Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: William King Baggot , King Baggott

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 97

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

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.

Most Famous Work

The Postman Always Rings Twice
Average
7

The Postman Always Rings Twice

(1946) Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Boys Town
Average
7

Boys Town

(1938) Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
San Francisco
Average
7

San Francisco

(1936) Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
Ziegfeld Girl
Average
7

Ziegfeld Girl

(1941) Man in Audience (Uncredited)
The Devil-Doll
Average
7

The Devil-Doll

(1936) Detective Pierre (uncredited)
Marie Antoinette
Average
6

Marie Antoinette

(1938) Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
What Price Hollywood?
Average
7

What Price Hollywood?

(1932) Department Head (uncredited)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Average
4

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

(1913) Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2011 Himself (archive footage)
1947 Man in Audience (uncredited)
Bank Employee (uncredited)
1946 Man at Graduation Ceremony
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
1945 Barbershop Patron (uncredited)
1943 Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1942 Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
Old Miner
Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
1941 Townsman
Store Employee (uncredited)
Man in Audience (Uncredited)
Doorman
1940 Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
Man in Subway (uncredited)
1939 Man in Casting Office (uncredited)
Juror (uncredited)
Man in Audience (Uncredited)
1938 Baseball Fan
Bettor
Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
N/A
Department Store Customer (uncredited)
Passerby (uncredited)
Detective (uncredited)
1937 Movie Patron (uncredited)
Customs Official (uncredited)
Man in Hospital (uncredited)
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
1936 Film Director (uncredited)
Accident Witness (uncredited)
Detective Pierre (uncredited)
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
Chemistry Professor
1935 Dignitary (uncredited)
Druggist
Patrol Wagon Guard
Dr. Pierce
Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)
N/A
1934 Milton McGillicuddy
Townsman
Second Doctor
1933 Banker (uncredited)
1932 Al Payne
Police Officer (uncredited)
Hinkle
Department Head (uncredited)
Harry Field
Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe
1931 Ship's Captain
Mike - Weber's Trainer
Policeman on Street (uncredited)
1930 N/A
N/A
1923 Himself - Cameo
1921 Maj. Frederick Smith
1920 Dave
Jim Sargent
Lord Asgarby
1919 N/A
1918 Harrison Grant
N/A
1916 James Herron
N/A
1915 Donald Gordon
Raphael / Phidias
1914 Himself
Jean Dumas
1913 Wilfred of Ivanhoe
The Shepherd
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
1912 Amos Bentley
George - the 'Sissy' Hero
Shamus O'Brien
1911 Wayne Holland
Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook
Gerald Kinney
Hugh Norton
Dr. Crawford
Dan Nolan - the Burglar
The King
Lt. Robbins
Basil King
Dental Patient
Gilbert Irving
Tom Mooreland
Alfred King
Edward Jackson
Cecil Abbott
Roger Densmore
Pablo
Edward, the Duke's Nephew
N/A
1910 Percy
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
George Rand
N/A
N/A
Clark, the Best Friend
Jack
The Dashing Young Count
N/A
The Tenderfoot
Jacques
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
The Stranger
N/A
N/A
N/A
1909 Bess' Sweetheart
The Boy
Year Character Movie/Tv

Camera

Year Role Movie/Tv
1981 Director of Photography
Year Role Movie/Tv

Writing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1931 Story
1923 Story
1911 Scenario Writer
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing


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