James Kirkwood
James Kirkwood (born February 22, 1875 in Grand Rapids , Michigan , † August 24, 1963 in Woodland Hills , California ) was an American actor and film director. He has appeared in more than 230 films.
Life
James Kirkwood began his acting career as a stage actor. He was seen as a stage actor on Broadway from 1905 to 1910, 1922 to 1925 and 1934 to 1936 . Kirkwood began his film career in 1909 with the Biograph Company , where Walthall already worked, as an actor. In numerous early films by David Wark Griffiths such as The Red Man's View and A Corner in Wheat (both 1909), but also in the 1914 star production Home, Sweet Home , Kirkwood took part. In 1912 he turned to directing; by 1914 nine films were made with Mary Pickford , including Cinderella (1914) with Pickford's first husband Owen Moore as the prince. In 1919 he gave up directing and switched to acting exclusively.
James Kirkwood was a popular lead actor during the silent film era, and later a popular character actor due to his increasing age. In contrast to many silent film actors, he mastered the transition to sound film at the end of the 1920s without major problems. His more important appearances during the sound film era include My Pal the King (1932) with Tom Mix and Mickey Rooney, and a reclusive officer in Whom the Sun Is Smiling (1953) directed by John Ford . Until the early 1960s, Kirkwood appeared in sometimes larger, sometimes smaller supporting roles. Most recently he was also seen in television productions.
From 1923 to 1929, James Kirkwood was married to actress Lila Lee . Their only child together, James Kirkwood, Jr. , was born in 1924 and advanced to become a playwright. He was involved in A Chorus Line , among others . He was buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City , California .
Filmography (selection)
As an actor
- 1909: Edgar Allan Poe
- 1909: The Lonely Villa
- 1909: The Gibson Goddess
- 1909: The Wheat King (A Corner in Wheat)
- 1909: Lines of White on a Sullen Sea
- 1909: Leather Stocking
- 1912: The New York Hat
- 1914: Home, Sweet Home
- 1922: The Castles in the Air of the Dollar Princess (The Man from Home)
- 1930: The Devil's Holiday
- 1931: Transatlantic
- 1932: Charlie Chan's Chance
- 1942: Tennessee Johnson
- 1943: Madame Curie
- 1945: The anglerfish of Cartagena (The Spanish Main)
- 1948: Johanna von Orleans (Joan of Arc)
- 1949: Intruder in the Dust (Intruder in the Dust)
- 1950: Love under Black Sails (Fortunes of Captain Blood)
- 1951: Man in the Saddle
- 1953: For Whom the sun is shining (The Sun Shines Bright)
- 1956: The Search for Bridey Murphey
- 1961: Two Rode Together (Two Rode Together)
As a director
- 1911: The Courting of Mary
- 1911: Little Red Riding Hood
- 1914: Cinderella
- 1914: Behind the Scenes
- 1914: The Gangsters of New York
- 1915: Fanchon, the Cricket
- 1916: Faith
- 1919: In Wrong
Web links
- James Kirkwood in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- James Kirkwood in the Internet Broadway Database (English)
- James Kirkwood in the nndb (English)
- James Kirkwood in the database of Find a Grave (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kirkwood, James |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American actor and film director |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 22, 1875 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Grand Rapids , Michigan , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 24, 1963 |
| Place of death | Woodland Hills , California , USA |