King Baggot
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1879-11-06
Day of Death
1948-07-11 (68 years old)
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
King Baggot
Biography
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.
Known For
Acting
(2011)
Fragments: Surviving Pieces of Lost Films
as Himself (archive footage)
(1947)
My Brother Talks to Horses
as Bank Employee (uncredited)
(1947)
Merton of the Movies
as Man in Audience (uncredited)
(1946)
(1946)
The Secret Heart
as Man at Graduation Ceremony
(1946)
The Postman Always Rings Twice
as Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
(1945)
Dangerous Partners
as Lunch Room Customer (uncredited)
(1945)
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
as Barbershop Patron (uncredited)
(1943)
Swing Fever
as Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
(1942)
Rio Rita
as Hotel Guest (uncredited)
(1942)
Fingers at the Window
as Psychiatrist at Lecture (uncredited)
(1942)
Jackass Mail
as Old Miner
(1942)
Her Cardboard Lover
as Police Officer in Courtroom (uncredited)
(1941)
Honky Tonk
as Townsman (uncredited)
(1941)
Come Live with Me
as Doorman
(1941)
Ziegfeld Girl
as Man in Audience (uncredited)
(1941)
The Big Store
as Store Employee (uncredited)
(1940)
The Philadelphia Story
as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
(1940)
Bitter Sweet
as Cafe Patron (uncredited)
(1940)
The Ghost Comes Home
as Townsman at Banquet (uncredited)
(1940)
Gallant Sons
as Man on Street / Man in Audience (uncredited)
(1940)
I Take This Woman
as Man in Subway (uncredited)
(1939)
The Ice Follies of 1939
as Man in Audience (uncredited)
(1939)
Stronger Than Desire
as Juror (uncredited)
(1939)
Dancing Co-Ed
as Man in Casting Office (uncredited)
(1938)
(1938)
Snow Gets in Your Eyes
as Department Store Customer (uncredited)
(1938)
Boys Town
as Derelict in Mission (uncredited)
(1938)
Stablemates
as Bettor
(1938)
Marie Antoinette
as Nobleman at Court (uncredited)
(1938)
That Mothers Might Live
as Passerby (uncredited)
(1938)
Arsène Lupin Returns
as Detective (uncredited)
(1938)
Opening Day
as Baseball Fan
(1937)
Torture Money
as False Accident Witness (uncredited)
(1937)
A Night at the Movies
as Movie Patron (uncredited)
(1937)
Parnell
as Man in Office
(1937)
The Emperor's Candlesticks
as Customs Official (uncredited)
(1937)
It May Happen to You
as Man in Hospital (uncredited)
(1936)
Sworn Enemy
as Accident Witness (uncredited)
(1936)
Mad Holiday
as Film Director (uncredited)
(1936)
San Francisco
as Earthquake Survivor (uncredited)
(1936)
The Devil-Doll
as Detective Pierre (uncredited)
(1936)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as Chemistry Professor
(1935)
A Night at the Opera
as Dignitary (uncredited)
(1935)
A Notorious Gentleman
as Police Sergeant
(1935)
Chinatown Squad
as Patrol Wagon Guard
(1935)
Mississippi
as Gambler (uncredited)
(1935)
3 Kids and a Queen
as Druggist
(1935)
Sweepstake Annie
as Motion Picture Studio Executive (uncredited)
(1935)
The Call of the Savage
as Dr. Pierce
(1934)
Father Brown, Detective
as Priest (uncredited)
(1934)
Beloved
as Second Doctor
(1934)
The Red Rider
as Townsman
(1934)
Romance in the Rain
as Milton McGillicuddy
(1933)
I Loved a Woman
as Banker (uncredited)
(1932)
Police Court
as Harry Field
(1932)
The Death Kiss
as Al Payne
(1932)
What Price Hollywood?
as Department Head (uncredited)
(1932)
Afraid to Talk
as Police Officer (uncredited)
(1932)
The Big Flash
as Hinkle
(1932)
Girl of the Rio
as Maitre d'hotel, Purple Pigeon Cafe
(1931)
Graft
as Ship's Captain
(1931)
Sweepstakes
as Mike - Weber's Trainer
(1931)
The Bad Sister
as Policeman on Street (uncredited)
(1930)
(1930)
Once a Gentleman
as Van Warner
(1923)
The Thrill Chaser
as Himself - Cameo
(1921)
The Girl in the Taxi
as Maj. Frederick Smith
(1920)
Life's Twist
as Jim Sargent
(1920)
The Forbidden Thing
as Dave
(1920)
The Cheater
as Lord Asgarby
(1920)
The Dwelling Place of Light
as Brooks Insall
(1919)
The Hawk's Trail
as Sheldon Steele/The Hawk
(1918)
The Eagle's Eye
as Harrison Grant
(1918)
Kildare of Storm
as Basil Kildare
(1918)
Mission of the War Chest
as Self
(1918)
Building for Democracy
as The Husband
(1916)
Half a Rogue
as Richard Warrington
(1916)
The Man from Nowhere
as James Herron
(1916)
The Silent Stranger
as The Silent Stranger
(1915)
The Marble Heart
as Raphael / Phidias
(1915)
The Suburban
as Donald Gordon
(1914)
The Great Universal Mystery
as Himself
(1914)
Absinthe
as Jean Dumas
(1913)
Ivanhoe
as Wilfred of Ivanhoe
(1913)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
(1913)
The Wanderer
as The Shepherd
(1912)
Shamus O'Brien
as Shamus O'Brien
(1912)
Up Against It
as Amos Bentley
(1912)
A Cave Man Wooing
as George - the 'Sissy' Hero
(1911)
At the Duke's Command
as Edward, the Duke's Nephew
(1911)
The Rose's Story
as Gerald Kinney
(1911)
At a Quarter of Two
as Dan Nolan - the Burglar
(1911)
The Better Way
as Louis Perry - a Reformed Crook
(1911)
Tracked
as Roger Densmore
(1911)
The Fair Dentist
as Dental Patient
(1911)
Pictureland
as Pablo
(1911)
While There is hope, There is Life
as Alfred King
(1911)
The Temptress
as Gilbert Irving
(1911)
The Scarlet Letter
as Reverend Dimmesdale
(1911)
The Master and the Man
as Basil King
(1911)
Sweet Memories
as Edward Jackson
(1911)
In the Sultan's Garden
as Lt. Robbins
(1911)
Over the Hills
as Wayne Holland
(1911)
(1911)
The Call of the Song
as Hugh Norton
(1911)
For the Queen's Honor
as The King
(1911)
The Secret of the Palm
as Cecil Abbott
(1911)
The Wife’s Awakening
as Enoch Harrington
(1911)
Science
as Dr. Crawford
(1911)
Second Sight
as Tom Mooreland
(1910)
(1910)
A Game for Two
as Clark, the Best Friend
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
Jane and the Stranger
as The Stranger
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
The Time-Lock Safe
as The Father
(1910)
The Eternal Triangle
as The Dashing Young Count
(1910)
The New Shawl
as Jacques
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
The Count of Montebello
as Percy
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
A Reno Romance
as Jack
(1910)
Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens
as George Rand
(1910)
(1910)
Two Men
as The Tenderfoot
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
(1910)
(1909)
The Awakening of Bess
as Bess' Sweetheart
(1909)
Love's Stratagem
as The Boy
Crew
(1981)
Beatlemania
Director of Photography
(1931)
Sporting Chance
Story
(1928)
Romance of a Rogue
Director
(1927)
The Notorious Lady
Director
(1927)
Perch of the Devil
Director
(1926)
Lovey Mary
Director
(1925)
Tumbleweeds
Director
(1925)
Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman
Director
(1925)
The Home Maker
Director
(1925)
The Tornado
Director
(1924)
The Whispered Name
Director
(1923)
The Darling of New York
Director, Story
(1923)
The Love Letter
Director
(1923)
Gossip
Director
(1923)
The Town Scandal
Director
(1922)
The Kentucky Derby
Director
(1922)
Human Hearts
Director
(1922)
A Dangerous Game
Director
(1922)
The Lavender Bath Lady
Director
(1922)
Kissed
Director
(1921)
Moonlight Follies
Director
(1921)
Cheated Love
Director
(1921)
Nobody's Fool
Director
(1916)
The Silent Stranger
Director
(1911)
The Rose's Story
Scenario Writer