Paul Gilmore

Paul Gilmore (1873 – 1962) was a popular stage actor of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who also appeared in no fewer than 10 silent films. Additionally, he owned and managed for many years the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City – giving work to such future stars as Robert Walker Sr.,Jennifer Jones and Carl Reiner. In his declining years, he and his daughter, Virginia, operated the Gilmore Summer Stock Theatre in Duluth, Minnesota.

Paul Howard Gilmore was born July 14, 1873, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His parents intended him to pursue a law career, but as a teenager Gilmore developed an interest in acting when he performed in amateur plays at Milwaukee's Grand Opera House, which was owned by his successful publisher father. Theatrical producer Jacob Litt saw Gilmore perform and, in 1891, offered him a role in his traveling show, The Ensign. On a lark, Gilmore accepted, intending to stay with the company for a few weeks and then return home to study law. He never did, instead continuing to perform with Litt's players in a number of successful productions that included Uncle Tom's Cabin and In Old Kentucky.

Gilmore quickly rose to leading man status. His clean-cut features, expressive brown eyes and shock of dark, wavy hair netted him many romantic roles, and his penchant for fine attire earned him a reputation as “the youngest, best-dressed leading man on the American stage.". By 1896 he had left Litt's Players and gained stature with Charles Frohman in plays such as The Wife, Americans Abroad and Sweet Lavender.

In addition to his stage work, Gilmore participated in the early development of motion pictures in the United States. Starting in 1897, he performed short "character studies" on film for the American Mutuoscope Company (later to become the Biograph Company) and performed for Thomas Alva Edison's company on a number of short (less than 60-second) works that included A Pillow Fight, The Vanishing Lady, The Miser, Herman the Great and Caught In the Act.. He also claimed to have appeared in one Edison feature, The Artist's Model, in 1918, but is not listed as one of the principal actors.

...
Wikipedia