Between 1920 and 1963, he appeared in 99 films, including Smart Money with Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney, Jimmy the Gent with James Cagney and Bette Davis, Night Nurse with Barbara Stanwyck and Clark Gable, I'm No Angel with Mae West, Baby Take a Bow with Shirley Temple, A Tale of Two Cities with Ronald Colman, Our Relations with Laurel and Hardy, and Murder, My Sweet with Dick Powell.

He later was secretary to the director of the Sarah Heinz House, but his real interest was acting.

He became an extra in productions at the Empire Theatre in Pittsburgh, and his first speaking part came in the comedy Officer 666 in March 1917.

His scheduled transfer to overseas duty was canceled after the armistice was settled four days before he was to leave.

When Harolde was booked in Hollywood on suspicion of kidnapping and loitering on public school grounds, he said, "I had no ulterior motive.