Known For
Acting
Known Credits
151
Gender
Male
Birthday
November 6, 1879 (146 years old)
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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.
| 2011 | Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Filmsas Himself (archive footage) | |
| 1947 | Merton of the Moviesas Man in Audience (uncredited) | |
| 1947 | My Brother Talks to Horsesas Bank Employee (uncredited) | |
| 1946 | The Secret Heartas Man at Graduation Ceremony | |
| 1946 | Holiday in Mexicoas | |
| 1946 | The Postman Always Rings Twiceas Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywoodas Barbershop Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Dangerous Partnersas Lunch Room Customer (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Swing Feveras Nightclub Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Her Cardboard Loveras Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Jackass Mailas Old Miner | |
| 1942 | Fingers at the Windowas Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Rio Ritaas Hotel Guest (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Honky Tonkas Townsman (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | The Big Storeas Store Employee (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Ziegfeld Girlas Man in Audience (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Come Live with Meas Doorman | |
| 1940 | The Philadelphia Storyas Wedding Guest (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Gallant Sonsas Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Bitter Sweetas Cafe Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | The Ghost Comes Homeas Townsman at Banquet (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | I Take This Womanas Man in Subway (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Dancing Co-Edas Man in Casting Office (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Stronger Than Desireas Juror (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | The Ice Follies of 1939as Man in Audience (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Opening Dayas Baseball Fan | |
| 1938 | Stablematesas Bettor | |
| 1938 | Too Hot to Handleas Reporter (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Boys Townas Derelict in Mission (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Marie Antoinetteas Nobleman at Court (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Think It Overas | |
| 1938 | Snow Gets in Your Eyesas Department Store Customer (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | That Mothers Might Liveas Passerby (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Arsène Lupin Returnsas Detective (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | A Night at the Moviesas Movie Patron (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Emperor's Candlesticksas Customs Official (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | It May Happen to Youas Man in Hospital (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Parnellas Man in Office | |
| 1937 | Torture Moneyas False Accident Witness (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Mad Holidayas Film Director (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Sworn Enemyas Accident Witness (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Devil-Dollas Detective Pierre (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | San Franciscoas Earthquake Survivor (uncredited) | |
| 1936 | The Adventures of Frank Merriwellas Chemistry Professor | |
| 1935 | A Night at the Operaas Dignitary (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | 3 Kids and a Queenas Druggist | |
| 1935 | Chinatown Squadas Patrol Wagon Guard | |
| 1935 | The Call of the Savageas Dr. Pierce | |
| 1935 | Mississippias Gambler (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | Sweepstake Annieas Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | A Notorious Gentlemanas Police Sergeant | |
| 1934 | Father Brown, Detectiveas Priest (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Cheating Cheatersas Official (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Romance in the Rainas Milton McGillicuddy | |
| 1934 | The Red Rideras Townsman | |
| 1934 | Belovedas Second Doctor | |
| 1933 | I Loved a Womanas Banker (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Death Kissas Al Payne | |
| 1932 | Afraid to Talkas Police Officer (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Big Flashas Hinkle | |
| 1932 | What Price Hollywood?as Department Head (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Police Courtas Harry Field | |
| 1932 | Girl of the Rioas Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe | |
| 1931 | Graftas Ship's Captain | |
| 1931 | Sweepstakesas Mike - Weber's Trainer | |
| 1931 | The Bad Sisteras Policeman on Street (uncredited) | |
| 1930 | Once a Gentlemanas Van Warner | |
| 1930 | The Czar of Broadwayas | |
| 1923 | The Thrill Chaseras Himself - Cameo | |
| 1921 | The Butterfly Girlas H.H. Van Horn | |
| 1921 | The Girl in the Taxias Maj. Frederick Smith | |
| 1920 | The Forbidden Thingas Dave | |
| 1920 | The Dwelling Place of Lightas Brooks Insall | |
| 1920 | Life's Twistas Jim Sargent | |
| 1920 | The Cheateras Lord Asgarby | |
| 1920 | The Shadow of Lightning Ridgeas | |
| 1919 | The Hawk's Trailas Sheldon Steele/The Hawk | |
| 1919 | The Man Who Stayed at Homeas Christopher Brent | |
| 1918 | Building for Democracyas The Husband | |
| 1918 | Kildare of Stormas Basil Kildare | |
| 1918 | The Eagle's Eyeas Harrison Grant | |
| 1918 | Mission of the War Chestas Self | |
| 1916 | The Silent Strangeras The Silent Stranger | |
| 1916 | The Man from Nowhereas James Herron | |
| 1916 | Half a Rogueas Richard Warrington | |
| 1915 | The Suburbanas Donald Gordon | |
| 1915 | The Marble Heartas Raphael / Phidias | |
| 1914 | The Great Universal Mysteryas Himself | |
| 1914 | Absintheas Jean Dumas | |
| 1913 | Ivanhoeas Wilfred of Ivanhoe | |
| 1913 | The Wandereras The Shepherd | |
| 1913 | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeas Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde | |
| 1912 | Up Against Itas Amos Bentley | |
| 1912 | A Cave Man Wooingas George - the 'Sissy' Hero | |
| 1912 | Shamus O'Brienas Shamus O'Brien | |
| 1911 | Over the Hillsas Wayne Holland | |
| 1911 | The Better Wayas Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook | |
| 1911 | The Rose's Storyas Gerald Kinney | |
| 1911 | The Call of the Songas Hugh Norton | |
| 1911 | Scienceas Dr. Crawford | |
| 1911 | At a Quarter of Twoas Dan Nolan - the Burglar | |
| 1911 | For the Queen's Honoras The King | |
| 1911 | In the Sultan's Gardenas Lt. Robbins | |
| 1911 | A Game of Deceptionas | |
| 1911 | The Master and the Manas Basil King | |
| 1911 | The Fair Dentistas Dental Patient | |
| 1911 | The Temptressas Gilbert Irving | |
| 1911 | Second Sightas Tom Mooreland | |
| 1911 | The Scarlet Letteras Reverend Dimmesdale | |
| 1911 | While There is hope, There is Lifeas Alfred King | |
| 1911 | The Wife’s Awakeningas Enoch Harrington | |
| 1911 | Sweet Memoriesas Edward Jackson | |
| 1911 | The Secret of the Palmas Cecil Abbott | |
| 1911 | Trackedas Roger Densmore | |
| 1911 | Picturelandas Pablo | |
| 1911 | At the Duke's Commandas Edward, the Duke's Nephew | |
| 1911 | The Mirroras | |
| 1910 | The Count of Montebelloas Percy | |
| 1910 | All the World’s a Stageas | |
| 1910 | Pressed Rosesas | |
| 1910 | Debtas | |
| 1910 | The Taming of Janeas | |
| 1910 | Once Upon a Timeas | |
| 1910 | The Irony of Fateas | |
| 1910 | Bear Ye One Another’s Burdensas George Rand | |
| 1910 | Old Heads and Young Heartsas | |
| 1910 | The Time-Lock Safeas The Father | |
| 1910 | The Call of the Circusas | |
| 1910 | A Game for Twoas Clark, the Best Friend | |
| 1910 | A Reno Romanceas Jack | |
| 1910 | The Eternal Triangleas The Dashing Young Count | |
| 1910 | The Doctor's Perfidyas | |
| 1910 | Two Menas The Tenderfoot | |
| 1910 | The New Shawlas Jacques | |
| 1910 | The Maelstromas | |
| 1910 | The Rosaryas | |
| 1910 | His Second Wifeas | |
| 1910 | The Miser’s Daughteras | |
| 1910 | Transfusionas | |
| 1910 | The Stage Noteas | |
| 1910 | The Broken Oathas | |
| 1910 | Mother Loveas | |
| 1910 | The Governor’s Pardonas The Man | |
| 1910 | Jane and the Strangeras The Stranger | |
| 1910 | The Blind Man’s Tactas | |
| 1910 | Justice in the Far Northas King | |
| 1910 | The Tide of Fortuneas | |
| 1910 | The Right of Loveas | |
| 1910 | The Winning Punchas | |
| 1909 | The Awakening of Bessas Bess' Sweetheart | |
| 1909 | Love's Stratagemas The Boy |
| 1981 | Beatlemania...Director of Photography | |
| 1931 | Sporting Chance...Story | |
| 1928 | Romance of a Rogue...Director | |
| 1928 | The House of Scandal...Director | |
| 1927 | Down the Stretch...Director | |
| 1927 | The Notorious Lady...Director | |
| 1927 | Perch of the Devil...Director | |
| 1926 | Lovey Mary...Director | |
| 1925 | Tumbleweeds...Director | |
| 1925 | The Home Maker...Director | |
| 1925 | Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman...Director | |
| 1925 | The Tornado...Director | |
| 1924 | The Gaiety Girl...Director | |
| 1924 | The Whispered Name...Director | |
| 1923 | The Darling of New York...Director | |
| 1923 | The Darling of New York...Story | |
| 1923 | Crossed Wires...Director | |
| 1923 | Crossed Wires...Story | |
| 1923 | The Town Scandal...Director | |
| 1923 | Gossip...Director | |
| 1923 | The Love Letter...Director | |
| 1922 | A Dangerous Game...Director | |
| 1922 | The Kentucky Derby...Director | |
| 1922 | The Lavender Bath Lady...Director | |
| 1922 | Human Hearts...Director | |
| 1922 | Kissed...Director | |
| 1921 | Nobody's Fool...Director | |
| 1921 | Moonlight Follies...Director | |
| 1921 | Luring Lips...Director | |
| 1921 | Cheated Love...Director | |
| 1916 | The Silent Stranger...Director | |
| 1911 | The Rose's Story...Scenario Writer |