11 Facts About Herbert Sorrell

Herbert Knott Sorrell was an American labor leader and Hollywood union organizer.

Herbert Sorrell headed the Conference of Studio Unions in the late 1940s, and was the business manager of the Motion Picture Painters union, Local 644 until the 1950s.

Herbert Sorrell moved to Los Angeles in 1925, became a scenery painter for the movie studios, and joined the local painters union.

Herbert Sorrell was never charged and was released several days later.

In May 1941, Sorrell called for a strike against the Disney film studio.

The strike was supported by the newly formed Screen Cartoonist's Guild, and the cooperation resulted in the organization of the Conference of Studio Unions, which Herbert Sorrell proceeded to lead.

Herbert Sorrell was convicted of "contempt of court" and "failure to disperse" in connection with the 1945 strike but acquitted of all of the felony charges.

In 1941 and again in 1946, Herbert Sorrell testified before the California Legislature's Joint Fact-Finding Committee on Un-American Activities, but there was insufficient evidence that he was tied to the Communist Party.

The CSU strike of 1945, which Herbert Sorrell had led, was actively opposed by the Communist Party USA.

Herbert Sorrell is responsible for the rumor of Disney's anti-Semitism, possibly as retaliation for testifying to the committee on Un-American Activities.

In 1953, in an actor's lawsuit, Herbert Sorrell testified that he was never a communist, but he felt free to spend communist money.