Charles Bickford
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Charles Bickford (born January 1, 1891; died November 9, 1967) was an American actor, who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
An unruly child, he was tried an acquitted of the attempted murder of a motorist who had driven over his dog when he was only 9 years old. He spent his early years as a drifter and then joined a road company, travelling about the United States and appearing the productions. Appearing in a Broadway play, "Outside Looking in," he was noticed by Cecil B. DeMille and offered a contract with MGM. During the production of DeMille's “Dynamite”, he punched out his director, and he would also frequently come to blows with MGM head Louis B. Mayer, finding himself blacklisted on several occasions.
He became a star after playing Greta Garbo's lover in “Anna Christie” (1930), but didn't develop into a romantic lead, instead becoming a powerful character actor whose screen appearances commanded attention throughout a career spanning almost four decades. His association with MGM was short-lived, and Bickford became an independent actor for several years. Later, he signed with Twentieth Century Fox.
Due to scarring from an accident with a lion and his increasing age, he was no longer suitable for leading roles. Bickford turned to character acting and established himself firmly on the silver screen in many roles. He continued to act for the remainder of his life. In his final years he acted as owner of Shiloh Ranch on The Virginian TV series. He died a few days after filming a 1967 Virginian segment.
Bickford was nominated three times for an Academy Award.
Bickford died in Los Angeles, California.
Partial filmography
- Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
- The Unforgiven (1960)
- ''Not as a Stranger (1955)
- The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955)
- Duel in the Sun (1946)
- The Song of Bernadette (1943)
- Pride of the Marines (1936)
- Dynamite (1929)
External links
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