachelor's Burglar |
| 1915 | The Revenue Agent as The Minister |
| 1915 | His Regeneration as Pawn Shop Clerk |
| 1915 | Ingomar of the Hills |
| 1915 | Broncho Billy and the Vigilante as A Cattle Owner |
| 1915 | Slim the Brave and Sophie the Fair as Slippery Slim |
| 1915 | Sophie's Home-Coming as Slippery Slim |
| 1915 | When Slippery Slim Bought the Cheese as Slippery Slim |
| 1915 | Sentimental Sophie as Slippery Slim |
| 1915 | Broncho Billy and the Sisters as The Minister |
| 1915 | When Slippery Slim Went for the Eggs as Slippery Slim |
| 1915 | The Battle of Snakeville as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Snakeville's Rising Sons as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Office |
| 1914 | Slippery Slim Gets Square as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Snakeville's Blind Pig as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie's Sweetheart as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie's Fatal Wedding as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Snakeville's Reform Wave as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | A Horse on Sophie as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie and the Man of Her Choice as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Slippery Slim and the Impersonator as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Snakeville and the Corset Demonstrator as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Slippery Slim, The Mortgage and Sophie as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy Rewarded as The Hotel Proprietor |
| 1914 | Snakeville's Peace-Maker as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | When Slippery Slim Met the Champion as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Slippery Slim Gets Cured as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy, a Friend in Need |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy, the Vagabond |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy's Wild Ride |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy Wins Out as The School Trustee |
| 1914 | Snakeville's New Waitress as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Slippery Slim -- Diplomat as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie Gets Stung as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie Finds a Hero as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | The Wooing of Sophie as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy and the Mine Shark as The Hotel Clerk |
| 1914 | The Snakeville Volunteer as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | The Good-for-Nothing as Old Clerk |
| 1914 | Sophie Pulls a Good One as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Sophie Starts Something as Slippery Slim |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy's Leap |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy's Sermon as The Sheriff |
| 1914 | Pie for Sophie as Snicklefritz |
| 1914 | A Gamblers' Way as The Bartender |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy and the Red Man |
| 1914 | What Came to Bar Q as Bartender |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy and the Bad Man as The Storekeeper |
| 1914 | A Night on the Road as Sheriff's Assistant |
| 1914 | Broncho Billy-Guardian |
| 1914 | Snakeville's New Doctor as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | A Snakeville Courtship as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | That Pair from Thespia as Second Actor |
| 1913 | Sophie's New Foreman as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | The Three Gamblers |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy's Squareness |
| 1913 | A Romance of the Hills |
| 1913 | Sophie's Hero as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy's First Arrest |
| 1913 | The Last Laugh |
| 1913 | Alkali Ike and the Wildman as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy's Oath |
| 1913 | Why Broncho Billy Left Bear County as The Druggist |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy Reforms as A Thief |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy and the Western Girls as Outlaw |
| 1913 | Alkali Ike and the Hypnotist as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | Alkali Ike's Misfortunes as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | Alkali Ike's Homecoming as Slippery Slim |
| 1913 | The Accusation of Broncho Billy |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy's Gratefulness as Dr. Huff |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy and the Squatter's Daughter |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy and the Sheriff's Kid as Jailer |
| 1913 | The Making of Broncho Billy |
| 1913 | Broncho Billy's Gun Play |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy's Promise |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy's Mexican Wife |
| 1912 | Alkali Ike's Close Shave as Slippery Slim |
| 1912 | An Indian's Friendship |
| 1912 | The Tomboy on Bar Z |
| 1912 | Alkali Ike Stung! |
| 1912 | An Indian Sunbeam as A Cowboy |
| 1912 | Alkali Ike's Pants |
| 1912 | The Tenderfoot Foreman |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy for Sheriff |
| 1912 | Alkali Ike Plays the Devil |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy's Pal |
| 1912 | A Story of Montana |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy's Narrow Escape |
| 1912 | On the Cactus Trail |
| 1912 | Alkali Ike Bests Broncho Billy |
| 1912 | The Ranch Girl's Mistake |
| 1912 | The Biter Bitten |
| 1912 | The Prospector's Legacy |
| 1912 | Broncho Billy and the Schoolmistress |
| 1912 | The Oath of His Office |
| 1912 | Widow Jenkins' Admirers |
| 1912 | The Loafer |
| 1912 | A Child of the West |
| 1911 | Broncho Billy's Adventure as Cowboy |
| 1911 | Broncho Billy's Christmas Dinner |
| 1911 | The Forester's Plea |
| 1911 | Town Hall, Tonight as The Tall Schultz Brother |
| 1911 | The Strike at the Little Jonny Mine |
| 1911 | Broncho Bill's Last Spree as Slippery Slim |
| 1911 | The Two Fugitives |
| 1911 | The Corporation and the Ranch Girl |
| 1911 | A Hungry Pair as Skinny |
| 1911 | The Infant at Snakeville |
| 1911 | Alkali Ike's Auto |
| 1911 | The Puncher's New Love |
| 1911 | The Bunco Game at Lizardhead |
| 1911 | The Indian Maiden's Lesson |
| 1911 | Across the Plains |
| 1911 | The Sheriff's Chum |
| 1911 | The Bad Man's Downfall |
| 1911 | Hank and Lank: They Make a Mash as Lank |
| 1911 | The Two Reformations |
| 1911 | The Border Ranger |
| 1911 | The Count and the Cowboys as The Count |
| 1910 | The Bad Man's Christmas Gift |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: Blind Men as Lank |
| 1910 | The Tenderfoot Messenger |
| 1910 | A Cowboy's Vindication |
| 1910 | Circle C Ranch's Wedding Present |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: As Sandwich Men as Lank |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: Lifesavers as Lank |
| 1910 | A Westerner's Way |
| 1910 | The Silent Message |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: Uninvited Guests as Lank |
| 1910 | A Cowboy's Mother-in-Law |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: They Get Wise to a New Scheme as Lank |
| 1910 | The Bearded Bandit |
| 1910 | Patricia of the Plains |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: They Dude Up Some as Lank |
| 1910 | The Tout's Remembrance |
| 1910 | Hank and Lank: Joyriding as Lank |
| 1910 | A Dog on Business |
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