Ralph Lewis
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Ralph Percy Lewis (born October 8, 1872 in Englewood , Illinois , † December 4, 1937 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American actor who was particularly successful in the silent film era with his appearances at DW Griffith .
life and career
Ralph Lewis began his acting career as a theater actor. On Broadway he starred in plays such as Barbara Frietchie and The Primrose Path at the beginning of the century before turning to the film business in 1912. Lewis worked particularly frequently and in high profile with the filmmaker David Wark Griffith : He played Congressman Austin Stoneman in The Birth of a Nation (1915) and a year later a governor in intolerance , both productions are regarded as significant works in film history. Specifically, Lewis' appearance in The Birth of a Nationwas highly praised, a film magazine described his play as the best acting performance of the young film to date. In numerous other films such as The Hoodlum (1919) with Mary Pickford or The Conquering Power (1921) with Rudolph Valentino , Lewis was mostly used in leading and supporting roles as an authority figure. He often embodied judges, generals, politicians or fathers.
With the dawn of the sound film era in the late 1920s, Lewis' success waned, and he frequently oscillated between medium-sized and small supporting roles. In total, he played in over 170 films until his death. On December 4, 1937, Lewis died in a car accident at the age of 64 after being hit by Jack L. Warner's chauffeur. He was married to the actress Vera Lewis (1873-1956).
Filmography (selection)
- 1912: The Faith Healer
- 1914: The Avenging Conscience: or 'Thou Shalt Not Kill'
- 1915: The Birth of a Nation (The Birth of a Nation)
- 1916: Going Straight
- 1916 intolerance (Intolerance)
- 1916: Gretchen the Greenhorn
- 1919: Eyes of Youth
- 1919: The Hoodlum
- 1919: When the Clouds Roll by
- 1920: Outside the Law
- 1921: The Conquering Power
- 1924: Dante's Inferno
- 1930: Abraham Lincoln
- 1932: The Last Four (The Lost Squadron)
- 1932: Call Her Savage
- 1932: The Day the Bank Was Stormed (American Madness)
- 1932: The Death Kiss
- 1933: Settlement in Sonora (Somewhere in Sonora)
- 1935: Music at midnight (Thanks a Million)
- 1936: San Francisco
- 1937: No place for parents (Make Way for Tomorrow)
- 1938: The Buccaneer of Louisiana
Web links
- Ralph Lewis in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ralph Lewis | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie. Retrieved September 13, 2018 .
- ↑ Vera Lewis. Internet Movie Database , accessed June 10, 2015 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lewis, Ralph |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Lewis, Ralph Percy (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US-American actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 8, 1872 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Englewood , Illinois |
| DATE OF DEATH | 4th December 1937 |
| Place of death | Los Angeles , California |