Actor. He is remembered for his Broadway stage appearance as well as his work in silent films in the latter part of his life. Born in San Francisco, California, he made his stage debut there at the age of 6, in "The Streets of New York." He attended Stanford University in Stanford, California and resumed acting after graduation. His first New York City appearance was as 'Corporal Ferry' in "The New South" (1893). In 1900 he appeared in London, England, in the theatrical production of "Ib and Little Christina." He became a prominent figure on Broadway and directed many of the plays that he appeared in. When the Princess Theater opened in 1913, he was active in promoting its program of experimental plays, acting in and staging many of them. His Broadway stage successes include "The Duchess of Dantzic" (1903, London; 1905, New York City, as 'Napoleon'), "Salvation Nell" (1908, in a breakout performance as 'Jim Platt' the brutish husband of 'Mrs. Fiske'), "The Boss" (1911, as the ruthless politician 'Michael Regan'), "Within the Law" (1912), "Molière" (1919), "A Woman of No Importance" (1916), "The Lady of the Camellias" (1917), and "Getting Together" (1918). From 1914 until 1927, he appeared in 27 silent films with some of his finest screen accomplishments in "McTeague" (1916), "The Bad Man" (1923), "Rosita" (1923), "Yolanda" (1924), "Janice Meredith" (1924), "Zander the Great" (1925), and "The Telephone Girl" (1927). He died of an infection which led to respiratory failure after injuries received from falling off a horse at his home near Journey's End, Croton-on-Hudson, New York, at the age of 56.
Actor. He is remembered for his Broadway stage appearance as well as his work in silent films in the latter part of his life. Born in San Francisco, California, he made his stage debut there at the age of 6, in "The Streets of New York." He attended Stanford University in Stanford, California and resumed acting after graduation. His first New York City appearance was as 'Corporal Ferry' in "The New South" (1893). In 1900 he appeared in London, England, in the theatrical production of "Ib and Little Christina." He became a prominent figure on Broadway and directed many of the plays that he appeared in. When the Princess Theater opened in 1913, he was active in promoting its program of experimental plays, acting in and staging many of them. His Broadway stage successes include "The Duchess of Dantzic" (1903, London; 1905, New York City, as 'Napoleon'), "Salvation Nell" (1908, in a breakout performance as 'Jim Platt' the brutish husband of 'Mrs. Fiske'), "The Boss" (1911, as the ruthless politician 'Michael Regan'), "Within the Law" (1912), "Molière" (1919), "A Woman of No Importance" (1916), "The Lady of the Camellias" (1917), and "Getting Together" (1918). From 1914 until 1927, he appeared in 27 silent films with some of his finest screen accomplishments in "McTeague" (1916), "The Bad Man" (1923), "Rosita" (1923), "Yolanda" (1924), "Janice Meredith" (1924), "Zander the Great" (1925), and "The Telephone Girl" (1927). He died of an infection which led to respiratory failure after injuries received from falling off a horse at his home near Journey's End, Croton-on-Hudson, New York, at the age of 56.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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