Famous Actors Of The 19th Century
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The Industrial Revolution of the 1800 witnessed a huge surge in the demand for art and entertainment. Theatre gradually became a dominant force in the world of entertainment as more and more people embarked to make a career in acting. Interestingly, acting style in the early 19th century was prone to exaggerated movement, gestures, grandiose effects, spectacular drama, physical comedy and gags and outlandish costumes. It was from the middle of the 19th century, theatre began to take on a new respectability and draw in more middle class audiences. Pictorial drama was most sought after for its great use of properties, carefully studied costume detail and a fashionable interest in archaeology and history. In America, theatre was fuelled by the spirit of nationalism. Probably this explains as to why most of the American theatre of the era revolved around themes of patriotism, optimism and idealism. Furthermore, it was in the mid-19th century that theatres worldwide became sharply influenced by the classic English tradition, as Shakespearean play and other Standard English plays dominated the scene. The century marked the rise of some of the most famed and respected actors including George Burns, Groucho Marx, Boris Karloff, Fred Astaire and so on. With this section, find out some of the most famous actors of the 19th century.
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1
Charlie Chaplin(The Greatest Comic Artist Ever & One of the Most Important Figures in Motion-Picture History)
Birthdate: April 16, 1889
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Walworth, London, England
Died: December 25, 1977
Cinema lovers around the world hold Charlie Chaplin in high esteem. One of the biggest stars of the silent film era and an icon, he left the audience in splits with his comedic performances. Even today, his performances in movies like Modern Times and The Gold Rush are considered classic. The legendary actor was also a writer, director and producer.
2
John Barrymore(Best Known for His Silent Films: ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘The Sea Beast’)
Birthdate: February 15, 1882
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: May 29, 1942
John Barrymore, father of actor Drew Barrymore, began his career as a stage actor, appearing in plays such as Hamlet. He was nicknamed “the Great Profile” and starred in films such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Sherlock Holmes. He struggled with alcoholism throughout his life.
Birthdate: September 21, 1879
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Glendive, Montana, United States
Died: July 4, 1954
Birthdate: June 27, 1989
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
Birthdate: November 4, 1879
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
Died: August 15, 1935
6
Lionel Barrymore(Actor & Director Best Known for His Role as ‘Mr. Potter’ in the Film ‘It's a Wonderful Life’)
Birthdate: April 28, 1878
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia
Died: November 15, 1954
One of the earliest members of the famous Barrymore family of actors, Lionel Barrymore remains best known for his portrayal of Mr. Potter in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life. Unlike many of his descendants, Barrymore also composed music. For his contribution to motion picture and radio, Barrymore was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Birthdate: May 23, 1883
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, United States
Died: December 12, 1939
Birthdate: August 10, 1897
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Died: June 6, 1979
Birthdate: November 9, 1886
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: June 19, 1966
10
Georges Méliès(One of the First Filmmakers to Use Storyboards & Fictional Narratives in Movies)
Birthdate: December 8, 1861
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: January 21, 1938
Initially a professional illusionist and later a film director, Georges Méliès became interested in motion pictures after watching the first real film made by Lumière brothers. Realizing the potential of film-making as an art, he soon started experimenting, making technical and narrative developments. Among the 400 films he made were Christ Walking on Water, A Trip to the Moon etc
Birthdate: June 1, 1890
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: September 18, 1949
Birthdate: October 2, 1897
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States
Died: April 24, 1974
Birthdate: August 13, 1895
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: December 4, 1967
14
George M. Cohan(Entertainer, Playwright and Composer Who is Considered to be ‘The Father of American Musical Comedy’)
Birthdate: July 3, 1878
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Died: November 5, 1942
15
Walter Pidgeon(Former Actor who starred in The Bad and the Beautiful and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea)
Birthdate: September 23, 1897
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint John, Canada
Died: September 25, 1984
Birthdate: March 22, 1887
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Died: October 11, 1961
Birthdate: June 10, 1889
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Chiba
Died: November 23, 1973
Sessue Hayakawa was a Japanese actor who became a popular Hollywood star during the silent film era. He was the first Asian actor to achieve stardom in Europe and the United States of America. Renowned for portraying sexually dominant villains, Sessue Hayakawa became a heartthrob among American women; he was also one of Hollywood's first male sex symbols.
Birthdate: January 17, 1863
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Died: August 7, 1938
Birthdate: February 16, 1868
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States
Died: September 12, 1905
Birthdate: December 27, 1879
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sandwich, Kent, England
Died: January 18, 1954
Birthdate: April 1, 1885
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Clay County
Died: April 15, 1949
Birthdate: January 6, 1880
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mix Run, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: October 12, 1940
Birthdate: February 9, 1891
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Richmond, Surrey, England
Died: May 19, 1958
Birthdate: January 7, 1896
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bath, Somerset, England, UK [now Bath and North East Somerset, England, UK]
Died: March 12, 1984
Birthdate: September 6, 1879
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Died: February 20, 1936
Birthdate: January 20, 1868
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: October 6, 1947
Birthdate: September 22, 1895
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lviv
Died: August 25, 1967
Paul Muni was an Austro-Hungarian American actor best remembered for his portrayal of Louis Pasteur in the 1936 biographical film The Story of Louis Pasteur, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. Muni is also remembered for his performance in the play Inherit the Wind, which earned him the prestigious Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.
Birthdate: March 6, 1886
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England
Died: November 25, 1947
Birthdate: January 31, 1892
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Died: October 10, 1964
Birthdate: January 16, 1878
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States
Died: September 21, 1947
31
Hal Roach(Film producer, Actor, Film director, Screenwriter)
Birthdate: January 14, 1892
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New York City
Died: November 2, 1992
Birthdate: March 25, 1897
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, UK
Died: June 23, 1980
Birthdate: July 10, 1897
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Logan, Utah, United States
Died: January 9, 1936
34
Henry Travers(Best Known for His Role as ‘Clarence Odbody’ in the Film ‘It's a Wonderful Life’)
Birthdate: March 5, 1874
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Prudhoe, Northumberland, England
Died: October 18, 1965
Travers John Heagerty, better known as Henry Travers, is best remembered as Clarence Odbody from It's a Wonderful Life. He had started his career as a stage actor and appeared frequently on Broadway. He won an Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver and was known for playing friendly old men.
35
William Desmond Taylor(Director and Actor Known for His Films: ‘The Diamond from the Sky’, ‘A Woman Scorned’ and ‘Ben Blair’)
Birthdate: April 26, 1872
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Carlow, Ireland
Died: February 1, 1922
Actor-director William Desmond Taylor, a popular figure from the silent era of Hollywood, made headlines when he was found murdered in his LA bungalow. The case, which initiated a media frenzy, remains unsolved to date due to lack of evidence, in spite of a deathbed confession from actor Patricia Palmer.
Birthdate: August 31, 1875
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nashville
Died: March 26, 1951
37
Ivor Novello(Actor, Playwright, Composer, Writer, Screenwriter, Songwriter)
Birthdate: January 15, 1893
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cardiff
Died: March 6, 1951
38
Leo G. Carroll(Actor Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Topper’ & ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E')
Birthdate: October 25, 1886
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Weedon Bec, Northamptonshire, England
Died: October 16, 1972
Birthdate: October 1, 1896
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kaufman
Died: December 21, 1937
Birthdate: March 10, 1888
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Died: January 14, 1961
Birthdate: July 22, 1889
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Worcestershire, England
Died: May 29, 1957
Birthdate: November 16, 1880
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Newport, Rhode Island, United States
Died: November 19, 1924
Birthdate: October 27, 1811
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York
Died: July 23, 1875
Birthdate: November 12, 1874
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nassau
Died: March 4, 1922
Bert Williams was an American entertainer and comedian. One of the greatest entertainers of the Vaudeville era, Bert Williams was also regarded as one of the most famous comedians of his time. In 1914, he was cast to play the leading role in Darktown Jubilee, making him the first Black man to play the main role in a film.
Birthdate: December 5, 1870
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Williamson County, Texas, United States
Died: April 2, 1932
Birthplace: Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland
Birthdate: October 3, 1879
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bjurholm Municipality, Sweden
Died: August 6, 1938
48
Cecil Kellaway(Screenwriter, Stage actor, Film actor, Television actor)
Birthdate: August 22, 1890
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cape Town
Died: February 28, 1973
Birthdate: April 27, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New York, United States
Died: March 22, 1994
Birthdate: July 24, 1807
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: August 7, 1867
