Person Details
Birthday:
Aliases: Wilfred Van Norman Lucas
Gender: Male
Place of birth: Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Homepage:
Movie Involvements: 201
TV Involvements: 0
Most Famous Work
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wilfred Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian-born American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter. Wilfred Lucas made his Broadway debut in 1904, playing in both the The Blue Grass Handicap and The Superstition of Sue. Following his 1906 role in the highly successful play The Chorus Lady, he was recruited to the fledgling Biograph Studios by D. W. Griffith. At the time, the film business was still looked down upon by many members of the theatrical community. In her 1925 book titled When the Movies Were Young, Griffith's wife, actress Linda Arvidson, told the story of the early days at Biograph Studios. In it, she referred to Lucas as the "first real grand actor, democratic enough to work in Biograph movies." In 1908 Lucas made his motion picture debut in Griffith's The Greaser's Gauntlet, appearing in more than 50 of these short (usually 17 minutes) films over the next two years. In 1910 while still acting, he wrote the script for Griffith's film Sunshine Sue, which was followed by many more scripts by 1924. Lucas also began directing in 1912 with Griffith on An Outcast Among Outcasts, and directed another 44 films over the next 20 years. In early 1916 he starred as John Carter in Acquitted, about which Photoplay wrote, "No single performance in the records of active photography has surpassed his visualization of the humble book-keeper in Acquitted." Later in 1916 he appeared in D.W. Griffith's film Intolerance. Part of the group of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, Lucas became friends and sometimes starred with Mary Pickford, Sam De Grasse, and Marie Dressler. Canadian-born director Mack Sennett hired him to both direct and act in a large number of films at his Keystone Studios. Lucas made the successful transition from silent film to sound. While working in Hollywood, in 1926 he returned to the stage, performing in several Broadway plays. He later appeared as a foil for Laurel and Hardy in their feature films Pardon Us and A Chump at Oxford. During his long career, Wilfred Lucas appeared in more than 375 films. Although for a time he was cast in leading roles, he became very successful as secondary and minor characters, making a good living in the film industry for more than three decades.
Most Famous Work
Waterloo Bridge
(1940) Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited)Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages
(1916) Extra (uncredited)Dodge City
(1939) Bartender (uncredited)They Drive by Night
(1940) Bailiff (uncredited)Cleopatra
(1934) Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited)Marked Woman
(1937) Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited)Santa Fe Trail
(1940) Weiner (uncredited)Frisco Kid
(1935) First Policeman (uncredited)Acting
Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
---|---|---|
1941 | N/A | |
1940 | Weiner (uncredited) | |
Board Member (uncredited) | ||
Constable Herb at Tule Mesa | ||
Bailiff (uncredited) | ||
Policeman (uncredited) | ||
Brother MacDonald | ||
Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited) | ||
Broker | ||
Policeman | ||
Southerner (uncredited) | ||
Roomer | ||
Eye Doctor (uncredited) | ||
Dean Williams | ||
East Ivestown Leader (uncredited) | ||
1939 | Stationmaster (uncredited) | |
Police Detective Randall | ||
Bobby | ||
Marshal Andy Thompson (uncredited) | ||
Pompous Man (uncredited) | ||
Bill, Man Outside Racetrack (uncredited) | ||
Bailiff (uncredited) | ||
Undetermined Role | ||
Burbank Offical (uncredited) | ||
Bartender (uncredited) | ||
Dog Show Director | ||
1938 | Race Judge (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
John Dickinson (uncredited) | ||
Ballfield Doctor | ||
Man at Hospital Dedication (uncredited) | ||
Wheeler | ||
Professor Ullrich | ||
Doctor (uncredited) | ||
Councilman | ||
Cell Block Keeper | ||
Police Lieutenant | ||
Member of Parliament | ||
Race Judge | ||
1937 | Fire Tug Captain | |
Lincoln's Secretary (uncredited) | ||
Ship's Captain (uncredited) | ||
Gun Dealer | ||
Doctor (uncredited) | ||
Customer in Drugstore (uncredited) | ||
Nate Temple | ||
Police Commissioner (uncredited) | ||
Police Commissioner | ||
Director of Screen Test (uncredited) | ||
John Ware | ||
Sheriff Tom | ||
Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited) | ||
Drexel | ||
Jim Blake (uncredited) | ||
N/A | ||
Bailiff (uncredited) | ||
Brandon's Assistant | ||
Prison Yard Captain (uncredited) | ||
1936 | Doctor (Uncredited) | |
His Excellency Permitting Henry's Arrest (uncredited) | ||
Professor Edwin Millstone (uncredited) | ||
Sheriff | ||
Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited) | ||
Businessman | ||
Raglan Staff Officer (uncredited) | ||
Police Chief | ||
Proprietor (uncredited) | ||
Man at Hutchinson's Meeting | ||
Director (Uncredited) | ||
Juvenile Officer | ||
Himself (uncredited) | ||
1935 | First Scotland Yard Man (uncredited) | |
Druggist (uncredited) | ||
First Policeman (uncredited) | ||
Chief Martin | ||
Mack's Horse Trainer (uncredited) | ||
Pat, a Welfare Worker (uncredited) | ||
Townsman with Mayor | ||
Announcer (uncredited) | ||
Wilfred Lucas, game hunter | ||
Capt. Walker | ||
1934 | Mr. Wade | |
Dignitary (uncredited) | ||
Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited) | ||
Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12] | ||
Police Sergeant (uncredited) | ||
Metropolitan Operagoer | ||
Chairman of the Board | ||
John Gale | ||
1933 | Mr. Lucas, Airline Superintendent | |
Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) | ||
Andrews' Lawyer Barry (uncredited) | ||
Nightclub Bouncer (uncredited) | ||
Bill (uncredited) | ||
John Davis | ||
Prosecuting Attorney | ||
Randall | ||
N/A | ||
Bob Mills | ||
El Shaitan | ||
Mr. Wayne | ||
Eaton - Railroad President | ||
Mr. Ryan | ||
1932 | Mike O'Flanagan | |
Pharmacist | ||
John Larrigan | ||
Captain Kane | ||
Child Welfare Official (Uncredited) | ||
Official (uncredited) | ||
Whitney [Ch. 1] (uncredited) | ||
The Specialist | ||
Policeman (uncredited) | ||
Bill the Replacement Director (uncredited) | ||
Debate Chairman | ||
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
Ship's Purser | ||
Mr. Lucas | ||
Judge Hollister | ||
Sheriff's Deputy | ||
1931 | Sheriff Franklin | |
N/A | ||
Dist. Atty. John Hampton | ||
Capt. Hammond | ||
Undetermined Role | ||
Candidate Louis | ||
Sportscaster | ||
Warden | ||
J.P. Walker | ||
N/A | ||
Duryea | ||
N/A | ||
Sam Ellery (uncredited) | ||
Millie's Elderly Escort (uncredited) | ||
1930 | Mr. Gillstrom, Charley's Boss | |
N/A | ||
Big Ben Benson | ||
Señor Vallejo | ||
Manager | ||
Dr. Saltus | ||
1927 | Lord Cumberly | |
1926 | N/A | |
Edwin Ramsey | ||
1925 | Hugh Clayton | |
Col. Owen | ||
Stage Manager | ||
Oldring | ||
Maj. Bissell | ||
1924 | Richard Wade | |
Hudford | ||
Charles Richmond | ||
Old Jim Darley | ||
Old Jim Darley | ||
Mark Hadley | ||
Earl of Rutland | ||
C. Hanaford | ||
1923 | The Laird | |
Charles W. Wright | ||
N/A | ||
Julius Furman | ||
1922 | N/A | |
Capt. Wolff | ||
Ship Captain | ||
The Policeman | ||
Aaron Kidder | ||
1921 | Gaston Allegretti | |
John MacDonald | ||
Prosecutor (uncredited) | ||
Elton Reeves | ||
1920 | Red Jack Braggan | |
1919 | President Alvarez | |
Sir John Thornbull | ||
Robert Appleton Jr. | ||
Horace Lennon | ||
1917 | N/A | |
Andrew Maxwell | ||
Robert Powers | ||
John Houston | ||
Philip | ||
Jim Bludso | ||
1916 | Doc Arnold | |
Extra (uncredited) | ||
Hell-to-Pay Austin | ||
John Carter | ||
Fred Arnold | ||
Macduff | ||
1915 | Jack Van Norman | |
Osmund Manvers | ||
1914 | Brute Force | |
Baffles | ||
1913 | N/A | |
N/A | ||
1912 | Stephen | |
The Sailor | ||
The Indian Girl's Great Brother | ||
Bruteforce | ||
An Indian (uncredited) | ||
The Blacksmith | ||
The King of Romanda | ||
The Wealthy Friend | ||
The American | ||
N/A | ||
Minor Role (uncredited) | ||
Joe | ||
Billy's Father | ||
Mike | ||
1911 | The District Attorney | |
The Clerk | ||
The Doctor | ||
First Crook | ||
The Manley Suitor | ||
A Policeman | ||
In Second Audience | ||
Hugh Frazier | ||
The planter | ||
The Fisherman | ||
N/A | ||
Enoch Arden | ||
N/A | ||
The Fireman | ||
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
Steve Hardester | ||
Violent Jailbird | ||
The Lover | ||
George | ||
George | ||
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
1910 | Frederick Wallace | |
N/A | ||
1909 | N/A | |
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
N/A | ||
1908 | N/A | |
N/A | ||
Jose | ||
Year | Character | Movie/Tv |
Directing
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
---|---|---|
1932 | Director | |
1926 | Director | |
1921 | Director | |
1920 | Director | |
1918 | Director | |
Director | ||
1917 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
1915 | Director | |
1914 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
1913 | Director | |
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
Director | ||
1912 | Director | |
Director | ||
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
Writing
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |
---|---|---|
1932 | Writer | |
1924 | Story | |
Screenplay | ||
Story | ||
1921 | Writer | |
1918 | Scenario Writer | |
Writer | ||
1917 | Writer | |
Writer | ||
1912 | Writer | |
Writer | ||
1910 | Writer | |
Year | Role | Movie/Tv |