James Alexander (1914 - 1961)

Actor. Born in Indiana, he appeared in a handful of motion pictures during his brief acting career. He made his film debut in the 1952 motion picture “Jack and the Beanstalk.” His other film credits include: “Port of Hell” (1954), “Treasure of Ruby Hills” (1955), “Las Vegas Shakedown” (1955) and “Night Freight” (1955). His television […]

Frank Alexander (1879 - 1937)

Actor.  A figure from the silent motion picture era, he weighed well over 300 pounds during his film career, and had the nicknamed of “Tiny”. A stage driver prior to putting on weight and going to Hollywood, California, he became a member of comedian Larry Semon’s stock company. He appeared in a number of motion […]

Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807 - 1867)

Tom Aldredge (1928 - 2011)

Actor. Born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of an Air Force colonel, he attended the Goodman School of Drama and made his professional debut in the production of “Electra” (1957), later marking his Broadway introduction with “The Nervous Set” (1959). From that point on, Aldredge appeared in a wide range of stage roles and garnered […]

Erville Alderson (1882 - 1957)

Actor. He appeared in nearly 200 motion picture roles in a career that spanned 40 years. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he made his screen debut in 1918. He first gained notice as a member of director D.W. Griffith’s stock company, with prominent roles in “The White Rose” (1923), “America” (1924), “Isn’t Life Wonderful?” (1924), […]

John Alderman (1934 - 1987)

Actor. He appeared in the theater, in motion pictures, and on television in an acting career that spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Bernard L. Alderman (1905 – 1955)  Gertrude Fitzer Alderman (1901 – 1990)

Norman Alden (1924 - 2012)

Actor. Following his service with the US Military whom he was station with in Europe during World War II, Alden returned home and from the aid of the GI Bill, he enrolled at Texas Christian University. It was while there, he caught the acting bug and began to perform in on-campus stage productions. Alden initiated […]

Wally Albright (1925 - 1999)

Actor.  As a child performer of the 1930s, he is best remembered for his brief stint as Wally in Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” (aka “The Little Rascals”) films.  Born Walton Algernon Albright, Jr. in Burbank, California, he made his acting debut at age four. He was naturally blond but his trademark tousled locks depended on […]

Hardie Albright (1903 - 1975)

Actor. Born as Hardie Hunter Albrecht in Pennsylvania. Hardie began his acting career at a young age. His parents were traveling vaudevillians and he started his acting at the age of six or seven. He studied drama at Carnegie Tech. He appeared in many Broadway plays. Hardie played  the juvenile lead on the stage in […]

Frank Albertson (1909 - 1964)

Actor.  Born the first child of Frank B. and Mary Healey Albertson.  Frank’s given name was Francis Healey Albertson and he was a native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Frank spent his childhood first in nearby Frazee, and also in Puyallup, Washington. He first became interested in the entertainment business when he began working as a […]

Coit Albertson (1880 - 1953)

Actor. He starred in the theater prior to making his motion picture debut in 1915, most notably in the play “Stubborn Cinderella”. He appeared in “The $1,000,000 Reward”(1920), “Face to Face”(1922), “Scandal Street”(1925) as ‘Frank Arnold’ in “The Jazz Girl” (1926) and “The Return of Boston Blackie”(1927). (bio by: MC)

Edward Laurence Albert (1951 - 2006)

Actor.  Son of Actor Eddie Albert and singer Margo.  He is best remembered for his role in the 1972 film opposite Goldie Hawn, “Butterflies are Free,” for which he won a Golden Globe.  He appeared in numerous films, and was a regular guest-star on television.  He died of lung cancer at age 55 just a […]

Eddie Albert Albert (1906 - 2005)

Actor.  Born Edward Albert Heimberger, he is best remembered for his role of lawyer-turned-farmer ‘Oliver Wendell Douglas’ on the classic television comedy series “Green Acres”. His career began on radio, and appeared on the earliest test for television in 1936.  He made his motion picture debut in the military academy comedy “Brother Rat” in 1938, […]

Luis Alberni (1886 - 1962)

Actor. He majored in drama at the University of Madrid and got his start performing in theatres throughout Europe. In 1914 he moved to the United States to continue his career in the acting profession. Alberni’s debonair looks and talent gained attention and he was cast in a number of Broadway productions between 1915 and […]

Frank Albanese (1931 - 2015)

Actor. He was an actor whose famous role was of “Uncle Pat” on the hit television show “The Sopranos”. He started out as a prize fighter, but a brain injury ended his career in boxing.   With the help of his friend and fellow boxer Rocky Graziano, Albanese got his start in acting.   His […]

Wolf Albach Retty (1906 - 1967)

Actor. A popular leading man in Austrian cinema, he made his motion picture debut in the silent “Das grobe Hemd.” Some of his well know works were roles in the filns “The Black Hussar,” “Tales from Vienna Woods” and “Hotel Sacher.” He was the son of actress Rosa Albach Retty, and the father of actress […]

Spottiswoode Aitken (1868 - 1933)

Actor. Born Frank Spottiswoode Aitken in Edinburgh, Scotland, he made his theater stage debut at age 13 and spent nearly 20 years touring the United States in stock companies.  During a 1907 road production of “Pocahontas” he met actor and future director  D.W. Griffith,  who later invited him to join the Biograph studio.  Onscreen Aitken […]

Charles Sydney Ainsworth (1873 - 1922)

Actor. Born Charles Sydney Ainsworth in England (he used his middle name as his first name throughout his life), he came to the United States in 1877. During the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the United States Army, and served as a Private in Company G, 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. After serving in Cuba, he […]

Henry Ainley (1879 - 1945)

Actor. Born to Richard and Ada Ainley in Morley, West Yorkshire, England. He made his professional stage debut for F.R. Benson’s company of actors and later joined Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s company. His first stage role was as a messenger in “Macbeth”. He also appeared as Glo’ster in “Henry V” at the Lyceum in London and […]

Anthony Ainley (1932 - 2004)

British Actor. He was most famous for portraying the longest recurring roll as “The Master” on the long running “Doctor Who” sci-fi television series. He was born into an acting family, being the son of actor Henry Ainley and brother of actor Richard Ainley. His many movie and TV credits include “The Land That Time […]

George L. Aiken (1830 - 1876)

Playwright, Actor. He is best known for his dramatizing Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” for the theater. He acted in its first performance at Troy, New York on September 27, 1852, and made numerous appearances in the play in the pre-Civil War era.

Elof Ahrle (1900 - 1965)

Actor, Motion Picture Director. Educated at missionary Elin Svensson´s Teaterskola (Theatre School) in Nyköping, Sweden, he appeared in 77 motion pictures during his career, and directed several films as well. He is especially will be remembered for his roles in “Krigsmans erinran” (1947), “Jazzgossen” (1958) and “Mälarpirater” (1959). He also acted on stage in comedies […]

Hamdy Ahmed (1933 - 2016)

Actor. Born Hamdy Ahmed Mohamed Khalifa, he was a prominent actor in Egyptian cinema, television, and the theater. He was jailed by the British forces in Egypt when he was 16 years old for participating in a student demonstration against the occupation in 1949. He went into acting after graduating from the Institute of Performing […]

Brian Aherne (1902 - 1986)

Actor. he made his debut in British cinema in the motion picture “The Eleventh Commandment” in 1924 and appeared on stage in London, England. He moved to Hollywood, California in the 1930s and appeared in director Rouben Mamoulian’s “Song of Songs” (1933). His other film appearances include “Sylvia Scarlett” (1936), “Juarez” (1939), for which he […]

Gianni Agus (1917 - 1994)

Actor. Born Giovanni Battista, he is best remembered for his roles where he was partnered with famous actors such as Totò, Peppino De Filippo, Erminio Macario and Vittorio De Sica. He appeared in over 80 films including “I due marescialli”, “Il Federale”, “Totò contro i quattro”, “Le Motorizzate”, and in several television variety shows. Agus […]

Edvin Adolphson (1893 - 1979)

Actor, Motion Picture Director. He was active through a 50 year career, and appeared in over 500 roles. His debut was made in 1912, but his breakthrough came 1923 in the film “Friare från Landsvägen”. He appeared with Ingrid Bergman in “Only One Night” (1939), and is noted for his roles in the film “Änglar, […]

Louis Adlon (1908 - 1947)

Actor. The grandson of famed hotelier  Lorenz Adlon,  he was raised in the luxurious surroundings of Berlin, Germany’s Hotel Adlon,  which he was expected to inherit.  The rise of Adolph Hitler drove him into exile in Hollywood, California, where he married Rose Davies (sister of movie star  Marion Davies) and launched a career as an […]

Luther Adler (1903 - 1984)

Actor. He appeared in 28 television series/shows and 33 motion pictures, including “The Loves of Carmen,” “D.O.A.,” “The Last Angry Man,” “Cast a Giant Shadow,” “Voyage of the Damned” and “Absence of Malice”, He was the son of actor Jacob Adler and actress Sarah Adler, and the brother of actor Jay Adler and actress Stella […]

Jay Adler (1896 - 1978)

Actor. He appeared in 21 television series/shows and 45 motion pictures, including “Scandal Sheet,” “The Bad and The Beautiful,” “Love Me or Leave Me,” “The Brothers Karamazov,” “The Story on Page One,” and “The Family Jewels”. He was the son of actor Jacob Adler and actress Sarah Adler, and the brother of actor Luther Adler […]

Jacob P. Adler (1855 - 1926)

Actor. He was a major figure in early 20th Century Yiddish theatre.  Family links:  Spouse:  Sarah Adler (1858 – 1953)  Children:  Celia Adler (1889 – 1979)*  Charles Adler (1892 – 1955)*  Jay Adler (1896 – 1978)*  Stella Adler (1901 – 1992)*  Luther Adler (1903 – 1984)* *Calculated relationship