Timothy Farrell

Timothy Farrell, (June 26, 1922 – May 9, 1989) real name Timothy Sperl, was an American film actor, best known for his roles in the Edward D. Wood, Jr. films Jail Bait, The Violent Years, and Glen or Glenda. In the latter film, he plays a doctor who patiently explains to a police detective that there is no shame or scandal in crossdressing, thus providing the contextual backdrop for Wood's story-within-the-story about his own double life as a transvestite.

Early life

Farrell led a double life himself, working as a bailiff for the Los Angeles Marshal's Department while also working in sleazy low-budget movies.

In 1948 he portrayed a doctor in the film Test Tube Babies, a similar role to that in the subsequent Glen or Glenda. He patiently explained to a young couple that there is no shame or scandal in test-tube fertilization. Both films were produced by George Weiss who used Farrell in a string of lurid exploitation films in the '50s.

In 1951, Farrell, along with everyone else on the film set of "Paris After Midnight", was swept up in a police vice raid, which caused him professional embarrassment with his courtroom career.

Notable Farrell Characters

Farrell's career was notable for its recurring characters:

• He made three low-budget exploitation movies for George Weiss in which he played the part of sleazy gymnasium owner Umberto Scalli. These films, largely a vehicle for female-wrestling footage, include Devil's Sleep, Racket Girls, and Dance Hall......
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