Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert was not Frank Capra's choice to play the role of heiress Ellie Andrews, and indeed, he wasn't her first choice for director. Having worked with Capra already on the flop For the Love of Mike, Colbert had demanded a lot of money for It Happened One Night and didn't have much faith in her director's ability to pull off what she thought was a flawed script. She continued to doubt the film's success up until the day of the Academy Awards. Convinced she wouldn't win, Colbert scheduled a trip for herself, and someone had to fetch her from the train station on the day of the ceremony to tell her she had won an Academy Award for Best Actress. She arrived at the ceremony in a two piece traveling suit made by the film's costume designer, and accepted the award from child star Shirley Temple.
Colbert got her start in Broadway plays in the 1920s before transitioning to roles in talkies. She was known for her elegant, upper-class comportment, large features, and ease with comedy. Her best known films are It Happened One Night, Cleopatra, The Palm Beach Story, The Sign of the Cross, The Gilded Lily, and Bluebeard's Eighth Wife.
Clark Gable
While he is known today as the "King of Hollywood," Gable was lesser known when he signed on to play Peter Warne. Having started as an extra in silent films before transitioning into supporting roles in some talkies, Gable had not yet established his reputation as a leading man when he starred in It Happened One Night. Indeed, legend has it that he was forced into taking the role of Peter Warne by the studio, and wasn't too keen to take on the character. His ease with the role, however, earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor and launched him into Hollywood stardom.
After It Happened One Night, Gable became a bona fide star, and he starred in many films including Mutiny on the Bounty (for which he was nominated for an Oscar), Gone with the Wind (for which he received another Oscar nomination), Saratoga, and The Misfits. He was known for his masculine and debonair aura. He was married for a time to the famous Hollywood actress, Carole Lombard. His most iconic role is as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, and his line "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn," is one of the most famous movie quotes in history.
Walter Connolly
Walter Connolly's best known role is as Ellie Andrews' protective father in It Happened One Night, but he had a long and successful career as a character actor. Between 1916 and 1935, he appeared in 22 Broadway productions, before breaking into film work. In films, his most common role was that of a harried businessman. Other notable films include Broadway Bill, Libeled Lady, The Good Earth, and The Great Victor Herbert.
Roscoe Karns
Roscoe Karns worked a lot in the 1930s and 1940s, often playing wise-cracking or intoxicated characters, and his trademark was the speed with which he could deliver his lines. This special skill is certainly on display in his performance as Mr. Shapeley in It Happened One Night. After getting his start in silent films such as Beggars of Life and Wings, Karns began making more of a name for himself in talkies like It Happened One Night, Twentieth Century, His Girl Friday, and Partners in Crime.
Charles C. Wilson
Charles C. Wilson was a character actor known for playing serious, straightforward characters. His performance as the aggravated editor Joe Gordon was among his most notable roles. Other films include Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Arthur Hoyt
Arthur Hoyt, who plays Zeke the put-upon motel owner, appeared in over 275 films in his career. He appeared on Broadway, in silent films, and in talkies. His first sound film was the musical My Man, with Fanny Brice.
Blanche Friderici
Although Friderici did not initially aspire to become an actress, she ended up appearing in a number of films, such as It Happened One Night, Night Nurse, and Flying Down to Rio.
Jameson Thomas
Jameson Thomas was an English actor who appeared in both silent films and talkies. Notable films include Chu Chin Chow, Squaw Man, Piccadilly, The Last of Mrs. Cheyney, and It Happened One Night.
