A lifelong conservative Republican and staunch anti-communist, he was nonetheless an early and ardent opponent of the studio blacklisting of suspected communists.
Arnold actually played both the Devil and Daniel Webster in succeeding years, playing Webster in The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) and the Devil in the WWII propaganda short Inflation (1942) the following year. The latter film, incidentally, also marked the film debut of Esther Williams.
Entered films in 1915 with Essanay.
Father of actor Edward Arnold Jr.
Interred at San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California, USA, Section D, Lot 132, Grave 9.
One of the first actors to seriously consider running for public office, Arnold ran for Los Angeles City Alderman in the mid-1940s. He lost, in a close election, and expressed his views afterward that entertainment and politics were incompatible. Of course, he has been proven wrong numerous times since then.
Portrayed a different president each week on ABC Radio's "Mr. President" (1947-1953).
President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG). [1940-1942]
Screen, stage, and television actor.
Was an MC on the radio program called "The Chase and Sanborn Hour" starring Nelson Eddy, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, in 1938.