Raymond Griffith
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Raymond Griffith (January 23, 1895 – November 25, 1957) was an American silent movie comedian. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer.
Raymond Griffith | |
|---|---|
Griffith in Open All Night (1924) | |
| Born | January 23, 1895 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | November 25, 1957 (aged 62) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1918–1939 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 (adopted) |
Biography edit
Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Lying about his age, Griffith enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and served for three years.[1][2][3] He was later drafted for service in World War I but was not inducted because of his vocal problems.[2]
Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.
The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox.
Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | The Red-Haired Cupid | Albert Jones | Lost film |
| 1919 | The Follies Girl | Fredric | |
| 1920 | Love, Honor and Behave | Man with Married Girlfriend | Lost film |
| Down on the Farm | Writer | ||
| 1922 | The Crossroads of New York | Wall Street 'Wolf' | Lost film |
| Fools First | Tony | Lost film | |
| Minnie | Chewing Gum Salesman | Lost film | |
| 1923 | Red Lights | Sheridan Scott | Lost film |
| The Eternal Three | Leonard Foster | ||
| The Day of Faith | Tom Barnett | Lost film | |
| White Tiger | Roy Donovan | ||
| Souls for Sale | Himself | ||
| 1924 | Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo | Martel aka The Rat | Incomplete film, five of seven reels are preserved |
| The Dawn of a Tomorrow | The Dandy | Lost film | |
| Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model | Shorty Burchell | ||
| Changing Husbands | Bob Hamilton | ||
| The Yankee Consul | Writer | ||
| Lily of the Dust | Karl Dehnecke | Lost film | |
| Open All Night | Igor | ||
| 1925 | The Night Club | Robert White | |
| Miss Bluebeard | The Honorable Bertie Bird | ||
| Forty Winks | Lord Chumley | Lost film | |
| Paths to Paradise | The Dude from Duluth | Incomplete film, final reel is missing | |
| Fine Clothes | Oscar | Lost film | |
| A Regular Fellow | The Prince | Lost film | |
| When Winter Went | Bookworm | ||
| 1926 | Hands Up! | Jack - a Confederate Spy | |
| Wet Paint | He | Lost film | |
| You'd Be Surprised | Mr. Green - The Coroner | ||
| The Waiter from the Ritz | |||
| 1927 | Wedding Bills | Algernon Schuyler Van Twidder | Lost film |
| Time to Love | Alfred Sava-Goiu | Lost film | |
| 1929 | Trent's Last Case | Philip Trent | |
| 1930 | All Quiet on the Western Front | Gérard Duval | Uncredited, (final film role) |
| 1933 | Ladies They Talk About | Producer | |
| Broadway Through a Keyhole | Co-producer | ||
| 1936 | Private Number | Producer | |
| 1939 | Hotel for Women | Producer | |
| The Three Musketeers | Producer |
References edit
- ^ Raymond Griffith Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Raymond Griffith at Notré Cinema: Movies and Stars Images. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ Raymond Griffith at The Silent Film Still Archive. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
External links edit
- Raymond Griffith at IMDb
- Raymond Griffith at Find a Grave