King Baggot

King Baggot

  • Birthday: 1879-11-06
  • Deathday: 1948-07-11
  • Place of birth: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
  • Also know as: William King Baggot

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter. He was an internationally famous movie star of the silent film era. The first individually publicized leading man in America, Baggot was referred to as "King of the Movies", "The Most Photographed Man in the World", and "The Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon". Baggot appeared in over 300 motion pictures from 1909 to 1947, wrote 18 screenplays, and directed 45 movies from 1912 to 1928, including The Lie (1912), Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman (1925), and The House of Scandal (1928). He also directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds (1925). Among his film appearances, Baggot was best known for The Scarlet Letter (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913), and Ivanhoe (1913). Baggot began his career on the stage, in a Shakespearean stock company, and toured throughout the U.S. While acting in stock in St. Louis in 1909, he was cast as supporting player in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing Ring. When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot returned to New York to join another company. Upon a chance meeting with Harry Solter, who was directing movies for Carl Laemmle at Independent Moving Pictures Company (IMP), he was persuaded to go with Solter to the studio. Baggot became interested in the fledgling industry and decided to turn picture player. His first film was the romance short The Awakening of Bess (1909) opposite Florence Lawrence. It was directed by Harry Solter, her husband, at IMP in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At a time when screen actors worked anonymously, Baggot and Lawrence became the first "movie stars" to be given billing, a marquee, and promotion in advertising. Baggot starred in at least 42 movies opposite Lawrence from 1909 to 1911. In the latter year, he starred in at least 16 movies with Mary Pickford. He also began writing screenplays and directing, all the while becoming a major star internationally. When he appeared "in person" at theatres he was mobbed at stage doors. By 1912, he was so famous that when he took the leading part in forming the prestigious Screen Club in New York, the first organization of its kind strictly for movie people, he was the natural choice for its first president. King Baggot died in Los Angeles, California in 1948, age 68. For his contributions to the film industry, Baggot received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. His star is located at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

1913

As Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

The Mirror

1911

As

Ivanhoe

1913

As Wilfred of Ivanhoe

A Cave Man Wooing

1912

As George - the 'Sissy' Hero

Up Against It

1912

As Amos Bentley

The Secret of the Palm

1911

As Cecil Abbott

Pictureland

1911

As Pablo

Tracked

1911

As Roger Densmore

Second Sight

1911

As Tom Mooreland

The Master and the Man

1911

As Basil King

In the Sultan's Garden

1911

As Lt. Robbins

The Rose's Story

1911

As Gerald Kinney

The Better Way

1911

As Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook

The Eagle's Eye

1918

As Harrison Grant

Absinthe

1914

As Jean Dumas

Over the Hills

1911

As Wayne Holland

At the Duke's Command

1911

As Edward, the Duke's Nephew

Half a Rogue

1916

As

The Man from Nowhere

1916

As James Herron

The Suburban

1915

As Donald Gordon

The Temptress

1911

As Gilbert Irving

Shamus O'Brien

1912

As Shamus O'Brien

The Marble Heart

1915

As Raphael / Phidias

The Wanderer

1913

As The Shepherd

Sweet Memories

1911

As Edward Jackson

Opening Day

1938

As Baseball Fan

The Fair Dentist

1911

As Dental Patient

For the Queen's Honor

1911

As The King

At a Quarter of Two

1911

As Dan Nolan - the Burglar

Science

1911

As Dr. Crawford

The Call of the Song

1911

As Hugh Norton

The Awakening of Bess

1909

As Bess' Sweetheart

Debt

1910

As

The Eternal Triangle

1910

As The Dashing Young Count

A Game for Two

1910

As Clark, the Best Friend

Jane and the Stranger

1910

As The Stranger

The New Shawl

1910

As Jacques

A Reno Romance

1910

As Jack

Transfusion

1910

As

Two Men

1910

As The Tenderfoot

The Cheater

1920

As Lord Asgarby

A Night at the Movies

1937

As Movie Patron (uncredited)

The Girl in the Taxi

1921

As Maj. Frederick Smith

Love's Stratagem

1909

As The Boy

Life's Twist

1920

As Jim Sargent

It May Happen to You

1937

As Man in Hospital (uncredited)

That Mothers Might Live

1938

As Passerby (uncredited)

Torture Money

1937

As False Accident Witness (uncredited)

The Forbidden Thing

1920

As Dave

Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films

2011

As Himself (archive footage)

Sweepstakes

1931

As Mike - Weber's Trainer

Snow Gets in Your Eyes

1938

As Department Store Customer (uncredited)

Police Court

1932

As Harry Field

The Big Flash

1932

As Hinkle

Her Cardboard Lover

1942

As Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)

What Price Hollywood?

1932

As Department Head (uncredited)

The Thrill Chaser

1923

As Himself - Cameo

Come Live with Me

1941

As Doorman

Jackass Mail

1942

As Old Miner

Girl of the Rio

1932

As Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe

Graft

1931

As Ship's Captain

Stablemates

1938

As Bettor

The Bad Sister

1931

As Policeman on Street (uncredited)

Afraid to Talk

1932

As Police Officer (uncredited)

Chinatown Squad

1935

As Patrol Wagon Guard

Stronger Than Desire

1939

As Juror (uncredited)

Merton of the Movies

1947

As Man in Audience (uncredited)

The Philadelphia Story

1940

As Wedding Guest (uncredited)

The Postman Always Rings Twice

1946

As Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

The Death Kiss

1932

As Al Payne

Mad Holiday

1936

As Film Director (uncredited)

I Loved a Woman

1933

As Banker (uncredited)

Sworn Enemy

1936

As Accident Witness (uncredited)

Arsène Lupin Returns

1938

As Detective (uncredited)

The Secret Heart

1946

As Man at Graduation Ceremony

The Big Store

1941

As Store Employee (uncredited)

Romance in the Rain

1934

As Milton McGillicuddy

Rio Rita

1942

As Hotel Guest (uncredited)

The Ghost Comes Home

1940

As Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)

The Devil-Doll

1936

As Detective Pierre (uncredited)

Mississippi

1935

As Gambler

Gallant Sons

1940

As Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)

Bitter Sweet

1940

As Cafe Patron (uncredited)

Sweepstake Annie

1935

As Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)

My Brother Talks to Horses

1947

As Bank Employee (uncredited)

I Take This Woman

1940

As Man in Subway (uncredited)

Honky Tonk

1941

As Townsman

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

1945

As Barbershop Patron (uncredited)

Dancing Co-Ed

1939

As Man in Casting Office (uncredited)

The Call of the Savage

1935

As Dr. Pierce

Boys Town

1938

As Derelict in Mission (uncredited)

The Red Rider

1934

As Townsman

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

1936

As Chemistry Professor

San Francisco

1936

As Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)

3 Kids and a Queen

1935

As Druggist

Marie Antoinette

1938

As Nobleman at Court (uncredited)

Swing Fever

1943

As Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

A Night at the Opera

1935

As Dignitary (uncredited)

The Ice Follies of 1939

1939

As Man in Audience (Uncredited)

Beloved

1934

As Second Doctor

The Emperor's Candlesticks

1937

As Customs Official (uncredited)

Ziegfeld Girl

1941

As Man in Audience (Uncredited)

Fingers at the Window

1942

As Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)

Production

Beatlemania

1981

As Director of Photography

Tumbleweeds

1925

As Director

The Notorious Lady

1927

As Director

Human Hearts

1922

As Director

The Darling of New York

1923

As Director

The Home Maker

1925

As Director

The Whispered Name

1924

As Director

Moonlight Follies

1921

As Director

The Tornado

1925

As Director

Cheated Love

1921

As Director

Kissed

1922

As Director

Nobody's Fool

1921

As Director

Lovey Mary

1926

As Director

The Love Letter

1923

As Director

Romance of a Rogue

1928

As Director

The Kentucky Derby

1922

As Director

A Dangerous Game

1922

As Director

Perch of the Devil

1927

As Director

The Rose's Story

1911

As Scenario Writer

Sporting Chance

1931

As Story

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