Known For
Acting
Known Credits
278
Gender
Male
Birthday
January 29, 1871 (155 years old)
Place of Birth
Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wilfred Lucas (January 30, 1871 – December 13, 1940) was a Canadian-born American stage actor who found success in film as an actor, director, and screenwriter.
Wilfred Lucas made his Broadway debut in 1904, playing in both the The Blue Grass Handicap and The Superstition of Sue. Following his 1906 role in the highly successful play The Chorus Lady, he was recruited to the fledgling Biograph Studios by D. W. Griffith.
At the time, the film business was still looked down upon by many members of the theatrical community. In her 1925 book titled When the Movies Were Young, Griffith's wife, actress Linda Arvidson, told the story of the early days at Biograph Studios. In it, she referred to Lucas as the "first real grand actor, democratic enough to work in Biograph movies." In 1908 Lucas made his motion picture debut in Griffith's The Greaser's Gauntlet, appearing in more than 50 of these short (usually 17 minutes) films over the next two years.
In 1910 while still acting, he wrote the script for Griffith's film Sunshine Sue, which was followed by many more scripts by 1924. Lucas also began directing in 1912 with Griffith on An Outcast Among Outcasts, and directed another 44 films over the next 20 years.
In early 1916 he starred as John Carter in Acquitted, about which Photoplay wrote, "No single performance in the records of active photography has surpassed his visualization of the humble book-keeper in Acquitted." Later in 1916 he appeared in D.W. Griffith's film Intolerance.
Part of the group of Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, Lucas became friends and sometimes starred with Mary Pickford, Sam De Grasse, and Marie Dressler. Canadian-born director Mack Sennett hired him to both direct and act in a large number of films at his Keystone Studios.
Lucas made the successful transition from silent film to sound. While working in Hollywood, in 1926 he returned to the stage, performing in several Broadway plays. He later appeared as a foil for Laurel and Hardy in their feature films Pardon Us and A Chump at Oxford.
During his long career, Wilfred Lucas appeared in more than 375 films. Although for a time he was cast in leading roles, he became very successful as secondary and minor characters, making a good living in the film industry for more than three decades.
| 1968 | The Best of Laurel and Hardyas The Warden (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | The Sea Wolfas | |
| 1940 | Santa Fe Trailas Weiner (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | A Dispatch from Reutersas Board Member (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Triple Justiceas Constable Herb at Tule Mesa | |
| 1940 | They Drive by Nightas Bailiff (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Women in Hidingas Policeman (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Brother Orchidas Brother MacDonald | |
| 1940 | Waterloo Bridgeas Elderly Huntsman at Estate Dance (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Edison, the Manas Broker | |
| 1940 | Tear Gas Squadas Policeman | |
| 1940 | Virginia Cityas Southerner (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Women Without Namesas Roomer | |
| 1940 | The Fighting 69thas Eye Doctor (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | A Chump at Oxfordas Dean Williams | |
| 1940 | Legion of the Lawlessas East Ivestown Leader (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Four Wivesas Stationmaster (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Nick Carter, Master Detectiveas Police Detective Randall | |
| 1939 | Rafflesas Bobby | |
| 1939 | The Marshal Of Mesa Cityas Marshal Andy Thompson (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Mr. Smith Goes to Washingtonas Pompous Man (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | The Day the Bookies Weptas Bill, Man Outside Racetrack (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Each Dawn I Dieas Bailiff (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Zenobiaas Undetermined Role | |
| 1939 | Women in the Windas Burbank Offical (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Dodge Cityas Bartender (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Almost a Gentlemanas Dog Show Director | |
| 1938 | Breakdowns of 1938as Race Judge (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | The Declaration of Independenceas John Dickinson (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Brother Ratas Ballfield Doctor | |
| 1938 | A Man to Rememberas Man at Hospital Dedication (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Down on the Farmas Wheeler | |
| 1938 | Freshman Yearas Professor Ullrich | |
| 1938 | Four Daughtersas Doctor (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Safety in Numbersas Councilman | |
| 1938 | Over the Wallas Cell Block Keeper | |
| 1938 | Night Spotas Police Lieutenant | |
| 1938 | The Baroness and the Butleras Member of Parliament | |
| 1938 | The Daredevil Driversas Race Judge | |
| 1937 | She Loved a Firemanas Fire Tug Captain | |
| 1937 | Missing Witnessesas Judge in Wagner Case (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Man Without a Countryas Lincoln's Secretary (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Navy Blue and Goldas Ship's Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Westland Caseas Gun Dealer | |
| 1937 | Idol of the Crowdsas Doctor (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Hot Wateras Customer in Drugstore (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Prairie Thunderas Nate Temple | |
| 1937 | Varsity Showas Police Commissioner | |
| 1937 | Varsity Showas Police Commissioner (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Talent Scoutas Director of Screen Test (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Empty Holstersas John Ware | |
| 1937 | Blazing Sixesas Sheriff Tom | |
| 1937 | Marked Womanas Jury Foreman #1 (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Mile a Minute Loveas Drexel | |
| 1937 | Land Beyond the Lawas Jim Blake (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Super Snooperas | |
| 1937 | Black Legionas Bailiff (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Criminal Lawyeras Brandon's Assistant | |
| 1937 | We Who Are About to Dieas Prison Yard Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Beloved Enemyas Doctor (Uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Give Me Libertyas His Excellency Permitting Henry's Arrest (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Midnight Blundersas Professor Edwin Millstone (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | California Mailas Sheriff | |
| 1936 | High Tensionas Businessman | |
| 1936 | The Devil-Dollas Off-Screen Voice (voice / uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The White Angelas Raglan Staff Officer (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Human Cargoas Police Chief | |
| 1936 | The Country Doctoras Proprietor (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Love on a Betas Man at Hutchinson's Meeting | |
| 1936 | The Preview Murder Mysteryas Director (Uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Prisoner of Shark Islandas Testifying Colonel (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Modern Timesas Juvenile Officer | |
| 1936 | Chatterboxas Himself (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Kind Ladyas First Scotland Yard Man (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Show Them No Mercy!as Druggist (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Frisco Kidas First Policeman (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Rip Roaring Rileyas Chief Martin | |
| 1935 | Stormyas Mack's Horse Trainer (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Strandedas Pat, a Welfare Worker (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | The Arizonianas Townsman with Mayor | |
| 1935 | Vagabond Ladyas Dock Official (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Les Misérablesas Onlooker | |
| 1935 | Naughty Mariettaas Announcer (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Angkoras Wilfred Lucas, game hunter | |
| 1935 | Chandu on the Magic Islandas Capt. Walker | |
| 1934 | Shrimps for a Dayas Mr. Wade | |
| 1934 | Love Timeas Dignitary (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Cleopatraas Roman Greeting Antony (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | The Return of Chanduas Capt. Wilson [Chs. 4-12] | |
| 1934 | The Dragon Murder Caseas Police Sergeant (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | One Night of Loveas Metropolitan Operagoer | |
| 1934 | Upperworldas Boat Captain (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Apples to You!as Chairman of the Board | |
| 1934 | The Mothas John Gale | |
| 1933 | The House on 56th Streetas Prosecuting Attorney (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Air Frightas Mr. Lucas, Airline Superintendent | |
| 1933 | Advice to the Lovelornas | |
| 1933 | Mary Stevens, M.D.as Andrews' Lawyer Barry (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Midnight Maryas Nightclub Bouncer (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | The Mayor of Hellas Bill (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Strange Peopleas John Davis | |
| 1933 | The Sphinxas Prosecuting Attorney | |
| 1933 | I Cover the Waterfrontas Randall | |
| 1933 | The Devil's Brotheras | |
| 1933 | The Big Cageas Bob Mills | |
| 1933 | The Three Musketeersas El Shaitan | |
| 1933 | The Intruderas Mr. Wayne | |
| 1933 | Phantom Thunderboltas Eaton - Railroad President | |
| 1933 | Racetrackas Mr. Ryan | |
| 1932 | Sister to Judasas Mike O'Flanagan | |
| 1932 | Lawyer Manas Second Jury Foreman (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Secrets of Wu Sinas Pharmacist | |
| 1932 | You Said a Mouthfulas Official (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Lucky Larriganas John Larrigan | |
| 1932 | The Unwritten Lawas Captain Kane | |
| 1932 | Call Her Savageas Child Welfare Official (Uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Devil Horseas Whitney [Ch. 1] (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Free Wheelingas The Specialist | |
| 1932 | Big City Bluesas Policeman (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Devil and the Deepas Court Martial Judge (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | What Price Hollywood?as Bill the Replacement Director (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Dark Horseas Debate Chairman | |
| 1932 | Stockholm ”Queen of the Baltic”as | |
| 1932 | The Midnight Patrolas | |
| 1932 | Careless Ladyas Ship's Purser | |
| 1932 | Red Nosesas Mr. Lucas | |
| 1932 | Cross-Examinationas Judge Hollister | |
| 1932 | The Tabasco Kidas Sheriff's Deputy | |
| 1931 | House of Mysteryas Sheriff Franklin | |
| 1931 | Rich Man's Follyas | |
| 1931 | The Phantomas Dist. Atty. John Hampton | |
| 1931 | Convictedas Capt. Hammond | |
| 1931 | The Age for Loveas Undetermined Role | |
| 1931 | Graftas Candidate Louis | |
| 1931 | The Galloping Ghostas Sportscaster | |
| 1931 | Big Earsas Doctor | |
| 1931 | Pardon Usas Warden | |
| 1931 | Stranger in Townas J.P. Walker | |
| 1931 | Homicide Squadas | |
| 1931 | Young Donovan's Kidas Duryea | |
| 1931 | Dishonoredas | |
| 1931 | Men Call It Loveas Sam Ellery (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | Millieas Millie's Elderly Escort (uncredited) | |
| 1930 | Just Imagineas X-10 | |
| 1930 | Looser Than Looseas Mr. Gillstrom, Charley's Boss | |
| 1930 | Love Your Neighboras | |
| 1930 | Madam Satanas Roman Senator | |
| 1930 | Those Who Danceas Big Ben Benson | |
| 1930 | Cock o' the Walkas Señor Vallejo | |
| 1930 | The Arizona Kidas Manager | |
| 1930 | Hello Sisteras Dr. Saltus | |
| 1927 | Burnt Fingersas Lord Cumberly | |
| 1926 | The Sorrows of Satanas Minister (uncredited) | |
| 1926 | Her Sacrificeas Edwin Ramsey | |
| 1925 | Cyclone Cavalieras Hugh Clayton | |
| 1925 | The Wife Who Wasn't Wantedas Judge Bledsoe | |
| 1925 | How Baxter Butted Inas R.S. Falk | |
| 1925 | The Bad Landsas Col. Owen | |
| 1925 | Youth's Gambleas Harry Blaine | |
| 1925 | The Snob Busteras John Pendergast | |
| 1925 | A Broadway Butterflyas Stage Manager | |
| 1925 | Riders of the Purple Sageas Oldring | |
| 1925 | As No Man Has Lovedas Maj. Bissell | |
| 1924 | Lightning Romanceas Richard Wade | |
| 1924 | The Price She Paidas James Presbury | |
| 1924 | The Fatal Mistakeas | |
| 1924 | Racing for Lifeas Hudford | |
| 1924 | Passion's Pathwayas Richard Stanton | |
| 1924 | The Fighting Sapas Charles Richmond | |
| 1924 | Valley of Hateas Old Jim Darley | |
| 1924 | The Valley of Hateas Old Jim Darley | |
| 1924 | Daughters of Pleasureas Mark Hadley | |
| 1924 | Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hallas Earl of Rutland | |
| 1924 | North of Nevadaas C. Hanaford | |
| 1924 | The Mask of Lopezas Richard O'Neil | |
| 1923 | Trilbyas The Laird | |
| 1923 | The Greatest Menaceas Charles W. Wright | |
| 1923 | The Girl of the Golden Westas Ashby | |
| 1923 | Can a Woman Love Twice?as Franklyn Chase | |
| 1923 | Jazzmaniaas Julius Furman | |
| 1922 | Heroes of the Streetas | |
| 1922 | The Kentucky Derbyas Capt. Wolff | |
| 1922 | Paid Backas Ship Captain | |
| 1922 | Flesh and Bloodas The Policeman | |
| 1922 | Across the Dead-Lineas Aaron Kidder | |
| 1921 | The Beautiful Liaras Gaston Allegretti | |
| 1921 | The Fighting Breedas John MacDonald | |
| 1921 | One a Minuteas Prosecutor (uncredited) | |
| 1921 | Through the Back Dooras Elton Reeves | |
| 1921 | The Breaking Pointas Mortimer Davidson | |
| 1920 | The Jackeroo of Coolabongas John MacDonald | |
| 1920 | The Shadow of Lightning Ridgeas Edward Mariott | |
| 1920 | The Man from Kangarooas Red Jack Braggan | |
| 1919 | Soldiers of Fortuneas President Alvarez | |
| 1919 | A Woman of Pleasureas Sir John Thornbull | |
| 1919 | The Girl from Nowhereas Diamond Terry | |
| 1919 | The Westernersas Jim Buckley | |
| 1919 | The Hushed Houras Robert Appleton Jr. | |
| 1919 | What Every Woman Wantsas Horace Lennon | |
| 1917 | The Judgment Houseas Rudyard Byng | |
| 1917 | The Co-respondentas Richard Manning | |
| 1917 | Sins of Ambitionas Andrew Maxwell | |
| 1917 | The Food Gamblersas Henry Havens | |
| 1917 | Souls Triumphantas Robert Powers | |
| 1917 | Hands Up!as John Houston | |
| 1917 | A Love Sublimeas Philip | |
| 1917 | Jim Bludsoas Jim Bludso | |
| 1916 | The Microscope Mysteryas Doc Arnold | |
| 1916 | Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Agesas Extra (uncredited) | |
| 1916 | Hell-to-Pay Austinas Hell-to-Pay Austin | |
| 1916 | A Wild Girl of the Sierrasas Jim Hamilton | |
| 1916 | Macbethas Macduff | |
| 1916 | Acquittedas John Carter | |
| 1916 | The Wood Nymphas Fred Arnold | |
| 1915 | The Lily and the Roseas Jack Van Norman | |
| 1915 | The Spanish Jadeas Osmund Manvers | |
| 1914 | Brute Forceas Brute Force | |
| 1914 | Gentleman Burglaras Baffles | |
| 1913 | A Tender-Hearted Crookas | |
| 1913 | Pure Gold and Drossas | |
| 1913 | The Widow and the Widoweras The Widower | |
| 1912 | The Massacreas Stephen | |
| 1912 | A Sailor’s Heartas The Sailor | |
| 1912 | A Pueblo Legendas The Indian Girl's Great Brother | |
| 1912 | Man's Genesisas Bruteforce | |
| 1912 | A Temporary Truceas An Indian (uncredited) | |
| 1912 | Home Folksas The Blacksmith | |
| 1912 | When Kings Were the Lawas The King of Romanda | |
| 1912 | Just Like a Womanas The Wealthy Friend | |
| 1912 | Fate's Interceptionas The American | |
| 1912 | The Girl and Her Trustas | |
| 1912 | The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulchas Minor Role (uncredited) | |
| 1912 | Under Burning Skiesas Joe | |
| 1912 | Billy's Stratagemas Billy's Father | |
| 1912 | The Transformation of Mikeas Mike | |
| 1911 | A Terrible Discoveryas The District Attorney | |
| 1911 | The Failureas The Clerk | |
| 1911 | A Woman Scornedas The Doctor | |
| 1911 | The Miser's Heartas First Crook | |
| 1911 | Love in the Hillsas The Manley Suitor | |
| 1911 | The Long Roadas A Policeman | |
| 1911 | The Making of a Manas In Second Audience | |
| 1911 | Swords and Heartsas Hugh Frazier | |
| 1911 | The Rose of Kentuckyas The planter | |
| 1911 | The Blind Princess and the Poetas Princess's Father | |
| 1911 | The Sorrowful Exampleas The Husband | |
| 1911 | The Indian Brothersas The Indian Chief's Brother | |
| 1911 | The Thief and the Girlas The Thief | |
| 1911 | Fighting Bloodas | |
| 1911 | The Primal Callas The Fisherman | |
| 1911 | Enoch Arden: Part IIas Enoch Arden | |
| 1911 | Enoch Ardenas Enoch Arden | |
| 1911 | Enoch Arden: Part Ias | |
| 1911 | The New Dressas Jose | |
| 1911 | Madame Rexas | |
| 1911 | The Broken Crossas | |
| 1911 | The Spanish Gypsyas Jose | |
| 1911 | The Lonedale Operatoras The Fireman | |
| 1911 | His Daughteras | |
| 1911 | The Diamond Staras John Wilson | |
| 1911 | Fisher Folksas Steve Hardester | |
| 1911 | What Shall We Do with Our Old?as Violent Jailbird | |
| 1911 | Heart Beats of Long Agoas The Lover | |
| 1911 | His Trust Fulfilledas George | |
| 1911 | His Trustas George | |
| 1911 | When a Man Lovesas | |
| 1911 | The Two Pathsas Nellie's Husband | |
| 1910 | Winning Back His Loveas Frederick Wallace | |
| 1910 | The Rocky Roadas | |
| 1909 | 1776, or The Hessian Renegadesas | |
| 1909 | A Strange Meetingas | |
| 1909 | The Renunciationas | |
| 1909 | The Girls and Daddyas | |
| 1909 | The Honor of Thievesas | |
| 1908 | The Taming of the Shrewas | |
| 1908 | The Girl and the Outlawas | |
| 1908 | The Greaser's Gauntletas Jose | |
| The Nestas Howard Hardy |