Actor. He was nicknamed "The King of the Silent Serials". Born William Mannion in Dublin, Ireland, he was raised in New York City from infancy. He appeared in vaudeville and the legitimate stage and had his own theatrical troupe before making his film debut in 1915. Square-jawed and muscular, he became very popular in Universal serials of the 1920s, especially those with a western setting. His biggest hits included "Perils of the Yukon" (1921), "Beasts of Paradise" (1923), "Perils of the Wild" (1925), "The Winking Idol" (1926), and "The Mystery Rider" (1928). Nearly 50 when talkies arrived, Desmond continued to appear in serials, though his roles diminished from leads to character parts and finally to uncredited bits. He retired in 1942.
Actor. He was nicknamed "The King of the Silent Serials". Born William Mannion in Dublin, Ireland, he was raised in New York City from infancy. He appeared in vaudeville and the legitimate stage and had his own theatrical troupe before making his film debut in 1915. Square-jawed and muscular, he became very popular in Universal serials of the 1920s, especially those with a western setting. His biggest hits included "Perils of the Yukon" (1921), "Beasts of Paradise" (1923), "Perils of the Wild" (1925), "The Winking Idol" (1926), and "The Mystery Rider" (1928). Nearly 50 when talkies arrived, Desmond continued to appear in serials, though his roles diminished from leads to character parts and finally to uncredited bits. He retired in 1942.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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