James Kirkwood, Sr.
| James Kirkwood Sr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
February 22, 1875 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 1963 (aged 88) Woodland Hills, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, film director |
| Years active | 1909 - 1956 |
| Spouse(s) | Lila Lee (m. 1923; divorce 1931) |
| Children | James Kirkwood Jr. |
James Kirkwood Sr. (February 22, 1875 – August 24, 1963) was an American actor and director.
Kirkwood debuted on screen in 1909 and was soon playing leads for D.W. Griffith. He started directing in 1912, and became a favorite of Mary Pickford. In 1923 he married actress Lila Lee; with her, he had a son, James Kirkwood Jr., who became a writer. He was George Melford's original choice for the starring role of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan in The Sheik, which was later famously passed to Rudolph Valentino. His directing career fizzled in 1920, but he continued acting well into the 1950s.
His film career would span more than two hundred films over nearly a half century. Many years later his son, James Jr., would become a successful writer, winning both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for A Chorus Line.
Following his death, he was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.
...
Wikipedia