King Baggot

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King Baggot
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1900–1947
Spouse
Ruth Constantine
​
​
(m. 1912; div. 1930)​

William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948) was an American

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, he was best known for

Ivanhoe (1913), which was filmed on location in Wales.[1]

Early life

He was born in

real estate agent
.

Baggot attended

Catholic all-male secondary school, where he excelled at sports, was a star soccer and baseball player, and became captain of the soccer team.[3] In 1894, King left St. Louis and went to Chicago
, where he worked as a clerk for his uncle, Edward Baggot (1839–1903), whose business sold plumbing, gas and electric fixtures.

In 1899, he returned to St. Louis and later played on a

semi-professional
St. Louis soccer team and became so well known that a Catholic church amateur theatrical group added him to its cast to gain prestige. He liked acting and did well. He soon helped found another amateur theatrical group, the Players Club of St. Louis.

In the meantime, he sold tickets for the St. Louis Browns baseball team and worked as a clerk in the real estate business of his father.[4] But acting proved so interesting that he decided to become professional.

Stage career

Baggot began his career on the

stock company and toured throughout the U.S. Following his first engagement, he performed under the management of Liebler and Company, one of the foremost producing companies at that time. He also toured under the management of Frohman, and the Shuberts, and played five weeks in New York in The Queen of the Highway. Other plays in which he appeared include the comedy revival Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, which had a run on Broadway in 1906, Salomy Jane and In the Bishop's Carriage
.

While acting in stock in St. Louis, in the summer of 1909, Baggot worked with

The Wishing Ring, which was adapted by Owen Davis from a Dorothea Deakin story. Another cast member, Cecil B. DeMille
, also staged the play.

When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot returned to New York to join another company. Upon a chance meeting with

studio. Movies were then looked down on by the dramatic profession as a mere recording of stunts, but Baggot went along. He was amused at the violent gestures and jumping around of the players, taking none of it seriously. Baggot, however, became interested in the fledgling industry and later decided to give it a try and turn picture player. [citation needed
]

Film career

Baggot's first film was the

marquee and promotion in advertising
.

Baggot in 1916.

In April 1910, Baggot was at home with his mother and family in St. Louis, when the

drama Sweet Memories, which was directed by Thomas H. Ince
.

Baggot 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.

On December 3, 1912, he and Ruth Considine (August 28, 1889 – December 22, 1936)[6] were married in Fort Lee, New Jersey. They had one son, Robert King Baggot (July 11, 1914 – May 18, 1965). A cameraman, he died in Hawaii, while working on a movie. Robert King Baggot had two sons, cinematographer Stephen King Baggot (born 1943) and Bruce Baggot (born 1947).

Baggot as title character in Ivanhoe (1913)

Baggot starred as

Absinthe (1914), which was filmed in Paris. In his 1914 two-reel movie Shadows
, Baggot directed as well as played the parts of ten different characters.

When he registered for the draft of World War I, on September 12, 1918, Baggot and his wife were living in New York City.[7] He starred in the role as Harrison Grant in the 20-part spy thriller The Eagle's Eye (1918) opposite Marguerite Snow, an adaptation of former FBI Director William J. Flynn's experiences that was produced by Leopold and Theodore Wharton,[8] and as Sheldon Steele (The Hawk) in the crime drama The Hawk's Trail (1919) opposite Grace Darmond.

As a director, he gave Marie Prevost her first starring role in the romantic comedy Kissed (1922). Baggot directed Mary Philbin and William Haines in the romance The Gaiety Girl (1924).

He formed his own

Universal. That same year, Baggot directed William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds, a drama about the Oklahoma land rush of 1893
.

Decline

Baggot and his wife, Ruth, who had separated on August 20, 1926, were divorced in 1930.

1930 census was taken on April 7, Baggot was lodging by himself.[12]

His

extra,[13] and appeared in scores of movies in that capacity through the 1930s and 1940s, including Mississippi
(1935).

Baggot played the uncredited role as a policeman on the street in Bad Sister (1931), which starred Conrad Nagel and Sidney Fox, with Bette Davis in her first movie role. He had the role as Henry Field, a movie director, in the Monogram Pictures drama Police Court (1932) co-starring Henry B. Walthall, which told the story of a has-been alcoholic actor (Walthall) trying to make a comeback. In 1933, Baggot and former leading lady Florence Lawrence, Paul Panzer and another former great star of the silent era, Francis Ford, were given bit parts in what would be former co-star Mary Pickford's last movie, Secrets.

In her

Butch Jenkins and Peter Lawford
. Illness then forced his retirement.

King Baggot died at age 68 from a

Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles
.

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.[19]

Filmography

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
1910 The Time-Lock Safe The Father Short
1911 Sweet Memories Edward Jackson Short
1911 The Scarlet Letter Reverend Dimmesdale Short
1911 Pictureland Pablo Short
1911 Tracked Roger Densmore Short
1912 The Lie Captain Robert Evans Short
1912 The Man from the West Steve Jackson - The Man from the West Short
1912 A Cave Man Wooing George - The 'Sissy' Hero Short
1912 The Romance of an Old Maid Frank Rogers - a Widower Short
1912
Up Against It
 		Amos Bentley Short
1913 Gold Is Not All Karl - the Composer Short
1913 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde Short
1913
Ivanhoe
 		Wilfred of Ivanhoe
1914
Absinthe
 		Jean Dumas
1914 The Old Guard
1915 The Corsican Brothers Louis de Franchi / Fabien de Franchi Short
1915 The Marble Heart Raphael / Phidias
1915 The Suburban Donald Gordon
1916 Half a Rogue Richard Warrington
1916 The Man from Nowhere James Herron
1918 The Eagle's Eye Harrison Grant
1918 Kildare of Storm Basil Kildare
1919 The Hawk's Trail Sheldon Steele (The Hawk) serial
1919 The Man Who Stayed at Home Christopher Brent
1920 The Thirtieth Piece of Silver Tyler Cole
1920 The Cheater Lord Asgarby
1921 The Girl in the Taxi Maj. Frederick Smith
1923 The Thrill Chaser Cameo appearance
1932 Police Court Henry Field
1935 Mississippi Gambler Uncredited
1939 Stronger Than Desire Juror Uncredited
1941 Come Live with Me Doorman
1942 Jackass Mail Old Miner Uncredited

As director

References

  1. ^ New York Times, Feb. 19, 1928, "Rare Old 'Stills'," p. 114.
  2. ^ 1880 St. Louis Co., MO, U.S. Federal Census, St. Louis, 3618 N. 18th St., June 8, Enumeration Dist. 307, Sheet 3, Page 514 A, Line 5, Wm. Baggot, Line 6, Hattie Baggot, Line 7, William Baggot, White, Male, 7/12, (Mon. Born) Nov., Son, Single, MO, Ireland, MO.
  3. ^ Dumaux, Sally (1997). "King Baggot and the Mystery of "The Lost Mirror". Classic Images (Past Issues). Retrieved February 24, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ 1900 St. Louis (Independent City), MO, U.S. Federal Census, St. Louis Ward 27, 1463 Union St., June 11, Enumeration Dist. 408, Sheet 14 A, Page 278 A, Line 32, William Bagott [sic], Line 33, Harriet M. Bagott [sic], Line 34, William K. Bagott [sic], Son, White, Male, Nov., 1879, 20, Single, MO, Ireland, MO, Clerk in Real Estate, 0, 0, Y, Y, Y.
  5. ^ 1910 St Louis (Independent City), MO, U.S. Federal Census, St Louis Ward 26, 1463 Union Ave., April 25, Enemuration Dist. 407, Sheet 13 A, Page 35 A, Line 48, Harriet M. Baggot, Line 49, King Baggot, Son, Male, White, 30, Single, MO, Ireland - (Native Language) English, MO, Engl., Actor, Theatre, Wages, N, 0, Y, Y.
  6. ^ New York Times, Dec. 26, 1936, Hollywood, Dec. 25 (AP), "Ruth Baggott [sic]," p. 11.
  7. ^ WWI Draft Registration Card, Serial No.: 376, Name: William King Baggot, Permanent Address: Lambs Club - 130 W. 44th N.Y. City, Age 38, Birth Date: Nov. 7, 1879, Race: White, U.S. Citizen: Natural Born, Present Occupation: Motion Picture "Star," Employer's Place: Motion Picture Corp. W. 61st St. N.Y. City, N.Y., Nearest Relative: Ruth Baggot (Wife) Messeilles Hotel - 103rd St. N.Y.C., Signed: William King Baggot, Registrar's Report: Description of Registrant: Height: Tall: 5'11, Build: Medium: 185, Color of Eyes: Blue, Color of Hair: Lt. Brown, Dated: Sept. 12, 1918 New York City, N.Y.
  8. ISBN 978-1-84737-173-7
    .
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times, Oct. 4, 1925, "Brook Lauds Character in 'Home Maker," p. 28.
  10. ^ Los Angeles Times, Sep. 18, 1930, "King Baggott Divorced As Bad Example To Son," p. A 12.
  11. ^ New York Times, Sep. 18, 1930, Sep. 17 (AP), "Divorces King Baggott, --- Wife Accuses Movie Director of Habitual Intemperance," p. 2.
  12. ^ 1930 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Assembly Dist. 55, Block 97, April 7, Enumeration Dist. 65, Sheet 5 B, Page 239 B, Line 97, William K. Baggot, Lodger, Male, White, 50, Married, (Age when first married) 33, N, Y, MO, Ireland, MO, Y, Actor - Director, Motion Pictures, Wages, Y, (Vet.) N.
  13. ^ Los Angeles Times, Feb. 24, 1935, "Former Stars Flock to Ranks of Extras," p. A 1.
  14. ^ Los Angeles Times, Mar. 18, 1946, "Hedda Hopper --- Looking At Hollywood," p. 9.
  15. ^ California Death Index, Name: King Baggot, Birth Date: 11-07-1879, Father's Last: Baggot, Sex: Male, Birth Place, Missouri, Death Place: Los Angeles (19), Death Date: 07-11-1948, SSN: 563-09-0139, Age: 68 yrs.
  16. ^ Los Angeles Times, Jul. 12, 1948, "King Baggot, Early Day Idol of Films, Dies," p. 12.
  17. ^ New York Times, Jul. 13, 1948, Hollywood, Jul. 12 (AP), "King Baggott, 68, Early Film Star --- Leading Man of Silent Era Dies—In Industry Since '09, He Also Was a Director," p. 27.
  18. ^ Los Angeles Times, Jul. 15, 1948, "Obituary --- King Baggot," p. A 15.
  19. ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame - King Baggot". walkoffame.com. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  20. ISBN 9783110951943
    .

Further reading

External links

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