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
(1946) Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)Boys Town
(1938) Derelict in Mission (uncredited)San Francisco
(1936) Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)Ziegfeld Girl
(1941) Man in Audience (Uncredited)The Devil-Doll
(1936) Detective Pierre (uncredited)Marie Antoinette
(1938) Nobleman at Court (uncredited)What Price Hollywood?
(1932) Department Head (uncredited)Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(1913) Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. HydeActing
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
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
---|---|---|
1928 | Director | |
1927 | Director | |
Director | ||
1926 | Director | |
1925 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
1924 | Director | |
1923 | Director | |
Director | ||
1922 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
1921 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |