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Lewis Stone

January 01, 1970

This article is about the American actor. For the Australian novelist, see Louis Stone. For the American journalist, see Louis T. Stone.

Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular Andy Hardy film series.[1] He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for his performance as Russian Count Pahlen in The Patriot. Stone was also cast in seven films with Greta Garbo, including in the role of Doctor Otternschlag in the 1932 drama Grand Hotel.

Lewis Stone
Portrait in Photoplay, 1923
Born
Lewis Shepard Stone

(1879-11-15)November 15, 1879
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 1953(1953-09-12) (aged 73)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1911–1953
EmployerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1924–1953)[1]
Spouse(s)
Margaret Langham (stage name)
​
​
(m. 1906; died 1917)​
[2][3]
Florence Oakley (stage name)[4]
​
​
(m. 1920; div. 1929)​

Hazel Elizabeth Woof
(m. 1930; his death)
Children3[2]

Early life edit

 
According to the Code (1916)

Born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1879, Lewis was the youngest of four children of Philena (née Ball) and Bertrand Stone.[5] His father, according to the federal census of 1880, supported the family as a boot cutter.[5] After obtaining his public education in Worcester, Lewis joined the United States Army during the Spanish–American War, serving as a lieutenant and later being deployed to China to train troops.[1] He returned to the United States and following his discharge from the army, began his career as a writer and actor.

Career edit

In the early-1900s Stone was considered by the critics to be the most popular leading man in stock in America. For eight years, he held the role as leading man with the Oliver Morosco Stock Company in Los Angeles.[6]

In 1912, Stone found success in the popular play Bird of Paradise, which starred Laurette Taylor. The play was later filmed in 1932 and 1951.

For the summer of 1913 Stone appeared at Elitch Theatre in Denver, Colorado, as the leading man for the season. The proprietor of the theatre, Mary Elitch Long, recalled an event when Stone heard of a nearby family in need and he "went to a neighborhood grocery and, placing $25.00 on the counter, told the storekeeper to see to it that the bereaved little family wanted for nothing; and to let him know when more money was needed and to say nothing about it."[6]

His career was interrupted by a return to the Army in World War I, serving as a major in the cavalry.[1]

Before leaving for the war he made his feature film debut in Honor's Altar in 1916.[1] He showed up in First National's 1920 Nomads of the North to good effect playing a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. He portrayed the title role in the 1922 silent film version of The Prisoner of Zenda.

From 1920 to 1927, he lived in Los Angeles at 212 S. Wilton Place. The home is now Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument #925 and is in the Wilton Historic District.[7]

In 1924, he joined newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio and was contracted by it up until his death.[1]

Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for The Patriot. He played the character that gives the film its title, but he was not the top-billed star. He appeared in seven films with Greta Garbo, spanning both the silent and early sound periods. He played the role of Dr. Otternschlag in the Garbo film Grand Hotel, in which he utters the famous closing line "Grand Hotel. People coming. Going. Nothing ever happens."

 
Stone in the trailer of Woman Wanted (1935)

He played a larger role in the 1933 Garbo film Queen Christina. His appearance in the successful prison film The Big House furthered his career. He played adventurers in the dinosaur epic The Lost World (1925) with Wallace Beery and The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) with Boris Karloff, and a police captain in Bureau of Missing Persons (1933).

 
Stone in the trailer of The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)

In 1937, Stone got the role which became his most famous, that of honest and kind-hearted Judge James Hardy in the Andy Hardy film series, starring Mickey Rooney.[1] Stone appeared as the judge in 14 of the 16 Hardy movies, beginning with You're Only Young Once (1937). Lionel Barrymore had played the judge in the first Hardy movie, and Stone died before the making of the last one, Andy Hardy Comes Home (1958), so the judge's own death was mentioned in the film. During the heyday of the series, Stone also appeared with Rooney in the short subject Andy Hardy's Dilemma, which promoted charitable donations to the Community Chest.

During World War II, the 60-plus year-old Stone was a lieutenant colonel in the California National Guard.[1]

Stone was MGM's longest-contracted actor and the longest-ever-contracted actor at a studio up to his death.[1] The week before his death, he (together with Lionel Barrymore) received a gold key to his dressing room. He made approximately 100 movies.[1]

Personal life edit

Stone owned a beach house in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 1930 the oil drilling boom in the Venice Beach-Del Ray oil field caused him to file a law suit to stop the beach lease to prevent property damage and public nuisance. "The court ruled for Stone even though derricks ringed the beach ..."[8]

In the 1930s he owned a 104-foot luxury yacht named Serena. In 1937 the yacht was sold to Robert Paine Scripps (the father of Charles Scripps) and converted to a research vessel named the E. W. Scripps.[9]

Stone campaigned for the reelection of President Herbert Hoover in 1932.[10]

Death edit

Stone died in Hancock Park, Los Angeles on September 12, 1953, aged 73.[1] He reportedly suffered a heart attack while chasing away some neighborhood kids[1] who were throwing rocks at his garage or trampling his meticulously kept prized garden. Another published report states that on that date Stone and his third wife were watching television when they heard a racket in the back yard. When he investigated, Stone found lawn furniture once again floating in the pool and glimpsed three or perhaps four teenage boys running toward the street. Stone gave chase despite his wife's warning not to exert himself. Upon reaching the sidewalk, Stone suddenly collapsed. A gardener, Juan Vergara, witnessed the chase and summoned aid.

A photo published in newspapers of the day showed Stone lying on the sidewalk immediately after the incident. The photo was later included in Kenneth Anger's book of scandals titled Hollywood Babylon.

Lewis Stone was later honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6524 Hollywood Blvd.

Selected filmography edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Obituaries". Variety. September 16, 1953. p. 63. Retrieved October 4, 2019 – via Archive.org.
  2. ^ a b "Drop from Eighth Story Window Kills Mrs. Lewis Stone". Los Angeles Herald. Vol. XLII, no. 186. June 6, 1917. p. 5.
  3. ^ According to the database California County Marriages 1850-1952, Lewis S. Stone married Margaret H. Huddleston (real name of Margaret Langham) in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 30, 1906. The marriage was not officially registered with Los Angeles County until 1907.
  4. ^ "Florence Oakley". IMDb.
  5. ^ a b "United States Census, 1880", digital image of original census page documenting Lewis Stone in household of Bertrand Stone, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts; enumeration district (ED) 903, sheet 608D; National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, D.C. FamilySearch database with images, Salt Lake City Utah.
  6. ^ a b Borrillo, Theodore A. (2012). Denver's historic Elitch Theatre : a nostalgic journey (a history of its times). [publisher not identified]. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-0-9744331-4-1. OCLC 823177622.
  7. ^ . Los Angeles City Planning. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 9, 2018.
  8. ^ Elkind, Sarah S. (2012). "Oil in the City: The Fall and Rise of Oil Drilling in Los Angeles". Journal of American History. 99: 82–90. doi:10.1093/jahist/jas079.
  9. ^ Nelson, Stewart B. (1971). Oceanographic Ships, Fore and Aft. Washington, DC: Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy, U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 105.
  10. ^ "Editorial". The Napa Daily Register. November 2, 1932. p. 6.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis Stone.
  • Lewis Stone at IMDb
  • Lewis Stone at the Internet Broadway Database  
  • at The New York Times Movies
  • Lewis Stone at The International Silent Movie
  • Photographs of Lewis Stone

January 01, 1970
lewis, stone, this, article, about, american, actor, australian, novelist, louis, stone, american, journalist, louis, stone, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, . This article is about the American actor For the Australian novelist see Louis Stone For the American journalist see Louis T Stone This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Lewis Stone news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2007 Learn how and when to remove this message Lewis Shepard Stone November 15 1879 September 12 1953 was an American film actor He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro Goldwyn Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio s popular Andy Hardy film series 1 He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for his performance as Russian Count Pahlen in The Patriot Stone was also cast in seven films with Greta Garbo including in the role of Doctor Otternschlag in the 1932 drama Grand Hotel Lewis StonePortrait in Photoplay 1923BornLewis Shepard Stone 1879 11 15 November 15 1879Worcester Massachusetts U S DiedSeptember 12 1953 1953 09 12 aged 73 1 Los Angeles California U S OccupationActorYears active1911 1953EmployerMetro Goldwyn Mayer 1924 1953 1 Spouse s Margaret Langham stage name m 1906 died 1917 wbr 2 3 Florence Oakley stage name 4 m 1920 div 1929 wbr Hazel Elizabeth Woof m 1930 his death Children3 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Death 5 Selected filmography 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life edit nbsp According to the Code 1916 Born in Worcester Massachusetts in 1879 Lewis was the youngest of four children of Philena nee Ball and Bertrand Stone 5 His father according to the federal census of 1880 supported the family as a boot cutter 5 After obtaining his public education in Worcester Lewis joined the United States Army during the Spanish American War serving as a lieutenant and later being deployed to China to train troops 1 He returned to the United States and following his discharge from the army began his career as a writer and actor Career editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Lewis Stone news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message In the early 1900s Stone was considered by the critics to be the most popular leading man in stock in America For eight years he held the role as leading man with the Oliver Morosco Stock Company in Los Angeles 6 In 1912 Stone found success in the popular play Bird of Paradise which starred Laurette Taylor The play was later filmed in 1932 and 1951 For the summer of 1913 Stone appeared at Elitch Theatre in Denver Colorado as the leading man for the season The proprietor of the theatre Mary Elitch Long recalled an event when Stone heard of a nearby family in need and he went to a neighborhood grocery and placing 25 00 on the counter told the storekeeper to see to it that the bereaved little family wanted for nothing and to let him know when more money was needed and to say nothing about it 6 His career was interrupted by a return to the Army in World War I serving as a major in the cavalry 1 Before leaving for the war he made his feature film debut in Honor s Altar in 1916 1 He showed up in First National s 1920 Nomads of the North to good effect playing a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman He portrayed the title role in the 1922 silent film version of The Prisoner of Zenda From 1920 to 1927 he lived in Los Angeles at 212 S Wilton Place The home is now Los Angeles Cultural Historic Monument 925 and is in the Wilton Historic District 7 In 1924 he joined newly formed Metro Goldwyn Mayer studio and was contracted by it up until his death 1 Stone was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1929 for The Patriot He played the character that gives the film its title but he was not the top billed star He appeared in seven films with Greta Garbo spanning both the silent and early sound periods He played the role of Dr Otternschlag in the Garbo film Grand Hotel in which he utters the famous closing line Grand Hotel People coming Going Nothing ever happens nbsp Stone in the trailer of Woman Wanted 1935 He played a larger role in the 1933 Garbo film Queen Christina His appearance in the successful prison film The Big House furthered his career He played adventurers in the dinosaur epic The Lost World 1925 with Wallace Beery and The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932 with Boris Karloff and a police captain in Bureau of Missing Persons 1933 nbsp Stone in the trailer of The Prisoner of Zenda 1952 In 1937 Stone got the role which became his most famous that of honest and kind hearted Judge James Hardy in the Andy Hardy film series starring Mickey Rooney 1 Stone appeared as the judge in 14 of the 16 Hardy movies beginning with You re Only Young Once 1937 Lionel Barrymore had played the judge in the first Hardy movie and Stone died before the making of the last one Andy Hardy Comes Home 1958 so the judge s own death was mentioned in the film During the heyday of the series Stone also appeared with Rooney in the short subject Andy Hardy s Dilemma which promoted charitable donations to the Community Chest During World War II the 60 plus year old Stone was a lieutenant colonel in the California National Guard 1 Stone was MGM s longest contracted actor and the longest ever contracted actor at a studio up to his death 1 The week before his death he together with Lionel Barrymore received a gold key to his dressing room He made approximately 100 movies 1 Personal life editStone owned a beach house in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles In 1930 the oil drilling boom in the Venice Beach Del Ray oil field caused him to file a law suit to stop the beach lease to prevent property damage and public nuisance The court ruled for Stone even though derricks ringed the beach 8 In the 1930s he owned a 104 foot luxury yacht named Serena In 1937 the yacht was sold to Robert Paine Scripps the father of Charles Scripps and converted to a research vessel named the E W Scripps 9 Stone campaigned for the reelection of President Herbert Hoover in 1932 10 Death editStone died in Hancock Park Los Angeles on September 12 1953 aged 73 1 He reportedly suffered a heart attack while chasing away some neighborhood kids 1 who were throwing rocks at his garage or trampling his meticulously kept prized garden Another published report states that on that date Stone and his third wife were watching television when they heard a racket in the back yard When he investigated Stone found lawn furniture once again floating in the pool and glimpsed three or perhaps four teenage boys running toward the street Stone gave chase despite his wife s warning not to exert himself Upon reaching the sidewalk Stone suddenly collapsed A gardener Juan Vergara witnessed the chase and summoned aid A photo published in newspapers of the day showed Stone lying on the sidewalk immediately after the incident The photo was later included in Kenneth Anger s book of scandals titled Hollywood Babylon Lewis Stone was later honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6524 Hollywood Blvd Selected filmography editThe Bargain 1914 Honor s Altar 1916 as Warren Woods The Havoc 1916 with Gladys Hanson as Richard Craig According to the Code 1916 as Basil Beckenridge Inside the Lines 1918 as Captain Cavendish The Man of Bronze 1918 as John Adams Man s Desire 1919 as Tom Denton Milestones 1920 as John Rhead Nomads of the North 1920 as Cpl O Connor Held by the Enemy 1920 as Capt Gordon Haine The Concert 1921 as Augustus Martinot Beau Revel 1921 as Lawrence Beau Revel The Golden Snare 1921 as Sergeant Philip Raine Don t Neglect Your Wife 1921 as Langdon Masters The Child Thou Gavest Me 1921 as Edward Berkeley Pilgrims of the Night 1921 as Philip Champion Lord Ellingham The Rosary 1922 as Father Brian Kelly A Fool There Was 1922 as John Schuyler The Prisoner of Zenda 1922 as Rudolf Rassendyll King Rudolf Trifling Women 1922 as The Marquis Ferroni The Dangerous Age 1923 as John Emerson The World s Applause 1923 as John Elliott You Can t Fool Your Wife 1923 as Garth McBride Scaramouche 1923 as The Marquis de la Tour d Azyr The Stranger 1924 as Keith Darrant Why Men Leave Home 1924 as John Emerson Cytherea 1924 as Lee Randon Husbands and Lovers 1924 as James Livingston Inez from Hollywood 1924 as Stewart Cuyler Cheaper to Marry 1925 as Jim Knight The Lost World 1925 as Sir John Roxton Confessions of a Queen 1925 as The King The Talker 1925 as Harry Lennox The Lady Who Lied 1925 as Horace Pierpont Fine Clothes 1925 as Earl of Denham What Fools Men 1925 as Joseph Greer Too Much Money 1926 as Robert Broadley The Girl from Montmartre 1926 asJerome Hautrive Old Loves and New 1926 as Gervas Carew Don Juan s Three Nights 1926 as Johann Aradi Midnight Lovers 1926 as Maj William Ridgewell RFC The Blonde Saint 1926 as Sebastian Maure An Affair of the Follies 1927 as Hammersley The Notorious Lady 1927 as Patrick Marlowe John Carew Lonesome Ladies 1927 as John Fosdick The Prince of Headwaiters 1927 as Pierre The Private Life of Helen of Troy 1927 as Menelaus The Foreign Legion 1928 as Col Destin The Patriot 1928 as Count Pahlen Freedom of the Press 1928 as Daniel Steele A Woman of Affairs 1928 as Dr Hugh Trevelyan Wild Orchids 1929 as John Sterling The Trial of Mary Dugan 1929 as Edward West Wonder of Women 1929 as Stephen Trombolt Madame X 1929 as Louis Floriot Their Own Desire 1929 as Marlett Strictly Unconventional 1930 as Clive Champion Cheney The Big House 1930 as Warden James Adams Romance 1930 as Cornelius Van Tuyl The Office Wife 1930 as Lawrence Fellowes Passion Flower 1930 as Antonio Morado Inspiration 1931 as Raymond Delval Father s Son 1931 as William Emory The Secret Six 1931 as Richard Newton Attorney at Law My Past 1931 as Mr John Thornley Always Goodbye 1931 as John Graham The Bargain 1931 as Maitland White The Phantom of Paris 1931 as Detective Costaud The Sin of Madelon Claudet 1931 as Carlo Boretti Mata Hari 1931 as Andriani Strictly Dishonorable 1931 as The Judge The Wet Parade 1932 as Roger Chilcote Grand Hotel 1932 as Dr Otternschlag Night Court 1932 as Judge William Osgood Letty Lynton 1932 as District Attorney Haney New Morals for Old 1932 as Mr Thomas Red Headed Woman 1932 as William Legendre Sr Unashamed 1932 as Henry Trask Divorce in the Family 1932 as John Parker The Mask of Fu Manchu 1932 as Nayland Smith The Son Daughter 1932 as Dr Dong Tong Men Must Fight 1933 as Edward Seward The White Sister 1933 as Prince Guido Chiaromonte Looking Forward 1933 as Gabriel Service Sr Bureau of Missing Persons 1933 as Capt Webb Queen Christina 1933 as Axel Oxenstierna You Can t Buy Everything 1934 as John Burton The Mystery of Mr X 1934 as Inspector Connor The Girl from Missouri 1934 as Frank Cousins Treasure Island 1934 as Captain Smollett David Copperfield 1935 as Mr Wickfield Vanessa Her Love Story 1935 as Adam Paris West Point of the Air 1935 as General Carter Public Hero No 1 1935 as Prison Warden Woman Wanted 1935 as District Attorney Martin China Seas 1935 as Tom Davids Shipmates Forever 1935 as Adm Richard Melville Tough Guy 1936 as Davis scenes deleted Three Godfathers 1936 as James Underwood aka Doc The Unguarded Hour 1936 as General Lawrence Small Town Girl 1936 as Doctor Dakin Suzy 1936 as Baron Charville Sworn Enemy 1936 as Doctor Simon Doc Gattle Don t Turn Em Loose 1936 as John Webster Outcast 1937 as Anthony Abbott lawyer The Thirteenth Chair 1937 as Inspector Marney The Man Who Cried Wolf 1937 as Lawrence Fontaine You re Only Young Once 1937 as Judge James K Hardy The Bad Man of Brimstone 1937 as Mr Jackson Douglas Judge Hardy s Children 1938 as Judge James K Hardy Stolen Heaven 1938 as Joseph Langauer Yellow Jack 1938 as Major Reed Love Finds Andy Hardy 1938 as Judge James K Hardy The Chaser 1938 as Dr Delford Q Prescott Out West with the Hardys 1938 as Judge James Jim K Hardy The Ice Follies of 1939 1939 as Douglas Tolliver Jr The Hardys Ride High 1939 as Judge James K Hardy Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever 1939 as Judge James K Hardy Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President 1939 as The President Judge Hardy and Son 1939 as Judge James K Hardy Andy Hardy Meets Debutante 1940 as Judge James K Hardy Sporting Blood 1940 as Davis Lockwood Andy Hardy s Dilemma A Lesson in Mathematics and Other Things 1940 short as Judge James K Hardy Andy Hardy s Private Secretary 1941 as Judge James K Hardy Life Begins for Andy Hardy 1941 as Judge James K Hardy The Bugle Sounds 1942 as Col Jack Lawton The Courtship of Andy Hardy 1942 as Judge James K Hardy Andy Hardy s Double Life 1942 as Judge James K Hardy Plan for Destruction 1943 short as Himself Commentator Andy Hardy s Blonde Trouble 1944 as Judge James K Hardy The Hoodlum Saint 1946 as Father Nolan Three Wise Fools 1946 as Judge James Trumbell Love Laughs at Andy Hardy 1946 as Judge James K Hardy State of the Union 1948 as Sam Thorndyke The Sun Comes Up 1949 as Arthur Norton Any Number Can Play 1949 as Ben Gavery Snelerr Key to the City 1950 as Judge Silas Standish Stars in My Crown 1950 as Dr Daniel Kalbert Harris Sr Grounds for Marriage 1951 as Dr Carleton Radwin Young Night Into Morning 1951 as Dr Horace Snyder Angels in the Outfield 1951 as Commissioner Arnold P Hapgood Bannerline 1951 as Josh The Unknown Man 1951 as Judge James V Hulbrook It s a Big Country 1951 as Church Sexton Just This Once 1952 as Judge Samuel Coulter Talk About a Stranger 1952 as Mr Wardlaw Scaramouche 1952 as Georges de Valmorin The Prisoner of Zenda 1952 as The Cardinal All the Brothers Were Valiant 1953 as Capt HoltSee also editList of actors with Academy Award nominationsReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m Obituaries Variety September 16 1953 p 63 Retrieved October 4 2019 via Archive org a b Drop from Eighth Story Window Kills Mrs Lewis Stone Los Angeles Herald Vol XLII no 186 June 6 1917 p 5 According to the database California County Marriages 1850 1952 Lewis S Stone married Margaret H Huddleston real name of Margaret Langham in Los Angeles on Sunday December 30 1906 The marriage was not officially registered with Los Angeles County until 1907 Florence Oakley IMDb a b United States Census 1880 digital image of original census page documenting Lewis Stone in household of Bertrand Stone Worcester Worcester County Massachusetts enumeration district ED 903 sheet 608D National Archives and Records Administration NARA Washington D C FamilySearch database with images Salt Lake City Utah a b Borrillo Theodore A 2012 Denver s historic Elitch Theatre a nostalgic journey a history of its times publisher not identified pp 103 104 ISBN 978 0 9744331 4 1 OCLC 823177622 Historic Cultural Monuments HCM Listing City Declared Monuments Los Angeles City Planning Archived from the original PDF on September 9 2018 Elkind Sarah S 2012 Oil in the City The Fall and Rise of Oil Drilling in Los Angeles Journal of American History 99 82 90 doi 10 1093 jahist jas079 Nelson Stewart B 1971 Oceanographic Ships Fore and Aft Washington DC Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy U S Government Printing Office p 105 Editorial The Napa Daily Register November 2 1932 p 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lewis Stone Lewis Stone at IMDb Lewis Stone at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Lewis Stone at The New York Times Movies Lewis Stone at The International Silent Movie Photographs of Lewis Stone Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lewis Stone amp oldid 1185292578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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