Bert Lytell
Bertram Mortimer Lytell was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films.
Background
Born in New York City, Lytell was the son of Blanche Mortimer and actor, author, and producer William H. Lytell. His mother was an actress before she married, and her father and grandfather were actors. Lytell left Upper Canada College at age 16 to become an actor.
Lytell's acting debut came with the Columbia Stock Company in Newark, New Jersey, when he was 17 years old. He went on to appear with stock theater companies in Boston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Rochester, in addition to heading his own stock troupes in Albany, New York, and San Francisco. He appeared with Marie Dressler in her 1914 Broadway play, A MIX-UP. He also performed in vaudeville in the 1920s with the one-act play The Valiant.
In 1917, Lytell made his film debut starring as Michael Lanyard in The Lone Wolf. He subsequently made four Lone Wolf sequels, ending with The Last of the Lone Wolf. He also starred as Boston Blackie in Boston Blackie's Little Pal and Blackie's Redemption.
On old-time radio, Lytell had the title role in Alias Jimmy Valentine – a role he had played in the 1920 film of the same name, and was host of Bert Lytell Dramas and Stage Door Canteen.
His younger brother Wilfred Lytell also became a stage and screen actor. Bert Lytell married a silent film actor, Evelyn Vaughn, in 1910, and they divorced in 1924. He began dating Claire Windsor during the couple's long estrangement, according to the Cal York gossip column in Photoplay, and they married in 1925; they divorced in 1927. Like many other silent screen stars, Lytell's career collapsed after the advent of talking pictures. He worked on NBC daytime shows in the early 1950s while he was Shepherd of the actors club The Lambs from 1947 to 1952. Lytell was named an Immortal Lamb.
In 1936 he directed the film Along Came Love.
Lytell died in New York City, aged 69. His brother Wilfred died 18 days before. He has a star at 6417 Hollywood Avenue in the Motion Picture section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Selected filmography
The Lone Wolf – Michael LanyardEmpty Pockets – Dr. Clinton WorthingThe Trail to Yesterday – Ned 'Dakota' KeeglesNo Man's Land – Garrett CopeBoston Blackie's Little Pal – Boston BlackieUnexpected Places – Dick HollowayHitting the High Spots – Bob DurlandThe Spender – Dick BisbeeFaith – George FarrellyBlind Man's Eyes – Hugh Overton, aka Philip D. EatonBlackie's Redemption – Boston BlackieThe [Lion's Den (1919 film)|The Lion's Den] – Reverend Sam WebsterOne-Thing-at-a-Time O'Day – Stradivarius O'DayEasy to Make Money – James 'Jimmy' Frederick Slocum Jr.Lombardi, Ltd. – Tito LambardiThe [Right of Way (1920 film)|The Right of Way] – Charley SteeleAlias Jimmy Valentine – Lee Randall / Jimmy ValentineThe Price of Redemption – Leigh DeringThe Misleading Lady – Jack CraigenA Message from Mars – Horace ParkerThe Man Who – Bedford MillsA Trip to Paradise – 'Curley' FlynnAlias Ladyfingers – Robert Ashe – LadyfingersA Trip to Paradise The Idle Rich – Samuel WeatherbeeThe Right That Failed – Johnny DuffeyA Trip to Paramountown – HimselfThe Face Between – Tommy Carteret Sr.Sherlock Brown – William BrownTo Have and to Hold – Captain Ralph PercyKick In – Chick HewesRupert of Hentzau – King of Ruritania / Rudolph RassendyllThe [Meanest Man in the World (1923 film)|The Meanest Man in the World] – Richard ClarkThe [Eternal City (1923 film)|The Eternal City] – David RossiA Son of the Sahara – Raoul Le BretonSandra – David WaringBorn Rich – Jimmy FairfaxThe Boomerang – Dr. SumnerSteele of the Royal Mounted – Philip SteeleEve's Lover – Baron Geraldo MaddoxNever the Twain Shall Meet – Dan PritchardThe [Sporting Life (1925 film)|The Sporting Life] – Lord WoodstockThe [Ship of Souls (film)|The Ship of Souls] – Langley BarnesLady Windermere's Fan – Lord WindermereThe Gilded Butterfly – Brian AnestryThe Lone Wolf Returns – Michael Lanyard / The Lone WolfThat Model from Paris – Robert RichmondObey The Law – Phil SchuylerThe [First Night (film)|The First Night] – Dr. Richard BardAlias the Lone Wolf – Michael Lanyard / The Lone WolfWomen's Wares – Robert CraneOn Trial – Robert StricklandThe Lone Wolf's Daughter – Michael Lanyard / The Lone WolfThe Last of the Lone Wolf – Michael LanyardBrothers – Bob Naughton / Eddie ConnollyThe Stolen Jools – Joe StricklandStage Door Canteen – Canteen Master of Ceremonies