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Raymond Griffith

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Raymond Griffith
Griffith in Open All Night (1924)
Born(1895-01-23)January 23, 1895
DiedNovember 25, 1957(1957-11-25) (aged 62)
OccupationActor
Years active1918–1939
Spouse
(m. 1928)
Children1 (adopted)

Raymond Griffith (January 23, 1895 – November 25, 1957) was an American silent movie actor and comedian. Later in his career, he worked behind the camera as writer and producer.

Biography

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Griffith was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lost his voice at an early age, causing him to speak for the rest of his life in a hoarse whisper. Griffith claimed that it was the result of his having to scream at the top of his lungs every night in a stage melodrama as a child actor—others have stated that a childhood disease was more likely the cause. Lying about his age, Griffith enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 15 and served for three years.[1][2][3] He was later drafted for service in World War I but was not inducted because of his vocal problems.[2]

Lobby card with Jeanette Daudet, Pola Negri, and Griffith in Lily of the Dust (1924)

Although a few comedy films of his are considered classics he is almost totally forgotten today. His film debut was for the L-KO Kompany. Many of his starring feature films have long since been lost, but probably the best known of his films today is Hands Up! (1926), a Civil War comedy feature directed by Clarence G. Badger, and co-starring Mack Swain, which was entered into the National Film Registry in 2005. Also considered a classic is Badger's Paths to Paradise, a caper film that is in all circulating prints missing its final reel. Like many silent comedians, he had a traditional costume; his was a top hat, white tie and tails, often augmented by a cape and/or walking stick.

The coming of sound ended Griffith's acting career, but he did have one memorable role in a motion picture before retiring from the screen, playing a French soldier killed by Lew Ayres in the 1930 Lewis Milestone film All Quiet on the Western Front. He then segued into a writing/producing career at Twentieth Century Fox.

Griffith choked to death at the Masquers Club in Los Angeles, California, aged 62, on November 25, 1957.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1918 The Red-Haired Cupid Albert Jones Lost film
1919 The Follies Girl Fredric
1920 Love, Honor and Behave Man with Married Girlfriend Lost film
Down on the Farm Writer
1922 The Crossroads of New York Wall Street 'Wolf' Lost film
Fools First Tony Lost film
Minnie Chewing Gum Salesman Lost film
1923 Red Lights Sheridan Scott Lost film
The Eternal Three Leonard Foster
The Day of Faith Tom Barnett Lost film
White Tiger Roy Donovan
Souls for Sale Himself
1924 Poisoned Paradise: The Forbidden Story of Monte Carlo Martel aka The Rat Incomplete film, five of seven reels are preserved
The Dawn of a Tomorrow The Dandy Lost film
Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model Shorty Burchell
Changing Husbands Bob Hamilton
The Yankee Consul Writer
Lily of the Dust Karl Dehnecke Lost film
Open All Night Igor
1925 The Night Club Robert White
Miss Bluebeard The Honorable Bertie Bird
Forty Winks Lord Chumley Lost film
Paths to Paradise The Dude from Duluth Incomplete film, final reel is missing
Fine Clothes Oscar Lost film
A Regular Fellow The Prince Lost film
When Winter Went Bookworm
1926 Hands Up! Jack - a Confederate Spy
Wet Paint He Lost film
You'd Be Surprised Mr. Green - The Coroner
The Waiter from the Ritz
1927 Wedding Bills Algernon Schuyler Van Twidder Lost film
Time to Love Alfred Sava-Goiu Lost film
1929 Trent's Last Case Philip Trent
1930 All Quiet on the Western Front Gérard Duval Uncredited, (final film role)
1933 Ladies They Talk About Producer
Broadway Through a Keyhole Co-producer
1936 Private Number Producer
1939 Hotel for Women Producer
The Three Musketeers Producer

References

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  1. ^ Raymond Griffith Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Raymond Griffith at Notré Cinema: Movies and Stars Images. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Raymond Griffith at The Silent Film Still Archive. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
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