King Baggot
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting151
movieFragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films
2011
Himself (archive footage)
movieMerton of the Movies
1947
Man in Audience (uncredited)
movieMy Brother Talks to Horses
1947
Bank Employee (uncredited)
movieThe Secret Heart
1946
Man at Graduation Ceremony
movieThe Postman Always Rings Twice
1946
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
movieBud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945
Barbershop Patron (uncredited)
movieDangerous Partners
1945
Lunch Room Customer (uncredited)
movieSwing Fever
1943
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
movieHer Cardboard Lover
1942
Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
movieJackass Mail
1942
Old Miner
movieFingers at the Window
1942
Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)
movieRio Rita
1942
Hotel Guest (uncredited)
movieHonky Tonk
1941
Townsman (uncredited)
movieThe Big Store
1941
Store Employee (uncredited)
movieZiegfeld Girl
1941
Man in Audience (uncredited)
movieCome Live with Me
1941
Doorman
movieThe Philadelphia Story
1940
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
movieGallant Sons
1940
Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)
movieBitter Sweet
1940
Cafe Patron (uncredited)
movieThe Ghost Comes Home
1940
Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
movieI Take This Woman
1940
Man in Subway (uncredited)
movieDancing Co-Ed
1939
Man in Casting Office (uncredited)
movieStronger Than Desire
1939
Juror (uncredited)
movieThe Ice Follies of 1939
1939
Man in Audience (uncredited)
movieOpening Day
1938
Baseball Fan
movieStablemates
1938
Bettor
movieToo Hot to Handle
1938
Reporter (uncredited)
movieBoys Town
1938
Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
movieMarie Antoinette
1938
Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
movieSnow Gets in Your Eyes
1938
Department Store Customer (uncredited)
movieThat Mothers Might Live
1938
Passerby (uncredited)
movieArsène Lupin Returns
1938
Detective (uncredited)
movieA Night at the Movies
1937
Movie Patron (uncredited)
movieThe Emperor's Candlesticks
1937
Customs Official (uncredited)
movieIt May Happen to You
1937
Man in Hospital (uncredited)
movieParnell
1937
Man in Office
movieTorture Money
1937
False Accident Witness (uncredited)
movieMad Holiday
1936
Film Director (uncredited)
movieSworn Enemy
1936
Accident Witness (uncredited)
movieThe Devil-Doll
1936
Detective Pierre (uncredited)
movieSan Francisco
1936
Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
movieThe Adventures of Frank Merriwell
1936
Chemistry Professor
movieA Night at the Opera
1935
Dignitary (uncredited)
movie3 Kids and a Queen
1935
Druggist
movieChinatown Squad
1935
Patrol Wagon Guard
movieThe Call of the Savage
1935
Dr. Pierce
movieMississippi
1935
Gambler (uncredited)
Sweepstake Annie
1935
Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)
movieA Notorious Gentleman
1935
Police Sergeant
movieFather Brown, Detective
1934
Priest (uncredited)
movieCheating Cheaters
1934
Official (uncredited)
movieRomance in the Rain
1934
Milton McGillicuddy
movieThe Red Rider
1934
Townsman
movieBeloved
1934
Second Doctor
movieI Loved a Woman
1933
Banker (uncredited)
movieThe Death Kiss
1932
Al Payne
movieAfraid to Talk
1932
Police Officer (uncredited)
movieThe Big Flash
1932
Hinkle
movieWhat Price Hollywood?
1932
Department Head (uncredited)
moviePolice Court
1932
Harry Field
movieGirl of the Rio
1932
Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe
movieGraft
1931
Ship's Captain
movieSweepstakes
1931
Mike - Weber's Trainer
movieThe Bad Sister
1931
Policeman on Street (uncredited)
movieThe Thrill Chaser
1923
Himself - Cameo
movieThe Butterfly Girl
1921
H.H. Van Horn
movieThe Girl in the Taxi
1921
Maj. Frederick Smith
movieThe Dwelling Place of Light
1920
Brooks Insall
movieLife's Twist
1920
Jim Sargent
movieThe Cheater
1920
Lord Asgarby
movieThe Hawk's Trail
1919
Sheldon Steele/The Hawk
movieThe Man Who Stayed at Home
1919
Christopher Brent
movieKildare of Storm
1918
Basil Kildare
movieThe Eagle's Eye
1918
Harrison Grant
The Silent Stranger
1916
The Silent Stranger
movieThe Man from Nowhere
1916
James Herron
movieHalf a Rogue
1916
Richard Warrington
movieThe Suburban
1915
Donald Gordon
The Marble Heart
1915
Raphael / Phidias
movieAbsinthe
1914
Jean Dumas
movieIvanhoe
1913
Wilfred of Ivanhoe
The Wanderer
1913
The Shepherd
movieDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1913
Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
movieUp Against It
1912
Amos Bentley
movieA Cave Man Wooing
1912
George - the 'Sissy' Hero
Shamus O'Brien
1912
Shamus O'Brien
Over the Hills
1911
Wayne Holland
movieThe Better Way
1911
Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook
movieThe Rose's Story
1911
Gerald Kinney
Science
1911
Dr. Crawford
At a Quarter of Two
1911
Dan Nolan - the Burglar
movieFor the Queen's Honor
1911
The King
movieIn the Sultan's Garden
1911
Lt. Robbins
The Fair Dentist
1911
Dental Patient
movieThe Temptress
1911
Gilbert Irving
Second Sight
1911
Tom Mooreland
movieThe Scarlet Letter
1911
Reverend Dimmesdale
The Wife’s Awakening
1911
Enoch Harrington
movieSweet Memories
1911
Edward Jackson
Tracked
1911
Roger Densmore
At the Duke's Command
1911
Edward, the Duke's Nephew
A Game for Two
1910
Clark, the Best Friend
The Eternal Triangle
1910
The Dashing Young Count
Two Men
1910
The Tenderfoot
The Awakening of Bess
1909
Bess' Sweetheart
movieLove's Stratagem
1909
The Boy
Directing27
movieRomance of a Rogue
1928
Director
movieThe Notorious Lady
1927
Director
moviePerch of the Devil
1927
Director
movieLovey Mary
1926
Director
movieTumbleweeds
1925
Director
movieThe Home Maker
1925
Director
movieThe Tornado
1925
Director
movieThe Gaiety Girl
1924
Director
movieThe Whispered Name
1924
Director
movieThe Darling of New York
1923
Director
movieCrossed Wires
1923
Director
movieThe Town Scandal
1923
Director
movieGossip
1923
Director
movieThe Love Letter
1923
Director
movieA Dangerous Game
1922
Director
movieThe Kentucky Derby
1922
Director
movieThe Lavender Bath Lady
1922
Director
movieHuman Hearts
1922
Director
movieKissed
1922
Director
movieNobody's Fool
1921
Director
movieMoonlight Follies
1921
Director
movieLuring Lips
1921
Director
movieCheated Love
1921
Director
Writing4
movieThe Rose's Story
1911
Scenario Writer
Camera1
Beatlemania
1981
Director of Photography