About

Known credits:
155
Birthday:
1879-11-06
Place of birth:
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Website:
N/A

King Baggot

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting
2011 Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films Actor Himself (archive footage) 59
Average
1947 Merton of the Movies Actor Man in Audience (uncredited) 59
Average
1947 My Brother Talks to Horses Actor Bank Employee (uncredited) 59
Average
1946 The Secret Heart Actor Man at Graduation Ceremony 58
Average
1946 The Postman Always Rings Twice Actor Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) 63
Fair
1945 Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood Actor Barbershop Patron (uncredited) 58
Average
1945 Dangerous Partners Actor Lunch Room Customer (uncredited) 59
Average
1943 Swing Fever Actor Nightclub Patron (uncredited) 58
Average
1942 Her Cardboard Lover Actor Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited) 58
Average
1942 Jackass Mail Actor Old Miner 59
Average
1942 Fingers at the Window Actor Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited) 58
Average
1942 Rio Rita Actor Hotel Guest (uncredited) 58
Average
1941 Honky Tonk Actor Townsman 59
Average
1941 The Big Store Actor Store Employee (uncredited) 59
Average
1941 Ziegfeld Girl Actor Man in Audience (uncredited) 59
Average
1941 Come Live with Me Actor Doorman 59
Average
1940 The Philadelphia Story Actor Wedding Guest (uncredited) 69
Fair
1940 Gallant Sons Actor Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 Bitter Sweet Actor Cafe Patron (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 The Ghost Comes Home Actor Townsman at Banquet (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 I Take This Woman Actor Man in Subway (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 Dancing Co-Ed Actor Man in Casting Office (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 Stronger Than Desire Actor Juror (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 The Ice Follies of 1939 Actor Man in Audience (Uncredited) 58
Average
1938 Opening Day Actor Baseball Fan 59
Average
1938 Stablemates Actor Bettor 58
Average
1938 Boys Town Actor Derelict in Mission (uncredited) 60
Fair
1938 Marie Antoinette Actor Nobleman at Court (uncredited) 59
Average
1938 Think It Over Actor 59
Average
1938 Snow Gets in Your Eyes Actor Department Store Customer (uncredited) 59
Average
1938 That Mothers Might Live Actor Passerby (uncredited) 59
Average
1938 Arsène Lupin Returns Actor Detective (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 A Night at the Movies Actor Movie Patron (uncredited) 58
Average
1937 The Emperor's Candlesticks Actor Customs Official (uncredited) 58
Average
1937 It May Happen to You Actor Man in Hospital (uncredited) 59
Average
1937 Torture Money Actor False Accident Witness (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 Mad Holiday Actor Film Director (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 Sworn Enemy Actor Accident Witness (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 The Devil-Doll Actor Detective Pierre (uncredited) 60
Fair
1936 San Francisco Actor Earthquake Survivor (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell Actor Chemistry Professor 58
Average
1935 A Night at the Opera Actor Dignitary (uncredited) 66
Fair
1935 3 Kids and a Queen Actor Druggist 59
Average
1935 Chinatown Squad Actor Patrol Wagon Guard 59
Average
1935 The Call of the Savage Actor Dr. Pierce 58
Average
1935 Mississippi Actor Gambler 59
Average
1935 Sweepstake Annie Actor Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited) 58
Average
1935 A Notorious Gentleman Actor 58
Average
1934 Romance in the Rain Actor Milton McGillicuddy N/A
N/A
1934 The Red Rider Actor Townsman 59
Average
1934 Beloved Actor Second Doctor N/A
N/A
1933 I Loved a Woman Actor Banker (uncredited) 58
Average
1932 The Death Kiss Actor Al Payne 58
Average
1932 Afraid to Talk Actor Police Officer (uncredited) 59
Average
1932 The Big Flash Actor Hinkle 58
Average
1932 What Price Hollywood? Actor Department Head (uncredited) 59
Average
1932 Police Court Actor Harry Field 58
Average
1932 Girl of the Rio Actor Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe 58
Average
1931 Graft Actor Ship's Captain 58
Average
1931 Sweepstakes Actor Mike - Weber's Trainer 58
Average
1931 The Bad Sister Actor Policeman on Street (uncredited) 58
Average
1930 Once a Gentleman Actor Van Warner N/A
N/A
1930 The Czar of Broadway Actor N/A
N/A
1923 The Thrill Chaser Actor Himself - Cameo 58
Average
1921 The Girl in the Taxi Actor Maj. Frederick Smith 59
Average
1920 The Forbidden Thing Actor Dave N/A
N/A
1920 Life's Twist Actor Jim Sargent N/A
N/A
1920 The Cheater Actor Lord Asgarby N/A
N/A
1919 The Hawk's Trail Actor N/A
N/A
1918 The Eagle's Eye Actor Harrison Grant N/A
N/A
1918 Mission of the War Chest Actor N/A
N/A
1916 The Silent Stranger Actor The Silent Stranger N/A
N/A
1916 The Man from Nowhere Actor James Herron N/A
N/A
1916 Half a Rogue Actor N/A
N/A
1915 The Suburban Actor Donald Gordon N/A
N/A
1915 The Marble Heart Actor Raphael / Phidias N/A
N/A
1914 The Great Universal Mystery Actor Himself N/A
N/A
1914 Absinthe Actor Jean Dumas N/A
N/A
1913 Ivanhoe Actor Wilfred of Ivanhoe 58
Average
1913 The Wanderer Actor The Shepherd N/A
N/A
1913 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Actor Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde 58
Average
1912 Up Against It Actor Amos Bentley 58
Average
1912 A Cave Man Wooing Actor George - the 'Sissy' Hero 58
Average
1912 Shamus O'Brien Actor Shamus O'Brien N/A
N/A
1911 Over the Hills Actor Wayne Holland N/A
N/A
1911 The Better Way Actor Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook N/A
N/A
1911 The Rose's Story Actor Gerald Kinney N/A
N/A
1911 The Call of the Song Actor Hugh Norton N/A
N/A
1911 Science Actor Dr. Crawford N/A
N/A
1911 At a Quarter of Two Actor Dan Nolan - the Burglar N/A
N/A
1911 For the Queen's Honor Actor The King N/A
N/A
1911 In the Sultan's Garden Actor Lt. Robbins N/A
N/A
1911 The Master and the Man Actor Basil King N/A
N/A
1911 The Fair Dentist Actor Dental Patient N/A
N/A
1911 The Temptress Actor Gilbert Irving N/A
N/A
1911 Second Sight Actor Tom Mooreland N/A
N/A
1911 The Scarlet Letter Actor Reverend Dimmesdale N/A
N/A
1911 While There is hope, There is Life Actor Alfred King N/A
N/A
1911 The Wife’s Awakening Actor Enoch Harrington N/A
N/A
1911 Sweet Memories Actor Edward Jackson 58
Average
1911 The Secret of the Palm Actor Cecil Abbott N/A
N/A
1911 Tracked Actor Roger Densmore N/A
N/A
1911 Pictureland Actor Pablo 58
Average
1911 At the Duke's Command Actor Edward, the Duke's Nephew N/A
N/A
1911 The Mirror Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Count of Montebello Actor Percy N/A
N/A
1910 All the World’s a Stage Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Pressed Roses Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Debt Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Taming of Jane Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Once Upon a Time Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Irony of Fate Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens Actor George Rand N/A
N/A
1910 Old Heads and Young Hearts Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Call of the Circus Actor N/A
N/A
1910 A Game for Two Actor Clark, the Best Friend N/A
N/A
1910 A Reno Romance Actor Jack N/A
N/A
1910 The Eternal Triangle Actor The Dashing Young Count N/A
N/A
1910 The Doctor's Perfidy Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Two Men Actor The Tenderfoot N/A
N/A
1910 The New Shawl Actor Jacques N/A
N/A
1910 The Maelstrom Actor N/A
N/A
1910 His Second Wife Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Miser’s Daughter Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Transfusion Actor N/A
N/A
1910 Jane and the Stranger Actor The Stranger N/A
N/A
1910 The Blind Man’s Tact Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Right of Love Actor N/A
N/A
1910 The Winning Punch Actor N/A
N/A
1909 The Awakening of Bess Actor Bess' Sweetheart N/A
N/A
1909 Love's Stratagem Actor The Boy N/A
N/A

Directing
1928 Romance of a Rogue Directing Director N/A
N/A
1927 The Notorious Lady Directing Director N/A
N/A
1927 Perch of the Devil Directing Director N/A
N/A
1926 Lovey Mary Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Tumbleweeds Directing Director 59
Average
1925 The Home Maker Directing Director N/A
N/A
1925 Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman Directing Director 59
Average
1925 The Tornado Directing Director N/A
N/A
1924 The Whispered Name Directing Director N/A
N/A
1923 The Darling of New York Directing Director 59
Average
1923 The Love Letter Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 A Dangerous Game Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 The Kentucky Derby Directing Director 58
Average
1922 The Lavender Bath Lady Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Human Hearts Directing Director N/A
N/A
1922 Kissed Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Nobody's Fool Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Moonlight Follies Directing Director N/A
N/A
1921 Cheated Love Directing Director N/A
N/A
1916 The Silent Stranger Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
1931 Sporting Chance Writing Story N/A
N/A
1923 The Darling of New York Writing Story 59
Average
1911 The Rose's Story Writing Scenario Writer N/A
N/A

Camera
1981 Beatlemania Camera Director of Photography N/A
N/A