Charles Boyer (1899 - 1978)

Charles Boyer Born in Figeac, France, he was a distinguished performer who appeared in more than 80 films between 1920 and 1976. He began his career in the theater and made his big screen debut in was “L’homme du large” (1920). Relocating to America, he became a US citizen in 1942 and performed on Broadway, […]

Charles Brabin (1882 - 1957)

Motion Picture Director. Forgotten today, he was highly esteemed in the years following World War I. His independent production “Driven” (1923, now lost) was hailed as a masterpiece by contemporary critics. On the strength of this picture he was chosen to direct the epic “Ben-Hur” and began shooting in Italy in 1923, but after costly […]

Charles Bradburn (1970 - 1970)

Merchant and leader in the organization and development of the Cleveland Public Schools.  Called the “Father of Cleveland Schools”.  He helped to establish Cleveland’s first public high school, Central High School, which opened in 1846. (bio by: Joyce)  Family links:  Spouse:  Eliza Stone Bradburn (1807 – 1865)*  Children:  Charles F Bradburn (1832 – 1857)*  Helen […]

Charles Brasch (1909 - 1973)

New Zealand poet. In 1947 he launched Landfall, a literary journal that gained an international reputation and influenced New Zealand’s cultural life.

Charles Broadway Rouss (1836 - 1902)

Businessman, Philanthropist. Although born in Woodsboro, Maryland, he lived in Winchester, Virginia between the ages of ten and twenty-four. He started his merchant career in Winchester as a store clerk and later owned his own business. He moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1862 where he opposed secession. Apparently having a change of heart, he joined […]

Charles Brockden Brown (1771 - 1810)

Author. Charles Brockden Brown is regarded as America’s first professional author. Born in Philadelphia,  his ancestors were Quakers who came over from England on the same ship with William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. In 1797 he quit his law studies and moved to New York City,  where he hoped to make a living as […]

Charles Bronson (1921 - 2003)

Actor.  Best remembered for his roles in the movies, “The Great Escape” (1963), “The Dirty Dozen” (1967), and the “Death Wish” series of movies.  Born Charles Buchinski in Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania, to a family of Lithuanian immigrant coal miners, he followed his father and brothers into the coal mines after high school, until World War II, […]

Charles Brooks Jr. (1942 - 1982)

Brooks was raised in a wealthy family in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended I.M. Terrell High School (named after its first principal Isaiah Milligan Terrell), where he played football.  He had a prior criminal history, having served time at the United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth for illegal possession of firearms.  On December 14, 1976, Brooks went […]

Charles Brown (1922 - 1999)

In the late 1940s, a rising demand for blues was driven by an increasing white teenage audience in the South which quickly spread north and west. Blues singers such as Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris and Roy Brown were getting much of the attention, but what writer Charles Keil dubs “the postwar Texas clean-up movement in […]

Charles Bukowski (1920 - 1994)

Author, Poet. Born in Germany, he was a prolific underground writer who used poetry and prose to depict the depravity of urban life in American society. He came to the United States with his parents at the age of two and detailed his coming of age in the autobiographical novel, “Ham on Rye” (1982). He […]

Charles Bulfinch (1763 - 1844)

Architect. He was the first native-born professional architect in the United States. Important commissions include the Connecticut State House in Hartford (1793 to 1796), the Massachusetts State House in Boston (1795 to 1797), Saint Stephen’s Church in Boston (1802 to 1804), and the Maine State House in Augusta (1829 to 1832). In 1818, he was […]

Charles Bulfinch (1763 - 1844)

Architect. He was the first native-born professional architect in the United States. Important commissions include the Connecticut State House in Hartford (1793 to 1796), the Massachusetts State House in Boston (1795 to 1797), Saint Stephen’s Church in Boston (1802 to 1804), and the Maine State House in Augusta (1829 to 1832). In 1818, he was […]

Charles Butterworth (1896 - 1946)

Charles Butterworth (July 26, 1896 – June 13, 1946) was an American actor specializing in comedy roles, often in musicals. Butterworth’s distinct voice was the inspiration for the Cap’n Crunch commercials from the Jay Ward studio. Voice actor Daws Butler based Cap’n Crunch on the voice of Butterworth. Charles Butterworth was born to a physician in […]

Charles C. Spink (1864 - 1914)

With brother Al published the “Sporting News.”  Family links:  Spouse:  Charlotte Marie Taylor Spink (1870 – 1944)*  Children:  Freddie P Spink Christy (1892 – 1969)*  Frances Snaith Spink Merrell (1894 – 1953)* *Calculated relationship

Charles Callahan (1889 - 1946)

Actor, Writer. He appeared in vaudeville with his brother, Bob Callahan, in an act called “Bob & Chuck Callahan”. He wrote nine, story/screenplays in the early,1930’s. Among them were, “Two Plus Fours” (1930),” Hot Wires” (1931) and “Night Class” (1931). He appeared in several, Three Stooges shorts including: “Punch Drunks (1934) as Mr. McGurn, “Grips, […]

Charles Canfield (1848 - 1913)

Industrialist.  A major developer of the oil industry in Southern California and Mexico,  and closest friend and business partner of  Edward L. Doheny.  Charles Adelbert Canfield was born in Springfield,  New York.  In 1869 he set out for Colorado as a prospector and struggled for 17 years in the Southwest before striking it rich in […]

Charles Chadwick (1874 - 1953)

Author. Writer on Football for New York World, also wrote articles in syndication to the Chicago Tribune and other papers. Wrote books which include ‘The Cactus’, ‘The Moving House of Foscaldo.’ also short stories in Century and Ladies’ Home Journal. (bio by: Laurie)

Charles Chilton (1917 - 2013)

Playwright, Author. He will perhaps be best remembered for penning the story “Oh, What a Lovely War!” (1963) which was made into both a successful stage and film adaptation. Born Charles Frederick William Chilton, his father a clerk for his family business (a painting and decoration company) perished during World War I at the age […]

Charles Churchill (1970 - 1764)

Poet, Satirist. He was educated at Westminster School, London, before entering Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1749. He was then made curate of South Cadbury, Somerset, before succeeding his father as curate of Rainham, Essex, in 1756. In 1758 he was elected to the curacy and lectureship of St. John’s, Westminster, and also took a teaching […]

Charles Coborn (1852 - 1945)

Actor, Singer and Comedian.  Born Colin Whitton McCallum in the Mile End of London, he made his first music hall appearances in 1872 and established himself as a coster comedian for over seventy years, appearing in theatres both in the UK and USA and appeared in films.  Charles Coborn was also an active campaigner for […]

Charles Coburn (1877 - 1961)

Actor. He appeared in films like: “The Devil and Miss Jones” (1941), “The Lady Eve” (1941), “The More the Merrier” (1943), which earned him the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor, “Heaven Can Wait” (1943), “The Paradine Case” (1947), “Monkey Business” (1952), “Gentlemen Prefer blondes” (1953), and “Pepe” (1960) (cameo, his last appearance). (bio by: […]

Charles Colean (1907 - 1971)

American motion picture actor of the 1940s and 50s. Appeared with Humphrey Bogart in the movie “Knock on Any Door” in 1949. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Charles Colson (1931 - 2012)

Charles “Chuck” Wendell Colson (October 16, 1931 – April 21, 2012) was an Evangelical Christian leader who founded Prison Fellowship and BreakPoint. Prior to his conversion to Christianity, he served as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973.  Once known as President Nixon’s “hatchet man,” Colson gained notoriety at the height of […]

Charles Comiskey (1859 - 1931)

Charles Comiskey started his playing career as a pitcher, and moved to first base after developing arm trouble. He entered the American Association in 1882 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings. He managed the team during parts of its first seasons and took over full-time in 1885, leading the Browns to four consecutive American Association […]

Charles Cornwallis (1738 - 1805)

Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG (31 December 1738 – 5 October 1805), styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator. In the United States and the United Kingdom he is best remembered as one of the leading […]

Charles Cotton (1630 - 1687)

Author and angler.

Charles Crawford (1879 - 1931)

Criminal. Shady Los Angeles racketeer. His murder by a Deputy District Attorney was ruled justifiable homicide.

Charles D. Brown (1887 - 1948)

Actor. He appeared in 113 motion pictures from 1921 to 1949, including “Algiers,” “Ice Follies of 1939,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Brother Orchid,” “Roxie Hart,” “Follow the Boys,” “Notorious,” “The Big Sleep,” “Smash-Up, The Story of a Woman,” and “Tulsa.” (bio by: TLS)

Charles D. Farrell (1900 - 1990)

Silent Screen Star, Politician, Entrepreneur.  He was a popular Hollywood leading man, first silent and then early talkie movies.  By the end of the 30’s, Farrell’s star diminished but in 1938, he with several partners founded the fabled Hollywood Racquet Club which became the watering hole of the stars in Palm Springs that took a […]

Charles Dalton (1869 - 1942)

Actor. A stage and film actor of the 1900s to 1930s, he appeared in films such as “The Fighting Odds”(1917), “ The Eternal Magdalene” (1919), and “The Wakefield Case” (1921). SOme of his Broadway appearances include “The Helmet of Navarre” (1901), “The Fires of St. John” (1904), “The Straight Road” (1907), “The Man Inside” (1913), […]