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Henry B. Walthall

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
218

Gender
Male

Birthday
March 15, 1878 (148 years old)

Place of Birth
Shelby County, Alabama, USA

Henry B. Walthall

Biography

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Henry Brazeale Walthall (March 16, 1878 – June 17, 1936) was an American stage and film actor. He appeared as the Little Colonel in D. W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915). In New York in 1901, Walthall won a role in Under Southern Skies by Charlotte Blair Parker. He performed in the play for three years, in New York and on tour. With the company of Henry Miller he gained recognition on Broadway in plays including Pippa Passes, The Only Way and William Vaughn Moody's The Great Divide (1906–08). His fellow cast member James Kirkwood introduced Walthall to D. W. Griffith, and at the conclusion of that engagement, Walthall joined the Biograph Company.

His career in movies began in 1909 at Biograph Studios in New York with a leading role in the film A Convict's Sacrifice. This film also featured James Kirkwood, and was directed by D. W. Griffith, a director that played a huge part in Walthall's rise to stardom. As the industry grew in size and popularity, Griffith emerged as a director and Walthall found himself a mainstay of the Griffith company, frequently working alongside such Griffith regulars as Owen Moore, Kate Bruce, Lillian and Dorothy Gish, Mae Marsh, Bobby Harron and Jack and Mary Pickford. He followed Griffith's departure from New York's Biograph to California's Reliance-Majestic Studios in 1913. After a few months with Reliance, he joined Pathé for a short period.

He decided to go into the producing business and formed The Union Feature Film Company, the first to be devoted entirely to full-length films. The venture was not successful, however, and he again became associated with Griffith's company.

Given the relatively short length of films in the early years, Walthall frequently found himself cast in dozens of films each year. He gained national attention in 1915 for his role as Colonel Ben Cameron in Griffith's highly influential and controversial epic, The Birth of a Nation. Walthall's portrayal of a Confederate veteran rounding up the Ku Klux Klan won him large-scale fame, and Walthall was soon able to emerge as a leading actor in the years leading up to the 1920s, parting ways with Griffith.

Walthall continued working in films through the 1920s, appearing in The Plastic Age with Gilbert Roland and Clara Bow. He portrayed Roger Chillingworth in Victor Seastrom's 1926 adaptation of The Scarlet Letter opposite Lillian Gish.

Walthall continued his career into the 1930s. After his performance in director John Ford's 1934 film Judge Priest starring Will Rogers he enjoyed a golden period of his career. He portrayed Dr. Manette in A Tale of Two Cities (1935), starring Ronald Colman. In 1936 he appeared as Marcel in The Devil-Doll. He was gravely ill during his final film, China Clipper.

Frank Capra wanted Walthall to portray the High Lama in his 1937 film, Lost Horizon. "Frail and failing, he died before we could test him," Capra wrote.

Walthall has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard.

Known For

Acting

2019I Am Not a Racistas Ben (archive footage) (uncredited)
2002London After Midnightas Sir James Hamlin (archive footage)
1998Star Power: The Creation Of United Artistsas Col. Ben Cameron (archive footage)
1975Black Shadows on a Silver Screenas Self (archive footage)
1942Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)as Self (archive footage)
1936China Clipperas Dad Brunn
1936The Devil-Dollas Marcel
1936The Last Outlawas Cal Yates
1936Hearts in Bondageas Capt. Buchanan
1936The Mine with the Iron Dooras David Burton
1936The Garden Murder Caseas Dr. Garden
1935A Tale of Two Citiesas Dr. Manette
1935Dante's Infernoas Pop McWade
1935Helldoradoas Abner Meadows
1934Love Timeas Duke Johann von Hatzfeld
1934A Girl of the Limberlostas Dr. Amon
1934The Lemon Drop Kidas Jonas Deering
1934The Scarlet Letteras Roger Chillingworth
1934Judge Priestas Reverend Ashby Brand
1934The Murder in the Museumas Bernard Latham Wayne, alias Prof. Mysto
1934City Parkas Colonel Henry Randolph Ransome
1934Viva Villa!as Francisco Madero
1934Men in Whiteas enry B. Walthall
1934Beggars in Ermineas Marchant the Blind Man
1934Dark Hazardas Schultz
1933The Sin of Nora Moranas Father Ryan
1933The Wolf Dogas Jim Courtney
1933Her Forgotten Pastas Mr. Maynard
1933Headline Shooteras Judge Beacon (uncredited)
1933The Flaming Signalas Rev. Mr. James
1933Hold Your Manas Clergyman in Alternate Version (uncredited)
1933Somewhere in Sonoraas Bob Leadly
1933The Whispering Shadowas J. D. Bradley
193342nd Streetas Concerned Actor (uncredited)
1932Strange Interludeas Professor Leeds
1932Self Defenseas Doctor Borden
1932Central Parkas Eby
1932Me and My Galas Sarge
1932The Cabin in the Cottonas Eph Clinton
1932Klondikeas Mark Armstrong
1932Ride Him, Cowboyas John Gaunt
1932Chandu the Magicianas Robert Regent
1932Alias Mary Smithas Atwell
1932Hotel Continentalas Winthrop
1932Police Courtas Nathaniel "Nat" Barry
1931Anybody's Blondeas Mr. Evans
1931Is There Justice?as District Attorney John Raymond
1930Tol'able Davidas Amos Hatburn
1930Abraham Lincolnas Colonel Marshall
1930The Love Traderas Captain Adams
1930Temple Toweras Blackton
1929Blaze o' Gloryas Burke
1929The Trespasseras Fuller
1929The Phantom in the Houseas Boyd Milburn
1929In Old Californiaas Don Pedro De León
1929Black Magicas Dr. Bradbroke
1929The River of Romanceas General Jeff Rumford
1929From Headquartersas Buffalo Bill Ryan
1929The Bridge of San Luis Reyas Father Juniper
1929Speakeasyas Piano player
1929Stark Madas Capt. Rhodes - Yacht Commander
1929The Jazz Ageas Mr Maxwell
1928Freedom of the Pressas John Ballard
1928Retributionas Henry / Tommy Mooney
1927London After Midnightas Sir James Hamlin
1927A Light in the Windowas Johann Graff
1927Love Me and the World Is Mineas Van Denbosch
1927Wingsas Mr. Armstrong
1927Fighting Loveas Filipo Navarro
1927The Scarlet Letteras Roger Prynne aka Roger Chillingworth
1926Everybody's Actingas Thorpe
1926The Road to Mandalayas Father James
1926The Unknown Soldieras John Phillips
1926The Barrieras Gale Gaylord
1926Three Faces Eastas George Bennett
1925The Plastic Ageas Henry Carver
1925Dollar Downas Alec Craig
1925Kentucky Prideas Mr. Beaumont
1925Kit Carson Over the Great Divideas Dr. Samuel Webb
1925The Girl Who Wouldn't Workas William Hale
1925The Golden Bedas Col. Peake
1924Single Wivesas Franklin Dexter
1924The Woman on the Juryas Prosecuting Attorney
1923Boy of Mineas William Latimer
1923The Unknown Purpleas Peter Marchmont / Victor Cromport
1923Gimmeas John McGimsey
1923The Face on the Barroom Flooras Robert Stevens
1922The Long Chanceas Harley P. Hennage
1922The Kickbackas Aaron Price
1922One Clear Callas Henry Garnett
1922The Able-Minded Ladyas Breezy Bright
1921Flower of the Northas Philip Whitemore
1920A Splendid Hazardas Karl Breitman
1920Parted Curtainsas Joe Jenkins
1920The Confessionas Father Bartlett
1919The Long Arm of Mannisteras George Mannister
1919The Boomerangas George Gray
1919Modern Husbandsas Stephen Duane
1919The False Facesas Michael Lanyard
1919The Long Lane's Turningas Harry Sevier
1918The Great Loveas Sir Roger Brighton
1918Humdrum Brownas Hector 'Humdrum' Brown
1918His Robe of Honoras Julian Randolph
1916Pillars of Societyas Karsten Bernick
1916The Sting of Victoryas David Whiting / Walker Whiting
1916The Strange Case of Mary Pageas Phil Langdon, Attorney
1916The Misleading Ladyas Jack Craiger
1915The Ravenas Edgar Allan Poe
1915The Outer Edgeas Dr. Rownlee
1915The Circular Pathas Reverend Darwin Kirby
1915Temperas Frank Bradbury
1915Ghostsas Captain Alving / Oswald
1915The Birth of a Nationas Col. Ben Cameron
1915Rod of Wrathas Erickson's Son
1914The Odalisqueas Joe, in love with May
1914The Avenging Conscienceas The Nephew
1914Lord Chumleyas Lord Chumley
1914Home, Sweet Homeas John Howard Payne
1914The Mountain Ratas Douglas Williams
1914The Old Manas The Old Man
1914The Mysterious Shotas The Gopher
1914The Floor Aboveas Stephen Pryde
1914Strongheartas Soangataha / Strongheart
1914Judith of Bethuliaas Holofernes
1914The Green-Eyed Devilas
1914Classmatesas Duncan Irving
1914The Gangsters of New Yorkas Porky Dugan
1914The Awakening of Donna Isollaas The President of the Republic
1913The Battle at Elderbush Gulchas The Indian Chief's Son
1913A Woman in the Ultimateas Badger Gang Member
1913Two Men of the Desertas First Partner
1913The Mirroras The Station Agent
1913During the Round-Upas The Stranger
1913A Gambler's Honoras Beth's Brother
1913Her Mother's Oathas The Actor
1913The Switchtoweras The Switchman
1913Death's Marathonas The Husband
1913The Stolen Loafas The Poor Man
1913The Tenderfoot's Moneyas The Prospector
1913The Wandereras The Wanderer
1913If We Only Knewas The Father
1913The Lady and the Mouseas The First Rival
1913The Little Teaseas The Valley Man
1913The Perfidy of Maryas The Poet
1913The Sheriff's Babyas First Bandit
1913Broken Waysas The Road Agent
1913Love in an Apartment Hotelas The Young Woman's Fiance
1913Oil and Wateras The Idealist
1913Three Friendsas The Husband
1912The God Withinas The Woodsman
1912The Burglar’s Dilemmaas The Householder's Weakling Brother
1912My Heroas Indian Charlie
1912Brutalityas Actor In Oliver Twist
1912The Informeras The False Brother
1912My Babyas The Husband
1912The One She Lovedas The Husband
1912In the Aisles of the Wildas Jim Watson
1912A Feud in the Kentucky Hillsas A Psalm Singer
1912So Near, Yet So Faras In Club
1912Friendsas Dandy Jack
1912Two Daughters of Eveas The Father
1911For His Sakeas
1911Souls Courageousas
1911The Command from Galileeas The Lover
1910Where the Sea and the Shore Doth Meetas
1910The Armorer’s Daughteras Macennas
1910The Gray of the Dawnas
1910The Iconoclastas
1910Rose o' Salem Townas The Trapper
1910The Oath and the Manas Henri Prevost
1910In Life's Cycleas Vincent, as an Adult
1910A Summer Idyllas
1910Wilful Peggyas The Lord
1910The Sorrows of the Unfaithfulas Bill
1910The Usureras One of the Second Debtors
1910The House with Closed Shuttersas Charles Randolph - The Confederate Soldier
1910The Call to Armsas The Lord
1910A Flash of Lightas Younger John Rogers
1910In the Border Statesas Confederate Corporal
1910A Child of the Ghettoas The Farmer
1910Ramonaas Alessandro
1910The Two Brothersas Pedro
1910The Face at the Windowas Ralph Bradford
1910Love Among the Rosesas The Lord
1910The Tenderfoot's Triumphas A Horse Thief
1910The Kidas Walter Holden
1910The Gold Seekersas The Prospector
1910The Way of the Worldas
1910In Old Californiaas Perdita's Son
1910The Thread of Destinyas Estrada
1910Thou Shalt Notas
1910The Newlywedsas A Friend / At Station Reception
1910Gold Is Not Allas Man at Party
1910The Convertsas
1910The Cloister’s Touchas The Father
1910The Honor of His Familyas George Pickett Jr.
1910The Callas Billy Harvey
1910On the Reefas Mr. Wilson
1910His Last Burglaryas
1909The Heart of an Outlawas The Mexican Lover
1909The Day Afteras Party Guest
1909In Little Italyas Victor Ratazzi
1909A Trap for Santa Clausas Arthur Rogers (uncredited)
1909A Corner in Wheatas Wheat King's Assistant
1909Fools of Fateas
1909Pippa Passesas
1909In Old Kentuckyas Robert, the Confederate son
1909The Broken Locketas Mexican Man
1909Getting Evenas Miner
19091776, or The Hessian Renegadesas
1909The Sealed Roomas The Minstrel
1909The Little Darlingas In Boarding House
1909Pranksas Sunbather
1909They Would Elopeas
1909The Mended Luteas Indian
1909A Strange Meetingas A Thief
1909The Slaveas Alachus' Friend
1908Rescued from an Eagle's Nestas Woodsman

Production

1915The Birth of a Nation...Assistant Director