From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Baggot
King Baggot
This article is about the actor and director. For an article Among his movie appearances, he was best-known
about his grandson, see: King Baggot (cinematographer). for The Scarlet Letter (1911), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913),
and Ivanhoe (1913), which was filmed on location in
King Baggot Wales.[1]
Early life
He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of William
Baggot (1845–1909) and Harriet M. "Hattie" King
(1859–1933).[2] His siblings were Amos Taylor Baggot
(1881–1954); Thomas Gantt Baggot (1889–1979); John
Marmaduke Baggot (1891–1975); Arthur Lee Baggot
(1893–?); Marion L. Baggot (1896–1973); and Harriet D.
Baggot (1899–1930).
His father was born in Ireland, and emigrated from
County Limerick to the United States in 1852. He was a
prominent St. Louis real estate agent.
After graduating from high school, in 1894, King left
St. Louis and went to Chicago, where he worked as a clerk
for his uncle, Edward Baggot (1839–1903), whose business
sold plumbing, gas and electric fixtures. In 1899, he re-
turned to St. Louis, and attended Christian Brothers Col-
lege, a prominent Catholic school, where he excelled at
sports, was a star soccer and baseball player, and became
As Wilfred of Ivanhoe, 1913
captain of the soccer team.[3]
Born November 7, 1879(1879-11-07) He later played on a semi-professional St. Louis soc-
St. Louis, Missouri, USA cer team and became so well known that a Catholic
Died July 11, 1948(1948-07-11) (aged 68) church amateur theatrical group added him to its cast
Los Angeles, California, USA to gain prestige. He liked acting and did well. He soon
helped found another amateur theatrical group, the Play-
Occupation Actor
Director ers Club of St. Louis.
In the meantime, he sold tickets for the St. Louis
Years active 1900 to 1947 Browns baseball team and worked as a clerk in the real
Spouse Ruth Constantine (1912-1930) estate business of his father.[4] But acting proved so in-
teresting that he decided to become professional.
William King Baggot (November 7, 1879 – July 11, 1948)
was an American actor, director and screenwriter. He
was an internationally famous movie star of the silent
Stage career
era. The first individually publicized leading man in Baggot began his career on the stage in a Shakespearean
America, Baggot was referred to as "King of the Movies," stock company and toured throughout the U.S. Following
"The Most Photographed Man in the World" and "The his first engagement, he performed under the manage-
Man Whose Face Is As Familiar As The Man In The Moon." ment of Liebler and Company, one of the foremost pro-
Baggot appeared in at least 269 motion pictures from ducing companies at that time. He also toured under the
1909 to 1947; wrote 18 screenplays; and directed 45 management of Frohman, and the Shuberts, and played
movies from 1912 to 1928, including The Lie (1912), Raffles five weeks in New York in The Queen of the Highway. Other
(1925) and The House of Scandal (1928). He also directed plays in which he appeared include the comedy revival
William S. Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, which had a run on Broad-
(1925). way in 1906, Salomy Jane and In the Bishop’s Carriage.
While acting in stock in St. Louis, in the summer of
1909, Baggot worked with Marguerite Clark in Peter Pan
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Baggot
and The Golden Garter. In the two weeks that remained of He played the role as Jean Dumas in the drama Absinthe
the season, he played small roles in Frou Frou and Jenny, (1914), which was filmed in Paris. In his 1914 two-reel
which both starred Countess Venturini. When the season movie Shadows, Baggot directed as well as played the
closed, he was cast as supporting player with Marguerite parts of ten different characters.
Clark in the Schubert touring production of The Wishing When he registered for the draft of World War I, on
Ring, which was adapted by Owen Davis from a Dorothea September 12, 1918, Baggot and his wife were living in
Deakin story. Another cast member, Cecil B. DeMille, also New York City.[7] He starred in the crime/drama The
staged the play. Hawk’s Trail (1919) opposite Grace Darmond.
When The Wishing Ring closed in Chicago, Baggot re- As a director, he gave Marie Prevost her first starring
turned to New York to join another company. Upon a role in the romantic comedy Kissed (1922). Baggot direct-
chance meeting with Harry Solter, who was directing ed Mary Philbin and William Haines in the romance The
movies for Carl Laemmle at Independent Moving Pictures Gaiety Girl (1924). He formed his own production compa-
Company (IMP), he was persuaded to go with Solter to ny, King Baggot Productions, and produced and direct-
the studio. Movies were then looked down on by the dra- ed The Home Maker (1925), a drama starring Clive Brook
matic profession as a mere recording of stunts, but Bag- and Alice Joyce about the reversal of traditional roles be-
got went along. He was amused at the violent gestures tween a husband and wife,[8] which was released through
and jumping around of the players, taking none of it se- Universal. That same year, Baggot directed William S.
riously. Baggot, however, became interested in the fledg- Hart in his most famous western, Tumbleweeds, a drama
ling industry and later decided to give it a try and turn about the Oklahoma land rush of 1893.
picture player.[citation needed]
Decline
Movie career Baggot and his wife, Ruth, who had separated on August
Baggot’s first movie was the romance short The Awaken- 20, 1926, were divorced in 1930.[9] She filed on grounds of
ing of Bess (1909) opposite Florence Lawrence. It was di- desertion, stating in the complaint that he was a bad ex-
rected by Harry Solter, her husband, at IMP in Fort Lee, ample to their son. She said he would return home after
New Jersey. At a time when screen actors worked anony- drinking and be in a boisterous mood.[10] When the 1930
mously, Baggot and Lawrence became the first "movie census was taken on April 7, Baggot was lodging by him-
stars" to be given billing, a marquee and promotion in ad- self.[11]
vertising. His alcoholism and problems with certain studio ex-
In April 1910, Baggot was at home with his mother ecutives eventually ended Baggot’s directing career. He
and family in St. Louis, when the U.S. Census was taken turned to playing character roles, bit parts and even jobs
there.[5] He starred in at least 42 movies opposite as an extra,[12] and appeared in scores of movies in that
Lawrence from 1909 to 1911. In the latter year, he starred capacity through the 1930s and 1940s, including Mississip-
in at least 16 movies opposite Mary Pickford, who was pi (1935).
hired to replace Lawrence after she and Solter broke Baggot played the uncredited role as a policeman on
their contracts, including the one-reel romance/drama the street in The Bad Sister (1931), which starred Conrad
Sweet Memories, which was directed by Thomas H. Ince. Nagel and Sidney Fox, with Bette Davis in her first movie
Baggot also began writing screenplays and directing, role. He had the role as Henry Field, a movie director, in
all the while becoming a major star internationally. the Monogram Pictures drama Police Court (1932) co-star-
When he appeared "in person" at theatres he was ring Henry B. Walthall, which told the story of a has-been
mobbed at stage doors. By 1912, he was so famous that alcoholic actor (Walthall) trying to make a comeback. In
when he took the leading part in forming the prestigious 1933, Baggot and former leading lady Florence Lawrence,
Screen Club in New York, the first organization of its kind Paul Panzer and another former great star of the silent
strictly for movie people, he was the natural choice for era, Francis Ford, were given bit parts in what would be
its first president. former co-star Mary Pickford’s last movie, Secrets.
On December 3, 1912, he and Ruth Considine (August In her Los Angeles Times gossip column on March 1,
28, 1889–December 22, 1936)[6] were married in Fort Lee, 1946, Hedda Hopper wrote, "King Baggot, who used to
New Jersey. They had one son, Robert King Baggot (July be one of our top directors, is working as an extra in
11, 1914–May 18, 1965). A cameraman, he died in Hawaii, The Show-Off.[13] While living at the Aberdeen Hotel in
while working on a movie. Robert King Baggot had two Venice, California, Baggot made his final movie appear-
sons, cinematographer Stephen King Baggot (born 1943) ance in the uncredited part of a bank employee in the
and Bruce Baggot (born 1947). comedy My Brother Talks to Horses starring Butch Jenkins
Baggot starred as Wilfred of Ivanhoe in Ivanhoe and Peter Lawford. Illness then forced his retirement.
(1913), a feature length adventure drama that was filmed King Baggot died at age 68 from a stroke at a sanatori-
on location in England and at Chepstow Castle in Wales. um in Los Angeles.[14][15][16] His funeral service was con-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Baggot
ducted in the chapel of Pierce Brothers Hollywood Mor- 48, Harriet M. Baggot, Line 49, King Baggot, Son,
tuary at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 15, 1948.[17] He is in- Male, White, 30, Single, MO, Ireland - (Native
terred in Calvary Cemetery, East Los Angeles. He has a Language) English, MO, Engl., Actor, Theatre,
star for his work in motion pictures on the Hollywood Wages, N, 0, Y, Y.
Walk of Fame at 6312 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood. [6] New York Times, Dec. 26, 1936, Hollywood, Dec. 25
(AP), "Ruth Baggott [sic]," p. 11.
Books [7] WWI Draft Registration Card, Serial No.: 376, Name:
William King Baggot, Permanent Address: Lambs
• Dumaux, Sally A. (2002). King Baggot: A Biography and Club - 130 W. 44th N.Y. City, Age 38, Birth Date:
Filmography of the First King of the Movies. McFarland. Nov. 7, 1879, Race: White, U.S. Citizen: Natural
290 pp. ISBN 0-786-41350-6 Born, Present Occupation: Motion Picture "Star,"
Employer’s Place: Motion Picture Corp. W. 61st St.
Partial filmography N.Y. City, N.Y., Nearest Relative: Ruth Baggot (Wife)
Messeilles Hotel - 103rd St. N.Y.C., Signed: William
• Sweet Memories, 1911 King Baggot, Registrar’s Report: Description of
• The Scarlet Letter, 1911 Registrant: Height: Tall: 5’11, Build: Medium: 185,
• The Lie, 1912 Color of Eyes: Blue, Color of Hair: Lt. Brown, Dated:
• Ivanhoe, 1913 Sept. 12, 1918 New York City, N.Y.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 1913 [8] Los Angeles Times, Oct. 4, 1925, "Brook Lauds
• The Corsican Brothers, 1915 Character in ’Home Maker," p. 28.
• The Hawk’s Trail (serial), 1919 [9] Los Angeles Times, Sep. 18, 1930, "King Baggott
• The Thrill Chaser, 1923 Divorced As Bad Example To Son," p. A 12.
• The Gaiety Girl (director), 1924 [10] New York Times, Sep. 18, 1930, Sep. 17 (AP),
• Tumbleweeds (director), 1925 "Divorces King Baggott, --- Wife Accuses Movie
• Raffles (director), 1925 Director of Habitual Intemperance," p. 2.
• Lovey Mary (director), 1926 [11] 1930 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los
• Police Court, 1932 Angeles, Assembly Dist. 55, Block 97, April 7,
• Mississippi, 1935 Enumeration Dist. 65, Sheet 5 B, Page 239 B, Line
• Come Live with Me, 1941 97, William K. Baggot, Lodger, Male, White, 50,
• Jackass Mail, 1942 Married, (Age when first married) 33, N, Y, MO,
Ireland, MO, Y, Actor - Director, Motion Pictures,
References Wages, Y, (Vet.) N.
[12] Los Angeles Times, Feb. 24, 1935, "Former Stars Flock
[1] New York Times, Feb. 19, 1928, "Rare Old ’Stills’," p. to Ranks of Extras," p. A 1.
114. [13] Los Angeles Times, Mar. 18, 1946, "Hedda Hopper ---
[2] 1880 St. Louis Co., MO, U.S. Federal Census, St. Looking At Hollywood," p. 9.
Louis, 3618 N. 18th St., June 8, Enumeration Dist. [14] California Death Index, Name: King Baggot, Birth
307, Sheet 3, Page 514 A, Line 5, Wm. Baggot, Line 6, Date: 11-07-1879, Father’s Last: Baggot, Sex: Male,
Hattie Baggot, Line 7, William Baggot, White, Male, Birth Place, Missouri, Death Place: Los Angeles (19),
7/12, (Mon. Born) Nov., Son, Single, MO, Ireland, Death Date: 07-11-1948, SSN: 563-09-0139, Age: 68
MO. yrs.
[3] Dumaux, Sally (1997). "King Baggot and the [15] Los Angeles Times, Jul. 12, 1948, "King Baggot, Early
Mystery of "The Lost Mirror". Classic Images (Past Day Idol of Films, Dies," p. 12.
Issues). http://www.classicimages.com/ [16] New York Times, Jul. 13, 1948, Hollywood, Jul. 12
past_issues/view/?x=/1997/november97/ (AP), "King Baggott, 68, Early Film Star --- Leading
baggot.html. Retrieved 2009-02-24. Man of Silent Era Dies—In Industry Since ’09, He
[4] 1900 St. Louis (Independent City), MO, U.S. Federal Also Was a Director," p. 27.
Census, St. Louis Ward 27, 1463 Union St., June 11, [17] Los Angeles Times, Jul. 15, 1948, "Obituary --- King
Enumeration Dist. 408, Sheet 14 A, Page 278 A, Line Baggot," p. A 15.
32, William Bagott [sic], Line 33, Harriet M. Bagott
[sic], Line 34, William K. Bagott [sic], Son, White,
Male, Nov., 1879, 20, Single, MO, Ireland, MO, Clerk External links
in Real Estate, 0, 0, Y, Y, Y. • King Baggot at the Internet Movie Database
[5] 1910 St Louis (Independent City), MO, U.S. Federal • King Baggot at AllRovi
Census, St Louis Ward 26, 1463 Union Ave., April 25, • King Baggot at the Internet Broadway Database
Enemuration Dist. 407, Sheet 13 A, Page 35 A, Line
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Baggot
• King Baggot: A Biography and Filmography of the First Short description Actor, screenwriter and director
King of the Movies at Google Book Search
Date of birth November 7, 1879
• King Baggot at Find a Grave
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Persondata
Date of death July 11, 1948
Name Baggot, King
Place of death Los Angeles, California, USA
Alternative names
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_Baggot&oldid=466882213"
Categories:
• 1879 births
• 1948 deaths
• American stage actors
• American film actors
• American silent film actors
• American screenwriters
• American film directors
• Shakespearean actors
• People from St. Louis, Missouri
• American people of Irish descent
• Deaths from stroke
• Actors from Missouri
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