Billy Gilbert (1893-1971) was born as William Gilbert Baron in Louisville, Kentucky. He already began performing as a child. He appeared on Broadway in 1911, and continued to appear on stage until Stan Laurel saw him perform in 1929 and persuaded him to switch to film work. Billy followed Stan's advise and joined Hal Roach Studios as an actor and gag writer the same year.
Apart from appearing in the Laurel & Hardy films, Billy also appeared in A Night at the Opera (1935) with the Marx Brothers. He also provided the voice of Sneezy, one of the 7 dwarfs in Disney's "Snow White" in 1937.
He appeared in 10 Laurel & Hardy films, from 1931 until 1938:
| 1. One Good Turn: a drunk man bidding $100 for Stan & Ollie's car (a Ford, model 1911); |
| 2. On the Loose: a dress designer; |
| 3. The Music Box: Professor Theodore von Schwarzenhoffen, MD, DDS, FLD, FFF & F (his most famous role); |
| 4. The Chimp: the owner of a little hotel in which Stan & Ollie take a room; |
| 5. County Hospital: the doctor who ends up hanging on a string; |
| 6. Pack Up Your Troubles: the bride's father; |
| 7. Their First Mistake: the man who's bringing Ollie the divorce papers; |
| 8. Towed in a Hole: Joe, the owner of Joe's Junk Yard; |
| 9. Them Thar Hills: Dr. Gilbert; |
| 10. Block-Heads: Mr. Gilbert, a hunter and extremely jealous husband. |