Actor, Director. He was an early 20th-century Canadian-born American actor who made his screen debut with the Biograph Studio in 1908 after much theatrical experience, and became a reliable member of D. W. Griffith's stock company. His versatility was best employed in character roles with a rare singing role. Griffith valued his abilities and when a second production unit opened at Biograph, he assigned Lucas to direct it. Between 1912 and 1926, he directed 45 silent films, including Keystone comedies for Mack Sennett, westerns, serials, and an early Tarzan movie, "The Romance of Tarzan" in 1918, yet acting remained his chief occupation. With the coming of Talkies, Lucas' distinguished looks and stage-trained voice pegged him for roles as authority figures, an image he comically spoofed in some films. Although many of his roles were uncredited or a character without a name, his 375 film roles included "The Lonedale Operator" in 1910, "Man's Genesis" in 1912, "The Massacre" in 1913, "Macbeth" in 1915, "Intolerance" in 1916, "Trilby" in 1923. "Riders of the Purple Sage" in 1925, "Pardon Us" in 1931, "What Price Hollywood?" and "The Sign of the Cross" in 1932, "Cleopatra" in 1934, "Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1936, "Angels With Dirty Faces" in 1938, "Waterloo Bridge" and "Edison, the Man" in 1940, and "The Sea Wolf" posthumously in 1941. Lucas was born in Ontario, Canada and attended McGill University, before immigrating to the United States in the late 1880s. He was married to screenwriter Bess Meredyth. Their son, John Meredyth Lucas, became a successful television writer, scripting such shows as "Star Trek," "Mannix," "Kojak," and "The Six Million Dollar Man."
Actor, Director. He was an early 20th-century Canadian-born American actor who made his screen debut with the Biograph Studio in 1908 after much theatrical experience, and became a reliable member of D. W. Griffith's stock company. His versatility was best employed in character roles with a rare singing role. Griffith valued his abilities and when a second production unit opened at Biograph, he assigned Lucas to direct it. Between 1912 and 1926, he directed 45 silent films, including Keystone comedies for Mack Sennett, westerns, serials, and an early Tarzan movie, "The Romance of Tarzan" in 1918, yet acting remained his chief occupation. With the coming of Talkies, Lucas' distinguished looks and stage-trained voice pegged him for roles as authority figures, an image he comically spoofed in some films. Although many of his roles were uncredited or a character without a name, his 375 film roles included "The Lonedale Operator" in 1910, "Man's Genesis" in 1912, "The Massacre" in 1913, "Macbeth" in 1915, "Intolerance" in 1916, "Trilby" in 1923. "Riders of the Purple Sage" in 1925, "Pardon Us" in 1931, "What Price Hollywood?" and "The Sign of the Cross" in 1932, "Cleopatra" in 1934, "Charge of the Light Brigade" in 1936, "Angels With Dirty Faces" in 1938, "Waterloo Bridge" and "Edison, the Man" in 1940, and "The Sea Wolf" posthumously in 1941. Lucas was born in Ontario, Canada and attended McGill University, before immigrating to the United States in the late 1880s. He was married to screenwriter Bess Meredyth. Their son, John Meredyth Lucas, became a successful television writer, scripting such shows as "Star Trek," "Mannix," "Kojak," and "The Six Million Dollar Man."
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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